Historic Name News
Historic names drawn from a range of periods of the past, from Ancient Rome to the late 20th century, are the focus of the news stories and analysis here. If you're interested in finding historic names for your baby or in expanding your knowledge about names throughout history, this is the category for you. You can also search Historic Names by list.
Fri Mar 08 2024
Inspirational Names of Forgotten Feminists
Discover 20 of the most intriguing obscure names belonging to some incredible forgotten feminists from around the world.
Wed Feb 28 2024
Baby Names Before 1850
What did parents name their children before official records began? Records from a hundred years ago show that the choices go far beyond John and Mary — and some of them could inspire you today.
Mon Feb 19 2024
Presidential Names for Babies: Who's Winning?
Presidential names for babies are breaking popularity records for girls and boys, hitting their highest ranks ever. Here are 25 of the best, ranked.
Fri Feb 16 2024
African-American Heroine Names
Notable African-American heroines inspire a range of names to look up to, from the well-known to the underappreciated.
Fri Feb 09 2024
African American Names: Early Day, Place, and Word Names
The earliest African American names included day names, place names, and word names that sound very 21st century.
Fri Feb 02 2024
A Brief History of Black Names
Scholars have long considered distinctively Black names to be a product of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, but recent research shows that Black names have been around for centuries.
Tue Jan 16 2024
These Trendy Names Are More Traditional Than You Think!
You wouldn't have guessed that these trendy names with contemporary sounds have been around for centuries (in some cases, millennia).
Mon Jan 15 2024
Names Honor Martin Luther King Jr
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we look at some of the most important names in the inspiring civil rights hero’s public and private life.
Mon Jan 08 2024
Top Baby Names by Letter Through the Ages
Let's take a look at the most popular names for each letter across the past four generations: from the great-grandparents of babies born today to the names filling kindergarten rosters in 2024 and beyond.
Thu Jan 04 2024
Best Rare Names from 100 Years Ago
The coolest rare names from 100 years ago that were fashionable during the Roaring Twenties, but feel fresh and unique today.
Sun Dec 17 2023
Christmas Names for Girls
Christmas names for baby girls, from the classic Holly and Ivy to the new-styled Dove or Lumi.
Sat Dec 16 2023
Christmas Names for Boys
Christmas names for baby boys range from the classic Joseph or Emmanuel to modern-style Drummer or Dove.
Wed Nov 15 2023
Moonstruck Names: Lunar names from Calypso to Cressida
Shimmering moon names drawn from the worlds of Greek myth and Shakespeare's plays.
Fri Nov 10 2023
Popular Names Your Mom Never Heard Of
We crunched the numbers to reveal the modern baby names most likely to get that “His name’s what?!” reaction from Grandma. These names were all given to over 1000 babies last year, but were entirely absent from the charts three decades ago.
Fri Oct 20 2023
These Names Are Older Than You Think
Some ancient names have aged so well that their antique origins can be hard to reconcile with the image they conjure up today. From Candace to Chad, discover 25 of the most surprising ancient names here.
Sat Oct 07 2023
Character Names: Finding the perfect one
Character names can be as difficult as baby names. Here are some tips from a writer on finding good ones.
Wed Oct 04 2023
Do You *Really* Know What These Names Mean?
You've looked up the meaning of your favorite name, you love it... and then another source says it means something totally different! How do you know which one is right? Aili Winstanley Channer explains why, for many well-known names, there's room for both.
Mon Oct 02 2023
Where to Find A Cool Vintage Girl Name
So you’re looking for cool vintage girl names. The perfect name has to have style. It has to have charm! It shouldn’t be common. We get it. Yes, these seemingly elusive qualities are hard to capture all in one name, but hey, that’s why we’re here.
Mon Sep 25 2023
Truly Unique Names You’ll Never Meet IRL
Truly unique baby names we can (almost) guarantee you'll never hear in the wild! From Anstice to Zennor, these 20 cool choices have never charted in the US.
Tue Sep 12 2023
Traditional Boy Names: The Ultimate Guide
Traditional boy names are cool and classic, and never out of style (although not always popular!) Check out our ultimate guide to finding the perfect one.
Sat Sep 09 2023
Vintage Surname Names Come Back Around
Vintage surname names? Yes, this modern trend isn't so modern after all. See the top surname names from a century ago, along with unique choices from our secret source.
Fri Sep 08 2023
Elizabeth: The Name That Has Everything
In honor of Queen Elizabeth II, who died one year ago today, a deeper look at her extraordinary name and its many amazing variations.
Sat Sep 02 2023
Saint Names: Patrons of the Arts
Saint names are spiritual and significant, and these beautiful options are perfect for parents of a creative persuasion. Patron saints of painters and poets, bookbinders and architects might give heavenly inspiration to a budding artist.
Sun Aug 27 2023
Ancient Names for Babies
Ancient Greek and Roman baby names are rising in popularity for modern babies.
Thu Aug 03 2023
Victorian Baby Names Revive an Era
Victorian baby names feel fresh and strong, even as other vintage names rise up the charts. We round up the best popular and unique Victorian picks.