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.
Thu Feb 06 2025
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.
Fri Jan 24 2025
Quirky Saint Names to Spice Up Your List
Exploring some of the most obscure and eccentric saintly names plucked from history and legend.
Thu Sep 12 2024
Back to School Names
School is back in session, and here are the names filling today's classrooms...and yesterday's.
Wed Sep 11 2024
Truly Unique Names You’ll Never Meet IRL
Truly unique baby names we can (almost) guarantee you'll never hear in the wild! From Antioch to Wildrose, these 20 cool choices have never charted in the US.
Mon Sep 09 2024
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.
Sat Aug 17 2024
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.
Tue Aug 13 2024
The Reddest and Bluest Baby Names
Analysis of the Reddest and Bluest baby names reveals unexpected trends that challenge the usual political stereotypes of Democrats and Republicans. The Reddest names buck convention with a nod to Americana, while the Bluest names embrace global traditions.
Wed Jul 31 2024
Ancient Names for Babies
Ancient Greek and Roman baby names are rising in popularity for modern babies.
Fri Jul 26 2024
Vintage British Nicknames
A fascinating compilation of lively, almost-forgotten old diminutives that deserve a new look, by Eleanor Nickerson aka Elea of the blog British Baby Names.
Wed Jul 10 2024
Doll Names: The History of Doll Names Through the Decades
Through the years, from Barbara Lou to Barbie, dolls' ID tags have said a lot about name trends.
Mon Jun 17 2024
Unusual Bible Names Feel Fresh Again
Unusual Bible names that are ready to make it in the modern world! From Ashbel to Zillah, these cool Biblical baby names feel unique, but totally on-trend.
Tue Jun 11 2024
Ann Alternatives: Updating a Classic
Looking for alternatives to Ann or fresh routes to Annie? We take a look all of her variations, from elaborations to combination names to international imports.
Mon May 27 2024
Vintage 1920s Names Sound New Again
Vintage names popular a century ago are coming back into style. Discover which names are already back, which are up-and-coming, and a few we don't think will ever return.
Sun May 12 2024
Mom Names: the New Generation
Today's Mom Names are the Cool Girl Names of the 1980s and 90s. Is yours one?
Fri May 03 2024
Flower Name Meanings Hold Secrets
Flower name meanings hold secrets related to sentiments and relationships that Victorians used to convey hidden messages. Discover the secret meanings of your favorite popular and uncommon flower names.
Wed Apr 17 2024
Updating Popular 1950s Names
If you’re looking for ways to update popular 1950s names for a modern baby, the good news is that there is plenty of scope for creativity! You might choose a fresher version of the name or look to meaning or key sounds to find clever ways to reinvent important honor names.
Mon Apr 15 2024
Ancient Roman Names For Modern Babies
Find out how the Romans really named their children — and which names from ancient Rome are making a comeback today.
Sat Apr 06 2024
Royal Baby Names Rule
Our ultimate guide to royal names! Discover popular and classic names fit for a king or queen, see what today’s princely parents are naming their children, and check out more names with regal meanings.
Fri Mar 22 2024
Baby Names As You've Never Seen Them Before
Name data is beautiful! From around the internet, here are some of our favorite graphics, maps and animations showing baby name trends over the years.
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.
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).