Historic and Vintage Names · Classic Baby Names
Colonial Names from the 1700s
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Bige
Short form of Abijah, Hebrew
"God is my father"
The Biblical Abijah might be temporarily lost to time, but this antiquated short form could move with it into the modern era.
Cager
Short form of Micajah, Hebrew
"Who is like God?"
Sounds a bit like a nickname in a Dickens novel, but this short form was used in New England a few centuries ago, back when names like Micajah were popular. Both short and long forms are now ripe for…
Chan
Cambodian
"sweet smelling tree"
Whether it's an Asian surname-name or short for Channing, has a sound and feel that's both simple and stand-out.
Chauncey
Latin
"chancellor"
A name halfway between its old milquetoast image and a more jovial Irish-sounding contemporary one.
Clement
Latin
"mild, merciful"
Clement, the name of fourteen popes and several saints, has a pleasantly, positive, slightly antiquated feel, like the phrase "clement weather." Clement C. Moore wrote the poem "A Visit from St.…
Comfort
Word name
This Puritan virtue name is unstylish, but sympathetic and appealing, in these largely uncomfortable times.
Con
Diminutive of Cornelius, Conrad, Latin, German
"horn; brave counsel"
Back in the day, Con was a nickname for Cornelius and Conrad. Today it feels like a pet form of Connor.
Constant
French from Latin
"steadfast"
A traditional French male name that could, with American pronunciation, become an admirable word name.
Cornelius
Latin
"horn"
Cornelius, the New Testament name of a third century Pope and saint, is one of those venerable Latin names on the edge of consideration, despite the corny nickname alert. Cornelius has some magical…
Cotton
Word name
A name heard in Puritan times -- Cotton Mather was a minister involved in the Salem witchcraft trials -- which really deserves modern consideration as it blends nature and softness into a really…
Cuddy
Diminutive of Cuthbert
"famous, brilliant"
Cuthbert is unlikely to make a comeback anytime soon, so Cuddy too may be lost to history.
Cuthbert
English
"famous, brilliant"
Years ago we might have said that this name was unthinkable, but with clunky, old-fashioned names being so popular right now — consider Augustus, Stanley, Wilfred, etc — what's to stop Cuthbert from…
Dirch
Diminutive of Derrick, English
"the people's ruler"
An old-timey nickname for Derrick that has since been forgotten.
Dob
Diminutive of Robert, English
"bright fame"
Along with Dobbin, Dob was medieval nickname for Robert.
Dobbin
Diminutive of Robert, English from German
"bright fame"
Ancient nickname that sounds cuter than its modern alternatives -- but be aware that in the days of the horse and buggy, it was most often used for the horse.
Ebenezer
Hebrew
"stone of help"
Ebenezer is the name of a biblical place --the stone set up by Samuel to mark his victory over the Philistines--rather than a person. It was adopted by the British Puritans as a first name and then…
Elbridge
English
"old bridge"
Elbridge is an uncommon last name used as first. It sounds rather forbidding, but Bridge would be a cute, modern nickname.
Eleazar
Hebrew
"God helps"
Eleazar is a distinguished Biblical name--in which it appears several times-- ripe for the picking following the stardom of Eli, Elijah, and other similar names. Eleazar is also a Twilight name,…
Eliab
Hebrew
"God is father"
Prince of the tribe of Zebulon in the Exodus, everyone will misunderstand this as Elias, with a stuffed nose.
Eliakim
Hebrew
"God will raise up"
Little-used name borne by several biblical figures including a king. It would make an unexpected way to get the nickname Eli - or Kim.