Historic and Vintage Names · International Baby Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 13 pages
of 13
Diminutive of Elizabeth, Isabella, or Isabel, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
A playful and vintage nickname for Elizabeth, Isabelle, or Isabella, if you're hoping to avoid Izzy, Lizzy, Belle, or Beth.
Greek
"honey"
A coffee filter.
Emanual is a variant spelling of Emmanuel, a name with Hebrew origins meaning 'God is with us.' This masculine name carries biblical significance, as it appears in the Old Testament as a prophecy of…
English
"elf power"
Form of Elfrida that has an old-fashioned sound you just might find cool.
Spelling variation of Ephraim, Hebrew
"fruitful, fertile, productive"
The Ephram spelling, a phonetic spin on the original, may gain ground as it's the one used for the hero's name in the novel Ruby by Cynthia Bond, the new pick for Oprah's book club.
Irish
"to know"
That er sound -- as in Myrna, Myrtle, and Bernice -- sounds terminally dated.
Hebrew
"plant"
Botanical Hebrew choice that leads to the sweet vintage nickname Nettie.
Diminutive of Aganetha, German
"pure, virginal"
Short form of Aganetha used in the Amish community.
German variation of Ernest
Concise and clipped European version of the earnest Ernest.
German and Dutch diminutive of Elizabeth
A short form of Elisabeth, similar in sound to the 60s favorite Lisa.
Spelling variation of Rudolph, German
"famous wolf"
You've got the red-nosed reindeer to transcend, but there are other distinguished personages named Rudolph, Rudolf, and Rudy.
Latin
"eagle"
Aquilla appears in the New Testament. The name carries powerful symbolism through its association with eagles, conveying qualities of strength, vision, and nobility. Despite its classical origins,…
German variation of Gerard
In its native Germany, Gerhard was very popular a hundred years ago and is now rather old-fashioned. It isn't much used by English speakers either, but has a certain clunky charm about it.
German diminutive of Heinrich
Heinz has become a cartoonish German name, prone to ketchup teasing.
Laverna was the Roman goddess of thievery, cheating, and the underworld. The original meaning of her name in unknown, however, there are several theories. One such theory states that Laverna is…
English diminutive of Laurence
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
A sweet and sophisticated nickname which feels fresh again after many years in style limbo. For literature lovers, it brings to mind Theodore "Laurie" Laurence from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women .…
Ura is a masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Japanese, it can mean 'shore' or 'coast,' evoking natural imagery. In Albanian, the name means 'bridge,' symbolizing connection. Ura also…
Ukrainian
"willow"
A Ukrainian nature name with a history of use in the US among the Amish community.
Variation of Verna, Latin
"springtime"
Part Verna, part Bernice, Vernice saw use as a girls' name during the heyday of both those names. Both entered the Top 200 in the 1880s, where Verna lasted until 1940 and Bernice a decade longer.…
Klaas is a traditional Dutch and Frisian masculine name, functioning as a shortened form of Nicholas or Nikolaas. Originating from the Greek name Nikolaos, it combines the elements "nike" (victory)…
