Unusual Antique Baby Names
Updated Sat Feb 24 2024
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If you're looking for truly unusual antique baby names, super rare names with a solid history and vintage charm, these cute and classic baby names fit the bill. Dating back to Great-Grandma (or Grandpa)'s day, these historic names been retired long enough to feel young and fresh again.
None of these unique antique baby names currently rank within the US Top 1000, though some are popular internationally. Boaz ranks highly in the Netherlands, for instance, while Chester is popular in England.
In addition to with fashionable vintage names like Alva and Abner, Phineas and Philomena, there are some truly unique old-fashioned baby names on this list, like Barnabas, Hester, Jethro and Pandora, which adventurous parents might want to consider reviving.
Discover more quirky and unique old-school baby names in the list below, ordered by their current standing on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Abner
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"father of light."
- Agnes
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"pure, virginal"
- Albertina
- Alden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"old, wise friend"
- Aline
Origin:
Variation of Adeline or Aileen
- Aloysius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"famous warrior"
- Alpha
Origin:
Greek, first letter of the alphabet
- Alva
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"his highness"
- Amabel
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lovable"
- Ambrosia
Origin:
Latin, feminine form of AmbroseMeaning:
"Immortal"
- Amity
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"friendship"
- Augusta
Origin:
Feminine variation of AugustusMeaning:
"great, magnificent"
- Aurelius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"the golden one"
- Aurinda
Origin:
American invented nameMeaning:
"gold"
- Barnabas
Origin:
AramaicMeaning:
"son of consolation"
- Basil
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"royal"
- Berenice
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"she who brings victory"
- Bessie
Origin:
Diminutive of ElizabethMeaning:
"pledged to God"
- Beulah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"married"
- Blanche
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"white"
- Boaz
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"swiftness"
- Booker
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"scribe"
- Boyd
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"blond"
- Bramwell
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"well where the gorse grows"
- Buford
Origin:
English variation of Beaufort, FrenchMeaning:
"beautiful fort"
- Buster
Origin:
Modern nickname
- Carmel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"garden"
- Cecily
Origin:
Feminine variation of CecilMeaning:
"blind"
- Chester
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fortress, walled town,"
- Clarissa
Origin:
Elaboration of ClaraMeaning:
"bright, clear"
- Claude
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lame; enclosure"
- Clement
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"mild, merciful"
- Clemma
Origin:
Diminutive of Clementine, FrenchMeaning:
"mild, merciful"
- Clifton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"place on a cliff"
- Cordelia
Origin:
Latin; CelticMeaning:
"heart; daughter of the sea"
- Corisande
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"chorus-singer"
- Cyprian
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"man of Cyprus"
- Cyril
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"lordly"
- Delbert
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"day-bright"
- Delphia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"the womb"
- Delphina
Origin:
French from GreekMeaning:
"of Delphi; womb"
- Dinah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God will judge"
- Dorcas
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"doe, gazelle"
- Dorothea
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Dovie
Origin:
Short form of Dove or Deborah, nature name or HebrewMeaning:
"bee"
- Dudley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"Dudda's meadow"
- Early
Origin:
Word name
- Edmund
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fortunate protector"
- Edna
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"rejuvenation, delight"
- Elbert
Origin:
English variation of Albert
- Ellsworth
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"nobleman's estate"
- Elmo
Origin:
Italian from GermanMeaning:
"protector"
- Elnora
Origin:
Contracted form of Eleanora, meaning unknown
- Elva
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"leader of the elves"
- Elvira
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"white, fair"
- Elwood
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"elder tree forest"
- Era
Origin:
Word name
- Erasmus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"beloved, desired"
- Eula
Origin:
Diminutive of Eulalia
- Eulalia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"sweetly speaking"
- Euphemia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"fair speech"
- Eustace
Origin:
English from GreekMeaning:
"stable"
- Evadne
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"pleasing one"
- Florida
Origin:
Place name and Spanish from LatinMeaning:
"flowery"
- Florine
Origin:
French
- Flossie
Origin:
Diminutive of FlorenceMeaning:
"flourishing, prosperous"
- Floy
Origin:
Diminutive of FlorenceMeaning:
"flourishing, prosperous"
- Foster
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"forester"
- Frederica
Origin:
Feminine variation of FrederickMeaning:
"peaceful ruler,"
- Furman
- Garfield
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"triangular field"
- Garnet
Origin:
Jewel name, from the FrenchMeaning:
"pomegranate"
- General
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"general"
- Georgina
Origin:
English, feminine variation of GeorgeMeaning:
"farmer"
- Gertie
Origin:
Short form of Gertrude
- Golda
Origin:
English, YiddishMeaning:
"gold"
- Golden
Origin:
Word name
- Green
Origin:
Color name
- Gussie
Origin:
Diminutive of Augusta, LatinMeaning:
"great, magnificent"
- Hadrian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"dark-haired"
- Hal
Origin:
Diminutive of Harold and Henry
- Hardy
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bold, brave"
- Harmon
Origin:
Irish variation of Herman
- Hedda
Origin:
Scandinavian, diminutive of Hedvig
- Heloise
Origin:
French from GermanMeaning:
"healthy; wide"
- Herschel
- Hesper
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"evening, evening star"
- Hester
Origin:
Medieval variation of Esther, PersianMeaning:
"star"
- Hiram
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"brother of the exalted one"
- Hobert
- Homer
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"security, pledge"
- Hortense
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the garden"
- Hulda
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"sweet, lovable"
- Humphrey
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"peaceful warrior"
- Idella
Origin:
Diminutive of Ida, GermanMeaning:
"industrious one"
- Ignatius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fiery"
- Irving
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"green river, sea friend"
- Isidore
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"gift of Isis"
- Jabez
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"borne in pain"
- Jacobine
Origin:
Feminine variation of Jacob, HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"
- Jennings
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"son of John"
- Jethro
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"excellence"
- Johnnie
Origin:
English, diminutive of John, HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord is gracious"
- Josias
Origin:
Latin variation of Josiah, HebrewMeaning:
"God supports, heals"
- Jotham
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord is perfect"
- Junius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"born in June"
- Kerensa
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"love"
- Keturah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"incense"
- Lacy
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from Lassey"
- Lavinia
Origin:
Latin, from ancient place name Lavinium
- Lazarus
Origin:
Latinized Greek variation of Hebrew EleazarMeaning:
"God is my helper"
- Leda
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"happy"
- Lela
- Lemuel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"devoted to God"
- Leona
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lioness"
- Leota
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"of the people"
- Letha
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"forgetfulness"
- Letitia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"joy, gladness"
- Lige
Origin:
Diminutive of Elijah, HebrewMeaning:
"Yahweh is God"
- Linus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"flax"
- Llewellyn
Origin:
Welsh, variation of LlywelynMeaning:
"leader's image"
- Lonnie
- Lovie
Origin:
Short form of Love, word nameMeaning:
"love"
- Lowell
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"young wolf"
- Lucinda
Origin:
Variation of LuciaMeaning:
"light"
- Lyman
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow-dweller"
- Mamie
Origin:
Diminutive of Mary or Margaret
- Marius
Origin:
Latin, from a Roman family name related to Mars, the god of war
- Maude
Origin:
English and French diminutive of Matilda, GermanMeaning:
"battle-mighty"
- Maynard
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"hardy, brave, strong"
- Merlin
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"sea fortress"
- Meta
Origin:
German, Slovene, and Scandinavian diminutive of Margaret, GreekMeaning:
"pearl"
- Millicent
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"strong in work"
- Minnie
Origin:
Diminutive of WilhelminaMeaning:
"resolute protection"
- Mirabel
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"wonderful"
- Missouri
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"Dugout canoe"
- Mittie
Origin:
Diminutive of Matilda or Martha
- Morton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"town near the moor"
- Mose
Origin:
German variation of Moses, EgyptianMeaning:
"delivered from the water"
- Myrtis
Origin:
Greek botanical name
- Ned
Origin:
English, diminutive of EdwardMeaning:
"wealthy guardian"
- Neva
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"white snow"
- Newton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"new town"
- Noble
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"aristocratic"
- Ocie
Origin:
Short form of Ocean, nature name
- Olin
Origin:
SwedishMeaning:
"to inherit"
- Ollie
Origin:
Short form of Olive or Olivia, LatinMeaning:
"olive tree"
- Ora
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"prayer"
- Orpha
Origin:
Variation of Orpah, HebrewMeaning:
"fawn"
- Orville
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"gold town"
- Ouida
Origin:
English diminutive
- Palma
Origin:
Latin place-name
- Pandora
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"all gifted"
- Pansy
Origin:
English flower name from FrenchMeaning:
"thought"
- Percival
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"one who pierces the valley"
- Perseus
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"to destroy"
- Philomena
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"lover of strength"
- Phineas
Origin:
English, EgyptianMeaning:
"the Nubian"
- Prudence
Origin:
Virtue nameMeaning:
"caution"
- Richmond
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"powerful protector"
- Romulus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"citizen of Rome"
- Roosevelt
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"rose field"
- Rosamond
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"horse protection"
- Rosita
Origin:
Spanish, diminutive of Rosa
- Rowena
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"white spear or famous friend"
- Rufus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"red-head"
- Sophronia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"sensible, prudent"
- Sudie
Origin:
Variation of Susanna, HebrewMeaning:
"lily"
- Sula
Origin:
Literary name
- Susannah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"lily"
- Sybil
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"prophetess"
- Tennie
Origin:
Diminutive of Tennessee, Cherokee
- Thebe
Origin:
Greek mythological name
- Thomasina
Origin:
English, feminine variation of Thomas
- Thora
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"thunder goddess"
- Thornton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"place in the thorns"
- Thurston
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"Thor's stone"
- Tiberius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the Tiber"
- Urban
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the city"
- Vance
Origin:
English and IrishMeaning:
"someone who lives near marshland"
- Verna
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"springtime"
- Vienna
Origin:
Place-name: the capital of Austria
- Virgie
- Virgil
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"staff bearer"
- Webster
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"weaver"
- Wilbur
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"resolute, brilliant"
- Wilda
Origin:
Variation of the word wild or GermanMeaning:
"to strive"
- Wilhelmina
Origin:
German, feminine variation of WilhelmMeaning:
"resolute protection"
- Willard
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"resolutely brave"
- Wilmer
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"determined fame"
- Winfield
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow, field"
- Zebedee
Origin:
English variation of Hebrew ZebediahMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Zebulon
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"exaltation or little dwelling"
- Zelma
Origin:
German, diminutive of AnselmaMeaning:
"God helmet"
- Zipporah
Origin:
Variation of Tziporah, HebrewMeaning:
"bird"
- Zita
Origin:
Italian or Persian; GreekMeaning:
"little girl; seeker"
- Zula
Origin:
English, derived from Zulu, South African tribal name