<a href="https://nameberry.com/list/248/old-lady-names">Old lady names</a> are cool by virtue of their very disdain for fashion. These kind of old school <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' names</a> are connected to tradition rather than modernity and gloss. What gets confusing is whether stylish vintage names like Adeline or Clara really qualify as Old Lady Names anymore, or if a name needs to be a bit dusty and unfashionable to be considered an Old Lady Name. 

Along with Adeline and Clara, other old lady names in the US Top 500 include Cora, Elsie, Evelyn, Iris, Mabel, Miriam, Ruth, and Vera. If you prefer the clunky-cool variety of old lady names, consider adding Cornelia, Dorothea, Geraldine, or Henrietta to your list.

Unique Old Lady Names that might inspire you include Eulalia, Lavinia, and Millicent.

We've tried to make this list inclusive, pulling in all types of Old Lady Names. These range from sweet vintage names for girls such as Beatrice and Clara to so-clunky-they're-cool names such as Esther and Olive to old-fashioned names that have not yet made their comeback, such as Myrtle and Phyllis. 

<h2>Old Lady Names</h2>

Old Lady Names

With historical roots as a beautiful and intelligent ancient queen and literary ties to Hawthorne and Edith Wharton novels, this rarity could appeal to adventurous parents seeking the romantically unusual. Tina Fey used it as her daughter Alice's middle name.
 Zenobia was the intriguing third-century Queen of Palmyra who for a time ruled the eastern Roman Empire, Ethan Frome's wife Zeena was born Zenobia, and Zenobia Moodie was one of the most colorful characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Blithedale Romance.
 Zenobia reached a high of Number 683 in 1909 but had dropped back out of the Top 1000 by the mid-1920s.

Zenobia

Frederica is an interesting possibility for the parent unintimidated by its old-fashioned formality, and who can appreciate the
vintage charm and verve lurking beneath its stuffiness. 
 The name emerged in eighteenth century Prussia when supporters of King Frederick the Great began to name their daughters in his honor, and is currently reporesented by opera star Frederica von Stade.
 Nicknames include the obvious Freddie, plus Rica and Fritzi.

Frederica

The name of the mother of Aethelred the Unready was once common among the Anglo-Saxon nobility, and was briefly revived during the 19th century, only to be lost once again to history. 

However, with the recent revival of Frida and other clunky-cool vintage gems like Agatha, Matilda and Theodora, we think this ancient option could be worth a second look. 

And how cute would a baby Elfie be?

Elfrida

A name with a surprising amount of history--it was the name of the wife of Ptolemy I of Egypt, occurs in the New Testament, and belonged to a fourth century saint.  In the US, it has long been spelled and pronounced Bernice.  Nicknames include Bernie, Berry, Binnie and Bunny.

Berenice

Albertina is a dainty, antiquated -- dare we say demure? -- pet name for Alberta, the feminine spin on the once-popular Albert. With Albert one of the classic boys' names due for a comeback, we can imagine more little girls named Albertina than the zero who get the name today.

Albertina

old lady names

Old lady names like Adeline and Clara sound new and cool again, vintage and old fashioned names back in style, with meanings, origins, and popularity. This list includes clunky names, vintage names, old names, grandma names, family names, classic names  (Page 6)

Old Lady Names That Sound New Again

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