Historic and Vintage Names
Extinct Names
Across 9 pages
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About this list
These extinct names were commonly used for babies decades ago, but today have faded from use for reasons that may in many cases be obvious. While there are a few possible choices in this collection of names given to zero babies in the US, most are off the table for now.
Perhaps it was not difficult to be named Nimrod or Velva in 1920, but those names would be difficult for any child to carry today. Some of these baby names are no longer used because of changes in slang, some because of changes in values or unpleasant associations.
And then there are the extinct names that are simply way out of style, often extinct spelling variations of once-popular names or antiquated names that have acquired such a thick layer of dust it's hard to imagine them ever feeling shiny and baby-ready again.
Whatever the reason, many of these extinct baby names should probably stay extinct. Read this list of extinct baby names for a laugh — did people really do that?!? — but if you're looking for a lovely antique baby name, try this big list of Vintage Baby Names instead.
RELATED:
The names
Adolph
German
"noble wolf"
World War II stamped a permanent verboten on Adolph.
Lurline
Variation of Lorelei, German
"alluring temptress"
The lilting Lorelei has given birth to many variations, including this one, now extinct.
Earlene
Femininzation of Earl, English word name
"nobleman, warrior"
Earlene is even more out of style than Earl. These are among the names that have not been revived ala the Hundred Year Rule.
Orpah
Hebrew
"fawn or gazelle"
Old Testament name of the daughter-in-law of Naomi, now eclipsed by the originally misspelled Oprah. Oprah Winfrey may have made her name more famous than this original Biblical version, but no baby…
Orpha
Variation of Orpah, Hebrew
"fawn"
Orpha, with its Biblical roots and its animal meaning, was once a fairly popular name, but fell from sight around the time of the Second World War, along with so many other Old School Names. And its…
Oprah
Variation of Orpah, Hebrew
"fawn or gazelle"
The misspelling that created an indelibly one-person name. And we mean that literally: Despite Oprah Winfrey's fame and appeal, there were no baby girls named Oprah last year, OR Orpah. The Biblical…
Earla
English, feminine variation of Earl
If there's an ancestral Earl you want to honor, consider Early instead.
Verde
Spanish
"green"
Verde is an uncommon color name with a Latinate accent, perfect for a spring baby. Other unique color names include Cerulean, Amethyst, and Iolanthe, while color names with green meanings include…
Verda
Variation of Verde, Spanish
"green"
Verda was a fairly popular girls' name in the US from the 1880s through the 1920s, when it started to slip, finally dropping from sight after World War II. Today, Verde and Verda are both extinct.
Dillard
English
"proud and hard"
Best known these days as the name of an American department store chain, Dillard was once a baby name that ranked on the US Top 1000, at least until the middle of the last century. Today, Dillard…
Delmer
Variation of Delmar, Spanish
"of the sea"
Delmer is kind of a smoosh of two dated names, Delmar and Elmer, that does not improve on either. While Elmer is making a return as a Geek Chic name, Delmar was given to only 14 baby boys last year…
Nedra
Variation of Nedda, Slavic
"born on Sunday"
Nedra was one of a phalanx of names -- Delma, Verda, Vernice -- popular in the late 19th and early 20th century that dropped out of fashion after World War II and now have disappeared completely.…
Nedda
Slavic
"born on Sunday"
Midcentury macramé-maker.
Vernice
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.…
Adelma
German
"noble, famous"
Adelma is likely a feminization of Adelmar, which means famous nobleman. The name was seen a bit during the nineteenth century, with a famous bearer being Adelma Vay, a medium and spiritualist, which…
Delma
Short form of Adelma, German
"noble, famous"
Adelma shot to stardom on the coattails of 19th century Eastern European spiritualist Baroness Adelma Vay de Vaya. Delma continued to be used in the US until the 1950s, when it dropped from sight.…
Alf
English
"elf counsel"
Short form of Alfred that had fallen out of favor, but could come back alongside Alfie and other clunky old-style nicknames like Gus and Ike.
Algie
Algie is a vintage masculine name that originated as a diminutive of names beginning with 'Alg-' such as Algernon or Albert. With Old French and Germanic roots, it gained modest popularity in the…
Almond
English word name or variation of Almund or Aleman, German
"almond; noble strength; German"
Almond may seem like a hippy modern name, but its use for American boys goes right back to the mid-nineteenth century. In these cases, it was either a variation of Almund, meaning "noble strength,"…
Adolf
German
"noble wolf"
Adolf may have been a Swedish royal name but the terrible dictatorship of Adolf Hitler has ruled out this name Adolf for any sensible parent. In the US last year, there were more than 100 boys' given…