Historic and Vintage Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 9 pages
of 9
Anglicized variation of Chaim
"life"
Hyman was commonly used by first-generation Jewish immigrants to Anglicize Chaim, but similarities to terms like heinie and hymen have taken it out of the realm of modern possibility. The original…
Irl is a compact, masculine name with both Irish and Germanic roots. In Irish contexts, it's believed to be a shortened form of 'Ireland,' potentially conveying patriotic sentiment. Its Germanic…
Jen is a short, crisp feminine name that originated primarily as a diminutive of Jennifer, though it can also be a nickname for names like Jenna, Jenny, or Genevieve. The root name Jennifer comes…
Diminutive of Katherine, Greek
"pure"
Kathie is a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of Katherine, which comes from the Greek name Aikaterine, possibly meaning 'pure.' This spelling variation was particularly popular in…
Anglicization of Ciorstag, the Gaelic nickname for Christine, or short form of Kirsten
Actress Kirstie Alley popularized this short form that's been off the popularity register for a decade.
English, diminutive of Katherine
This endearing nickname name is one Katherine pet form that predates all the Kathys and Katies, having been fairly common in the eighteenth century. With the current mini-craze for animal-related…
Lashonda is a feminine name that gained notable popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, peaking in the early 1970s. The name follows a naming pattern combining the prefix 'La-'…
The name Lassie originates from Scottish culture, where it was traditionally used as a term for a young girl or maiden. However, its widespread recognition comes primarily from the fictional female…
Latonya is a feminine given name that emerged in the United States during the mid-20th century. The name appears to be a modern creation combining the popular prefix 'La-' (meaning 'the' in Romance…
Variation of Lee, English
"pasture, meadow"
Leigh as a masculine name has Anglo-Saxon origins, derived from the Old English 'leah' meaning 'clearing' or 'meadow.' While Leigh has become increasingly popular as a feminine name in recent…
English fruit name
Sour or sweet? Enough like Lennon, Leonard, and Clement to work, or best left in the fruit basket? That's up to you to decide, but Lemon has been appearing in the US charts for boys since the 1880s.…
Word name
A name that shows up on the Social Security roles of a hundred years ago. Let's hope it was a never-to-be-repeated mistake.
Littleton is a masculine name of English origin that began as a geographical surname referring to someone from any of several places named Littleton in England. These place names typically combined…
Loney is an uncommon given name that originated as an English surname, derived from Old French 'l'aulnai,' meaning 'alder grove' or from the Old English 'lane-eg,' referring to a 'long island.' As a…
Variation of Lawrence, Latin
"from Laurentum"
Loring lives as a first name thanks to the Kansas doctor Loring Miner who first sounded the alarm on what became known as the Spanish Flu.
Luster is an uncommon masculine name derived from an English word meaning 'shine,' 'gleam,' or 'radiance.' Originally more common as a surname, it emerged as a given name through the practice of…
Diminutive of Margery or Margaret
"pearl"
A super diminutive nickname name, and sometime Madonna nickname – it was how the British tabloids referred to her when she moved to London in the 1990s, which she found annoying until then husband…
Short form of Margaret, Greek
Marge used to be as common as Maggie or Megan, ranking on its own in the girls' Top 1000 from 1900 until right after World War II, when so many Old School names fell off the list in favor of a new…
Irish place-name
"yew-tree plain"
When ordering a baby name, hold the mayo.
