Classic Baby Names

Ancient Greek Names

Ancient Greek names are suddenly being used for modern babies. The revival of Greek mythology as a fresh naming influence has led to thousands of babies being born with once-unusual names like Penelope, Atlas, and Calliope.

Antique Baby Names Back in Style

Vintage baby names have been on the rise for several years now, with some antique names climbing popularity lists and reaching the heights of style. If you like vintage or classic baby names that have been in hiding for a few generations, one of these may appeal to you -- but don't be surprised if you meet a lot of other babies with these historic names.

Biblical Baby Names

Biblical baby names have been in style since the 1960s, when parents started to revive such boy names from the bible as Samuel and Joshua, Aaron and Adam. Over the decades, biblical names for both boys and girls have become popular. Noah and Jacob have both held the top spot for baby boy names in recent years.

Boy Names ALWAYS in the Top 1000

There are just under 200 baby boy names that have been on the Top 1000 since 1880, when the U.S. Social Security office began tracking baby names. The classic boy names here — such as Oliver and William — are included among that elite group that has been perennially popular.

Christian Baby Names

The Christian baby names on this list are names that have significance in Christian religions, rather than Christian names as a synomym for first names.

Many Christian baby names come from the Bible, particularly the New Testament stories related to Jesus Christ. Other names with meaning in Christian religions relate to saints or figures central to Christianity such as Martin Luther. Baby names that might be considered Christian in the religious sense follow.

Classic Baby Names

What are the most classic baby names for girls and boys? While there are hundreds of classic baby names from the Bible, ancient cultures, and other traditional sources in common use today, these are our picks for the most, um, classic classic baby names.

Classic Baby Names with a Twist

Classic baby names with a twist are exactly what they sound like — alternatives to traditional, historically common names that are just a little bit funky. If Alexander is too predictable, try Alessandro or Lysander. If Sarah isn’t interesting enough, go for Sarai or Zadie.

Classic Boy Names

Classic baby names for boys, those that have been well used in the English-speaking world over time, are an elite group. Classic boy names may come from the Bible, be traditional saints' names or royal names, or be names with roots in ancient languages, such as Jacob and Alexander.

Classic Celebrity Baby Names

We love to make lists of outlandish celebrity baby names, from Apple to Pilot Inspektor. But how about the countless celebrities who stick to the classic baby names? We're not just talking about Will and Kate, either. These classic baby names have appeared in first place on high profile birth announcements in the last few years,, surprising and delighting us with their traditional take on naming a 21st century celebrity kid.

Classic Girl Names

Classic girl names include several of the Top 10 names for girls in the English-speaking world: Emma, Olivia, Charlotte, and Sophia. Along with Sophia and Emma, other classic girl names in the US Top 50 include Amelia, Abigail, Elizabeth, Victoria, Grace, Hannah, Eleanor, and Claire. Quirkier classic names for girls include Priscilla, Theodora, Georgia, and Felicity.

Classic Girl Names That Aren't Boring

Classic baby names for girls are highly covetable — these names are rooted in tradition and hard to argue with. But some classic names have been popular for decades, making them feel overused, unoriginal, and dare we say, boring.

Cool Classic Boy Names — 100+ below the Top 1000

These classic boy names include choices from ancient cultures and the Bible, names sailing out of style along with those heading in. How can a name be cool and classic at the same time? It's deeply rooted in history, but it's also unusual, and these boys' names qualify on both counts.

Cool Classic Girl Names — 100+ below the Top 1000

Classic baby names are not always popular names. These classic classic girl names are also unusual, hiding below the Top 1000. For a name to be cool and classic, it has to be both out-of-the-ordinary and used over centuries, and the 100+ girls' names here qualify on both counts.

Fashionable Classic Baby Names

Classic baby names that are also fashionable top today's popularity lists, with fashionable classic girl names Emma, Olivia, Sophia, and Charlotte ranking in the US Top 10, while James, William, and Benjamin make the Top 10 names for boys. Other fashionable classic baby names getting more popular include Adeline, Amelia, and Ella for girls; Henry, Oliver, and Theodore for boys. If your taste runs toward the more unusual, there are those fashionable classic names that don't quite make the Top 100, such as Hope and June for girls, Felix and Orion for boys. Of course, not every classic name is fashionable or vice versa, but these qualify on both counts.

Girl Names ALWAYS in the Top 1000

These perennially popular girl names have all appeared on the Top 1000 list for every year since the U.S. government started keeping records in 1880. Forever favorites include the ultra-traditionals such as Elizabeth and Katherine, as well as nickname names such as Annie and Josie.

Greek Baby Names for Modern Kids

Classic Greek baby names are a rich source of modern names, But which Greek names work best for today's babies? Some names of ancient gods and goddesses — such as Apollo and Calliope — have become newly baby-appropriate, while there are many other traditional names that have Greek roots.

Greek Goddess Names

Greek goddess names are making an unlikely comeback for 21st century babies, combining ancient roots with august namesakes and distinctive style. Some names of the Greek goddesses are well-known in the contemporary Western world, such as Iris and Selene, while others are used occasionally or have been asleep for centuries.

Hebrew Baby Names

Hebrew baby names include many of the most popular names used in the contemporary Western world. Names from the Bible, such as Solomon and Sadie, along with names used in contemporary Israel, including Yael and Lior, are worth consideration.

Mythology Boy Names

Baby names inspired by myth and legend are on the rise, inspired by the use of mythological names for boys in the Hunger Games series. The pantheon of Greek and Roman deities, such as Orion and Apollo, and other figures from Irish, Norse, African, Hindu, and other myths and legends can provide an abundant source of audacious baby names, all combining deep history with not-heard-in-a-long-time freshness.

Mythology Girl Names

Mythology baby names for girls can impart both tradition and strength to a child. The pantheon of Greek and Roman deities, such as Athena and Luna, along with figures from Celtic, Irish, Norse, Hindu and other classic myths and legends can provide an abundant source of audacious options, all combining deep history with not-heard-in-a-long-time freshness.

Rich Roman Goddess Names

Names from Ancient Rome are super stylish these days, and what better names from that era than Roman goddess names and Roman god names. These mythological names have survived the centuries, with some of the Roman goddess names — Luna, for instance, and Aurora — very fashionable now.

Royal Baby Names

Royal baby names on this list are those used by royal families in recent years. Along with the traditional George, Charlotte, and Louis, other royal names making news range from the down-to-earth Archie to the fashionable Leonore to the popular Emma. The royal boy and girl names here include those used by British royal parents as well as those from other countries throughout Europe, including Spain, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Royal Names for Boys

Royal names for boys on this list are those used by the British royal family for over a thousand years. Charles, William, and George, the names of the male heirs to the throne, are in use in the UK right now, as well as Andrew, Edward, Philip, Louis, and James. These are also very common in the US.

Royal Names for Girls

Royal baby names on this list are those used by the British royal family over the centuries. Included on this list are names used in the middle, as for the little princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

Ruling Roman God Names

Roman god names for baby boys are in the forefront of fashion, with playgrounds in trendy neighborhoods full of little boys named Jupiter and Apollo, whose playmates are Odin, Juno, and Freya. Roman names for gods are among the best-known mythological names, thought they haven't been used much for baby boys until recently.

Saints' Names For Boys

It is tradition, though no longer a requirement, in the Roman Catholic Church for a child receiving baptism to be given a saint's name. However, even parents who don't find themselves particularly religious have begun to take interest in the rare, uplifting, and sometimes unheard-of names of saints for their sons and daughters. Names of notable saints such as St. Sebastian and St. Jude are listed here, as well as those of lesser-known saints.

Saints' Names for Girls

Saints' names may no longer be required for a Roman Catholic baptism, but many parents choose to honor saints with their children's names anyway. Names of notable saints such as St. Catherine of Siena and St. Teresa of Avila are listed here, as well as those of lesser-known saints.

Top Bible Baby Names

Bible baby names have been among the most popular classic names over the past several decades. Old Testament Names for boys, such as Jacob and Noah, have been high on the popular baby names list, but some Biblical girls' names — particularly Elizabeth — are also longtime classic favorites.

Traditional Baby Names

Traditional baby names, by our definition, are those that have been used consistently in English-speaking countries for centuries -- and are still in widespread use.

Unusual Antique Baby Names

If you're looking for truly unusual vintage 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.

Unusual Biblical Baby Names

The Bible is full of names, and many that were once considered unusual—Moses, for example, and Delilah—are now familiar on playgrounds throughout the land. So if you're looking for unique bible baby names, you have to look a lot harder, but they're still there. Instead of Delilah or Moses, you might try Zillah or Moab.