Vintage girls that don't break the US top 1000

  1. Adalia
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "noble one"
    • Description:

      Luxurious and distinctive, with a biblical bacground--although in the Good Book,Adalia is a male.
  2. Adele
    • Origin:

      French diminutive of Adelaide
    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"
    • Description:

      Credit the award-winning single-named British singer for taking the girls’ name Adele from a quiet semi-retirement back into currency. Adele reentered the US Top 1000 popular baby names in 2011 and has remained there ever since.
  3. Agnes
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "pure, virginal"
    • Description:

      Agnes is the Latin variation of the name Hagne, which itself derived from the Greek word hagnos, meaning "chaste." In medieval times, St. Agnes was a very popular saint, leading to its popularity as a girl's name. Agnes Grey is the title of one of the two novels written by Anne Brontë.
  4. Annora
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "honor"
    • Description:

      Annora is a noble name, a distinctive twist on its most essential form: Honor. Other variations to explore include Honora and Nora.
  5. Antonia
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from Antium"
    • Description:

      Antonia is stronger than most feminized boys’ names, reflecting the pioneer spirit of Willa Cather's classic novel My Antonia. Antonia is hovering near the bottom of the US popularity list, which may be an excellent reason for you to use it.
  6. Augusta
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Augustus
    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"
    • Description:

      Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, Augusta could get some fresh energy.
  7. Aveline
    • Origin:

      French from German
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or island, water"
    • Description:

      Aveline is a name that's long been an obscure cousin of more widely-used choices, but may come into its own riding the tail of the megapopular Ava, which may derive from the same root.
  8. Alodia
    • Beatrix
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "she who brings happiness; blessed"
      • Description:

        Beatrix has a solid history of its own apart from Beatrice, with that final x adding a playful, animated note to the name's imposing history.
    • Calista
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "most beautiful"
      • Description:

        Spelled with either one 'l' or two, Calista came to the fore in 1997 when Calista Flockhart hit it big as Ally McBeal. Flockhart, who bears her mother's middle name, didn't just introduce a name, she introduced a whole sensibility. Pretty and delicate, Calista is definitely worthy of consideration, especially for parents with Greek roots.
    • Calla
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "beautiful"
      • Description:

        Calla is a lily name that is much more distinctive and delicate than Lily. Rarely heard today, it did appear in the popularity lists in the last decades of the nineteenth century.
    • Cecile
      • Origin:

        French feminine form of Cecil
      • Meaning:

        "blind"
      • Description:

        Cecile is a fairly common French saint's name, scattered throughout classic French literature--in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, in Balzac's Cousin Pons, and Zola's Germinal.
    • Cecily
      • Origin:

        Feminine variation of Cecil
      • Meaning:

        "blind"
      • Description:

        Cecily is as dainty as a lace handkerchief. Cecily has a wide assortment of namesakes. One Cecily was the mother of King Richard III, whose beauty gained her the title "the Rose of Raby," Cecily Parsley is a Beatrix Potter bunny, Cecily Cardew is a character in The Importance of Being Earnest, and the author of the Gossip Girl books is Cecily von Ziegesar.
    • Clelia
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "famous"
      • Description:

        The obscure yet not unappealing name of a legendary heroine of Rome. The ancient Clelia escaped an Etruscan invader by swimming across the Tiber River.
    • Eloise
      • Origin:

        French and English variation of Heloise
      • Meaning:

        "healthy; wide"
      • Description:

        Eloise is newly chic, along with many other names with the El- beginning. Eloise reentered the US Top 1000 girl names in 2009 after a 50 year nap and broke into the Top 100 in 2022. And she shows no signs of slowing down.
    • Esme
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "beloved"
      • Description:

        Esmé comes from the past participle of the Old French verb esmer, meaing "to esteem" or "to love." It can also be considered a derivative of the Spanish name Esmeralda, which means "emerald".
    • Felicia
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "lucky"
      • Description:

        A lacy, lucky name very popular in the Hispanic community a decade ago, less so now.
    • Flora
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "flower"
      • Description:

        Flora, the name of the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, who enjoyed eternal youth, is one of the gently old-fashioned girls' flower names we think is due for a comeback— alongside cousins Cora and Dora. Florence, Fiorella, Fleur, and Flower are translations, but we like Flora best of all.
    • Georgina
      • Origin:

        English, feminine variation of George
      • Meaning:

        "farmer"
      • Description:

        Now more popular than Georgiana in Britain, this elegant Dickens. Jane Austen name deserves attention. Most American parents prefer Georgia to Georgina or any other feminization of George.
    • Harriet
      • Origin:

        English variation of French Henriette
      • Meaning:

        "estate ruler"
      • Description:

        Harriet has long been considered a stylish, upscale name in England, but it's still waiting to be revived in the US—though some parents seeking a solid, serious semi-classic are beginning to consider it.