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Oregon Trail era names but for girls

  1. Josette

    • Origin:

      French,pet form of Josephine, feminine of Joseph, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      One of the group of French 'ette'-ending names that emigrated to this country in the last century, though never as popular as some others, such as Claudette and Paulette--it did have a little six-year flurry here between 1967 and 1973. Josette may be feminine and flirty, but, given the choice, most parents today would prefer Josephine.
  2. Cyrene

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "supreme power"

    • Description:

      Cyrene was a mythical nymph and huntress who was beloved by Apollo. An ancient city in Libya was named after her.
  3. Clare

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      This is the original, more prosaic spelling, but the airier Claire now dominates.
  4. Susie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Susan, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "lily"

    • Description:

      In the 1950s and 60s, Susie was the name every little girl wanted for her very own.
  5. Sophronia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sensible, prudent"

    • Description:

      A name some people first encountered in the old children's book series The Five Little Peppers, in which Sophronia, the youngest of the Peppers is nicknamed Phronsie.`It was also used by Dickens in two of his novels: The Old Curiosity Shop and Our Mutual Friend.
  6. Deliah

    • Description:

      Deliah is a feminine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Delilah, which has Hebrew origins meaning "delicate" or "weak." In the Bible, Delilah was the woman who betrayed Samson by cutting his hair, which was the source of his strength. Despite this somewhat negative biblical association, the name has a soft, melodious sound that has attracted parents over the years. Deliah, with this particular spelling, is much less common than the traditional Delilah spelling. The name has a lyrical quality and vintage charm that fits with the trend of reviving older names. While Delilah has experienced significant popularity in recent decades, the Deliah variant remains relatively rare, offering a slightly different take on the classic name.

  7. Daniella

    • Origin:

      Italian, Polish, Czech, feminine variation of Daniel

    • Description:

      Daniella, Daniela, and Danielle were among the hottest names for twenty years, but now, though still popular, they can no longer be considered stylish options, lagging behind the newer Ella, Stella, Bella, Gabriella, and Isabella.
  8. Carolina

    • Origin:

      Variation of Caroline; also place-name

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Romantic, and classy, this variation heats up Caroline and modernizes Carol, adding a southern accent. A popular choice in Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Italy, it recently entered the US Top 500.
  9. Desdemona

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "ill-starred"

    • Description:

      Desdemona is as Shakespearean as a name can be, but because the beautiful and innocent wife of Othello came to such a tragic end, her name has been avoided for centuries. But at this point in time, there might be some adventurous parents willing to overlook that.
  10. Amalthea

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "tender goddess"

    • Description:

      In Greek mythology, Amalthea is the name of a goat (or, sometimes, a goat-keeping nymph) who nursed the infant Zeus and protected him from his murderous father, Cronus. Thanks to the goat’s protection and nourishment, Zeus grew up to overthrow Cronus.
  11. Aleida

    • Origin:

      Dutch diminutive of Adelaide or Latin

    • Meaning:

      "noble; small, winged one"

    • Description:

      This Latin name, also spelled Alida, has come into focus via the interesting character of Aleida Diaz on Orange is the New Black, the mother of Dayanara. In real life, Che Gueverra named a daughter Aleida.
  12. Jeanne

    • Origin:

      French variation of Jean

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      Pronounced just like Jean in the English-speaking world, but as the more unusual zhahn in France, this has sailed away with the first wave of French favorites: Denise, Michelle, et soeurs.
  13. Eveline

    • Origin:

      English or French

    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"

    • Description:

      Variant of Evelyn or Aveline
  14. Nettie

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of names ending in -ette or -etta, or variation of Neta, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "plant"

    • Description:

      You may never have known a Nettie personally, but there well might be one hidden in your family history, considering that she was a Top 100 name until 1901 and stayed on the Social Security list until 1962.
  15. Milly

    • Origin:

      Variation of Millie, English diminutive of Mildred or Millicent

    • Meaning:

      "gentle strength; strong in work"

    • Description:

      Milly and her more popular sister Millie are adorable Old Lady nickname-names springing back to life. Nearly 100 baby girls were named Milly, just Milly, last year, and Millie is in the US Top 500. Milly is the Molly of the new generation.
  16. Dorcas

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "doe, gazelle"

    • Description:

      Classic name used by the Romans, the Puritans, and the Bard, but pretty much taboo today due to the objectionable connotations of both its front and back ends.
  17. Adelia

    • Origin:

      Variation of Adela, German

    • Meaning:

      "noble, nobility"

    • Description:

      The super-success of Adele, both the singer and the name, has brought attention to all her cousins — Adela, Adeline, Adelina — and the lovely Adelia. An undiscovered gem just waiting to be discovered.
  18. Portia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "pig"

    • Description:

      Portia is a perfect role-model name, relating to Shakespeare's brilliant and spirited lawyer in The Merchant of Venice, and is now also a Hunger Games name .
  19. Delanie

    • Description:

      Delanie is a feminine name with Irish roots, derived from the surname Delaney, which originated from the Gaelic 'Dubh Sláine' meaning 'dark challenger' or 'from the dark river.' It emerged as a first name in the United States during the late 20th century as part of the trend of transforming surnames into given names. Delanie offers a softer, more feminine spelling variation of Delaney. The name combines a traditional heritage with a contemporary feel, appealing to parents seeking names that are distinct without being unusual. Its popularity increased in the early 2000s alongside similar names like Melanie and Stephanie, appreciated for its pleasant sound and subtle uniqueness.
  20. Patience

    • Origin:

      Latin virtue name

    • Meaning:

      "ability to accept or tolerate inconveniences, and suffering without anxiety or anger"

    • Description:

      Patience is a passive virtue turned engaging name, fresher than Hope, Faith, or even Charity. Its resemblance to the trendy Payton may be one reason that it returned to the US charts back in the 90's and 2000s, having been absent for a century.