Old-Fashioned, Vintage, Retro, Classic, Eclectic, Unusual and Uncommon Names for Girls
By RuthShterna
Updated Thu May 25 2023
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If you like old-fashioned, vintage, retro, classic, eclectic, unusual, and slightly uncommon names, then this is the list for you!
- Abbie
Origin:
Diminutive of AbigailMeaning:
"my father is joyful"Description:
Abbie is a gently old-fashioned nickname name that owes its rising popularity to Top 10 Abigail. Abby may be the more usual spelling today.
- Abby
Origin:
Diminutive of Abigail, HebrewMeaning:
"my father is joyful"Description:
Gently old-fashioned stand-alone nickname that owes its popularity to mega popular Abigail.
- Abigail
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"my father is joyful"Description:
Abigail has been in for so long -- the name has ranked in the US Top 100 since the late 1980s -- it's amazing that it isn't more out by now. But Abigail's biblical and historic roots make it a fashionable classic rather than a passing fad.
- Accalia
Origin:
Latin, mythological nameDescription:
Accalia was the human foster-mother of twins Romulus and Remus. Her name is even more obscure than theirs.
- Ada
Origin:
German or TurkishMeaning:
"noble, nobility, or island"Description:
Ada is one of the classic baby names for girls that is suddenly super stylish again. A favorite at the end of the nineteenth century, Ada is an alternative to the over-popular Ava. Ada is also part of the trend toward simple, old-fashioned names beginning with a vowel, like Ivy and Ella.
- Adalie
Origin:
Variation of Adelie or AdaliaMeaning:
"noble; God is just"Description:
Akin to Ada, Adeline, and Adele, Adalie is one of many names to derive from the Old German element adal. Musical and lively, and less popular than its many of its sisters, Adalie was given to around 160 girls in a recent year. An obscure choice until the 2000s, Adalie saw increased usage in the US in 2012, around the time as other Ad- names were beginning to really trend.
- Adaline
Origin:
Variation of Adeline, EnglishMeaning:
"noble"Description:
Adaline rocketed onto the Top 1000 for the first time since 1924 in 2015 at a whopping Number 364 -- an astonishing debut. Though similar names, such as Adeline, Adelyn and Ada, have been growing steadily for years, the meteoric rise of this once-unusual spelling is no doubt due to Blake Lively-starring movie "The Age of Adaline," about a woman who stops aging at the age of 29.
- Adalyn
Origin:
Variation of AdelineMeaning:
"noble one"Description:
Adalyn is one of a large group of Ad-beginning names for girls, which include Adeline and Adalynn and Adelaide and Addison — essentially, anything leading to the popular nickname Addie is in. Adalyn is a beautiful name, but be prepared to have to spell it out for people often. Adalyn entered the charts in 2007 and rose quickly, but has been fairly steady in the mid 100s for nearly 10 years now.
- Adalynn
Origin:
Variation of Adeline, FrenchMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
This popular form of the even-more-popular Adeline combines the trendy Ad- prefix with the equally trendy -lynn suffix. Adalynn is the second most widely-used form of this popular name next to the classic Adeline. Singer Chris Daughtry named his daughter Adalynn Rose.
- Adamina
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"child of the red earth"Description:
A feminization of Adam with several sweet nickname options — Addie, Ada, Minnie, or Mina being a few.
- Addalyn
Description:
Addalyn is a modern feminine name that emerged in the United States in the early 2000s. It appears to be a creative variant of Adeline or Madelyn, combining elements of popular names with the trendy '-lyn' suffix. The root 'Adal' comes from Germanic origins meaning 'noble' or 'nobility.' Addalyn gained modest popularity in the 2010s, particularly in the southern United States, as part of the trend toward elaborate versions of classic names. The name appeals to parents seeking something familiar yet distinctive. Though still relatively uncommon compared to similar names like Addison or Madelyn, Addalyn offers a sweet, feminine sound while maintaining the vintage charm of its root names, with a contemporary spelling that sets it apart.
- Addie
Origin:
Diminutive of Adelaide or AdelineDescription:
Old-fashioned nickname with sweet turn-of-the-last-century charm that's become a favorite among the popular girl names starting with A of today. In fact, with all spellings of Adeline/Adalynn taken together firmly in the Top 10, and Adelaide and Addison also high in the charts, Addie is one of the most frequently-heard short forms around. But no matter how popular (or pandemic) it gets, Addie is undeniably one of the cutest names for baby girls. Little girls might like the fact that it's the name, though spelled Addy, of an American Girl series doll.
- Addilyn
Origin:
Variation of Adeline, FrenchMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
Another spin on the mega-popular Adeline names, which could stop any confusion about whether the ending is said lyn, line, or leen. This form peeked in 2016 when it nearly made the US Top 300, however, it was one of the fastest falling names in 2023, and now sits in the latter end of the Top 1000. We recommend the classic Adeline or Adaline or the more streamlined Adelyn.
- Addy
Origin:
Diminutive of Adelaide or AdelineDescription:
This name has become increasingly popular, though usually with the Addie spelling. In fact, Addy/Addie has taken over for Maddie and Allie as one of the most frequently-heard short forms for a range of also-popular formal names, including Adeline, Adalynn, Adeliaide, and Addison. As Addy, it's the name of an American Girls doll.
- Adela
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"noble"Description:
A vibrant variation of Adele, with a bit of extra flair from that "-a" ending. It could join the army of popular A girls' names, especially with its tie to the success of singer Adele.
- Adelaide
Origin:
Variant of Adelheidis, GermanMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
Adelaide is now heading straight uphill on the coattails of such newly popular sisters as Ava, Ada, and Audrey, and in the company of Adeline and Amelia. It was chosen by actress Katherine Heigl for the name of her second daughter.
- Adelais
Description:
Adelais is a feminine name of Old German origin, representing a beautiful medieval variant of Adelaide. The name means 'noble kind' or 'of noble type,' combining 'adal' (noble) and 'heid' (kind, type). Popular among European nobility during the Middle Ages, Adelais carries an aristocratic, vintage charm. The name fell from common usage by the Renaissance but has seen occasional revivals among those appreciating historical names. Its pronunciation (AD-eh-lays) offers a pleasing rhythm, while its spelling evokes images of medieval courts and chivalry. Though rare today, Adelais provides a distinctive alternative to the more common Adelaide or Adeline, appealing to parents seeking names with historical depth and feminine elegance.
- Adele
Origin:
French diminutive of AdelaideMeaning:
"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.
- Adelheid
Origin:
German and Dutch form of Adelheidis, GermanMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
The ancient German name Adelheidis gave rise to both Adelaide and Adelheid. While Adelaide is more popular and better known internationally, Adelheid is still used occasionally in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. The German pronunciation is not that different from Adelaide, with a soft h and a long I sound instead of a long A in the last syllable.
- Adeline
Origin:
French, diminutive of AdeleMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
Adeline has a lovely, old-fashioned "Sweet Adeline" charm, but has become so popular in the US under so many spellings and variations — with Adalynn and Adalyn also popular — that considered together it is far more popular than it first seems. Adorable nickname Addie is also pervasive.