vintage girl names begging to be rediscovered

A word that's been used, very infrequently, as a name for hundreds of years. Interesting sound and meaning.

Easter has been used as a name for several hundred years, as part of the day-naming tradition; now, this rarely heard holiday celebration name would make a novel choice for a springtime baby. Background:The early Anglo-Saxon monk and scholar Bede took the name of a goddess--Eostre-- whose feast was celebrated at the vernal equinox and gave it to the Christian festival of the resurrection of Christ.

Effie is the old-fashioned short form for Euphemia. It shares a vintage charm with Hattie and Letty although is much rarer than either. Effie is a character in The Hunger Games and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Eleanor is back, Nora is back, and, as predicted, Eleanora is back too, as of 2023.

Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder.

Ellamay combines the popular name Ella (meaning 'fairy maiden' or 'light' in various languages) with May, traditionally associated with the spring month and renewal. This compound name creates a sweet, vintage feeling reminiscent of Southern double names that were popular in the early 20th century. Ellamay carries a nostalgic charm while maintaining modern appeal through the popularity of its component parts. The name has a melodic quality with its balanced syllables and soft sounds. While not among the most common names, Ellamay appeals to parents seeking something with traditional roots but distinctive character. The name evokes images of spring flowers and sunshine, with an inherent brightness and optimism that makes it an endearing choice for a daughter.

Ellis, a surname used sparingly as a first in the Wallace/Morris period, sounds new now for girls, as a gender-neutral alternative to Ella or Alice. It debuted in the US Top 1000 for girls in 2015.-- Ellis has always been in the Top 1000 for boys -- and seems to be headed straight up. One of the most popular gender-neutral names, currently there are two baby boys named Ellis for every girl.

As Elodie filters into the mainstream, parents may turn to the rarer Spanish form Elodia as an alternative.

A child will find this name is neat, easy to pronounce, and able to fit in with the crowd.

This Celtic goddess and Arthurian name may sound terminally old-ladyish to many ears--but so did names like Ella and Etta not so long ago. So Enid is yet another forgotten four-letter E-possibility: she's has been M.I.A since 1954.

Irish town names are now fair game -- as are most other places with connections to Ireland -- but are much better suited to boys.

Name that enjoyed some popularity early in the 20th century but now is locked in another, ahem, era.

Eris was the goddess of strife and discord, turned fairy tale and then popular culture figure Maleficent in Sleeping Beauty. Ironic, as her name sounds so much like that of Eros, the god of love.