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A List of Trendy Old Fashioned Names

  1. Alouette

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "lark"

    • Description:

      Alouette is a sweet Gallic twist in the stylish bird name genre made familiar via the charming French children's song, Alouette, gentile alouette.
  2. Candace

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "white, pure, sincere"

    • Description:

      Candace, an ancient title of a dynasty of Ethiopian queens mentioned in the New Testament, is associated both with actress Candice Bergen and Sex and the City writer Candace Bushnell.
  3. Sandra

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alessandra, Italian from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      2012's Hurricane Sandy blew away whatever style currency Sandra retained from its 1960s Sandra Dee heyday. While in recent years it's been associated with Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, as a baby name Sandra is sinking beneath the waves.
  4. Irie

    • Origin:

      Jamaican

    • Meaning:

      "positive and powerful"

    • Description:

      A name used in the Caribbean, taken from the Rastafarian term that translates best to "positive and powerful." Rastas often greet each other by saying, "Are you feeling Irie today?"
  5. Lucienne

    • Origin:

      French feminine variation of Lucian

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      Lucienne is a soft and ultra-sophisticated French-accented option in the Lucy family, one that could provide a fresh alternative to such fatigued Gallic choices as Danielle and Michelle.
  6. Buchanan

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "place of the cannon"

    • Description:

      A lesser-used presidential choice, with a charming, buccaneering sound. Fictional bearers include the Marvel Comics character James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, as well as the heroine of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan.
  7. Pip

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Philip

    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"

    • Description:

      The original Pip was the main character in Great Expectations (full name Philip Pirrip). Cute for a tike, maybe too cute for an adult.
  8. Sutton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from the southern homestead"

    • Description:

      Swanky sound via New York's ritzy Sutton Place. It fits with current popular boys’ names, due to its two syllables and -on ending. It debuted in the US Top 1000 for boys in 2015, though it is currently more popular for girls.
  9. Saxon

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "people of the dagger"

    • Description:

      Saxon is unusual word name that nevertheless feels right on trend, with that sharp X in the middle and that two-syllable-ending-in-n pattern. Reminiscent of Roman but not yet so popular, Saxon is one to watch out for.
  10. Rocket

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in boys' names starting with R, you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and Racer) to your list.
  11. Thelma

    • Origin:

      English, Literary, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      Though modern parents seeking to honor an ancestor named Thelma might opt for the airier Thea instead, Thelma is starting to make its way back onto adventurous vintage name lovers' radars. It is currently experiencing a modest revival in France, where it now ranks around the #300 mark.
  12. Oak

    • Origin:

      English tree name

    • Meaning:

      "tree from the genus Quercus"

    • Description:

      Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle.
  13. Howie

    • Description:

      Howie is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Howard, though it's now often used as an independent given name. Howard derives from the Old Norse name Hávarðr, meaning "high or chief guardian." Howie carries a friendly, approachable quality typical of nicknames ending with the -ie suffix. The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, aligning with the success of figures like musician Howie Day and television host Howie Mandel. While retaining a certain boyish charm, Howie has declined in usage in recent decades, giving it a distinctive retro quality that might appeal to parents looking for a friendly, unpretentious name with historical roots.

  14. Marilla

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "shining sea"

    • Description:

      Marilla is a names that's familiar via its resemblance to Mary and variations, but also distinctive: It hasn't been on the Top 1000 since the 1800s and was given to only 27 baby girls last year.
  15. Dakota

    • Origin:

      Place-name; Sioux

    • Meaning:

      "friendly one"

    • Description:

      An early and still one of the most popular unisex names, also a place name and name of a Native American people in the northern Mississippi valley, which makes it a controversial baby name choice. While the popularity of Dakota is trending downward for both genders, it's one of those rare genuinely gender-neutral names that is used for nearly equal numbers of boys and girls.
  16. Gatsby

    • Origin:

      German surname and literary name

    • Meaning:

      "from Gaddesby"

    • Description:

      Gatsby is one of the most famous literary surnames, borne by the titular character of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The book's Jay Gatsby gussied up his surname from Gatz, whose meaning is given variously as left-handed, cat, God, and person from Gat. As a first name, it's got a lot of energy and that great literary pedigree.
  17. Rogue

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "independent, uncontrolled"

    • Description:

      Now that names like Cannon and Gunner, fit for comic book heroes, are rising up, Rogue may fit right in.
  18. Maelie

    • Origin:

      Breton

    • Meaning:

      "Princess"

    • Description:

      The French Miley? This trendy choice from Brittany, which is pronounced either as Miley or May-lee, is related to the traditional (male) saint's name Mael, traditionally feminized as Maelle.
  19. Geoffrey

    • Origin:

      Anglo-Saxon from French

    • Meaning:

      "pledge of peace"

    • Description:

      In the US, this spelling is less common than mid-century favorite Jeffrey, and it has faded from popularity faster. This more British spelling is the usual form for historical figures like Geoffrey Chaucer and the Welsh historian Geoffrey of Monmouth, and as such it may feel more rooted and enduring.
  20. Petal

    • Origin:

      English from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "leaf"

    • Description:

      Petal is the soft and sweet-smelling name of a character in the novel and film, The Shipping News. With the rise of such flower names as Poppy and Posy, we believe Petal — down-to-earth yet romantic — has its own appealingly distinctive style.