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A List of Trendy Old Fashioned Names

  1. Upton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "upper town"

    • Description:

      Uppity name associated with muckraking novelist Upton Sinclair.
  2. Urban

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "of the city"

    • Description:

      Urban was not an uncommon name through the 1930s (rising as high as Number 435), having been attached to several saints and early popes, but it has completely disappeared from the landscape--both urban and rural. Yet in this era of word name appreciation and trend for 'an'-ending boys' names, we're thinking it might be ready for a return.
  3. Vale

    • Origin:

      Geographical name

    • Description:

      Vale is part place name, part nature name -- a poetic term for a type of valley. Today Show coanchor Savannah Guthrie put Vale on the baby name map when she chose it for her daughter, but there's no reason the name can't work equally well for a boy. Vale might also be a short form for Valentine or a spelling variation of the city name Vail.
  4. Valentine

    • Origin:

      French variation of Valentina

    • Meaning:

      "strength, health"

    • Description:

      For a girl, we'd say Val-en-teen, though many would insist on pronouncing it like the holiday.
  5. Valetta

    • Origin:

      Latin place and surname

    • Description:

      This name of the major Maltese city takes on an air of attractiveness via model Amber Valletta, making it an appealing alternative to the overexposed Valerie and Vanessa.
  6. Valley

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "valley"

    • Description:

      A natural phenomenon that makes a stylish baby name. Teen Mom's Kailyn Lowry used it for her daughter, twin to Verse.
  7. Vannie

    • Description:

      Vannie is a feminine name that likely originated as a diminutive form of names such as Vanessa, Savannah, or even Evangeline. This sweet, compact name has a friendly, approachable quality with its '-ie' ending, which traditionally denotes affection in English nicknames. Vannie has never been widely popular as a formal given name, remaining mostly in use as a nickname throughout the 20th century. In the American South, it occasionally appeared as an independent name. The name has a vintage charm that connects to the tradition of using nicknames as given names, which was more common in earlier generations. Vannie's rarity makes it appealing to parents seeking something familiar-sounding yet uncommon.

  8. Vernie

    • Description:

      Vernie is a vintage feminine name that functions as a diminutive of Verna or Laverne, though it occasionally appears as a masculine form of Vernon. Derived from Latin 'vernus' meaning 'spring-like' or 'youthful,' the name evokes freshness and renewal. Popular in the early 20th century, particularly in rural America, Vernie peaked between 1890-1920 before gradually declining. The name carries a nostalgic, homespun quality that connects to simpler times. While now considered rare, Vernie maintains appeal for parents drawn to reviving classic diminutive forms or honoring family heritage. The name's friendly, unpretentious sound and nature-based meaning give it an understated charm despite its current rarity.
  9. Vince

    • Origin:

      Short form of Vincent, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "conquering"

    • Description:

      Vince is not a short form that often stands alone on the birth certificate, the way Jack or even Joe does, but it has certain credibility as the name always used for football great Vince Lombardi. And as a diminutive for Vincent, it's a far sight better than Vinnie or Vinny or even Vin.
  10. Violetta

    • Origin:

      Italian, Russian and Hungarian variation of Violet, English

    • Meaning:

      "purple"

    • Description:

      With Violet in vogue, this vibrant international variation has been on the rise since the 2010s. Vintage and floral like its more popular sister, Violetta has a slightly softer sound and a touch of extra flair. Given to 135 girls in a recent year, it also gets you to nicknames Etta, Vita, and Lettie.
  11. Vonnie

    • Description:

      Vonnie is primarily a feminine name that originated as a diminutive form of names containing the element "von" or as a nickname for names like Yvonne, Veronica, or Siobhan. With Irish and American roots, Vonnie has a sweet, vintage quality that combines familiarity with uniqueness. Though never extremely common, it gained modest popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, Vonnie remains a relatively uncommon choice, appealing to parents seeking a friendly, approachable name with retro charm. The name carries connotations of warmth and friendliness, with a distinctive sound that sets it apart from more popular feminine diminutives.

  12. Vanity
    • Wallace

      • Origin:

        Scottish

      • Meaning:

        "foreigner, stranger"

      • Description:

        Wallace is so square could almost be ripe for a turnaround, especially with the hipness imparted by the British Claymation series Wallace & Gromit. And Wally makes an adorable Leave it to Beaver retro-style nickname.
    • Warren

      • Origin:

        English from French

      • Meaning:

        "park-keeper"

      • Description:

        Long lingering in limbo, Warren suddenly seems to be on the cusp of revival. One of the oldest recorded English surnames, Warren's popularity in the U.S. dates back to the nineteenth century, and by 1921, reached its peak at Number 24.
    • Wendell

      • Origin:

        German, English

      • Meaning:

        "wanderer; to travel, to proceed"

      • Description:

        This name has hardly been used since Wendell Willkie ran for president in 1940, and it may not quite be ready for revival yet. Still, clunky grandpa names like Lionel, Douglas, Benedict, Carl, and Melvin have received more attention in recent years, so Wendell can't be ruled out just yet.
    • Wendy

      • Origin:

        English, Celtic, Welsh

      • Meaning:

        "friend or white"

      • Description:

        It is popularly claimed that the name Wendy was invented by Sir James Barrie in 1904 for the big sister character in his play Peter Pan, which was followed by the classic novel in 1911. Barrie supposedly took it from the nickname "fwendy-wendy", that he was called by a young girl acquaintance.
    • Wilbur

      • Origin:

        German

      • Meaning:

        "resolute, brilliant"

      • Description:

        Wilbur is a stylish name in the UK whose merits are just starting to be discovered in the US. Wilbur, the loveable pig who Charlotte of the Web called Some Pig, is an inspirational hero. And Wilbur and Orville Wright were early aviationists.
    • Wilder

      • Origin:

        Surname or word name

      • Meaning:

        "wild, untamed, uncontrolled"

      • Description:

        Rugged, outdoorsy, and full of energy, Wilder entered the US Top 1000 back in 2015. Part bad boy, part Western, part preppy, and part nature-loving, Wilder is given to nearly 800 babies each year.
    • Wiley

      • Origin:

        Scottish diminutive of William, German, English

      • Meaning:

        "resolute protection; from Wylye"

      • Description:

        Wiley is a perfectly appropriate way to spell the Scottish name also known as Wylie. Given all the babies named William and Liam today, Wiley or Wylie can be a wonderful variation that's more distinctive but still honors Grandpa Bill. Wiley might also be considered an Attitude Name, given that its other meaning lends it a lot of sass.
    • Wilfred

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "desires peace"

      • Description:

        Wilfred is one of those Old Man Names that still sounds fusty in the US but is fashionable in the UK. It comes with readymade short forms Will or Fred and might make an adventurous alternative to the ubiquitous William. The central character of Walter Scott's Ivanhoe is the knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe. Wilfred Owens was a well-known British poet.