Patches of Names

A name that's newly revival-ready would have peaked between the early 1920s and the early 1940s. Midway between that time interval is the 1930s. Here are twenty vintage names that peaked in the top 400 and are ready for revival: GIRLS' NAMES: Beverly (unranked)-With the popularity of Everly, it makes sense for the rhyming Beverly to come back. It peaked at #14 in 1937, after all. It also fits in with Emily and Natalie through its structure. We also love literary names these days like Eloise and Scarlett. George Barr McCutcheon's 1904 novel, Beverly of Graustark , puts it in the same category.  Dixie (#1000)-Peaking at #167 in 1938, Dixie should be coming back now if the Fourth-Generation rule applies. This Southern nickname ranked consistently from 2007 to 2015. As of 2019, Dixie re-entered the charts again. This time, though, it needs to rise.  Faye (#697)-In 1934, Faye peaked at #146. Almost ninety years later, it is on the rise again. Faye is not quite an antique yet, th

Scotland just released its name data. For boys, Jack is the most popular name for the thirteenth year in a row. Alexander also re-entered the top 10 while Archie and Finlay came in for the first time. Charlie, Alfie, and Lewis left the top 10. For girls, the most popular name is now Isla. Isla also tops the charts in New Zealand. Regarding our love for British trends, Isla, which just entered the top 100 in 2018, has a bright future ahead. Lily also returned to the top 10, replacing Charlotte.  Regarding the entire top 100, Roman, Joey, Finley, Teddy, and Myles are newly popular for boys. Robbie, Frankie, and Brody also re-entered the top 100. They replaced Jax, Gabriel, Alex, Sam, Henry, Aidan, Aiden, and Carson. For girls, Remi, Arabella, Alba, Maeve, Indie, Ayda, Rosa, Aila, and Autumn became newly popular. Mollie, Quinn, Nina, Eden, and Piper also re-entered the top 100. They replaced Matilda, Cara, Darcy, Hollie, Evelyn, Nova, Penelope, Clara, Brooke, Georgie, Sadie, Rowan, Lola,

In ancient times, names ending in "us" had feminine equivalents ending in "a", even if they were family names. That was the case for Drusilla, a feminine form of Drusus. Drusilla itself was in use back in the day, as in Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus. Yet, as a first name it dates from the New Testament of the Bible. The Biblical Drusilla was the wife of Felix.  During the Victorian Era, Drusilla was briefly popular in England. Yet in America it was always rare. It ranked most years before 1915, yet never reached the top 600.  Drusilla isn't just highly unusual. It's also Gothic. A recent Drusilla was a character from the late 1990s and early 2000s TV show, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." That Drusilla went by the boyish nickname "Dru". Young girls with the name can go by the same nickname.  Drusilla will appeal to parents after a name with a Gothic vibe and and old-fashioned sound. It will also appeal to parents after an elaborate name

Lucy has been used consistently for centuries. It began as an Anglicization of a saint's name and has since been frequently popular among English-speakers. In the United States, Lucy was a top 100 name through the mid-1920s. It returned to the top 100 in 2010 and recently returned to the top 50.  While Lucy never completely went away, it is a revival name that is popular for the second time. Thus, the name is both timeless and vintage. In addition to appearing in every era, Lucy fits a range of personalities, from the ladylike to the spunky. Lucy is also short, sweet, and had a nickname-like sound despite its roots as a full name.  This list will appeal to parents who love Lucy but find it too popular or ordinary. Name enthusiasts who love the name Lucy and parents seeking sister names will also enjoy this list. The names listed below have the same qualities that make Lucy appealing without sounding too similar or different. None of them rank in the current top 100, either. Here ar

We have entered the second decade of the twentieth century and travel through World War I in names. Changes 1910 Left: Leslie, Gerald, Otis, Will Entered: Jim, Vincent, Glenn, Sidney 1911 Left: Everett, Julius, Tom, Glenn, Jim Entered: Maurice, Gordon, Alexander, Irving, Gerald 1912 Left: Ben, Allen, Eddie, Johnnie, Jessie, Luther Entered: Julius, Arnold, Everett, Wilbur, Glenn, Woodrow 1913 Left: Irving, Julius Entered: Allen, Willard 1914 Left: Homer, Allen Entered: Irving, Max 1915 Left: Maurice, Max, Alexander, Irving Entered: Gilbert, Allen, Homer, Wayne 1916 Left: Allen, Homer, Gilbert Entered: Maurice, Alexander, Hugh 1917 Left: Maurice, Hugh Entered: Allen, Warren 1918 Left: Morris, Alexander Entered: Homer, Virgil 1919 Left: Allen, Virgil, Homer Entered: Morris, Eddie, Johnnie Movement Vincent, Glenn, Gordon, Willard, Arnold, Wilbur, Woodrow, Wayne, and Warren became popular. Sidney returned to the top 100 after a hiatus. Otis, Leslie, Allen, Tom, Jim, Will, Jessie, Luther, Ju

Today we enter the 20th century in terms of boys' names.  Changes 1900 Left: Jacob, Allen, Archie, Otis, Stephen Entered: Horace, Mack, Oliver, Ed, Johnnie 1901 Left: Alexander, Ed, Johnnie, Dewey, Mack Entered: Jacob, Melvin, Alvin, Glenn, Allen 1902 Left: Guy, Glenn, Oliver Entered: Stephen, Alexander, Johnnie 1903 Left: Hugh, Jacob, Horace Entered: Roosevelt, Glenn, Oliver 1904 Left: Alexander, Oliver, Stephen Entered: Virgil, Jacob, Alton 1905 Left: Patrick, Glenn, Alton Entered: Marvin, Otis, Stephen 1906 Left: Stephen, Virgil, Roosevelt, Jacob, Otis Entered: Patrick, Archie, Glenn, Vernon, Morris 1907 Left: Glenn, Vernon, Patrick Entered: Stephen, Virgil, Alexander 1908 Left: Alexander, Archie, Jim Entered: Julius, Gerald, Vernon 1909 Left: Virgil Entered: Otis Movement Johnnie, Melvin, Alvin, Marvin, Morris, Gerald, and Vernon became popular for the first time. Julius re-entered the top 100 after a hiatus. Dewey, Guy, Jacob, Patrick, Alexander, Archie, and Jim left the top 1

In a society that's moving away from traditional norms, gender-neutral names have emerged. Only a few of these names were also unisex in the past. This being said, almost all unisex names are contemporary (at least for girls). Unisex names have a lot of benefits. They allow for a freedom of gender expression. In case parents have a transgender child, a name change would not be necessary. Plus, since a lot of them are mostly newcomers, there are little to no negative associations with a name.  In order for a name to qualify as unisex, the ratio of use for both sexes most be 35:65 (54%) or higher. Here are ten unisex names that currently rank within the top 1000 for both sexes: Charlie (88%)-For boys, it can be short for Charles. For girls, it has a formal name of Charlotte. Charlie, on its own, is in use for both sexes.  Denver (72%)-Denver is an American place name with a rustic feel.  Emerson (72%)-Emerson feels like a girls' name thanks to short form "Emmie". Yet, i

"Little Red Riding Hood" has been around for centuries. The original version was written by Charles Perrault in the late 17th century. The Brothers Grimm version of the tale follows more than a century later. In both versions, Little Red Riding Hood doesn't have a real name. She's just referred to as "Little Red Riding Hood".  However, the tale has been adapted many times. In some of these adaptations, Little Red Riding Hood has an actual name.  Betsy  Gail Carson Levine, the author of Ella Enchanted , wrote a picture book adaptation of the tale. Titled Betsy Red Hoodie , Red Riding Hood is renamed Betsy and portrayed as a shepherd.  Chacha  Chacha is a Japanese name that was worn by Little Red Riding Hood in a Japanese anime, Akazukin Chacha . Chacha has two lovers, a wolf and a boy-witch.  Elisabeth Trina Schart Hyman's picture book retelling of the tale names the main character Elisabeth. However, Hyman refers to her as "Little Red Riding Hood&qu

When Queen Alexandrina Victoria took the English throne in 1837, the world of naming changed. Along with returning medieval favorites like Alfred and Edith, parents created new names from nature. Month names were part of that larger category. Yet, not all popular nature names at the time were truly new.  August was one of these nature names that had a little history before entering widespread use in the nineteenth century. It was originally adopted as an international form of the Roman name Augustus, which was itself adopted by the first Roman Emperor.  I'm not sure if August became popular in Victorian England. However, the nature name trend migrated to the United States. Either way, August became an American hit. August was a top 100 name through the 1880s and the beginning of the 1890s. Interestingly, the nature name trend seemed to cover girls' names rather than boys' names. Pearl, Hazel, and Olive all ranked within the top 100 during the 1880s. For boys', August wa

Liam emerged around the 1970s. It has ranked in the top 100 since 2006 and the top 10 since 2012. For the fifth year in a row, Liam has been the most popular boys' name.  Liam is Irish in origin, giving the name its Celtic style. It is also short and sweet. Liam can be used as an honor name for a William as well. Perhaps Liam feels much fresher and more laid-back than the longer classic. That only increases the name's appeal.  This list will appeal to parents who find Liam too popular, are looking for sibling names, or to those who simply love the name Liam. None of the names below rank in the current top 100.  Here are some uncommon names inspired by Liam: Benno Benno works as a fresh and casual twist on Benjamin as well as a short-form.  Bram  Bram is as short and laid-back as Liam. Plus, it can be used to honor an Abraham. Callum  Callum is Celtic and laid-back in style, like Liam. While it's Scottish, it's being used in Ireland.  Cian Irish Cian nearly matches Liam

Scarlett began as an occupational surname for makers of the scarlet cloth. In the seventeenth century, it entered sparing use as a unisex name. During the late 1930s,  Gone with the Wind  brought Scarlett to attention as an exclusively feminine name. Scarlett slowly increased in use throughout most of the 1900s, entering and exiting the top 1000. After 2003, Scarlett Johansson's breakout year, Scarlett soared up the charts. It made the top 100 in 2011 and has hovered in the top 25 since 2015.  Scarlett is rustic and literary. It also brings up two prominent women: Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind  and actress Scarlett Johansson. Scarlett is dangerous, romantic, and bold as well. Plus, it has American heritage. It feels old-fashioned even though it was never common until recently. Scarlett O'Hara's first name was Katie.  There are reasons why parents can't use Scarlett. It could be too popular or someone else has taken it. Parents might also be looking for a n