Psuedovintage Names

"Fake vintage/antique" or psuedovintage names are choices that are commonly identified as revival names, except that they're really not. They retain an old-fashioned style without ever being popular enough to date. Parents who are searching for names that aren't too old-fashioned might like this list. 

In order to qualify as psuedovintage, a name must:

• have a clear reason for sounding old-fashioned (popular elsewhere, nickname, famous person). 
• have been used for a total of under 50 babies before 1945. 
• have never ranked within the U.S. top 200. 

Before I begin my list, I have to say that psuedovintage is not the same as transparent. Psuedovintage names certainly feel old-fashioned when they're not while transparent names can easily be identified as traditional by some and contemporary by others (i.e. Scarlett and Beau). 

GIRLS' NAMES:

Agatha (unranked)-Agatha has a very witchy sound, but it only made the top 200 in England in 1840 and reached the 300s in the United States. Hence, parents who find this name too old-fashioned really have nothing to worry about.

Enid (unranked)-Enid was a popular name in England, Australia, and New Zealand in the early twentieth century. English writer Enid Blyton adds to the name's vintage vibe. However, Enid never ranked higher than the 400s in the United States. 

Mavis (#841)-Mavis was in the top 100 in England, Australia, and New Zealand before 1945, like Enid. Plus, it was briefly popular in Canada. The same does not hold true in the United States, where Mavis has only reached the low 200s. 

Sylvie (#774)-Used for 60 babies before 1945, Sylvie was sometimes used as a nickname for vintage Sylvia along with being popular in France. Today it peaks at #774. 

Thea (#302)-Thea sounds very antique, a sister for Ada and Cora. That's probably because Dorothea was popular around the 1910s. Thea easily breaks off from that elaboration. Thea never even made the top 500 until recently, though.

 

BOYS' NAMES:

Bertram (unranked)-Bertram was popular in England during the Victorian era. The "bert" syllable, which is also seen in Herbert, is another reason why it sounds old-fashioned despite never making the top 200. 

Ezra (#44)-American poet Ezra Proud gives this name an old-fashioned feel. However, Ezra never made the top 200 in the United States. 

Fergus (unranked)-Fergus was first recorded in the United States in 1916 though it never even reached the top 1000 let alone the top 200. However, Fergus was once common in England. 

Reggie (unranked)-Reggie is short for Reginald, a popular name in Victorian England, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. As a standalone name, though, Reggie was never a common name. 

Wyatt (#29)-Wyatt has the Southern style and double-"t" ending of feminine Scarlett. Unlike Scarlett, however, Wyatt certainly feels antique because of Wyatt Earp. Since Wyatt never made the top 200, it would've felt transparent if it weren't for Earp. 

Which of these names sound the most old-fashioned to you?