Vintage Girls' Names


The past is a common source for naming. Despite the rise of contemporary trends, several parents are still naming their children after older relatives. Such names are called vintage names.

Name websites always discuss vintage names, but many use the term too broadly (referring to any name on the charts in 1900 regardless of vibe). To make this list, a name must:
  1. Have ranked above #500 in the U.S. charts between 1880 and 1940 (excluding certain "vintage" names like Marigold and Sylvie)
  2. Be much less popular during the second half of the twentieth century (at least 200 spots down-Anna and Sarah are too classic)
  3. Associate with at least one famous person from the 1800s and/or early 1900s 
Ten years ago, names like Audrey, Ella, and Grace would have made this list. Yet, they have been back long enough to no longer feel old-fashioned, and are declining once more. The names below, though, are holding on to their old-fashioned aura:

  • Ada
    1. Top 100 through 1912
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1993
    3. English mathematician Ada Lovelace 
  • Agatha
    1. Top 500 most years through 1920
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1946
    3. English writer Agatha Cristie
  • Agnes
    1. Top 100 through 1929
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1973
    3. American dancer Agnes de Mille
  • Alice
    1. Top 100 through 1956
    2. Decline to 400s by 1990s
    3. American poet Alice Cary, Alice in Wonderland basis Alice Liddel, American suffragist Alice Paul
  • Alma
    1. Top 100 through 1927
    2. Decline to 800s in 2011
    3. African American painter Alma Thomas
  • Annie
    1. Top 100 through 1946
    2. Decline to 400s by 1970
    3. American outlaw Annie Oakley
  • Belle
    1. Top 100 through 1884
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1935
    3. American Civil War nurse Belle Reynolds, American outlaw Belle Starr
  • Beryl
    1. Top 500 most years between 1889 and 1932
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1958
    3. British pilot Beryl Markham
  • Betty
    1. Top 100 between 1903 and 1962
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1997
    3. American actor Betty White
  • Billie
    1. Top 100 between 1928 and 1934
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1998
    3. American jazz singer Billie Holiday
  • Birdie
    1. Top 200 through 1891
    2. Out of top 1000 by 1949
    3. American music teacher Birdie Alexander

Clementine

Cleo

Cora

Daisy

Della

Dixie

Dora

Dorothea


Ella

Eloise

Elsie

Emeline

Emmeline

Enid

Estella


Etta

Faye

Fern

Flora

Florence


Harriet

Hattie


Henrietta

Ida


Iva


Josie

June

Lavinia

Lena

Lenora

Lenore

Leona

Lois

Lola

Lottie


Lucille

Luella

Lula

Mabel

Mae

Mamie

Marguerite

Marjorie

Matilda

Maud(e)

Mavis

Maxine

May

Millicent

Millie

Myra

Nell

Nellie


Olive

Opal


Penelope

Ramona

Rhoda

Rosalie

Ruby

Ruthie

Sadie

Stella

Thea

Tillie

Vera

Viola

Violet


Winifred

Winnie

Zora

Which of these vintage girls' names are your favorites? What names would you add to the list? 

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