There’s something undeniably charming about the names of yesteryears. They harken back to a bygone era, bringing with them an air of nostalgia and timeless elegance. As we honor our grandparents on their special day, National Grandparents Day (on September 10), it feels apt to delve into the beauty of these old-fashioned monikers that were once staples in every household.
In this post, we will be journeying back in time, dusting off those age-old name books to bring you a curated list of 50 vintage names. These are names that your grandparents, or even great-grandparents, might have borne. Not only do they carry a rich history, but they also embody a certain character and old-world charm that is often missing in modern baby names. So, without further ado, let’s turn the pages of the past and rediscover these forgotten treasures.
Old Lady Names
Blanche
Blanche gained a reputation as a name for a Southern woman of a certain age thanks to Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire and Blanche Devereaux in TV’s Golden Girls. Those huge pop culture touchstones could be why the name fell out of fashion in the latter part of the 20th century. Blanche has French origins and means “blonde” or “white.” We would love for this old lady’s name to make a comeback.
Edna
Edna was a hugely, hugely popular name at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century in the US. It was a top 25 baby name for many years. However, the name began to take on a frumpy image, leaving it relatively unused by parents after the 1990s. Edna has Hebrew origins and is related to the name Eden, which means “delight.” Would you give your daughter this vintage, old lady name?
Hazel
Hazel is a rare example of a name that fell completely off the US top 1000 list after cracking the top 25 at the turn of the twentieth century. After 23 years absent, Hazel has returned majorly, landing in the top 50 today. We know this is an established old lady name that’s seen as fresh again, but we love it so much we had to include it on this list. Hazel has English origins and refers to the “hazelnut tree.”
Philomena
In the US, Philomena ranked in the top 1000 through 1940, peaking at number 355 in 1915. Abroad, the name is still in use in most English-speaking communities. We would love that to be true for America as well. Philomena is a modest Greek name that means “lover of strength.” In Greek myth, Philomena was an Athenian princess whom the gods transformed into a nightingale.
Opal
Opal is on the verge of getting a new shine following other jewel names like Ruby and Pearl. Opal is a top 100 name during the first two decades of the twentieth century and has an excellent chance of returning today. It’s an old lady name on the rise! Opal has Sanskrit origins and means “gem.” It was a favorite gem of Queen Victoria. The opal is the birthstone for October, so this could be very attractive for new parents expecting a fall baby.
Sadie
Sadie has been soaring in popularity recently. Its last hoorah was a century ago. Sadie is a diminutive of Sarah and, thus, means “princess.” Sadie has way more sass than the serious Sarah. We are thrilled that this vintage name is finding love from new parents.
Kay
Kay has been out of sight since the mid-eighties but was in the double digits from 1936 to 1945. The name was attached to several glamorous actresses of the period, such as the fashionable Kay Francis. Kay is a casual, shortened form of Katherine, meaning “pure.”
Mabel
Mabel reentered the US top 500 in 2017. The name had been off new parents’ radars for about fifty years. We are so excited to hear this charming, retro favorite once more. At its height in the 1880s and 1890s, Mabel proved an amicable alternative to Amabel, a Latin appellation that means “lovable.”
Avis
Avis is a bird name that’s been in hibernation for a while, possibly due to the car rental association, but it could make a return on the wings of Ava. The last year this old lady’s name found widespread favor was 1966! She’s past due for a return! Avis has Latin origins and means “bird.”
Enid
The year was 1954 when Enid last made the US top 1000. A primarily forgotten old lady name for many US parents, Enid lives on in Arthurian Legend and Celtic folklore. Enid has Welsh origins and means “spirit.” Enid will sound terminally old-fashioned to many, but it holds plenty of charm.
Fay
Fay was most popular in the U.S. in the early decades of the twentieth century, reaching Number 202 in 1907. Fay is an English old lady name that comes complete with a sprinkle of magic dust in the meaning “fairy.” British novelist Fay Weldon is a famous namesake that might inspire this choice.
Cora
Cora is a top 100 name again, but it took plenty of time to climb back to this point, and it is far from as popular as it was at the turn of the twentieth century. Cora has Greek origins and is associated with the mythological queen of the underworld, Persephone. The name means “maiden,” and the Greeks used it when Persephone transformed into the goddess of spring, making this name a perfect choice for a spring baby.
Geraldine
Geraldine was at its height from the 1910s through the 1940s, peaking at number 38 in 1931. The appellation was invented in the time of Henry VIII by a noble poet who fell in love with Lady Elizabeth Fitzgerald and, inspired by her surname, referred to her as the “Faire Geraldine.” Geraldine is considered to mean “ruler with a spear,” coming from the elements that compose the name, Gerald.
Letitia
After a solid century on the top 1000 list, Letitia fell off in the early 1980s and has yet to return. We are absolutely bananas for this classic old lady name as it yields some of the best nicknames in Tish, Tisha, Lettie, and Tia. Spelled Laetitia, the name belongs to the Roman goddess of celebration, happiness, and delight. Letitia has Latin origins, and it means “joy.”
Alma
Alma is one of those surprising names that has always been in the top 1000, but after sinking to its lowest point ever in 2011, it could use some more love from new parents today. Alma Mahler was a celebrated 19th-century composer and musician with this estimable name. Alma has Latin origins, and it is frequently used in Spanish-speaking communities. It means “soul.”
Berenice
American photographer Berenice Abbott was a famed photographer who excelled at capturing captivating portraits of cultural figures. Berenice is a storied name belonging to Ptolemaic Egyptian queens and a 4th-century Saint. The name enjoys Greek origin and means “she who brings victory.”
Eudora
In Greek myth, Eudora was one of the Hyades, a set of sisters transformed into the star cluster that bears their name. This name was last used on a bunch of birth certificates in the 1920s! Eudora is pleasant and offers new parents nicknames, Eu and Dora. The Greek elements that form this name mean “generous gift.” We’ll take it!
Henrietta
Despite a return to such feminization of male names as Josephine, Clementine, and Theodora, clanky Henrietta has yet to make it into that group. We have a soft spot for this name that fell out of favor in the sixties. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the story of the poor black woman whose cells became one of the essential tools in medical research, has brought this name back to the spotlight in recent years. The name shares its meaning with Henry, “estate ruler.”
Vera
After 30 years off the charts, Vera has finally begun trending for baby girls. Perhaps we have Vera Wang and Vera Farmiga to thank for this renaissance. Vera has Russian origins and is found wherever Slavic languages are spoken aplenty. This vintage charmer means “faith.”
Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina was a lot more commonly heard in the U.S. centuries ago. It was as high as number 215 in the 1880s but has been entirely off the top 1000 list since 1955. The name has a history as a royal moniker belonging to the Queen of the Netherlands, who became a hero during the World Wars. Wilhelmina is the femme form of Wilhelm, a German name meaning “resolute protector.”
Miriam
Miriam is currently the number one name for girls in Israel. Miriam appears in Exodus as the older sister of Moses and Aaron, a prophetess who led the triumphal song and dance after the crossing of the Red Sea and the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians. This name comes from the same Hebrew elements as Mary, meaning “drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved.” The name is a top 1000 pick in the US today but is far from its glory days in the 1920s.
Mildred
Mildred is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that became popularized in England because of an eighth-century saint. She was a top 10 choice in the US from 1903 to 1926. Mildred and other names like Bertha and Gertrude are often considered unattractive, but we think it’s actually perfect. Mildred has English origins and means “gentle strength.”
Leona
A top 100 name from 1896 to 1921, Leona reached as high as number 72. Since then, Leona had seemed to be one of the most unfashionable “lion” names. Leona does indeed mean “lioness,” which helps to give it some bite. Leona returned to the top 1000 in 2009 and has been slowly rising. People see what we see in this name.
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Eugenia
The third century St. Eugenia, an early Roman Christian martyr, is remembered for disguising herself as a man to escape persecution. Eugenia, a name barely used at all since the 1980s, is another that flourished a century ago and could be due for a revival. Eugenia has Greek origins and means “wellborn.”
Bea
Golden Girl Bea Arthur was born Bernice, but Bea typically is a nickname for Beatrice. Bea is an old lady name, but it can potentially return as a standalone, casual appellation. Bea can trace its origins to Latin, meaning “she who brings happiness.” Bea and Beatrice have fallen from fashion, with Bea leaving the top 1000 list entirely in 1910, never returning. Let’s change that!
Old Man Names
Vernon
Vernon reached its height of popularity for new parents in 1920 when it was a top 100 baby name. It slowly declined over the years before it fell off the US top 1000 baby names for boys in 2003. Vernon is an English surname-name that sounds very British and means “place of alders.” If you’re after a distinguished and subtle nature name, this would be a perfect choice.
Sylvester
Sylvester was at its height in the 1920s, in the top 200, and hung on in the lower rungs until 1994. Today, very few new parents are choosing this classic grandpa name. Sylvester is a name with Latin origins that means “wood” or “forest.”
Winston
Winston became most popular in the US in the 1940s and 50s, no doubt as a tribute to Winston Churchill. Surprisingly, this old man name has been on the rise over the last ten years, and it could see its most popular year ever in the next five years if trends hold. Winston is an English name that means “wine’s town.” Cheers!
Ulysses
Homeric hero Ulysses is the Latin variant of the Greek name Odysseus, which means “wrathful.” In recent memory, the most popular year for the name in the US was 1999, when it hit the 694th spot on the US top 1000. Since then, the name has practically fallen from use. The name of a celebrated novel by James Joyce, Ulysses, could act as a literary tribute or as a hero name inspired by Ulysses S. Grant.
Mortimer
Mortimer sounds like a quintessential old man name because it has not been widely used in the US since the 1920s. Mortimer has English origins as a variant form of Moses. The name means “Dead Sea.” Mortimer is a playful name that’s so ugly it’s cute, and we would love to encounter this grandpa name more often today.
Eugene
Eugene is a classic that has unfortunately lost its way. On the one hand, it’s a grandpa, even great-grandpa’s name, that hasn’t been one of the cool kids recently. However, Eugene has been popular as a top 50 name from 1880 to the 1940s. It is still a leading 1000 baby name for boys but pales compared to its previous heights. British actor Billie Piper named her son Eugene Pip when he was born in 2012.
Amos
Amos is a robust biblical name that’s being discovered by a new generation of parents in a refreshing way. The name was exceedingly popular with Puritans, which could explain how the name lingered on and enjoyed its most popular year in 1880, the first year baby naming data was released by the US government. Amos has Hebrew origins and means “carried by God.”
Bertram
Bertram is an Old German name with Norman roots that means “bright raven.” This treasure was last fashionable in the 1930s as it was a favored vehicle to get to the nickname Bert. This old man name has not been popular since the 1960s, and it is due for a renaissance.
Art
In Ireland, Art is used as a name on its own, separate from Arthur. There, the name comes from an ancient word for “a bear” and is used in the sense of “outstanding warrior” or “champion.” Art was a legendary Pagan High King of Ireland who was so genuine that angels watched over him when he fought in battle. In the US, we often consider the name a short form of Arthur, which is English and means “noble one.” Sadly, this old man name has not been widely chosen since the 1960s.
Homer
Homer is a grandpa name that has traveled from the ancient Greek writer of the great classical epics to a long-running animated comedy in the US. Homer fell from favor in the 1980s, and new parents rarely use it today. That should change. Homer has Greek origins and means “security.”
Jethro
Though Moses’s biblical father-in-law, Jethro, has long suffered from a Beverly Hillbilly image, even though it was used as a name for a popular sixties rock band in Jethro Tull. Jethro has not been popular in the US since 1913! We feel it could be a real possibility for adventurous parents a hundred years later. Jethro has Hebrew origins and means “excellence.”
Mercer
Johnny Mercer was a talented and charming songwriter-singer who wrote the lyrics for more than 1,500 songs, including “Moon River.” He could be an inspiration for this old man name, or you might just be attracted to its handsome sound. Mercer is a French occupational surname for “a merchant.” This name has not been popular as a given option since 1881.
Otis
The name Otis will forever make us think of the smooth voice of Otis Redding. Thankfully, this old name has been on an upward trend over the last few years, ranking 707 at last count. However, it is far from its height of popularity in the early 1900s when it was a top 100 pick. Otis has German origins and means “wealthy.” Cha-ching!
Linus
Linus has never shaken its Peanuts image in the US and, thus, has not been popular since 1940. However, if you look at Germany, Norway, and Sweden, the name is a top 50 choice. It does not carry the old man image there. Linus has Greek origins and means “flax.”
Leland
Leland is a rare example of a name that completely turned around in its popularity in the 1990s. After falling from the US top 1000 for years, it has rebounded and become a top 500 name again. This name is a great way to get the attractive Lee nickname. Leland has English origins, and it means “meadowland.”
Barney
While you could go full-on old man with Barnaby or Barnabas, we love the amicable sound of Barney. Barney has unfortunately been absent from many birth certificates since the 1970s. Barnabas, the name from which Barney derives, is one of the world’s oldest names from Aramaic. It means “son of consolation.”
Gus
Gus is a homey grandpa nickname name that can work as a short form for Augustus, Angus, Gustave, Augustin, Augusten, Augustine, and August. The name has been off the US top 1000 since 1978, with a random blip in popularity in 2006. Gus is a blunt and casual name with Greek or Irish origins and can mean “one strength.”
Edmund
The time has come for parents to dust off the stately English name, Edmund, as it has been absent from the top 1000 for nearly 30 years. Edmond is the French form of the name, and you get to choose which way you want to take it. Edmund means “fortunate protector.” Any baby boy would be fortunate to receive this old name.
Hiram
Hiram is the forgotten biblical name that adventurous parents who wish to move beyond David and Daniel are beginning to reconsider. The name belonged to an Old Testament king of Tyre who helped David and Solomon plan and build the temple in Jerusalem. The most popular year for this name in the US was 1880, and it has declined ever since and has yet to be found in the top 1000. Hiram has Hebrew origins that mean “brother of the exalted one.”
Ephraim
Ephraim is a boy’s name of Hebrew origin, meaning “fruitful, fertile, productive.” A few parents have rediscovered the name, but it has not received its rightful attention since before 1914! In Genesis, Ephraim is Joseph’s second son, the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. You might also consider the simplified spelling of Efrem.
Basil
Basil was on the U.S. popularity list quite regularly up till 1970, reaching a high of number 328 in 1904. Its history includes several rulers of the Byzantine Empire and Eastern Orthodox saints. It’s past time to take a fresh look at this aromatic name. Basil has Greek origins and means “regal.” What’s not to love about this old appellation, parents?
Cecil
Once a mighty Roman clan name, Cecil has lost much of its strength over the years, falling off the US top 1000 in the 1990s. Past bearers include film giant Cecil B. DeMille, photographer Cecil Beaton, and poet Cecil Day-Lewis. Those forebearers could all serve as worthy inspirations for your baby’s name. The only downside of this name is its meaning, “blind.”
Cy
Cy is a diminutive of Cyrus, and both seem like monikers from a bygone era. While Cyrus has been mildly popular since 1880, Cy has never shaken its old man image. Cyrus has Persian origins and means “sun.” The name belonged to the founder of the Persian Empire. We love Cy for its casual nature and breathy weightlessness.
Percy
Percy is an adorable old name that is finally shedding its pampered image and is now being considered with other names like Elijah or Jasper. Percy has historically been more popular in England and France as it comes from an old Norman surname that refers to the place, “Perci-en-Auge,” meaning “one who pierces the valley.” This name has not been popular in the US since the 1980s, and we want it back!
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Esau
The name of Jacob’s twin brother, the son of Isaac and Rebecca, Esau, could make an ideal option for parents looking for a unique biblical name. You will have to turn back the clock to 1902, when the name was popular in the US, to hear this forgotten gem of a name. Esau has Hebrew origins, and it does indeed mean “hairy.” However, this old man name is so elegant and beautiful we think many can look beyond that.
As we wrap up this nostalgic journey through timeless names, it’s evident that each one carries a unique story and charm of its own. These names, reminiscent of our cherished grandparents, are not just labels, but vessels of history, love, and wisdom. So, as we celebrate National Grandparents Day, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of these antique monikers and the wonderful individuals they represent. After all, a name is more than just a word; it’s a legacy passed down through generations, just like the love and wisdom of our beloved grandparents.