100 Baby Names from 100 Years Ago Worth Reviving

A lot has changed in the past 100 years, including our taste in baby names! Some of the most popular baby names from 100 years ago, the year 1918, to be exact, are no longer even on the top 1000 today. 

But we reckon it’s about time to change this and return to the land of the vintage baby names. Because old school names are pretty flippin’ adorable.

Here’s our favourite 100 baby names that topped the charts 100 years ago that we hope will make a comeback this year!

Vintage baby girl names

Starting with the vowels 

A, E, I, O, U and sometime Y? Why not? Here’s a few to add to the list: 

1. Agatha (Aggie for short)
2. Alpha
3. Althea
4. Augusta
5. Avis
6. Effie
7. Etta
8. Ida
9. Inez
10. Ione
11. Iva
12. Odessa
13. Olga
14. Opal
15. Yolanda

The “ie” ending 

Searching for a name with the “ie” ending? 1918 brings the goods! 

1. Bessie – Okay, it’s a little cowish, but it’s also kind of cute.
2. Birdie
3. Dixie
4. Gertie
5. Lottie
6. Mamie
7. Minnie
8. Roxie

The “Ella” effect

Ella remains a top contender today. But have a look at these Ella-inspired monikers from the past: 

1. Carmella
2. Louella
3. Rosella

The naughty nanas 

 These names have that vintage edginess to them. 

1. Cleo
2. Delia
3. Lelia
4. Lula
5. Lulu
6. Lucinda
7. Geneva
8. Polly
9. Philomena
10. Sibyl
11. Theda
12. Rosalind

The uber old school 

Then there are the names that are so old they are begging to be revived! Come on mums and dads, bring Beryl back!

1. Beryl
2. Bernadette
3. Lorna
4. Loretta
5. Fay
6. Maude
7. Merle
8. Muriel
9. Minerva
10. Myrtle
11. Pauline
12. Winifred

Vintage boys’ baby names

The vintage vowels 

As with the little ladies, naming bub with the vowel proves to be popular with the dashing dudes as well. 

1. Abe
2. Alphonse
3. Ambrose
4. Archie
5. Edmund
6. Isadore
7. Ollie

Literary lovers 

Plenty of parents opted for names inspired by book characters and authors of the past, which continues to be a popular trend today. Atticus anyone?

1. Booker
2. Ulysses
3. Doyle
4. Homer
5. Waldo
6. Lemuel

Last names first

Surnames as first names? Yep, it was trendy back then too! 

1. Dale
2. Dorsey
3. Lowell
4. Luther
5. Perry
6. Ward
7. Wallace

Princes of the posh

These names have royal charm written all over them.

1. Benedict
2. Clement
3. Cornelius
4. Dudley
5. Ferdinand
6. Floyd
7. Hiram
8. Noble
9. Lucius

The burly boys

Big, bold and burly, these strong names are built to last. Another generation perhaps? 

1. Barney
2. Burl
3. Chester
4. Ned
5. Norris
6. Pete
7. Rufus
8. Roscoe
9. Thaddeus
10. Stuart
11. Sol
12. Vito

The grass is greener

These nature names all seem to stir up notions of greenery.

1. Dewey
2. Forest
3. Garland
4. Cleveland (the name means ‘hilly land’)

The cartoon characters

Sure, Sesame Street and Looney Tunes weren’t around in 1918, but it looks like these old school names live on in today’s popular TV shows. 

1. Grover
2. Kermit
3. Claude
4. Cecil
5. Wiley