Remember the roaring 1920s? Probably not. But you probably remember the names of your relatives living it up during this time – Mary, Dottie, Betty, Charles, George, and James.
Well, baby name trends and naming experts show that vintage baby names are returning to the classrooms with a bang. What this means is that your seemingly unique old school name choice for bub is actually a lot more popular than you wanted.
Already trending vintage baby names
Some of the popular names from 100 years ago that are claiming a spot on the top 100 baby names of 2020 include:
VINTAGE NAMES FOR GIRLS
- Millie
- Hazel
- Evelyn
- Alice
- Violet
- Florence
- Eleanor
- Lucy
- Clare
- Victoria
- Bonnie
- Thea
VINTAGE NAMES FOR BOYS
- James
- William
- Charles
- Thomas
- Jack
- Henry
- Arthur
- Archie
- George
- Harry
- Oscar
- Theodore
VINTAGE NAMES SPIKING IN POPULARITY
These vintage baby names haven’t quite made the top 100 yet although aren’t far away:
- Winnie
- Matilda (Tilly)
- Sadie
- Elsie
- Frances (Frankie)
- Alfred (Alfie)
- Artie
- Harvey
If you want a vintage baby name that isn’t overly used (yet), then consider one of these cute options. They all come with that old school, vintage feel without the overuse.
UNIQUE VINTAGE NAMES TO CONSIDER
Girls
1. Minnie – Just a wee bit cute!
2. Ida – Another adorable option if you love short names like Ava, Mia and Isla (all incredibly popular in classrooms around Australia).
3. Florence – This name is actually starting to trend in COVID times and in homage to one of the most famous nurses of our time – Florence Nightingale.
4. Mabel – There is something so pretty and whimsical about this one.
5. Maude – Maude means “powerful battler’ so it’s a great option for your little warrior, especially if she packs a pretty mean punch in the womb.
6. Pearl – Gemstone names have always been popular but many people overlook Pearl for others such as Ruby and Jade.
7. Edith – Or Edie for short.
8. Mauve – Mauve, like Violet, is a lovely choice, especially if you like the colour purple.
9. Hattie – The “ie” ending is incredibly popular these days (Maddie, Frankie, Sophie, Ellie), but not many parents are choosing Hattie (not yet at least!). And isn’t it cute?
10. Effie – Another “ie” option that’s not used much is Effie.
11. Lottie – Or how about Lottie?
12. Dulcie – Another cute one for your little Southern belle.
13. Nola – This name was popular in the 1930s and we can see why. Isn’t it sweet?
14. Mavis – Mavis means “songbird” so it’s a great fit for any musical mummas out there.
15. Jorie – How’s this unique option for a shortened version of Majorie?
Boys
16. Ernest – What comes to mind when you think of Ernest? I always think Hemingway but Ernest also means “seriousness” and comes with a cute little nickname – Ernie.
17. Amos – Amos is a vintage baby name with biblical connotations.
18. Leon – If you love Leo but are worried about how popular it is (Leo is currently #5 in Australia), then Leon may be one to consider.
19. Albert – Little Albie has a cute ring to it, don’t you reckon?
20. Eugene – Amy Schumer named her little boy Gene and we have a feeling this unique moniker is going to catch on quickly.
21. Clifford – It may be the name of a big red dog, but it’s also a cute choice for parents who love traditional names.
22. Rufus – Considered old school cool, Rufus means “red head.” Who knew?
23. August – Made trendy again by the book, Wonder, August is definitely worth bringing back on the scene.
24. Vinnie – We adore this classic vintage name which is the short form of Vincent.
25. Elmer – If you can look past the Elmer Fudd connotation, then this is another cute option which means ‘noble’.
Do any of these vintage baby names make your potential baby name list?
