If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent hours thinking about the perfect name for your little one. And let’s be real, naming your baby is a big deal. It’s like their first introduction to the world. So, why not consider something classic and timeless? I’m talking about vintage baby names. They have a charm that never goes out of style. I’ve put together a list of 100 vintage baby boy names and 145 vintage girl names, complete with a bit of meaning or history for each.
Vintage Boy Baby Names
- Albert – Bright and noble.
- Alfred – Wise counselor.
- Arthur – Noble and courageous.
- August – Majestic.
- Basil – Royal, kingly.
- Bernard – Brave as a bear.
- Calvin – Bald, but in a distinguished way!
- Cecil – Blind to one’s own beauty.
- Clarence – Bright.
- Claude – Lame, but also enduring.
- Clifford – Near a ford by a cliff.
- Clyde – From the riverbank.
- Conrad – Bold counsel.
- Cornelius – Horn.
- Cyril – Lordly.
- Douglas – Dark stream.
- Edgar – Wealthy spearman.
- Edmund – Prosperous protector.
- Edwin – Rich friend.
- Eli – Ascended, uplifted.
- Elias – The Lord is my God.
- Elliot – The Lord is my God.
- Elmer – Noble and famous.
- Emmett – Universal.
- Ernest – Serious, resolute.
- Eugene – Well-born.
- Felix – Happy, lucky.
- Floyd – Gray.
- Francis – Free man.
- Franklin – Free landholder.
- Frederick – Peaceful ruler.
- George – Farmer.
- Gilbert – Bright pledge.
- Gordon – Great hill.
- Graham – Gravelly homestead.
- Harold – Army ruler.
- Harvey – Battle worthy.
- Henry – Estate ruler.
- Herbert – Bright army.
- Horace – Timekeeper.
- Howard – Brave heart.
- Hugh – Mind, intellect.
- Irving – Green river, sea friend.
- Isaac – He will laugh.
- Ivan – God is gracious.
- Jerome – Sacred name.
- Jesse – Gift.
- Joel – The Lord is God.
- John – God is gracious.
- Julius – Youthful, downy.
- Kenneth – Handsome.
- Lawrence – From Laurentum.
- Leo – Lion.
- Leonard – Brave lion.
- Lester – From Leicester.
- Lewis – Renowned warrior.
- Lloyd – Grey.
- Louis – Renowned warrior.
- Lucius – Light.
- Marshall – Horse servant.
- Martin – Warlike.
- Maurice – Dark-skinned.
- Maxwell – Great stream.
- Melvin – Council protector.
- Milton – Mill town
- Morris – Dark-skinned.
- Murray – From the sea town.
- Nathan – He gave.
- Nathaniel – Gift of God.
- Nelson – Son of Neil.
- Norman – Man from the north.
- Oscar – Friend of deer.
- Otis – Wealthy.
- Otto – Wealth.
- Percy – Pierces the valley.
- Perry – Dweller by the pear tree.
- Peter – Rock.
- Philip – Lover of horses.
- Ralph – Wolf counsel.
- Raymond – Wise protector.
- Reginald – King.
- Richard – Brave ruler.
- Robert – Bright fame.
- Roger – Famous spear.
- Roland – Famous land.
- Ronald – Ruler’s counselor.
- Roy – King.
- Russell – Red.
- Samuel – God has heard.
- Seymour – From the Saint-Maur.
- Sidney – Wide meadow.
- Silas – Forest, woods.
- Simon – He has heard.
- Stanley – Stony field.
- Theodore – Gift of God.
- Thomas – Twin.
- Victor – Conqueror.
- Vincent – Conquering.
- Walter – Army ruler.
- Warren – Game park.
Vintage Girl Baby Names
- Ada – Noble, nobility.
- Adelaide – Noble nature.
- Agatha – Good, honourable.
- Agnes – Pure, holy.
- Alice – Noble.
- Alma – Nurturing, soul.
- Amelia – Work.
- Angela – Angel.
- Annabelle – Gracious, beautiful.
- Audrey – Noble strength.
- Barbara – Foreign.
- Beatrice – She who brings happiness.
- Bertha – Bright, glorious.
- Beryl – Sea-green jewel.
- Bessie – God is my oath.
- Blanche – White, pure.
- Bonnie – Pretty, charming.
- Camille – Young ceremonial attendant.
- Carmen – Garden.
- Carol – Free man.
- Caroline – Free man.
- Catherine – Pure.
- Cecilia – Blind.
- Charlotte – Free man.
- Clara – Bright, clear.
- Constance – Steadfast.
- Cora – Maiden.
- Cordelia – Daughter of the sea.
- Cornelia – Horn.
- Daisy – Day’s eye.
- Diana – Divine.
- Dolores – Sorrows.
- Dora – Gift.
- Dorothy – Gift of God.
- Edith – Prosperous in war.
- Edna – Pleasure.
- Eleanor – Shining light.
- Eliza – Pledged to God.
- Elizabeth – God is my oath.
- Ella – All, completely.
- Eloise – Healthy, wide.
- Elsie – Pledged to God.
- Emily – Rival.
- Emma – Universal.
- Esther – Star.
- Ethel – Noble.
- Eunice – Good victory.
- Eva – Life.
- Evelyn – Wished for child.
- Fannie – Free one.
- Flora – Flower.
- Florence – Blossoming.
- Frances – From France, free one.
- Genevieve – Tribe woman.
- Georgia – Farmer.
- Gertrude – Strength of a spear.
- Gladys – Land, nation.
- Grace – Grace of God.
- Gwendolyn – White ring.
- Harriet – Home ruler.
- Hazel – The hazelnut tree.
- Helen – Light.
- Henrietta – Home ruler.
- Hilda – Battle woman.
- Ida – Industrious one.
- Irene – Peace.
- Iris – Rainbow.
- Isabel – Pledged to God.
- Jane – God is gracious.
- Jean – God is gracious.
- Josephine – Jehovah increases.
- Joyce – Lord.
- Judith – Woman of Judea.
- Julia – Youthful.
- June – Young.
- Katherine – Pure.
- Kathleen – Pure.
- Lena – Light.
- Lillian – Lily, a flower.
- Lily – Lily flower.
- Loretta – Laurel tree.
- Louisa – Renowned warrior.
- Lucille – Light.
- Lucy – Light.
- Lydia – Woman from Lydia.
- Mabel – Lovable.
- Mae – Pearl.
- Maggie – Pearl.
- Margaret – Pearl.
- Marian – Bitter, or sea of bitterness.
- Marie – Bitter, or beloved.
- Marion – Bitter, or sea of bitterness.
- Marjorie – Pearl.
- Martha – Lady.
- Mary – Bitter, or beloved.
- Maude – Battle-mighty.
- Mildred – Gentle strength.
- Minnie – Of the mind, intellect.
- Miriam – Bitter, or beloved.
- Myrtle – The myrtle tree.
- Nancy – Grace.
- Naomi – Pleasantness.
- Nellie – Bright, shining one.
- Nettie – Clean, pure.
- Nora – Honor.
- Olive – Olive tree, symbolizing peace.
- Opal – Jewel, precious stone.
- Pauline – Small, humble.
- Pearl – Precious.
- Penelope – Weaver.
- Phoebe – Bright, shining.
- Priscilla – Ancient.
- Rachel – Ewe, female sheep.
- Rebecca – To bind, tie.
- Rita – Pearl.
- Roberta – Bright fame.
- Rosalind – Pretty rose.
- Rose – Rose, a flower.
- Ruby – Precious red gemstone.
- Ruth – Compassionate friend.
- Sadie – Princess.
- Sally – Princess.
- Sarah – Princess.
- Selma – God’s helmet.
- Serena – Tranquil, serene.
- Sophia – Wisdom.
- Stella – Star.
- Susan – Lily.
- Sylvia – Forest.
- Thelma – Will, volition.
- Theresa – Harvester.
- Ursula – Little bear.
- Velma – Determined protector.
- Vera – Faith, truth.
- Viola – Violet.
- Violet – Purple/blue flower.
- Virginia – Virgin, pure.
- Vivian – Alive.
- Wilhelmina – Willing to protect.
- Winifred – Peaceful friend.
- Yvette – Yew tree.
- Yvonne – Yew tree.
- Zelda – Dark battle.
- Zelma – God’s helmet.
- Zoe – Life.
Alright, so we’ve gone through a huge list of names, both for boys and girls, all vintage and all with their own little backstory. Choosing a name for your baby is a big deal, but it’s also a lot of fun. It’s like the first big decision we get to make for them, and let’s be honest, it’s kind of cool to think we’re giving them a piece of history along with it.
These old-school names aren’t just about sounding different or standing out. They’re about bringing back a bit of the past and giving it to our future. It’s like telling your kid, “Hey, you’ve got this name that’s been around for ages, and now it’s yours to wear and make your own.”
So, whether you end up picking a name from this list or not, just remember to enjoy the process. It’s one of the first steps in the awesome journey of parenting. And hey, who knows? Maybe your little one will grow up to be just as timeless and classic as their name.
Hope this list helps you out or at least gives you some good ideas. Good luck with the name hunting!
