Why Vintage Baby Names Are Coming Back
Across the world, parents are falling in love with vintage baby names that feel familiar yet fresh. These classic choices connect babies to family history, literature, and the elegance of earlier eras. In 2025, searches for terms like “old‑fashioned baby names,” “classic girl names,” and “retro baby names” are trending because they offer timelessness, dignity, and warmth in a sea of ultra‑modern options.
Vintage names often carry positive meanings, gentle sounds, and built‑in nicknames (think Eleanor → Nell, Theodore → Theo, Beatrice → Bea). They also pair beautifully with modern surnames and multicultural families. Whether you love Victorian & Edwardian era names, Roaring Twenties stars, or Grandma/Grandpa‑chic revival, the classics are truly back.
Quick tip: If you want a name that stands out but never goes out of style, go vintage. These names age gracefully and feel right at every life stage.
How to Choose a Classic, Old‑Fashioned Name (That Still Feels Modern)
- Say it aloud: Check the rhythm with your surname and favorite nickname.
- Meaning matters: Vintage names often have uplifting, faith‑ or virtue‑based meanings.
- Keep it global: Prefer names that are easy to pronounce in multiple languages.
- Initials & monograms: Avoid awkward letter combinations.
- Honor & update: Use a grandparent’s name as a first or middle for a stylish tribute.
Vintage Girl Names Coming Back (with Meanings)
From soft, floral classics to bright, aristocratic gems, these vintage girl names are soaring again. Click to expand the alphabet sections and discover hundreds of options.
A–C
- Abigail — father’s joy
- Ada — noble
- Adelaide — noble kind
- Adeline — noble
- Agatha — good
- Agnes — pure
- Aileen — bright
- Alice — noble
- Alma — nurturing
- Amelia — industrious
- Annabel — lovable
- Anne — grace
- Annie — gracious
- Anthea — flower
- Arlette — noble
- Audrey — noble strength
- Aurelia — golden
- Ava — life
- Beatrice — brings happiness
- Beatrix — voyager
- Belle — beautiful
- Bernadette — brave as a bear
- Beryl — gemstone
- Betty — pledged to God
- Blanche — fair
- Bonnie — pretty
- Bridget — exalted
- Camilla — helper
- Cara — dear
- Cassandra — prophetic
- Catherine — pure
- Cecilia — blind (musical patron saint)
- Celia — heavenly
- Charlotte — free woman
- Clara — bright, clear
- Clementine — merciful
- Constance — steadfast
- Cora — maiden
D–H
- Daisy — day’s eye
- Daphne — laurel
- Deborah — bee
- Delia — from Delos
- Delilah — delicate
- Diana — divine
- Dorothy — gift of God
- Edith — blessed riches
- Eileen — bright
- Elaine — shining light
- Eleanor — light
- Eliza — pledged to God
- Elizabeth — God’s oath
- Ellen — bright
- Eloise — healthy
- Elsie — pledged to God
- Emmeline — work
- Estelle — star
- Esther — star
- Ethel — noble
- Etta — ruler of the home
- Eugenia — well‑born
- Evelyn — wished‑for child
- Faye — fairy
- Felicia — fortunate
- Felicity — happiness
- Fern — green plant
- Florence — flourishing
- Frances — free one
- Freya — noble lady
- Gwendolyn — blessed ring
- Genevieve — white wave
- Georgia — farmer
- Geraldine — ruler with the spear
- Grace — favor
- Greta — pearl
- Gwen — fair, blessed
- Harriet — estate ruler
- Hazel — hazel tree
- Hattie — home ruler
- Helen — shining one
- Henrietta — ruler of the home
- Hester — star
- Hilda — battle woman
- Hope — expectation
I–N
- Ida — industrious
- Inez — pure
- Irene — peace
- Iris — rainbow
- Isadora — gift of Isis
- Isla — island
- Ivy — fidelity
- Jean — God is gracious
- Jemima — dove
- Joan — God is gracious
- Josie — God increases
- Joy — delight
- Judith — woman of Judea
- Julia — youthful
- June — young
- Katherine — pure
- Kitty — pure
- Lavinia — purity
- Laura — laurel
- Lenora — light
- Lillian — lily
- Lena — light
- Leona — lioness
- Loretta — laurel
- Louisa — renowned warrior
- Lucille — light
- Lucy — light
- Luella — famous elf
- Magnolia — flower
- Maud — mighty in battle
- May — month of Maia
- Mabel — lovable
- Margaret — pearl
- Margot — pearl
- Marjorie — pearl
- Marian — of Mary
- Marigold — golden flower
- Marjorie — pearl
- Matilda — battle‑mighty
- Maureen — beloved
- Maude — strength in battle
- Nancy — grace
- Nell — bright, shining
- Nellie — shining light
- Nora — honor, light
O–Z
- Octavia — eighth
- Odette — wealth
- Olive — olive tree
- Opal — gemstone
- Ophelia — help
- Patience — virtue
- Pearl — precious gem
- Penelope — weaver
- Phoebe — bright
- Priscilla — ancient
- Primrose — first rose
- Rachel — ewe
- Rita — pearl
- Rose — rose
- Rosalie — rose
- Rosamund — horse protection
- Ruth — compassionate friend
- Selma — divine helmet
- Seraphina — fiery
- Sibyl — prophetess
- Sylvia — forest
- Tabitha — gazelle
- Teresa — harvest
- Thea — goddess
- Theodora — gift of God
- Therese — harvester
- Valerie — strength
- Velma — will, desire
- Vera — truth
- Verity — truth
- Victoria — victory
- Violet — purple flower
- Virginia — maiden
- Winifred — blessed peacemaker
- Willa — resolute protector
- Wilhelmina — determined protector
- Yvette — yew
- Zelda — gray battle maid
Vintage Boy Names Coming Back (with Meanings)
Grounded, gentlemanly, and effortlessly cool — these vintage boy names feel as fitting on a birth announcement as they do on a business card decades later.
A–C
- Abel — breath
- Abraham — father of many
- Adam — man
- Adrian — from Hadria
- Albert — noble, bright
- Alfred — wise counselor
- Ambrose — immortal
- Amos — carried
- Anthony — priceless
- Archibald — bold, genuine
- Arthur — bear king
- August — venerable
- Bartholomew — son of Talmai
- Basil — royal
- Bennett — blessed
- Bernard — brave as a bear
- Bertram — bright raven
- Caleb — wholehearted
- Calvin — little bald one
- Cecil — blind
- Cedric — bounty
- Charles — free man
- Chester — fortress
- Clarence — bright
- Clive — cliff
- Colin — young pup
- Conrad — brave counsel
- Cornelius — horn
- Cyril — lordly
D–H
- Damien — to tame
- Daniel — God is my judge
- Darwin — dear friend
- David — beloved
- Dennis — follower of Dionysus
- Derek — ruler of the people
- Desmond — from South Munster
- Dexter — skilled, right‑handed
- Donald — world ruler
- Douglas — dark stream
- Duncan — dark warrior
- Edgar — wealthy spear
- Edmund — wealthy protector
- Edward — prosperous guardian
- Edwin — rich friend
- Elijah — my God is Yahweh
- Elliot — the Lord is my God
- Emmett — universal
- Eric — ever‑ruler
- Ernest — serious
- Ethan — strong
- Eugene — well‑born
- Evan — God is gracious
- Everett — brave boar
- Felix — fortunate
- Ferdinand — bold voyager
- Francis — free man
- Franklin — free landholder
- Fredrick — peaceful ruler
- Gabriel — God is my strength
- Gareth — gentle
- Gavin — white hawk
- George — farmer
- Gerald — ruler with spear
- Gilbert — bright pledge
- Gideon — hewer
- Graham — gravel homestead
- Gregory — watchful
- Harold — army ruler
- Harvey — battle worthy
- Henry — estate ruler
- Hector — holding fast
- Hugh — heart, mind
I–N
- Ian — God is gracious
- Ignatius — fiery
- Irving — green water
- Isaac — he will laugh
- Isidore — gift of Isis
- Ivor — yew warrior
- Jack — God is gracious
- Jacob — supplanter
- Jasper — treasurer
- Jerome — sacred name
- Jonah — dove
- Jonathan — God has given
- Joseph — God increases
- Julius — youthful
- Laurence — laurel‑crowned
- Leonard — brave lion
- Leopold — bold people
- Lewis — renowned warrior
- Lloyd — gray
- Louis — famous warrior
- Lucian — light
- Malcolm — devotee of St. Columba
- Marshall — horse servant
- Martin — of Mars
- Matthew — gift of God
- Maurice — dark‑skinned
- Maxwell — Mack’s stream
- Micah — who is like God
- Miles — soldier
- Milo — gracious
- Montgomery — Gumarich’s mountain
- Moses — drawn from water
- Nathaniel — God’s gift
- Neville — new town
- Nicholas — people’s victory
- Nigel — champion
- Noel — Christmas
O–Z
- Oliver — olive tree
- Osborne — divine bear
- Oswald — God’s power
- Otis — wealth
- Otto — wealth
- Owen — young warrior
- Parker — park keeper
- Patrick — nobleman
- Percival — pierce the valley
- Perry — pear tree
- Peter — rock
- Phineas — oracle
- Quentin — fifth
- Quincy — fifth‑born
- Quinton — queen’s town
- Randolph — shield wolf
- Raymond — wise protector
- Reginald — counsel power
- Reuben — behold, a son
- Richard — brave ruler
- Roland — famous land
- Ronan — little seal
- Rufus — red‑haired
- Rupert — bright fame
- Samuel — God has heard
- Sebastian — revered
- Silas — forest
- Simon — he has heard
- Stuart — steward
- Theodore — gift of God
- Thomas — twin
- Tobias — God is good
- Tristan — tumult
- Ulysses — wrathful
- Urban — of the city
- Vernon — alder tree
- Victor — conqueror
- Vincent — conquering
- Walter — army ruler
- Warren — park warden
- Wesley — western meadow
- Wilfred — desires peace
- William — resolute protector
- Wilson — son of William
- Winston — joyful stone
- Xavier — bright
- Yardley — wood meadow
- Zachary — the Lord remembers
Gender‑Neutral Vintage Names (with Meanings)
These unisex classics carry a gentle, bookish charm and suit any modern nursery theme.
- Adair — oak tree ford
- Addison — child of Adam
- Alva — exalted
- Arden — valley of the eagle
- Ashby — ash tree farm
- Aubrey — elf ruler
- August — venerable
- Avery — elf ruler
- Bailey — bailiff
- Bellamy — fine friend
- Bernie — brave as a bear
- Blair — field
- Bobbie — bright fame
- Cameron — crooked nose
- Carey — love
- Carmen — song
- Casey — vigilant
- Cecil — blind
- Charlie — free person
- Claude — lame
- Darcy — dark one
- Devon — poet
- Drew — manly
- Ellis — benevolent
- Emerson — Emery’s child
- Emery — industrious
- Francis — free one
- Frankie — free one
- Gale — cheerful
- Greer — watchful
- Hadley — heather field
- Harley — hare meadow
- Harper — harpist
- Hollis — holly bushes
- Indigo — deep blue dye
- Ira — watchful
- Jesse — gift
- Jody — Jehovah increases
- Jordan — the descender
- Jules — youthful
- Kai — sea
- Kelly — warrior
- Kim — royal fortress meadow
- Lane — narrow road
- Leslie — holly garden
- Logan — little hollow
- Loren — laurel
- Lou — famous warrior
- Marlowe — driftwood
- Meredith — great ruler
- Micah — who is like God
- Morgan — sea‑born
- Noel — Christmas
- Oakley — oak meadow
- Parker — park keeper
- Pat — noble
- Peyton — warrior’s estate
- Quinn — wise
- Reese — ardor
- Remy — oarsman
- Riley — courageous
- Ripley — strip of cleared land
- River — flowing water
- Robin — bright fame
- Rory — red king
- Rowan — little red one
- Sacha — defender
- Sage — wise
- Sawyer — woodcutter
- Shannon — old river
- Sidney — wide meadow
- Sloan — warrior
- Spencer — steward
- Sunny — sunshine
- Taylor — tailor
- Terry — harvester
- Toby — God is good
- Val — strong
- Vernon — alder grove
- Wesley — western meadow
- Whitney — white island
- Wren — small bird
- Wynn — friend