1920s Names
The Roaring Twenties were loud about everything, names included. Parents still leaned on Mary and John, but the decade also minted flapper-bright names like Zelda, Dot and Bettie, and turned dignified names such as Theodore, Florence and Frances into the everyday names of a generation. Below are more than 100 names from the Jazz Age, grouped by how they feel today.
Rankings mentioned here come from US Social Security (SSA) birth data for the decade. For the generation before, see 1800s names; for names that already feel like a grandmother’s kitchen, try grandma names or old man names. More eras are in our historical names hub.
Most popular girl names of the 1920s
The decade’s top girls’ names in SSA records. Several, like Evelyn and Virginia, are fashionable again.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Mary | Possibly “beloved” or “bitter” | Hebrew |
| Dorothy | “Gift of God” | Greek |
| Helen | “Torch, light” | Greek |
| Betty | Pet form of Elizabeth | Hebrew |
| Margaret | “Pearl” | Greek |
| Ruth | “Friend, companion” | Hebrew |
| Virginia | Roman family name, linked to “maiden” | Latin |
| Doris | “Gift” or a Greek region | Greek |
| Mildred | “Gentle strength” | Old English |
| Frances | “From France” | Latin |
| Elizabeth | “My God is an oath” | Hebrew |
| Evelyn | From a Norman surname, possibly “hazelnut” | French |
| Anna | “Grace” | Hebrew |
| Marie | French form of Mary | Hebrew, via French |
| Alice | “Noble” | Germanic |
| Jean | Scottish form of Jane, “God is gracious” | Hebrew, via Scots |
| Shirley | “Bright clearing” | Old English |
| Barbara | “Foreign woman” | Greek |
| Irene | “Peace” | Greek |
| Marjorie | Scottish form of Margaret | Greek, via Scots |
Most popular boy names of the 1920s
Boys’ names moved slowly: the top five barely changed across the decade.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Robert | “Bright fame” | Germanic |
| John | “God is gracious” | Hebrew |
| James | “Supplanter” | Hebrew |
| William | “Resolute protector” | Germanic |
| Charles | “Free man” | Germanic |
| George | “Farmer” | Greek |
| Joseph | “God will add” | Hebrew |
| Richard | “Brave ruler” | Germanic |
| Edward | “Wealthy guardian” | Old English |
| Donald | “World ruler” | Scottish Gaelic |
| Thomas | “Twin” | Aramaic |
| Frank | “Free man” | Germanic |
| Harold | “Army ruler” | Old English |
| Paul | “Small, humble” | Latin |
| Raymond | “Wise protector” | Germanic |
| Walter | “Army ruler” | Germanic |
| Jack | Pet form of John | English |
| Henry | “Ruler of the home” | Germanic |
| Kenneth | “Handsome” or “born of fire” | Scottish Gaelic |
| Arthur | Possibly “bear” | Celtic |
Flapper girl names with Jazz Age sparkle
Names with a cocktail-hour glamour, many worn by the era’s stars. Pair them with our fancy girl names.
| Name | Meaning | Jazz Age link |
|---|---|---|
| Zelda | Short for Griselda, “grey battle” | Zelda Fitzgerald |
| Clara | “Clear, bright” | Clara Bow, the “It girl” |
| Louise | “Renowned warrior” | Louise Brooks |
| Josephine | “God will add” | Josephine Baker |
| Billie | Pet form of Wilhelmina | Billie Holiday (born 1915) |
| Gloria | “Glory” | Gloria Swanson |
| Mae | Variant of May | Mae West |
| Dorothea | “Gift of God” | Dorothy Parker’s full-name form |
| Bessie | Pet form of Elizabeth | Bessie Smith |
| Greta | Short for Margareta, “pearl” | Greta Garbo |
| Pola | Polish short form of Apolonia | Pola Negri |
| Coco | Nickname of Gabrielle | Coco Chanel |
| Lillian | From Lily; also Elizabeth | Lillian Gish |
| Theda | Short for Theodosia, “gift of God” | Theda Bara |
| Colleen | Irish, “girl” | Colleen Moore |
| Ginger | Nickname from Virginia | Ginger Rogers |
1920s girl names coming back
Classic enough to feel familiar, rare enough to stand out. Many sit on our vintage girl names list.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel | The hazel tree | English |
| Violet | The flower | Latin |
| Mabel | “Lovable” | Latin |
| Vera | “Faith” or “true” | Russian / Latin |
| Edith | “Prosperous in war” | Old English |
| Ivy | The climbing plant | English |
| Lois | Possibly “better” | Greek |
| Opal | The gemstone | Sanskrit, via Greek |
| Iris | “Rainbow” | Greek |
| June | The month, after Juno | Latin |
| Stella | “Star” | Latin |
| Nora | Short for Eleanor or Honora | Irish |
| Pearl | The gem | English |
| Esther | “Star” | Persian |
Dapper 1920s boy names
Names that suggest a pressed suit and a fedora. Several are back in the US top 100. More ideas in classic boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore | “Gift of God” | Greek |
| Leo | “Lion” | Latin |
| Louis | “Famous warrior” | Germanic, via French |
| Clarence | From the dukedom of Clarence | Latin |
| Howard | Norman surname, possibly “high warden” | English |
| Ralph | “Wolf counsel” | Old Norse |
| Earl | “Nobleman, warrior” | Old English |
| Chester | “Fortress” | Latin, via Old English |
| Floyd | Variant of Lloyd, “grey” | Welsh |
| Herbert | “Bright army” | Germanic |
| Stanley | “Stony clearing” | Old English |
| Vernon | “Alder grove” | French |
| Russell | “Little red one” | French |
| Eugene | “Well-born” | Greek |
| Lawrence | “From Laurentum” | Latin |
| Harvey | “Battle-worthy” | Breton |
| Cecil | “Blind” | Latin |
| Ernest | “Serious, resolute” | Germanic |
1920s nicknames and pet names
Short, snappy and often on everyday birth certificates too. Great as nicknames for longer modern names.
| Nickname | Usually short for | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Dot | Dorothy | Girl |
| Dottie | Dorothy | Girl |
| Midge | Margaret | Girl |
| Bea | Beatrice | Girl |
| Winnie | Winifred | Girl |
| Birdie | Bird-lover’s nickname; also Bridget | Girl |
| Frankie | Frances or Francis | Either |
| Bobby | Robert | Boy |
| Buddy | “Brother,” general nickname | Boy |
| Eddie | Edward | Boy |
| Charlie | Charles | Boy |
| Sonny | General nickname for a son | Boy |
| Ray | Raymond | Boy |
| Gus | Augustus or Gustav | Boy |
How to pick a 1920s name
- Choose a full name with a Jazz Age nickname built in: Dorothy gives Dot, Winifred gives Winnie.
- If you want vintage without “grandpa,” skip the most common names (Robert, Mary) and pick from the revival lists.
- For a period story, check births: a 1920s adult was born around 1880–1905, so their names come from the 1800s names list.
- Movie-star names (Clara, Greta, Gloria) carry a glamorous connotation; that’s a bonus for a party theme or a character.
- Say the name with your surname. Many 1920s names end in -ie or -y, which can clash with a surname ending the same way.
Frequently asked questions
What were the most popular names in the 1920s?
According to SSA data, Mary, Dorothy, Helen, Betty and Margaret led for girls, while Robert, John, James, William and Charles led for boys.
What is a good flapper name?
Zelda, Clara, Louise, Josephine, Mae and Gloria all evoke the flapper era, several thanks to famous women of the decade.
Which 1920s names are popular again?
Evelyn, Hazel, Violet, Theodore, Leo and Henry have returned to or near the US top 100 in recent years.
What were popular nicknames in the 1920s?
Dot, Midge, Winnie, Bobby, Eddie and Sonny were everyday nicknames of the era.