Vintage Girl Names
Every generation rediscovers its great-grandmother’s names. Hazel, Violet, Eleanor and Evelyn were schoolroom staples when our great-great-grandparents were young, faded by the disco era, and are now back near the top of the charts. There’s a pattern often called the “100-year rule”: names skip a couple of generations, lose their dusty image and suddenly sound fresh again.
Below are 110+ vintage girl names organized by era and style, from Victorian virtue names to Jazz Age nicknames and mid-century sweethearts. Each comes with its meaning and origin. For more timeless picks, see our classic girl names and old-fashioned girl names, or browse the full Victorian names collection.
Vintage girl names already back in style
These names were popular around 1900–1920 and have returned to the US top 200 in recent years — familiar, but with an heirloom feel.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hazel | The hazel tree; a warm brown-green color | English |
| Violet | The purple flower | Latin |
| Eleanor | Possibly “the other Aenor”; associated with light | Provençal / Greek |
| Evelyn | From Aveline, possibly “hazelnut” or “desired” | Norman French |
| Alice | “Noble type” | Germanic |
| Clara | “Bright, clear” | Latin |
| Josephine | “God will increase” | Hebrew |
| Ruby | The deep red gemstone | Latin |
| Adeline | “Noble” | Germanic |
| Iris | “Rainbow”; the flower and a Greek goddess | Greek |
| Lucy | “Light” | Latin |
| Stella | “Star” | Latin |
| Margaret | “Pearl” | Greek |
| Eloise | “Healthy” or “wide” | Germanic / French |
| Vivian | “Alive, lively” | Latin |
| Genevieve | Possibly “woman of the people” | Celtic / French |
Victorian and Edwardian girl names
Popular from the 1860s to about 1910, these names are grand, romantic and a little formal — most shorten to sweet nicknames. Browse more Victorian names.
| Name | Meaning | Nickname ideas |
|---|---|---|
| Florence | “Flourishing” | Flo, Florrie |
| Beatrice | “She who brings happiness” | Bea, Trixie |
| Matilda | “Mighty in battle” | Tilly, Mattie |
| Theodora | “Gift of God” | Teddy, Thea, Dora |
| Harriet | “Ruler of the home” | Hattie |
| Louisa | “Famous warrior” | Lou, Lulu |
| Cecilia | From Caecilius; traditionally “blind” | Cece, Celia |
| Winifred | “Blessed peace” | Winnie |
| Victoria | “Victory” | Tori, Vicky |
| Philippa | “Lover of horses” | Pippa |
| Arabella | Possibly “yielding to prayer” | Bella |
| Georgiana | “Farmer” | Georgie |
| Wilhelmina | “Resolute protector” | Mina, Billie |
| Rosalind | “Gentle horse,” later “pretty rose” | Ros, Linda |
| Charlotte | “Free,” feminine of Charles | Lottie |
| Augusta | “Great, venerable” | Gussie |
Vintage virtue names
Puritan and Victorian parents loved naming daughters after qualities. These feel meaningful and surprisingly modern.
| Name | The virtue | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grace | God’s favor, elegance | Top-100 staple for over a century |
| Faith | Trust and belief | Classic Puritan name |
| Hope | Optimism | Short and bright |
| Constance | Steadfastness | Nickname Connie |
| Prudence | Good judgment | Nickname Pru |
| Patience | Calm endurance | Rare today |
| Honor | Integrity | Also spelled Honour |
| Charity | Generosity and love | Vintage-cute |
| Mercy | Compassion | Short, strong sound |
| Verity | Truth | Popular in England |
| Felicity | Happiness, good luck | Nickname Flick |
| Temperance | Self-control | Nickname Tempe |
| Clemency | Forgiveness | Rare English gem |
Jazz Age and 1920s girl names
Short, spunky and often ending in -ie or -a, these names suit the flapper era. Many work as nicknames today.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Mae | The month of May | English |
| Pearl | The gemstone | English |
| Opal | The iridescent gemstone | Sanskrit |
| Dorothy | “Gift of God” | Greek |
| Frances | “From France, free” | Latin |
| Gladys | Welsh Gwladus, possibly “ruler” | Welsh |
| Louise | “Famous warrior” | French |
| Bernice | “Bringer of victory” | Greek |
| Mildred | “Gentle strength” | Old English |
| Lillian | From Lily, the flower | English |
| Edith | “Prosperous in war” | Old English |
| Zelda | Short for Griselda, “grey battle” | Germanic |
| Maxine | Feminine of Max, “greatest” | Latin |
| Vera | “Faith” (Russian) or “true” (Latin) | Slavic / Latin |
| Irene | “Peace” | Greek |
| Thelma | Possibly “will, wish”; coined by Marie Corelli | Greek |
| Hattie | Nickname of Harriet, “ruler of the home” | English |
Mid-century girl names (1930s–1950s)
The sweetheart names of the Greatest Generation and their daughters. Some are ready for revival; others are still in the “grandma zone.” See also grandma names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Betty | Short for Elizabeth, “God is my oath” | English |
| Joan | “God is gracious” | English |
| Marilyn | Blend of Mary and Lynn | English |
| Doris | “Of the Dorian sea” | Greek |
| Shirley | “Bright meadow” | Old English |
| Judith | “Woman of Judea, praised” | Hebrew |
| Loretta | From Loreto, Italy | Italian |
| Dolores | “Sorrows,” from Our Lady of Sorrows | Spanish |
| Phyllis | “Green leaf” | Greek |
| Nancy | Nickname of Anne, “grace” | English |
| Joyce | “Lord”; later read as joy | Breton |
| Rosemary | “Dew of the sea,” the herb | Latin |
| Ingrid | “Beautiful” | Norse |
| Audrey | “Noble strength” | Old English |
| Imogene | Variant of Imogen, possibly “maiden” | Celtic |
| Darlene | From “darling” | English |
| Lorraine | From the French region of Lorraine | French |
Vintage floral and gemstone girl names
Victorian flower language made botanical names hugely fashionable. More at flower names for girls and names that mean flower.
| Name | Flower or gem | Why it’s vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Daisy | The daisy (“day’s eye”) | Also a nickname for Margaret |
| Lily | The lily | Victorian symbol of purity |
| Rose | The rose | Top name of the 1880s–1900s |
| Myrtle | The myrtle shrub | Peaked around 1900 |
| Violetta | Little violet | Opera heroine of La Traviata |
| Marigold | The marigold | Edwardian storybook favorite |
| Garnet | The red gemstone | January birthstone |
| Beryl | The gemstone | Popular in 1920s England |
| Viola | The viola flower | Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night heroine |
| Ivy | Ivy vine | Victorian symbol of fidelity |
| Poppy | The red poppy | Remembrance flower after WWI |
| Fern | The fern | Victorian “fern craze” |
| Primrose | “First rose,” an early spring flower | English country charm |
| Goldie | Gold | 1920s nickname name |
Quirky vintage girl names for bold parents
These haven’t come back yet — which is exactly why some parents love them.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Agatha | “Good” | Greek |
| Ethel | “Noble” | Old English |
| Gertrude | “Spear strength” | Germanic |
| Mavis | “Song thrush” | French |
| Nora | Short for Honora or Eleanor | Irish |
| Ottoline | “Wealth” | Germanic |
| Dulcie | “Sweet” | Latin |
| Enid | “Soul, life” | Welsh |
| Maud | “Mighty in battle,” a form of Matilda | Germanic |
| Minerva | Roman goddess of wisdom | Latin |
| Cora | “Maiden” | Greek |
| Etta | Short for Henrietta | English |
| Lettie | Short for Letitia, “joy” | Latin |
| Birdie | Sweet nickname meaning “little bird” | English |
| Sadie | Nickname of Sarah, “princess” | Hebrew |
| Effie | Short for Euphemia, “well spoken” | Greek |
| Nell | Short for Eleanor or Helen | English |
How to pick a vintage girl name that feels fresh
- Use the 100-year rule. Names at their peak around 1910–1930 sound fresh now; those that peaked in the 1950s–60s (Linda, Debra) usually still read “mom” rather than “vintage.”
- Lean on nicknames. A formal name like Wilhelmina or Theodora gives her a grown-up option and a playful one (Mina, Teddy).
- Mix eras. Pair a vintage first with a modern middle — or the reverse — for balance. Our middle names for girls list has ideas.
- Look at your family tree. Great-grandmothers’ names carry meaning and often turn up gems like Opal, Mae or Winifred.
- Check the sibling set. Vintage names pair well together: Hazel and Theodore, Clara and Henry. See old-fashioned boy names for brothers.
Frequently asked questions
What vintage girl names are coming back?
Hazel, Violet, Eleanor, Evelyn, Clara, Josephine, Ruby, Adeline and Iris have all climbed back into the US top 200 in recent years after decades of decline.
What is the 100-year rule for names?
It’s the observation that names tend to return to fashion about a century after their peak, once they’re no longer associated with living parents or grandparents.
What counts as a vintage girl name?
Generally, names that were most popular between about 1880 and 1950 and then fell out of use — for example Florence, Mabel, Pearl and Dorothy.
What’s the difference between vintage and classic names?
Classic names like Elizabeth or Catherine never really went out of style. Vintage names had a clear heyday, disappeared for a while, and feel nostalgic when they return.
What are cute vintage nicknames for girls?
Tilly, Lottie, Hattie, Winnie, Birdie, Pippa, Dottie and Gussie are all charming nicknames that can stand alone or come from a longer formal name.