Choosing a baby name is never an easy task. You want to select something that’ll offer a timeless appeal but will also be unique and set your babe apart from the rest of their contemporaries and friends.
As millennials begin to start families of their own, vintage and old-fashioned baby names have seen a recent resurgence — and for good reason. Vintage names are timeless and simple but still offer enough depth and interest to merit becoming your baby’s namesake. Even the most unique vintage baby names have been around the block for so long that your baby will likely never have to deal with people misspelling or mispronouncing their name.
That’s why we rounded up 50 of the most beautiful and timeless baby names for you to consider. Whether you’re looking for a little girl name, something for a little boy or you’re hoping to choose a gender-neutral name, these classic baby names will never go out of style.
Addison
The name Addison is of Old English descent and translates into “son of Adam.” The name was traditionally given to baby boys but has become much more gender neutral in recent years.
In fact, the name Addison is currently ranked in the top 50 most popular baby girl names.
Adeline
The name Adeline is of Germanic and French descent and was historically very popular among Christian families. The name loosely translates into “noble” or “nobility.”
Alternative versions include Adele or Adelaide.
Alice
Alice was originally derived from the Old French name Aalis and has been a popular choice for little girls for decades.
Lewis Caroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”helped boost the name’s popularity in modern times and today it ranks in the top 100 names in the U.S.
Amos
Hebrew for “carried by God,” Amos is a popular choice for both little girls and boys as well.
Pronounced like AYM-ess, this biblical baby name ranks doesn’t even rank in the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S., s it’s guaranteed to be unique.
Anita
The name Anita (pronounced like a-NEE-tah) is of Spanish origin. It’s a little girl’s name that means “grace” and “favor.”
Alternative names include Anna or Juanita.
Archie
The name Archie is of English origin meaning “genuine” or “brave.”
The name has seen a recent jump in popularity thanks in part to the “Riverdale” Netflix series and, of course, to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby boy of the same name.
Atticus
The name Atticus has been widely associated with the character Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird”and has remained decently popular ever since.
The name has Latin roots and means “belonging to Attica” — the region in which Athens is located.
Barron
The name Barron is a very strong and sophisticated-sounding little boy’s name.
The name is of Old English origin and means “burned clearing.”
Bea
A diminitiontive of the name Beatrice or Beatrix, the name Bea is a short and snappy name that is slightly more modern than its longer counterparts.
The name is of Old English origin and means “she who brings happiness.”
Camille
The name Camille is a French version of Camilla and currently sits at No. 565 in the U.S.
Famous people with the same name include Camille Grammer from “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and Camille Pissaro the French painter.
Claire
The name Claire is the French form of Clara and roughly translates into “bright” or “clear.”
The simple name has become quite popular in the U.S. and soon may break into the top 100.
Colette
Meaning “people of victory,” the name Colette (pronounced ko-LET) is of French origin and is not overly used in the U.S.
Common variations of Colette include Nicole and Cosette.
Cornelius
Looking for a name that’s both bold and unique? The name Cornelius is of Latin origin and simply means “horn.”
Common modern nicknames include Nelly or Con.
Darcy
The name Darcy is of French and Irish origin and means “dark one” or “from the forest.” Despite the slightly negative connotation, Darcy remains relatively popular in the U.S. — perhaps as a nod to Mr. Darcy from “Pride and Prejudice.”
This one is a great option for those looking for a gender neutral name.
Edward
The name Edward is of English origin and roughly translates to “wealthy guardian.”
The name has remained very popular in recent years — largely thanks to Edward Cullen of the “Twilight” series.
Eleanor
The name Eleanor is the English variation of the French name Alienor, which means “unknown.” The name also has Greek roots in which it means “shining light.”
The name has remained quite popular since Eleanor Roosevelt was the first lady of the U.S. and currently ranks at No. 68.
Ezra
The name Ezra is of Hebrew origin and means “helper,” “aid” or “protect.” The name has seen a huge rise in popularity in the past decade and currently hovers at No. 57 in the U.S.
The name is typically masculine but has been used as a female name more frequently, sometimes spelled as Ezri.
Gabrielle
Gabrielle is the feminine form of the French name Gabriel and means “heroine of God” or “God is my strength.”
The name has been around for centuries but only caught on in the U.S. in the 1990s.
George
The name George is perhaps one of the most common vintage baby names. It’s of Greek and English origin and translates into “farmer.”
George remains quite popular in the U.S. and currently ranks at No. 240.
Greta
Derived from the name Margareta, the name Greta is of German origin and means “pearl.”
The name has seen a recent rise in popularity in the U.S. thanks in part to Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
Harriett
Harriett is a girl’s name of German descent and means “home ruler.”
Despite being the name of many heroines in popular English language books and stories, the name is rarely used in the U.S. anymore. But maybe it could make a comeback?
Hazel
Meaning “hazelnut tree,” the name Hazel is of Old English descent, but it has become much more popular in recent years, currently landing in the top 100 baby girl names.
Similar-sounding names include Mabel, Itzel and Haven.
Henry
Henry is a very common name for little boys — especially in recent years. The name is of German and French descent and currently ranks No. 17 in the U.S.
The name roughly translates into “estate ruler.”
Hilda
The name Hilda is of German and Danish descent and roughly translates into “battle woman” or “secrecy.”
The name fell out of popularity in Europe and has never picked up in the U.S., which makes it a great option if you want something unique yet timeless.
Joyce
The name Joyce is a great option for literary-minded parents thanks to its association with Irish novelist James Joyce.
The name is of Latin origin and translates into “lord” or “joy” depending on the context.
Katherine
The name Katherine might only rank No. 339 in the U.S., but there are several variations of it, including Katrina, Kathleen and Kaitlyn.
The name is of Greek origin and means “pure.”
Liza
The diminutive of Eliza or Elizabeth, the name Liza is of both Hebrew and English origin and means “God’s promise” or “God is abundance.”
Famous Lizas include American actress Liza Minnelli.
Louis
German and French for “renowned warrior,” the name Louis (pronounced either as LOO-ee or LOO-is) is a very regal name for a little boy.
The name has seen a recent rise in popularity but is still considered to be vintage.
Matilda
German for “battle mighty,” the name Matilda was first used in the 11th century by William the Conqueror’s Queen Matilda.
The name had become popular in the 1990s thanks to Roald Dahl’s “Matilda”and currently sits at No. 951.
Minnie
Meaning “wished-for child” or “rebellion,” the name Minnie has remained relatively out of style in the U.S.
While the little girl’s name has seen a subtle peak in popularity recently, it still remains a unique choice.
Morgan
The name Morgan is a great gender-neutral option that has remained popular in the U.S. for decades, thanks in part to famous actors of the same name like Morgan Freeman and Morgan Fairchild.
The name is of Welsh origin and means “sea dweller” or “sea born.”
Molly
The name Molly is of Irish origin and translates into “the star of the sea.”
The name dates back to the Middle Ages, and although it fell out of popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s, it is currently seeing a rise in popularity.
Nora
Nora is a vintage name that is currently seeing a serious comeback in the U.S. The name is of Irish and Greek origin and means “light.”
The name is also a popular French variation of the name Eleanora.
Neville
The name Neville (pronounced NEV-il) is of French origin and translates into “new village.”
The retro name is still relatively uncommon in the U.S. — but makes for a great name for “Harry Potter”fans looking for something wizardry-inspired that is a little more subtle.
Olive
The name Olive is of Latin origin and currently ranks at No. 448 in the U.S.
The name is simple and sweet — and could be seen as a symbol of peace thanks to its association with the term “olive branch.”
Opal
The name Opal is a feminine name that conjures up images of sparkling gems and jewels.
The name is of Sanskrit origin and is a great option for little girls born in October, as the opal is the gemstone for that month.
Oscar
The name Oscar is of English and Irish origin and represents a fierce warrior in Irish mythology.
There are many modern Oscars that have helped keep the name in rotation, including Oscar Wilde, Oscar de la Renta and, of course, the coveted Oscar award.
Pearl
Pearl is a simple and sweet little girl’s name that has multiple meanings. Of course, it means exactly as it sounds in English, but it also means “precious” in Latin.
Similar names include Perla and Opal.
Penelope
The name Penelope may have fallen out of favor in the 1980s, but it has seen a recent rise in popularity in the U.S. The name is of Greek origin and means “weaver.”
Modern-day Penelopes (think Spanish actress Penelope Cruz) have brought the name back into fashion.
Rosemary
This name of Latin origin has two different meanings. It could be interpreted as “dew of the sea” or as the fresh herb of the same name.
Similar names include Annemarie, Rosalie and Rosie.
Roy
The name Roy is an interesting one, as it has multiple origins and meanings.
In Scottish, the name means “red.” But in French, the name Roy is a variation of “roi,” which means “king.”
Sadie
The name Sadie is of Hebrew origin and means “princess.” This name is particularly well-loved in the U.S., as it’s a great intersection between meaningful and playful.
It’s timeless in that it’s the perfect little girl name but can grow with her without sounding juvenile.
Scarlet
The name Scarlet evokes a sense of vibrancy and confidence — largely due to Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson.
The name is in fact of French origin and means “bright red.”
Shirley
Shirley is a beautiful vintage girl’s name that translates into “bright meadow” or “clearing.”
It was one of the most popular girl’s names in the 1930s and 1940s but has fallen out of popularity in recent years — which is ideal if you want a unique and timeless name.
Stanley
The little boy’s name Stanley is of English origin and means “stony meadow” or “stony clearing.”
The vintage name saw a drop in popularity since the 1990s, but with nicknames like Stan or Stosh, it makes for an appealing timeless option.
Toby
The name Toby is a diminutive of Tobias and has recently become popular for both little boys and little girls as well.
The gender-neutral name is of Hebrew origin and means “God is good.”
Vera
The name Vera has Slavic roots and translates into “faith” or “truth.”
It was one of the most popular girls’ names at the beginning of the 20th century and has recently had a bit of a resurgence in the U.S.
Virginia
Looking for a classic American name that is both timeless and unique? The name Virginia pays homage to the U.S., but its Latin roots give it another layer of depth.
The name means “maiden” or “pure,” which makes it a wonderful option for baby girls.
Wren
The name Wren is a great gender-neutral option that has roots in Britain. The name means “small brown songbird” and currently ranks at No. 648 in the U.S.
It can also be spelled as Ren.
Winston
Winston is a classic little boy’s name of English descent that has come to be regarded as a strong and powerful title thanks to the British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
The name means “joyful stone” and currently ranks No. 832 in the U.S.
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