51 Uncommon Old-Fashioned Girl Names Loaded With Charm
What's old is new again, and that's also true for baby girl names. Vintage names, like those from the 1920s, have been popular for a while. But since these types of names with nostalgic charm keep climbing the baby name charts, finding one that's not super popular can feel impossible. And, you know, you may not want your kid to be another Abigail in a room filled with 10 other Abigails. If that sounds like where you're at in your baby-naming journey, you'll need to dig a little deeper into the archives to find truly uncommon old-fashioned baby girl names.
Still, many new parents consider this search well worth the effort. Luckily, there's a slew of traditional names from way back when that are charming and quirky and lovely — and can easily rival the classics like Ava or Beatrice. For those genuinely looking for their baby's name to stand out, you might want to try something stunning and standalone like Elspeth or Mamie. If those tickle your fancy, keep reading for a compilation of names with an unusual quality that's elegant, edgy, and will surely stand the test of time.
Agatha
Agatha is a very unique option for little girls these days, but it wasn’t always! It stayed in the top 1000 baby names from 1900 to 1945, and hasn’t been seen since. The name Agatha means “good” or “honorable,” which is such a powerful meaning for your little one.
Agnes
Although it peaked in the nation’s top 100 names in 1880, Agnes fell off the charts sometime in the ‘70s. But the Greek name, which means “pure,” is poised for a comeback. The nickname Aggie, in particular,” has loads of retro charm.
Alma
From the 1880s until around the early 1930s, Alma held tight in the top 100 names for girls in the United States. It dropped pretty dramatically in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s and has settled just inside of the top 1000. A name with origins in many cultures, it means “nourishing” or “soul.”
Audra
This elegant name started strong in the 1800s, tapered off, shot to its peak in the late 1960s, and has gradually waned in popularity since. Of British and French origin, it means “noble strength.”
Barbara
Barbara is a classic in every sense of the word, and it definitely has an old-fashioned feel. The name Barbara means “foreign” or “strange,” and was most popular from the ‘20s through the ‘60s. You can use Barbie, Babs, or Barb as a cute nickname, too.
Bernadette
Bernie is the absolute cutest girl nickname, and the name Bernadette really sells it. This old-fashioned choice means “brave bear” or “strong,” and it was most popular in the 1920s.
Beryl
An oldie but a goodie of a Greek name, Beryl means “light green semiprecious gemstone” and is perfect for the baby girl who’s the jewel of your eye.
Beulah
A feminine name of Hebrew origin, Beulah means “bride.” That might make you think of how fast your daughter will grow up, but look at it like this — that’s a long way off, and it’s something to look forward to when it eventually arrives. Although this name was ranked #123 for girls in the U.S. in 1880, it’s dropped to the #6000-ish range today.
Blanche
You’d think this name would have seen a bigger resurgence recently with so much love for The Golden Girls! But Blanche, a French name meaning “white” or “pure,” currently sits at #11,298 in popularity for U.S. girl names. For context, it was a top 100 name in the 1880s.
Cicely
Never a wildly common name, Cicely hovered around the #5,000 mark through most of the early 1900s before dropping to its current ranking of #11,351 for girls. It means “blind of self-beauty.”
Claudette
The feminine version of Claude, the name Claudette means “lame,” which isn’t all that great — but at least it’s French! It also hasn’t been popular since 1973, so you know she’ll be the only one in her preschool class.
Cordelia
Although Cordelia fell out of favor a little in the late ‘90s, it’s been slowly creeping back up the charts. And why not? This lovely name of Latin origin has the sweetest meaning: “heart.”
Coretta
This beautiful Italian name is an elaborate form of Cora. It means “little heart,” which perfectly describes your little one.
Davina
While the name has had some recent traction thanks to Selling Sunset’s Davina Potratz, it’s a fairly uncommon sweet name that means “beloved” — a sweet nod to your beloved bundle of joy.
Delphine
From the Greek word delphÃs, this beautiful baby name means “dolphin” — and how cute is that? The name is also derived from Delphi, the home of an oracle in Greek mythology. It currently ranks #3643 for girl names in the U.S.
Dorothea
Oh goodness, imagine a sweet little baby named Dorothea! It’s just too much. This moniker means “gift of God” and has Greek origins. You can choose nicknames like Thea or Dottie, too, and hasn’t been on the popular chart since 1970.
Dulcie
It’s surprising that this name ranks all the way down at #15927 on the list because it’s really freaking cute! Meaning “sweet, candy,” Dulcie is related to Dulce — the name that inspired Cervantes’ Dulcinea, Don Quixote’s chosen lady.
Effie
Want your baby girl to stand strong in her voice? Consider this name, which means “well-spoken” (and happens to be the name of the tough and tenacious Effie White from Dreamgirls). Although Effie ranked #63 in the 1880s, it sits at #2120 today.
Ellen
I love the simplicity of Ellen. It’s so sweet and lovely, and conjures up images of girls being badasses while also being little dollops of joy — sugar and spice and everything nice. Ellen means “torch” or “bright light” and was in the top 100 of baby girl names for literal decades. Now, it sits at #920.
Elspeth
A strong and sturdy name of Hebrew and Scottish origin, Elspeth means “chosen by God.” While it hasn’t made much headway outside of the U.K., it has a childish charm that might be fit for a sweet comeback.
Ethel
Is Ethel not the absolute sweetest? This name just brings such joy, and its meaning is “noble.” The last time it hit the popularity charts was in the ‘70s, so I think it’s definitely time to bring back this old-fashioned cutie.
Eudora
This unique name of Greek origin is perfect for your little one as it means “generous gift.” It also stems from Greek mythology, giving off some goddess vibes, too.
Eulalia
Like Effie, this Greek name means “well-spoken,” but it also means “sweetly speaking” — and, well, that just sounds lovely. Eulalia has a soft, earthy appeal, too, as it’s the name of a tall green grass that grows in Eastern Asia.
Faye
Faye had a good run of popularity in the ‘30s, but otherwise hasn’t come close to that same acclaim. It’s still unique now, but I suspect that the fantasy book culture has brought Faye — which means “fairy” or “belief” — back into the fold.
Gertrude
Don't underestimate this name that you might associate with your great-aunt! Meaning "strength of a spear," the German moniker feels a bit flinty but has a cute, much softer nickname in Gertie.
Gladys
This Welsh name means “land nation,” but it has a quaint and sweet sound to it that defies its definition. And of course, there’s the Motown legend Gladys Knight, which makes it even more legendary.
Henrietta
Henri, Etta, Rett — so many sweet nicknames can come from the name Henrietta. It hasn’t been on the popular lists since 1968, and Henrietta also means “home ruler.”
Kitty
An abbreviated form of Katherine, this sweet name means "pure." Naturally, it's a purr-fect name for cat lovers. It's also been the name of many famous characters, from Kitty Bennet of Pride and Prejudice to Kitty Pryde of X-Men.
Lela
This lilting name of Hebrew and Arabic origin has beautiful (and sort of mysterious) meanings of “dark beauty” and “born at night.” If you grew up obsessed with Anna Sewell’s classic novel Black Beauty, this could be the old-fashioned girl’s name for your little one.
Leota
If you love Haunted Mansion, you undoubtedly know Madame Leota. So, while this name is pretty uncommon (#14,360 for girls’ names in the U.S.), it’s beloved in the Disney fan community. Germanic, it means “of the people.”
Loretta
Loretta means “laurel,” which has such a sweet, country vibe. Retta, Lo, Etta, Rettie — there are so many cute nickname options for this old-fashioned choice. In the 1910s and ‘20s, this name was always in the top 150, and then ended up in the top 100 for pretty much all of the ‘30s.
Lottie
A lovely name that means “little and womanly,” Lottie is a diminutive of the French name Charlotte. It has a “je ne sais quoi” flair that is due for a comeback... especially with the popular characters of the same name from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog and Showtime’s Yellowjackets.
Louise
I just love this one so much — it sounds like a storybook character! The name Louise means “renowned warrior,” which is pretty amazing, and while it’s gaining some traction on the popularity charts, it’s still a unique choice. (It was most popular in the 1910s.)
Mabel
How sweet is Mabel? The name literally means “lovable,” and while it has gotten more popular in recent years, it’s still a unique choice for your little one. Before 2013, it hadn’t been on the popular charts since 1964.
Mae
Thanks to Hilary Duff (or Parenthood fave Mae Whitman), this darling little moniker could make a comeback, but Mae is definitely still considered old-fashioned. It’s often a diminutive of names like Margaret or Mary, but it stands on its own very well. It’s just so spunky and cute. Mae also means “maiden” or “young woman” and was in the top 100 baby girl names from 1900 to 1920.
Maude
Maude is just so punchy, I’m obsessed. This cute old-fashioned girl name hasn’t been on the popularity charts since 1950, and it means “powerful in battle.” Hell yeah, girl!
Mamie
This adorable name, a shorter version of Margaret or another form of Mary, was famously chosen by Meryl Streep for her daughter Mamie Gummer. It means “pearl” and “star of the sea,” both beautiful metaphors for your new treasure.
Midge
Midge stems from the Greek word for “pearl” — but you may better recognize it as the name of the title character in Prime Video’s hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Although the name dropped off in popularity in the ‘70s, it’s making a gradual comeback, currently ranking #2603.
Mildred
This elegant English name means “gentle strength” and encapsulates both maturity and tenderness, making it a fantastic choice for the well-rounded daughter you want to raise.
Millicent
Millicent just sounds vintage right off the bat, and its popularity journey truly makes that case — it hasn’t been on the lists since 1965. You can go with Millie for a cute nickname, but I truly do think Millicent just sounds so cool. It also means “strong in work.”
Myrtle
Who can forget Moaning Myrtle from Harry Potter? But this cute name has a richer history than that. Its origins come from the “evergreen shrub,” which was sacred to the goddess Venus as a symbol of love. So, in some ways, this name could symbolize your everlasting love for your baby girl.
Nannie
OK, this might be what you call your grandmother, but it has a cute ring to it, too. The Hebrew name, which means "grace," has a uniquely modern, feminine vibe that stands out.
Ola
This gender-neutral name of Old Norse origins boasts many meanings: “wealth,” “honor,” “respect,” “man’s defender,” and “ancestor’s relic.” So, if you’re pretty sure your kid is destined to be a wild card, Ola it is! This name ranked in the top 200s during the 1880s, but today it has settled in around the #6800 mark.
Patricia
Patricia feels incredibly traditional, but Patty for a little girl? Come on, we’ve got to bring it back. Patricia means “noble” and is a variant of Patrick if you like the Irish connection.
Prudence
OK, OK, bear with me — Prudence is extremely old-fashioned, but it also has the delightful nickname of Prue! Prudence means “wise,” “skilled,” or “intelligent,” and was extremely common during the Middle Ages. (It hasn’t been in the top 1000 baby girl names since 1948, either.)
Raelene
Thanks to Dolly Parton’s immense popularity, the name Jolene has shot up the rankings in recent years. But this twangy name, which is a variant of Rae, is a much less common option (#10,919 for girl names in the U.S.) that offers the same spirit.
Rowena
Calling all Ravenclaws! Harry Potter fans who call this house home will surely recognize Rowena as the first name of its founder. Outside of its HP claim to fame, the name means “famous friend” and “pure spear.” Plus, it comes with the cool nickname Ro.
Susannah
Oh, Susannah! Don’t you cry for me! Whether you spell it Suzanna, Susanna, or with the traditional H at the end, this name is a classic. Susannah means “lily,” so it has a sweet, nature-related connection and a ton of cute nicknames, from Susie (or Suzie) to Suze and Anna. It was only in the top 1000 of baby girl names from 1967 to 1978, and even then, it was still one of the more unique options.
Theodora
Theodora is the feminine form of Theodore, meaning “gift of God.” It’s just so cute, and Theo is a darling name for a little girl (so is Teddy, honestly!). From 1954 to 2019, it didn’t even top the charts, but it’s making a slow comeback.
Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina is just so gorgeous, and I love all of the nicknames you can pick for this one. The name also means “resolute protector,” so it feels like a strong moniker for your little gal. Bonus: It hasn’t been on the popularity charts since 1952, so you know it’s unique.
Winifred
This lovely Welsh name means "blessed peace," which, sure, doesn't exactly align with everyone's favorite Winifred — the iconic red-haired witch from Hocus Pocus. But the name has a sophisticated feeling to it, and the nickname Winnie is just so delightful.
source https://www.scarymommy.com/parenting/old-fashioned-girl-names
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