Antique Baby Names
168 Antique names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Antique baby names are names pulled straight from the great-grandparent generation — names that flourished around the turn of the twentieth century, then all but vanished for a hundred years. They carry real texture: a little formal, a little funny, entirely their own, and nothing like the interchangeable names filling today’s classrooms.
Why Parents Love Them
Antique names skip right past the crowded roster and land somewhere sturdier and more distinctive. A name like Hildegarde or Egbert arrives with a built-in story and a sense of humor that parents find genuinely refreshing.
Antique Girl Names
Girls’ names from this era are warm and a bit formal, often closing on a soft -a or -ie sound: Arvilla, Elfrieda, Hermina, Myrtie and Gertha all have that unmistakable parlor-photograph charm. Beaulah and Ardeth add a gentle musicality that still reads as fresh today.
Antique Boy Names
Boys’ names skew just as sturdy and formal — think Durward, Deward, Ewell and Murl. They sound like the kind of name a grandfather wore comfortably his whole life, which is exactly the appeal now.
Wearing an Antique Name Today
The trick is confidence: names like Verle or Loyce work best when parents lean into the vintage sound rather than softening it with a trendy nickname. Given whole and unapologetically, an antique name reads as heirloom rather than old-fashioned.
Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.
Antique Girl Names
Glendola#3637 in the U.S.Glendola extends Glenda or Glenna with an ornamental -ola ending, in the early-twentieth-centur▶Hildegarde#3671 in the U.S.From the Germanic Hildegard, joining 'hild' ('battle') and 'gard' ('enclosure; protection') — '▶Elfrieda#3888 in the U.S.Elfrieda is a German name from the elements alf or elf, 'elf,' and either thryth, 'strength,' o▶Mozel#4545 in the U.S.Mozel reads as a short form of Mozelle or Mozella, decorative girls' names popular in the early▶Alfretta#4662 in the U.S.Alfretta is an ornamental elaboration of Alfreda, the feminine of Alfred, from Old English 'ael▶Corda#4748 in the U.S.Corda most plausibly draws on the Latin/Italian corda, 'cord, string' (the same root as chord a▶Olene#4779 in the U.S.Olene is most likely an -ene elaboration of Ola or Olena, feminine names tied to the Old Norse ▶Pearlee#4820 in the U.S.Pearlee is a lengthened, affectionate form of Pearl, the English nature and gem name for the lu▶Manila#4999 in the U.S.Manila takes the name of the Philippine capital, from the Tagalog 'may nilad' (place of the nil▶Ople#5073 in the U.S.Ople's origin is genuinely unclear. It may be a phonetic or dialectal variant of the gem name O▶Louvina#5117 in the U.S.Louvina is a vintage American name reading as a blend of Lou and Vina, and it is commonly conne▶Mintie#5151 in the U.S.Mintie is a homey pet form, most likely of Araminta or its short form Minta, an eighteenth-cent▶Arvilla#5173 in the U.S.Arvilla is a nineteenth-century American girl's name of uncertain origin; its Latinate look sug▶Ardyce#5194 in the U.S.Ardyce is a spelling variant of Ardis and Ardith, girls' names that surfaced in the early-twent▶Wilmina#5232 in the U.S.Wilmina is a feminine form of William/Wilhelm, from the Germanic elements wil, 'will, desire,' ▶Bulah#5356 in the U.S.Bulah is a simplified spelling of Beulah (Hebrew, 'married'), used in the Book of Isaiah as a p▶Birdell#5377 in the U.S.Birdell appears to combine the English word 'bird' with the -ell/-elle ending fashionable for e▶Clytie#5387 in the U.S.Clytie (Greek Klytie) is the name of an Oceanid nymph in Greek mythology who loved the sun god ▶Edla#5464 in the U.S.Edla is a Scandinavian, chiefly Swedish and Finnish, girl's name generally connected to the Ger▶Ethelyne#5485 in the U.S.Ethelyne is an elaborated variant of Ethel, from the Old English æthel, meaning 'noble'; the -y▶Normalee#5493 in the U.S.Normalee extends Norma, most likely from the Latin norma, 'rule, pattern' (or read as a feminin▶Dorothye#5506 in the U.S.Dorothye is a spelling variant of Dorothy, from the Greek doron, 'gift', and theos, 'God' - tog▶Eldred#5539 in the U.S.Eldred descends from the Old English Ealdred, joining eald ('old') and ræd ('counsel'), so 'old▶Maeola#5633 in the U.S.Maeola most plausibly blends Mae (a short form of Mary or Margaret, or the month name May) with▶Myrle#5686 in the U.S.Myrle is a variant of Myrtle, the fragrant evergreen from Greek myrtos long tied to love and ma▶Goldia#5810 in the U.S.Goldia is a lengthened form of Golda or Goldie, ornamental names taken straight from the word g▶Buelah#5865 in the U.S.Buelah is a variant spelling of Beulah, a Hebrew name meaning 'married' or 'she who is married'▶Armilda#5871 in the U.S.Armilda is an old American girl's name most plausibly built on Germanic roots such as ermen, 'w▶Ruthella#5951 in the U.S.Ruthella joins Ruth, from the Hebrew re'ut meaning 'friend' or 'companion,' with the ornamental▶Aurilla#6009 in the U.S.Aurilla is a nineteenth-century American folk form of Aurelia, the Roman family name from the L▶Burnice#6084 in the U.S.Burnice is a spelling variant of Bernice, from the Greek Berenike, a compound of pherein, 'to b▶Lurlean#6273 in the U.S.Lurlean is best explained as a blend of Lurline, itself a form of Lorelei, the Germanic river-n▶Ludie#6455 in the U.S.Ludie is an old-fashioned diminutive, most commonly a pet form of Louise, Luella, or another Lu▶Shelvie#6457 in the U.S.Shelvie is a rare, short-lived American girls' name of unsettled origin. It reads most naturall▶Hermina#6526 in the U.S.Hermina is a variant of Hermine or Herminia, feminine forms built on the Germanic Herman, from ▶Almena#6590 in the U.S.Almena is an old American girl's name whose exact source is unclear; it may be a clipped form o▶Ardeth#6646 in the U.S.An early-American girl's name, a form of Ardith or Ardath; the latter appears as a place name i▶Clela#6731 in the U.S.Clela is best explained as a clipped form of Cornelia, the feminine of the old Roman clan name ▶Ethelene#6878 in the U.S.Ethelene extends the vintage favorite Ethel with the fashionable -ene ending. Ethel comes from ▶Emmer#6898 in the U.S.Emmer is an old-fashioned pet form of Emma (or sometimes Emily), the Germanic name from ermen, ▶Iretta#7161 in the U.S.Iretta is a vintage American -etta name, formed from a short opening (I-/Ira-) plus the affecti▶Myrtie#7198 in the U.S.Myrtie is an affectionate pet form of Myrtle, the fragrant evergreen shrub long tied to love an▶Pearlene#7439 in the U.S.Pearlene is an elaboration of the jewel name Pearl, lengthened with the fashionable -ene ending▶Birtha#7577 in the U.S.Birtha is a spelling variant of Bertha, from the Germanic element berht, 'bright' or 'famous,' ▶Lesta#7643 in the U.S.Lesta is best explained as a feminine form of the surname-name Lester (from the English city of▶Vergie#7660 in the U.S.Vergie is a spelling of Virgie, a pet form of Virginia, from the Latin virgo ('maiden'). The 'V▶Dorthey#7779 in the U.S.Dorthey is a phonetic respelling of Dorothy, dropping the middle vowel the way the name is ofte▶Oneta#7942 in the U.S.Oneta is a genuine early-twentieth-century American name whose origin is unsettled. It may be a▶Aldona#8006 in the U.S.Aldona is an old Lithuanian name carried into history by Aldona of Lithuania, the pagan Grand D▶Altha#8190 in the U.S.Altha is a trimmed form of Althea, from Greek Althaia, tied to althainein, 'to heal.' Althaea i▶Verdie#8248 in the U.S.Verdie is a turn-of-the-century pet form connected to the 'green, verdant' words from Latin vir▶Edwena#8362 in the U.S.Edwena is a spelling variant of Edwina, the feminine form of Edwin, from Old English 'ead' ('we▶Elois#8448 in the U.S.Elois is an early-twentieth-century variant of Eloise, itself from the medieval Heloise and the▶Beaulah#8532 in the U.S.Beaulah is a variant spelling of Beulah, a Hebrew name meaning 'married' or 'she who is married▶Erlene#8635 in the U.S.Erlene is a feminine form built from Earl, the Old English eorl, 'nobleman, warrior', with the ▶Minnette#8649 in the U.S.Minnette dresses up Minnie, the common diminutive of Wilhelmina, the German feminine form of Wi▶Loyce#8650 in the U.S.Loyce is generally read as a variant of Lois, a Greek New Testament name of uncertain meaning, ▶Arlyne#8672 in the U.S.Arlyne is a variant spelling of Arlene, a name of uncertain origin variously linked to a short ▶Gertha#8745 in the U.S.Gertha is a short, softened form in the Gertrude/Gerda family. Gertrude comes from Germanic ele▶Elwanda#8758 in the U.S.Elwanda is a twentieth-century American coinage that fits an 'El-' prefix onto Wanda, a Polish ▶Lurline#8764 in the U.S.Lurline is a nineteenth-century literary name for the water-siren of the Rhine, a poetic cousin▶Hilma#8778 in the U.S.Hilma is a Scandinavian and Germanic short form of Wilhelmina, from elements meaning 'will' and▶Laverna#8841 in the U.S.Most likely a La- elaboration of Verna, from the Latin 'vernus,' 'of spring; springlike.' It al▶Noretta#8910 in the U.S.Noretta is a diminutive elaboration of Nora or Noreen, both of which trace to Honora, from Lati▶Velva#8991 in the U.S.Velva is an early-century American name, most likely inspired by the soft word velvet or formed▶Noma#9184 in the U.S.Noma is most plausibly a clipped form of Naoma, an old spelling of Naomi, from Hebrew for 'plea▶Ardelle#9187 in the U.S.Ardelle is a dressed-up form of Ardella or Adele. Through Adele it carries the Germanic adal, '▶Almeta#9278 in the U.S.Almeta is a genuine early-twentieth-century American name whose precise origin is unclear. It m▶Ruthe#9454 in the U.S.An -e spelling of Ruth, from the Hebrew for 'friend; companion,' also read as 'compassion.' The▶Idell#9509 in the U.S.Most likely an elaboration of Ida, from a Germanic element read as 'work; labor; industrious,' ▶Wonda#9522 in the U.S.Wonda is a spelling variant of Wanda, a Polish and Slavic name traditionally linked to the Wend▶Alverta#9691 in the U.S.A feminine form of Albert (a variant of Alberta), from the Germanic elements adal, 'noble,' and▶Vernie#9716 in the U.S.A pet form of Verna, from the Latin 'vernus,' 'of spring; springlike'; it may also shorten Vern▶Ardell#9739 in the U.S.Ardell belongs to the family of -elle names elaborated in nineteenth-century America, most ofte▶Rheta#9835 in the U.S.Rheta is usually a variant of Rita, a short form of Margarita ('pearl'). The 'Rh-' spelling als▶Ossie#9991 in the U.S.Ossie is a pet form of names beginning with 'Os-,' such as Osie, Ostend, or the Old English Osw▶Meta#10068 in the U.S.A German and Scandinavian short form of Margareta (Margaret), from the Greek for 'pearl.' The o▶Sudie#10231 in the U.S.Sudie is an affectionate Southern short form of Susan or Susannah, names that trace to the Hebr▶Mammie#10332 in the U.S.Mammie is an old spelling of Mamie, a nursery pet form of Mary and sometimes Margaret. Mary tra▶Delpha#10586 in the U.S.Delpha is an early-century short name tied to Delphine, from Greek delphis, 'dolphin', and to P▶Izetta#10598 in the U.S.Izetta is a decorative elaboration built on Etta, the pet form of longer names like Henrietta a▶Jessamy#10604 in the U.S.An archaic English form of Jessamine (jessamine/jasmine), from the Persian yasmin, the fragrant▶Creola#10744 in the U.S.Creola is drawn from Creole, a word that passed through French créole from Portuguese crioulo, ▶Estell#10771 in the U.S.Estell is a trimmed spelling of Estelle, an Old French name from the Latin stella ('star'). It ▶Pinkie#11369 in the U.S.Pinkie is an endearment-turned-name, from 'pink' — both the soft color and the frilled garden f▶Altamese#11371 in the U.S.Altamese is a vintage African-American given name whose origin is genuinely uncertain. It may d▶Nancee#11413 in the U.S.Nancee is a decorative spelling of Nancy, itself a medieval diminutive of Ann or Agnes; Ann com▶Mardell#11418 in the U.S.Mardell most likely joins a Mary or Mar- element to the popular -dell ending, in the manner of ▶Tennie#11671 in the U.S.Tennie is a turn-of-the-last-century American pet name, given straight as a first name in an er▶Teresia#11683 in the U.S.Teresia is an elaborated Latin-Greek form of Theresa or Teresa, names usually traced to Greek t▶Theola#11933 in the U.S.Theola pairs the Greek theos, 'god,' with the graceful -ola ending fashionable a century ago, g▶Ceola#12110 in the U.S.Ceola is an early-twentieth-century Southern American girls' name whose root is not securely do▶Verdell#12270 in the U.S.Verdell extends the vintage names Verda and Verdie with the popular early-century suffix -ell. ▶Attalie#12286 in the U.S.Attalie is a form of Atalie or Athalie, itself linked to Hebrew Athaliah ('the Lord is exalted'▶Thecla#12696 in the U.S.Thecla derives from the ancient Greek Theokleia, combining theos, 'god,' and kleos, 'glory, fam▶Ouida#12919 in the U.S.Ouida comes from the pen name of Victorian novelist Ouida (Maria Louise Rame), which began as h▶Rozanne#12990 in the U.S.Rozanne is a variant of Roseanne, a compound of Rose, from Latin rosa, the flower, and Anne, fr▶Onie#13285 in the U.S.Onie is an affectionate short form of names ending in -ona or -one, such as Iona, Leona, and On▶Tiny#13323 in the U.S.Tiny is the ordinary English adjective 'tiny' pressed into service as a personal name — most of▶Antonette#13607 in the U.S.Antonette is a variant of Antoinette, the French feminine diminutive of Antoine (Anthony), from▶Fredia#13690 in the U.S.Fredia is a variant of Freda or Frieda, short forms of Germanic names in fried-, 'peace' (as in▶Ammie#13709 in the U.S.Ammie is an old spelling of Amy, from the Old French amée and Latin amata, 'beloved'; it can al▶Mozell#13876 in the U.S.An early-American girl's name, most likely a short form of Mozelle or Mozella, names sometimes ▶Eldora#13903 in the U.S.Eldora is usually linked to the Spanish el dorado ('the golden one'), evoking the legendary gol▶Cordie#13930 in the U.S.Cordie is an affectionate short form of Cora or Cordelia. Cordelia is often linked to Latin cor▶Claudie#13965 in the U.S.Claudie is an affectionate pet form of Claudia or Claude, from the Roman family name Claudius (▶Fidelia#13990 in the U.S.From Latin fidelis, 'faithful, loyal', the feminine of Fidel. Used in Spanish- and Latin-influe▶Grissel#14021 in the U.S.A short form of Griselda — Germanic gris 'gray' plus hild 'battle'. Grissel (also Grizel, Griss▶Hilaria#14070 in the U.S.From Latin hilaris, 'cheerful, merry' — the feminine of Hilarius, borne by Saint Hilary of Poit▶Exie#14125 in the U.S.Exie is an old Southern American given name whose roots are not securely documented. The likeli▶Sydell#14296 in the U.S.Sydell is a decorative early-twentieth-century American form built on Sadie and Sydelle, pet na▶Leota#14453 in the U.S.A name well used in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century America whose origin is not settled▶Thekla#15082 in the U.S.Thekla comes from the Greek Theokleia, joining 'theos' ('god') and 'kleos' ('glory, fame') - so▶Versie#15084 in the U.S.Versie is a Southern American girl's name whose origin is uncertain; it most plausibly arose as▶Norita#15089 in the U.S.Norita adds the Spanish diminutive -ita to Nora, a short form of Honora (from the Latin honor) ▶Lovena#15196 in the U.S.Lovena reads as a folk variant of Lovina or Lavina, themselves worn-down forms of Lavinia, the ▶Reatha#15205 in the U.S.Reatha is a variant of Retha, a short form of Aretha, from Greek arete, 'virtue' or 'excellence▶Alvera#15511 in the U.S.Alvera is generally read as a variant of Elvira, a Germanic-rooted name (elements often glossed▶Annis#15594 in the U.S.Annis is a medieval English pronunciation-spelling of Agnes, which comes from the Greek hagnos,▶Vernessa#15678 in the U.S.Vernessa reads as a blend of Verna, from Latin vernus, 'spring,' and Vanessa, a name coined by ▶Eartha#15761 in the U.S.Eartha comes from the Old English eorthe, 'earth,' a grounded nature name carried memorably by ▶Charlsie#15787 in the U.S.Charlsie is an affectionate feminine of Charles or a pet form of Charlotte, both from the Germa▶Joline#16307 in the U.S.Joline builds on Jo, the pet form of Josephine or Joseph, from Hebrew Yosef, 'Jehovah increases▶Lavada#16570 in the U.S.Lavada is an early-twentieth-century American name of uncertain origin, possibly a La- coinage ▶Lulla#16743 in the U.S.Lulla is best read as a diminutive or pet form of Louisa or Lula, both ultimately from the Germ▶Izola#16877 in the U.S.Izola is a turn-of-the-century American girls' name, read most plausibly from the Italian 'isol▶Ottie#17016 in the U.S.Ottie is an early-1900s pet name, most often a short form of Ottilie or Octavia, or a feminine ▶Parthenia#17030 in the U.S.From the Greek parthenos, 'maiden; virgin' — the same word behind the Parthenon, the temple of ▶Luvenia#17051 in the U.S.Luvenia is a Southern American girl's name of uncertain origin; the most plausible reading link▶Erline#17301 in the U.S.Erline is a variant of Earline or Earlene, feminine forms of Earl, from Old English eorl, 'nobl▶Wanita#17489 in the U.S.Wanita is an English phonetic respelling of Juanita, the Spanish diminutive of Juana — itself t▶Veta#17500 in the U.S.Veta is a short form that was cut from a variety of longer names ending in -veta or -vita — suc▶Veola#17521 in the U.S.Veola belongs to the Viola and Ola family of early-1900s names, blending the violet-flower Viol▶Sedonia#17621 in the U.S.Sedonia has no clearly documented etymology. It reads as a Latin-style elaboration built for so▶Ionia#18696 in the U.S.Ionia was the ancient Greek name for a region on the western coast of Anatolia, home to early G▶
Antique Boy Names
Dewie#3304 in the U.S.Dewie is a respelling of Dewey, from the Welsh Dewi, the Welsh form of David, itself from the H▶Mansel#3490 in the U.S.Mansel is a surname with two overlapping sources: an Old English/Old French sense of 'from the ▶Wirt#3612 in the U.S.Wirt comes from the Middle High German wirt, meaning 'innkeeper, host, landlord,' an occupation▶Athel#3772 in the U.S.Athel comes from the Old English word aethel ('noble'), the element that opens names like Ethel▶Luverne#3785 in the U.S.Luverne is an American given name with no single settled source. It matches the Minnesota town ▶Euclid#3858 in the U.S.Euclid comes from the Greek Eukleides, joining eu ('good', 'well') with a root tied to glory or▶Woodard#3939 in the U.S.Woodard is an English occupational surname joining the Old English wudu, 'wood, forest,' with w▶Belford#4080 in the U.S.Belford is an English surname adopted as a given name, drawn from a place name. The elements po▶Buel#5076 in the U.S.Buel is a spelling of the surname Buell, carried into first-name use in early-twentieth-century▶Derl#5700 in the U.S.Derl is a short, homespun early-century name, most plausibly a variant of Earl or Merle. Earl c▶Verle#5744 in the U.S.Verle is a spare early-1900s American boys' name, a cousin of Verl and part of the rhyming set ▶Ewell#5877 in the U.S.Ewell began as an English surname taken from the town of Ewell in Surrey, whose name comes from▶Deward#6528 in the U.S.Deward is an uncommon early-1900s American boys' name of unsettled origin. It reads most natura▶Murl#6971 in the U.S.Murl is a phonetic variant of Merle, from Old French merle, 'blackbird' (via Latin merula). It ▶Yee#7392 in the U.S.Yee is the Cantonese romanization of several distinct Chinese surnames, most commonly Yu (余, 'a▶Egbert#8331 in the U.S.Egbert is an Old English name combining ecg, 'edge, sword-edge', with beorht, 'bright, famous',▶Durward#8570 in the U.S.A surname turned given name, from the Old English for 'door-ward; doorkeeper; gatekeeper' — an ▶Otho#9226 in the U.S.Otho is a Latinized form of Otto, from a Germanic element meaning 'wealth, fortune'; it was bor▶Vernie#9583 in the U.S.Vernie is a diminutive of Vernon or Vern, a name from a Norman place-name meaning 'place of ald▶Vester#9584 in the U.S.Vester is a short form of Sylvester, from the Latin silvestris, 'of the woods, wooded, wild'. I▶Burley#9727 in the U.S.Burley comes from an English surname and place name formed from Old English 'burh' (a fortified▶Eustacio#9891 in the U.S.Eustacio is the Spanish form of Eustace, from Greek Eustachys ('fruitful, rich in grain') or Eu▶Oral#10514 in the U.S.Oral is an American masculine name whose origin is uncertain; it most plausibly stands as a var▶Eldred#11199 in the U.S.From the Old English Ealdred, joining 'eald' ('old') and 'raed' ('counsel; advice') — 'old coun▶Hillard#11327 in the U.S.Hillard is a variant of Hilliard, an English surname from the Germanic personal name Hildeweard▶Vernell#12045 in the U.S.Vernell joins Vern, from Vernon — an Anglo-Norman place name meaning 'alder grove,' from Old Fr▶Dillard#12555 in the U.S.Dillard is an English surname adopted as a first name, most likely from a medieval personal nam▶Philander#12739 in the U.S.Philander comes from Greek Philandros, joining philos ('loving, dear') with andros ('man'), for▶Dorman#12770 in the U.S.Dorman is a surname turned first name, from an Old English occupational name meaning a doorkeep▶Finis#13088 in the U.S.Finis is a genuine given name from the Latin finis, 'end, boundary, limit' — the source of Engl▶Leamon#13308 in the U.S.Leamon is a surname turned first name, a variant of Lamon or Lemon and related to Lamond. Like ▶Serapio#13672 in the U.S.Serapio is the Spanish form of the Latin Serapion, a name built on Serapis, the Greco-Egyptian ▶Merwin#13914 in the U.S.Merwin is a variant of Mervin and Marvin, tracing to the Old Welsh name Merfyn; it is commonly ▶
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Frequently Asked
What are antique baby names?
Antique baby names are names that were common a century or more ago — often worn by great-grandparents — and have since fallen out of everyday use. They offer real distinction along with a sense of family history.
Why are antique names becoming popular again?
Parents looking for something distinctive but still rooted in tradition are drawn to antique names because they feel warm and familiar without being trendy or overused.
What are good antique girl names?
Arvilla, Elfrieda, Hermina, Myrtie, Gertha, Beaulah and Ardeth are classic antique girl names with real vintage character.
What are good antique boy names?
Hildegarde’s male counterparts run more toward Egbert, Durward, Deward, Ewell and Murl — sturdy, formal names that were common a century ago.
How many antique baby names are on More4Kids?
More4Kids lists 168 antique baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.