100 Year Old Baby Names (BEST 349+ Timeless Classics!)
Choosing a baby name is an exciting but challenging experience, and some soon-to-be parents are opting to go back in time to consider names that were once popular. 100-year-old baby names are making a comeback, and the appeal of these vintage names is only growing. Not only do these names carry a sense of tradition and charm, but they also give your child a unique identity that sets them apart from the modern name trends.
The popularity of baby names often follows the “hundred-year rule,” which suggests that names from about a century ago return to fashion in cycles. The Social Security Administration has compiled lists of the top 100 names from 100 years ago, offering a treasure trove of inspiration for parents looking for vintage baby names. These popular names from bygone eras feel fresh and unique today, ensuring that your little one will have a name that will always be special.
So, if you’re curious about discovering classic baby names that have withstood the test of time, take a look at some of these top choices from the past. With the perfect blend of charm, history, and individuality, a 100-year-old baby name might be just what you’re looking for to bestow upon your precious little one.
Table of Contents
Best Names
1-25 Best Names
These are some of the best vintage names from 100 years ago that still feel relevant today:
- John
- Mary
- William
- Margaret
- James
- Dorothy
- George
- Helen
- Charles
- Elizabeth
- Joseph
- Mildred
- Edward
- Frances
- Frank
- Alice
- Thomas
- Ruth
- Walter
- Marjorie
- Harry
- Anna
- Harold
- Lucille
- Raymond
26-50 Best Names
Here is the next set of vintage baby names that were popular 100 years ago:
- Betty
- Frank
- Ralph
- Robert
- Jean
- Louis
- Clarence
- Martha
- Samuel
- Clancy
- Evelyn
- Paul
- Henry
- Minnie
- Alfred
- Rose
- Gertrude
- Arthur
- Florence
- Lillian
- Eleanor
- Maurice
- Irene
- Richard
- Ethel
51-75 Best Names
The following are some more of the best vintage names that were popular a century ago:
- Fred
- Lois
- Jack
- Gladys
- Carl
- Thelma
- Lester
- Marie
- David
- Grace
- Howard
- Hazel
- Nellie
- Josephine
- Stanley
- Emma
- Ernest
- Annie
- Mabel
- Beatrice
- Leonard
- June
- Clyde
- Edna
- Edgar
76-100 Best Names
Finally, here are the last set of best vintage names from 100 years ago:
- Herbert
- Ada
- Elmer
- Stella
- Max
- Bernice
- Ray
- Myrtle
- Norman
- Georgia
- Louise
- Earl
- Louise
- Clifton
- Iris
- Francis
- Agnes
- Chester
- Phyllis
- Everett
- Sadie
- Victor
- Elsie
- Vera
- Gerald
So, these were the best vintage names from 100 years ago. You can consider them for your little one if you are looking for a unique and timeless name.
Good Names
Here, we have compiled a list of 100 good baby names from a century ago. These names have a vintage charm that many modern parents are starting to appreciate. We have categorized the names into four groups, and the names Joseph, Paul, Dorothy, and Betty are included as examples.
1-25 Good Names
- Joseph
- Paul
- Dorothy
- Betty
- Margaret
- Ruth
- Marjorie
- Charles
- Minnie
- Robert
- John
- Natalie
- Avery
- Elodie
- Rosalie
- Everly
- Elsie
- Arthur
- Edith
- Hazel
- Lillian
- Louise
- Mabel
- Rose
- Walter
26-50 Good Names
- Ada
- Albert
- Alice
- Annie
- Beatrice
- Bertha
- Clarence
- Daisy
- Eleanor
- Evelyn
- Florence
- Frances
- Frank
- Fred
- George
- Gertrude
- Gladys
- Grace
- Harold
- Harry
- Helen
- Henry
- Ida
- Irene
- James
51-75 Good Names
- Jane
- Jean
- Joe
- Katherine
- Laura
- Leonard
- Leroy
- Lucy
- Mae
- Mamie
- Marie
- Marion
- Martha
- Mary
- Mattie
- Milton
- Olive
- Pearl
- Ralph
- Raymond
- Richard
- Ruby
- Stanley
- Stella
- Theodore
76-100 Good Names
- Thomas
- Virginia
- Vivian
- Wallace
- Wilbur
- Wilhelmina
- William
- Zelda
- Clara
- Cora
- Cordelia
- Cyril
- Doris
- Douglas
- Edmund
- Edna
- Ethel
- Eugene
- Fannie
- Floyd
- Frances
- Gerald
- Gilbert
- Gordon
- Howard
These names give a glimpse into the past and can add a touch of elegance and grace to your baby’s identity. Don’t be afraid to explore these historical treasures when choosing a name for your little one.
More Name Ideas
Here are some 100-year-old baby name ideas that might inspire you. Names like Margaret, Betty, James, and William have stood the test of time. In this section, we have compiled a list of 100 old-fashioned names to help you find the perfect moniker for your little one.
1-25 Name Ideas
- Margaret
- Betty
- James
- William
- Dorothy
- Mildred
- George
- Ruth
- Edward
- Virginia
- Frances
- Joseph
- Evelyn
- Alice
- Harold
- Lillian
- Charles
- Helen
- Florence
- Arthur
- Eleanor
- Richard
- Gladys
- Mabel
- Kathryn
26-50 Name Ideas
- Jean
- Norma
- Clarence
- Lucille
- Vivian
- Fred
- Esther
- Albert
- Irene
- David
- Louise
- Earl
- Catherine
- Ida
- Ernest
- Ada
- Edith
- Frank
- Thelma
- Gerald
- John
- Gertrude
- Ethel
- Alfred
- Barbara
51-75 Name Ideas
- Max
- Rose
- Stanley
- Ann
- Lester
- Paul
- Martha
- Iva
- Raymond
- Agnes
- Leona
- Harriet
- Oscar
- Nellie
- Allen
- Hazel
- Victor
- Dovie
- Lula
- Walter
- Annie
- Pearl
- Roy
- Rita
- Benjamin
76-100 Name Ideas
- Sylvia
- Samuel
- Mabelle
- Jessie
- Edna
- Carlotta
- Susie
- Carrie
- Ava
- Clifford
- Jasper
- Clara
- Rosemary
- Hugh
- Della
- Oliver
- Marilyn
- Louis
- Amelia
- Archie
- Cora
- Lucinda
- Simon
- August
- Adelaide
More Name Ideas (Continued)
In this section, let’s explore even more vintage baby names that were popular 100 years ago. We’ve compiled four lists with 25 names each, to give you a total of 100 name ideas to consider for your baby. These lists include names like Ada, Eugene, Roy, and Harold. Feel free to mix and match or even combine names to create something unique for your little one.
1-25 Name Ideas
- Ada
- Eugene
- Roy
- Harold
- Agnes
- Bernard
- Clara
- Dorothy
- Earl
- Florence
- Gertrude
- Horace
- Irma
- Josephine
- Kenneth
- Lillian
- Mildred
- Nellie
- Oscar
- Pearl
- Quentin
- Rose
- Sylvia
- Thelma
- Vincent
26-50 Name Ideas
- Winifred
- Xander
- Yvette
- Zelda
- Algernon
- Blanche
- Cecil
- Delia
- Edmund
- Fannie
- Gustav
- Hattie
- Ida
- Jerome
- Katherine
- Leonard
- Maude
- Neville
- Ophelia
- Phyllis
- Reginald
- Sadie
- Terrence
- Ursula
- Vera
51-75 Name Ideas
- Wallace
- Xenia
- Yolanda
- Zane
- Adelaide
- Bartholomew
- Camilla
- Desmond
- Eloise
- Franklin
- Gwendolyn
- Hubert
- Ingrid
- Jasper
- Keziah
- Loretta
- Montgomery
- Nadine
- Otis
- Priscilla
- Quinlan
- Rosalind
- Stewart
- Tabitha
- Valentina
76-100 Name Ideas
- Wilbur
- Xanthe
- Yancy
- Zebulon
- Abigail
- Benedict
- Cordelia
- Daphne
- Egbert
- Flossie
- Godfrey
- Henrietta
- Ivan
- Jocelyn
- Lila
- Marjorie
- Norbert
- Olive
- Percival
- Querida
- Rupert
- Sheila
- Theodore
- Una
- Vivian
Tips for Brainstorming the Perfect Name
Looking for the perfect name for your little one? Here are some helpful tips to make your search a bit more enjoyable and effective. Remember, you can always combine vintage names with newer, popular baby names to create a unique moniker for your baby girl or baby boy.
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Dive into history: Research names that were popular a century ago to find inspiration for baby girl names and baby boy names. Websites like Baby Name Science are a great resource, as they’ve organized data for thousands of names over the past 100 years.
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Compile a list of favorites: Jot down all your favorite vintage names, regardless of gender. Just because a name was originally a boy’s name doesn’t mean it can’t be repurposed for a girl, and vice versa.
Example:
- Baby Girl Names: Edith, Alice, Florence, Beatrice, Mabel
- Baby Boy Names: Walter, Clifford, Everett, Gilbert, Milton
- Create combinations: Don’t be afraid to mix vintage names with more popular baby names. This could result in an incredibly unique and well-rounded name for your child.
Example:
- Baby Girl Names: Scarlett Mae, Harper Alice, Amelia Florence
- Baby Boy Names: Theodore Leo, Miles Everett, Grayson Walter
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Listen to the flow: Test the combination of first, middle, and last names to see how they sound together. While the first and middle names should naturally flow with each other, it’s just as important to consider how both names will sound with the last name as well.
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Take your time: Don’t feel pressured to finalize a name early on. Stay open to new ideas throughout the pregnancy, and remember to trust your instincts.
No matter which name you eventually choose, remember that it reflects your unique preferences and values. The perfect name for your baby boy or baby girl is waiting for you. Happy searching!