265 Beautiful & Rare Vintage Names for Girls

Vintage girls’ names are like love letters from the past; they’re timeless, beautiful, and a way to connect with previous generations. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of 265 of the best vintage girl names, including cute, elegant, and strong options. Plus, we’ll provide tips on how to choose the perfect name for your baby girl.

Old-Fashioned Girl Name Ideas

Cute names: Delilah, June, Stella, Colette, Adeline
Elegant names: Gwendolyn, Nicolette, Rosalie, Cordelia, Elsa^{[1]
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Rare names: Eulalia, Vera, Sybil, Minerva, Bronwyn
Strong names: Dorothy, Honora, Thora, Wilhelmina, Yvette

Section 1 of 16:

Best Vintage Girl Names

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Pick a girl’s name that’s timeless and classic. For a while, new parents were all about modern, unique names. However, vintage names are also making a comeback! Here are some of our favorite old-fashioned girls’ names that aren’t going out of style:^{[2]
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- Dorothea (Greek for “gift of God”)
- Etta (English for “ruler of the home”)
- Ida (German for “industrious one”)
- Lilian (Hebrew for “God is my oath; lily”)
- Ruby (Latin for “red gemstone”)
- Georgiana (Greek for “farmer, earthworker”)
- Alice (German for “noble”)
- Cora (Greek for “maiden”)
- Viola (Latin for “violet”)
- Nora (Latin for “honor; light”)
- Josette (French for “God will increase”)
- Rosalind (Spanish for “beautiful rose”)
- Adrienne (French and Latin for “from Hadria”)
- Eve (Hebrew for “life”)
- Isabelle (French for “God is my oath”)
- Sarah (Hebrew for “princess; noblewoman”)
- Margaret (Greek for “pearl”)
- Elspeth (Scottish for “God is my oath”)
- Claire (French for “bright, clear”)
- Adele (English and French for “noble”)
- Madeleine (French and English for “woman from Magdala”)
- Amelia (German for “hardworking”)
- Lucy (Latin for “light bringer”)
- Jacqueline (French for “supplanter”)
- Alba (Latin for “white”)

Section 2 of 16:

Cute Vintage Girl Names

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Choose a girl’s name that’s cute and endearing. Vintage names are often adorable for little babies, and they still sound cute for older kids and adults. Give your baby girl a name that’s as sweet as she is! Here are some examples:^{[3]
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- Delilah (Hebrew for “delicate”)
- Colette (French for “people of victory”)
- Georgina (Greek for “farmer”)
- June (Latin for “sacred to Juno”)
- Adeline (French for “noble”)
- Corinne (French and Greek for “maiden”)
- Ginny (English for “maiden”)
- Wendy (English for “friend”)
- Hannah (Hebrew for “favor, grace”)
- Stella (Latin for “star”)
- Lucille (French for “light”)^{[4]
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- Dolly (English for “gift of God”)
- Darla (English for “darling”)
- Kate (Greek and English for “pure”)
- Colleen (Irish for “girl; young woman”)

Section 3 of 16:

Strong Vintage Girl Names

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Opt for a name that’s feminine, yet powerful. Not all feminine names are soft; many beautiful girls’ names either sound powerful or mean “strong.” Here are some vintage girls’ names perfect for girls who are confident and assertive:^{[5]
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- Frances (Latin for “free one”)
- Dorothy (Greek for “gift of God”)
- Ruth (Hebrew for “compassionate friend”)^{[6]
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- Harriet (French and English for “estate ruler”)
- Agnes (Greek for “pure”)
- Winifred (Welsh for “friend of peace; white; blessed”)
- Francine (French for “free; from France”)
- Honora (Latin for “woman of honor”)
- Althea (Greek for “healer)
- Thora (Old Norse for “thunder”)
- Wilhelmina (German for “resolute protector”)
- Florence (Latin for “flourishing”)^{[7]
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- Dominique (French for “of the Lord”)
- Francesca (Latin for “free; French”)
- Yvette (French for “yew, archer”)
- Marlena (German for “beloved; woman from Magdala”)
- Joanna (Hebrew and Greek for “god is gracious”)
- Diana (Latin for “heavenly”)
- Audrey (English for “noble strength”)
- Henrietta (German for “home ruler”)

Section 4 of 16:

Elegant Vintage Girl Names

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Choose a name that’s sophisticated and ladylike. These days, many people associate vintage names with old money and the upper class. If you plan on raising your child to be a “proper young lady,” choose a name that has an air of sophistication, like one of these:
- Genevieve (French for “woman of the family”)^{[8]
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- Gwendolyn (Welsh for “white ring, blessed ring, or fair brow”)
- Nicolette (French and Greek for “victory of the people”)
- Vivienne (Latin for “life, alive”)
- Evangeline (Greek for “bringer of good news”)
- Eleanora (Greek for “shining light”)
- Marjorie (English and Latin for “pearl”)
- Isadora (Greek for “gift of Isis”)
- Rosalie (French for “beautiful rose; rose garden”)^{[9]
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- Cordelia (Latin for “heart”)
- Evelyn (British for “desired; island”)
- Virginia (Latin for “maiden”)
- Marta (Aramaic for “lady”)
- Claudia (Latin for “lame; enclosure”)
- Dolores (Spanish and Latin for “sorrows”)
- Blanche (French for “white, pure”)
- Elsa (Scandinavian for “God is my oath”)
- Angelica (Latin for “angelic, messenger of God”)
- Kathleen (Irish for “pure”)
- Constance (Latin for “steadfastness”)^{[10]
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Section 5 of 16:

Whimsical Vintage Girl Names

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Opt for a fanciful, playful name. Many vintage girl names remind us of childhood, evoking feelings of wonder and happiness. Choose a whimsical name if you want to feel like you’re living in a childhood storybook. Here are some examples:
- Flora (Latin for “flower”)
- Birdie (English for “little bird”)
- Poppy (Latin for “red flower”)
- Goldie (Yiddish for “gold”)
- Nellie (English for “bright, shining one”)
- Verity (Latin for “truth”)
- Margot (French for “pearl”)
- Phoebe (Greek for “bright, radiant”)
- Daphne (Greek for “laurel; bay tree”)
- Celeste (Latin for “heavenly”)
- Fawn (English for “young deer”)
- Elowen (English for “elm tree”)
- Linnea (Scandinavian for “linden tree; twinflower”)
- Cynthia (Greek for “from Mount Kynthos; moon”)
- Clover (English for “meadow flower”)

Section 6 of 16:

Rare & Unique Vintage Girl Names

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Stand out with an uncommon vintage name. We’re likely all familiar with classic girl names like Lucy and Alice, but many vintage names have fallen out of popularity. This doesn’t mean they’re bad names—it just means you’ll be unique if you use them! Here are some examples:^{[11]
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- Eulalia (Greek for “well-spoken”)
- Opal (Sanskrit for “gemstone”)
- Lenora (Greek for “light”)
- Inez (Spanish for “pure”)
- Vera (Russian for “faith”)
- Minerva (Latin for “of the mind, intellect”)
- Sybil (Greek for “prophetess”)
- Philomena (Greek for “lover of strength)
- Odette (French and German for “wealthy”)
- Hestia (Greek for “hearth”)
- Mavis (French for “songbird”)
- Loretta (Italian for “laurel; sweet bay tree”)
- Bronwyn (Welsh for “white hill; white crow”)
- Gwyneth (Welsh for “happiness”)
- Lorraine (French for “from Lorraine”)

Section 7 of 16:

Sweet & Gentle Vintage Girl Names

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Consider a name that’s sweet and pleasant. Many classic, timeless girls’ names sound gentle and delicate, so they’re perfect if you’re looking for a traditionally feminine option. Here are some of our favorite sweet-sounding names:
- Clara (Latin for “bright, clear”)^{[12]
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- Eleanor (French and Greek for “light-hearted; shining one”)
- Mabel (Latin for “lovable”)
- Ada (German for “noble, serene”)
- Celia (Latin for “heavenly”)
- Annaliese (German for “favor of God”)^{[13]
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- Sylvie (Latin for “forest”)
- Addie (French for “noble”)
- Caroline (German and French for “free woman”)
- Cecilia (Latin for “blind”)
- Emmeline (French for “vigor, brave”)
- Pamela (English for “all honey; all sweetness”)
- Naomi (Hebrew for “pleasant, gentle”)
- Della (English and German for “of nobility”)
- Serena (Latin for “calm, serene”)

Section 8 of 16:

Literary Vintage Girl Names

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Pay homage to your favorite author or character. Some of the most important literary works in history were written by women or feature strong female characters. Think of some of your classic literary works, like Pride and Prejudice or Frankenstein, and choose a name inspired by the author or your favorite character. Here are some examples:^{[14]
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- Beatrix (Latin for “she who brings happiness,” after Beatrix Potter)
- Louisa (German for “renowned warrior,” after Louisa May Alcott)
- Edith (Old English for “prosperous in war,” after Edith Wharton)
- Emily (Latin for “rival; to emulate,” after Emily Brontë
- Annabel (Latin for “lovable,” after “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe)
- Jane (English for “God is gracious,” after Jane Austen)
- Sylvia (Latin for “from the forest,” after Sylvia Plath)
- Agatha (Greek for “good, honorable,” after Agatha Christie)
- Lenore (Greek for “light,” after the character from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”)
- Mary (Hebrew for “bitterness; beloved,” after Mary Shelley)
- Toni (Greek for “flower,” after Toni Morrison)
- Octavia (Latin for “eighth,” after Octavia Butler)
- Anne (Hebrew for “grace, favor,” after Anne Brontë)^{[15]
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- Emma (German for “whole, universal,” after Emma by Jane Austen)
- Gretel (German for “pearl,” after the fairytale “Hansel and Gretel”)
- Shirley (English for “bright meadow,” after Shirley Jackson)
- Flannery (Irish for “red warrior,” after Flannery O’Connor)
- Maya (Sanskrit for “illusion, magic,” after Maya Angelou)
- Harper (English for “harp player,” after Harper Lee)
- Nella (Italian for “highly praiseworthy, radiant,” after Nella Larsen)

Section 9 of 16:

Vintage Girl Names Inspired by Nature

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Get inspiration from your favorite flower or plant. Many vintage names draw inspiration from nature and its elements, like flowers and gemstones. Nature-inspired names are also timeless, so they’ll never feel outdated. Here are some examples:^{[16]
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- Ivy (English for “faithfulness”)
- Hazel (English for “hazel tree”)
- Daisy (Old English for “day’s eye”)
- Lily (Latin for “pure”)
- Pearl (Latin for “precious”)
- Rose (Latin for “flower”)
- Camellia (Latin for “young ceremonial attendant”)
- Lilac (Persian for “bluish”)
- Azalea (Greek for “dry flower”)
- Magnolia (Latin for “Magnol’s flower”)
- Dahlia (Swedish for “valley; Dahl’s flower”)
- Rosemary (Latin for “dew of the sea, sea foam”)^{[17]
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- Olive (Latin for “olive tree”)
- Robin (German for “bright fame”)
- Aurora (Latin for “dawn”)
- Fern (English for “green, leafy plant”)
- Garnet (British for “seed-like; a dark red gemstone”)
- Marigold (British for “marigold flower”)
- Amaryllis (Greek for “sparkle, shine”)
- Aster (Greek for “star”)

Section 10 of 16:

Dreamy Vintage Girl Names

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Choose a name that sounds like it’s out of a fairytale. Think of the names of the characters in your favorite fairy tales and children’s stories; they often have a whimsical, dream-like sound. Here are some fanciful, unique options:
- Arabella (Latin for “yielding to prayer”)
- Lavinia (Latin for “purity”)
- Amabel (Latin for “lovable”)
- Juliet (Latin for “youthful”)
- Seraphine (Hebrew for “fiery”)
- Marisol (Spanish for “sunny sea”)
- Giselle (French for “pledge”)
- Imogen (Celtic for “maiden”)
- Felicity (Latin for “happiness; good fortune”)
- Ophelia (Greek for “help, aid”)
- Theodora (Greek for “gift of God”)
- Lilah (Hebrew for “night”)
- Molly (British for “star of the sea; bitter”)
- Blythe (English for “joyful, happy”)
- Melody (English for “music, song”)

Section 11 of 16:

Lively Vintage Girl Names

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Go for something fun and free-spirited. Vintage names have a reputation for being stuffy and boring, but that’s not always true! Plenty of classic names sound and feel vibrant and young and are perfect for a girl who loves to have fun. Here are some examples:
- Maisie (Scottish for “pearl”)
- Winnie (Welsh for “fair one”)
- Tilly (German for “mighty in battle”)
- Effie (Greek for “well-spoken”)
- Queenie (English for “queen”)
- Lydia (Greek for “from Lydia”)^{[18]
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- Zora (Slavic for “dawn”)
- Eliza (English for “God is my oath”)
- Liana (French for “bound”)
- Hattie (German for “home ruler”)
- Evie (Hebrew for “life, living”)
- Polly (Latin for “star of the sea”)
- Billie (English for “helmet, protection”)
- Enid (Welsh for “soul, life, spirit”)
- Tessa (Greek for “to reap”)
- Peggy (Greek and English for “pearl”)
- Willa (German for “resolute protection”)
- Eloise (French for “famous warrior”)^{[19]
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- Jocelyn (English and French for “joyful”)
- Gloria (Latin for “glory”)

Section 12 of 16:

Soft Vintage Girl Names

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Pick a name that’s soft and feminine. Many classic girl names have a dainty vibe and are the perfect options if you’re in your soft girl era. Try one of these delicate and ladylike names:
- Faye (English for “fairy”)
- Iris (Greek for “rainbow”)
- Estelle (Latin for “star”)
- Marian (Latin for “grace”)
- Violet (Latin for “purple”)
- Elena (Greek for “shining light”)
- Esme (French for “esteemed, loved”)
- Penelope (Greek for “weaver”)
- Miriam (Hebrew for “wished-for child”)
- Julia (Roman for “youthful”)
- Joan (Hebrew for “God is gracious”)
- Theresa (Greek for “summer; to harvest”)
- Bethany (Hebrew for “house of figs”)
- Whitney “English for “white island”)
- Samantha (Hebrew for “God has heard”)

Section 13 of 16:

Bold Vintage Girl Names

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Opt for a name that’s bold and beautiful. While a lot of vintage girl names are demure, there are plenty of options that are bold and powerful. Go for a strong name that inspires confidence, like one of these examples:
- Clementine (Latin for “merciful”)
- Matilda (German for “battle-mighty”)
- Georgia (Greek for “farmer”)
- Ramona (Spanish for “wise protector”)
- Simone (Hebrew for “one who hears”)
- Camille (French for “attendant; perfect”)
- Josephine (Hebrew for “God will add”)
- Mariana (Latin for “of the sea; related to the god Mars”)
- Odessa (Greek for “long journey”)
- Renata (Latin for “born again”)
- Cassandra (Greek for “shining upon man”)
- Miranda (Latin for “worthy of admiration”)
- Bertha (German for “bright one; famous”)
- Maeve (Irish for “intoxicating”)
- Freya (Old Norse for “lady, noblewoman”)
- Fiona (Gaelic for “fair”)
- Veda (Sanskrit for “knowledge, wisdom”)
- Bridget (Irish for “exalted, strong”)
- Valerie (French for “to be strong, healthy”)
- Ingrid (Scandinavian for “Ing’s beauty”)

Section 14 of 16:

Royal Vintage Girl Names

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Give your baby a name worthy of a queen. If you want to raise your daughter to be strong and independent, start her off right with a regal, majestic name. Name her after a famous queen or female ruler from history, or opt for a name that means “queen.” Here are some examples:^{[20]
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- Catherine (Greek for “pure,” after Catherine the Great)^{[21]
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- Alexandra (Greek for “defender of mankind,” after Queen Alexandra)
- Victoria (Latin for “victory,” after Queen Victoria)
- Helena (Greek for “bright, shining one,” after Helena of Adiabene)^{[22]
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- Beatrice (Latin for “bringer of joy,” after Queen Beatrice of the Netherlands)
- Elizabeth (Hebrew for “God is my oath,” after Queen Elizabeth
- Charlotte (French for “free man,” after Queen Charlotte)
- Isabella (Spanish and Italian for “God is my oath,” after Isabella I of Castile)
- Marie (French for “star of the sea,” after Marie Antoinette)
- Antoinette (French for “priceless, praiseworthy,” after Marie Antoinette)
- Guinevere (Welsh for “white spirit, white fairy,” after Queen Guinevere from Arthurian legend)
- Philippa (Greek for “friend of horses,” after Philippa of Hainault)
- Regina (Latin for “queen”)
- Augusta (Latin for “exalted, venerable, majestic”)
- Reina (Spanish for “queen”)

Section 15 of 16:

Vintage Gender-Neutral Names

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Choose a name that works for any gender. Whether you want to raise your child without traditional gender roles or you’re picking out a new name for yourself, there are plenty of old-fashioned names that are gender-neutral. Here are some of our favorites:^{[23]
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- Ainsley (English for “solitary woodland or clearing”)
- Augustine (Latin for “great, venerable, majestic”)
- Bellamy (French for “beautiful friend”)
- Blair (Scottish for “plain, battlefield)
- Dell (English for “small valley or glen”)
- Dorian (Greek for “gift from God”)
- Ellis (Welsh and Hebrew for “kind, benevolent; Jehovah is God”)
- Hollis (British for “holly trees”)
- Ira (Hebrew for “watchful”)
- Jody (Hebrew for “God will increase”)
- Jude (Hebrew for “praised”)
- Kelly (Irish for “descendant of Ceallach; bright-headed”)
- Merle (French and English for “blackbird; shining sea”)
- Quinn (Irish for “wise, chief”)
- Sawyer (English for “woodcutter”)

Section 16 of 16:

How to Choose a Vintage Name

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1
Research the name’s meaning. When deciding on a name, make sure to look up its meaning. Meanings may not matter to everyone, but this is a good way to find a name that fits the aesthetic or vibe you’re going for. For example, if you want a delicate name, you might choose Mabel, which means “lovable.”^{[24]
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Consider the name’s origin. If you have a strong connection with your heritage, consider choosing a name from that culture. In some cases, it’s okay to choose a name from another culture (like if you’re of English descent and like French names), but research your chosen name to make sure you don’t accidentally commit cultural appropriation.^{[25]
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Say the name out loud. Sometimes, a name may look good on paper, but it just doesn’t flow right with your chosen middle and last name. Try saying different names out loud to see which ones work best with the rest of your or your child’s name.