Old-Fashioned Baby Names
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Old-Fashioned Baby Names
Are you looking for an unusual name for a baby, but don't want to follow the current trends? Why not look to the past for names? Some of the names listed below are classic names, commonly used once upon a time, but which have fallen out of fashion. Others are misspellings or mispronunciations of more common names. And some may have even been one-of-a-kind creations.
While I have occasionally had to guess at the gender of a person based solely on their name, in most cases I did know the gender of the original owner; you may therefore be surprised to see that some boys' names are now girls' names, and visa versa. Where it's uncommon to see a name used to its original gender (such as "Leslie" for a boy), I have included it, even if, on the surface, it is a common modern name.
A growing modern trend is to give children last names as first names. While some people frown on this, people are actually (in most cases, unknowingly) reaching very far back into history, when last names were often first names. For instance, the Irish last name "O'Reilly" literally means "descendent of Reilly"--which means Reilly was once a first name-just as MacDonalds are all supposedly descended from a man named "Donald," and "Thompson" is a mispronunciation of, literally, "Thomas's son." Not all last names were first names, however: Tidwell, for instance, is a place in England (Tideswell), while Smith was an occupation. Still, there are many last names which can legitimately be reverted back to use as a first name.
It must also be remembered that the original purpose of a middle name was to preserve a woman's maiden name, and there used to be social conventions about who got whose maiden name. The mother's maiden name was used as the first child's middle name, with little regard to whether it was a girl or boy (it being a last name, it was pretty gender-neutral anyways). Next came the father's mother's name, followed by the mother's mother's name and further back, if you cared to.
You'll also note that a few names are historically famous, but not as first names to common people. Ulysses, which is the Latinization of the Greek name of Odysseus, was not an uncommon name during the Civil War period, although it's hard to say if General Grant started the trend or was just one of many unrelated Ulysseses. Roosevelt, however, is a case of a last name being converted into a first name, no doubt to honor one (or both) former presidents.
I gleaned these names from medieval history, early American history, American Civil War history, the "Foxfire" book series (late 19th-early 20th century rural Appalachia), my own genealogical records, gravestones, and other sources as I encounter them.
P.S. These names are not terribly common in America; they may, however, be extremely popular in other countries.
While I have occasionally had to guess at the gender of a person based solely on their name, in most cases I did know the gender of the original owner; you may therefore be surprised to see that some boys' names are now girls' names, and visa versa. Where it's uncommon to see a name used to its original gender (such as "Leslie" for a boy), I have included it, even if, on the surface, it is a common modern name.
A growing modern trend is to give children last names as first names. While some people frown on this, people are actually (in most cases, unknowingly) reaching very far back into history, when last names were often first names. For instance, the Irish last name "O'Reilly" literally means "descendent of Reilly"--which means Reilly was once a first name-just as MacDonalds are all supposedly descended from a man named "Donald," and "Thompson" is a mispronunciation of, literally, "Thomas's son." Not all last names were first names, however: Tidwell, for instance, is a place in England (Tideswell), while Smith was an occupation. Still, there are many last names which can legitimately be reverted back to use as a first name.
It must also be remembered that the original purpose of a middle name was to preserve a woman's maiden name, and there used to be social conventions about who got whose maiden name. The mother's maiden name was used as the first child's middle name, with little regard to whether it was a girl or boy (it being a last name, it was pretty gender-neutral anyways). Next came the father's mother's name, followed by the mother's mother's name and further back, if you cared to.
You'll also note that a few names are historically famous, but not as first names to common people. Ulysses, which is the Latinization of the Greek name of Odysseus, was not an uncommon name during the Civil War period, although it's hard to say if General Grant started the trend or was just one of many unrelated Ulysseses. Roosevelt, however, is a case of a last name being converted into a first name, no doubt to honor one (or both) former presidents.
I gleaned these names from medieval history, early American history, American Civil War history, the "Foxfire" book series (late 19th-early 20th century rural Appalachia), my own genealogical records, gravestones, and other sources as I encounter them.
P.S. These names are not terribly common in America; they may, however, be extremely popular in other countries.
Important!
Boys' Names
A-D
AaronAbelard
Abraham
Adelaide
Alan (alt. Allen)
Albert
Alfred
Alva
Alvin
Ambrose
Angus
Anselm
Anthony (Tony)
Archibald (Archy or Archie)
Ardell
Arison
Arthur
Asa
Balie
Barnard
Bernard
Berth
Blake (or Blakely)
Bruce
Buck
Buford
Burke
Buster
Butch
Caleb
Calvin (Cal)
Canute (pronounced Cuh-noot)
Carl
Carlisle
Carol
Casey
Casper
Cecil
Clarence
Claude
Clifford
Clyde
Columbus
Cordell
Cornelius
Cotton
Curley
Dale
Darnell
Darrel
Darren
Declan
Devereaux (pronounced "Dev-uh-roe")
Dexter
Douglas
Doyle
Dugall (or Dougal)
Duncan
Personalized Baby Products
For when you pick that perfect name!
Baby's My First Photo Album of Family & Friends
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Child to Cherish Allstar Baby Baseball Blue
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Mud Pie Baby Little Prince Personalization Piggy Bank
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Havoc Gifts Baby Boy Personalization Photo Frame
Amazon Price: (as of 10/27/2011)
Custom Damask Name - Personalized Nursery Vinyl Wall Art Decal Stickers Decor Graphics
Amazon Price: $25.00 (as of 10/27/2011)
E-G
EarlEdgar
Edmund
Edwin
Elcaney
Elias
Elijah (Eli)
Elroy
Elvin
Elwin
Ephraim
Ernest
Esco
Eucle
Evan
Evander
Everard
Ewan
Felix
Fletcher
Floyd
Frances (or Francis)
Franklin (Frank)
Frederick (Fred)
Gabriel
Gaylen
Gary
Gene
Geoffery (pronounced "joff-free"; "Jeffery" evolved from this older form)
Gerald
Gilbert
Godfrey
Grady
Gray
Grover
Guntram
Gus
Guy
H-L
HannibalHarley
Harold
Harper
Harve
Harvey (Harv)
Heathcliff
Herb (Herbie)
Herschel (or Hershel)
Hillard
Hiram
Hobe
Homer
Horace
Hoyt
Hugh
Hugo
Hume
Ignatius
Increase
Innis
Ira
Isaac
Isam
Jacob (Jake)
Janson
Jeb
Jefferson
Jennings
Jesse (or Jessie)
Josiah
Jubal
Julius
Justine
Kenny (sometimes short for Kenneth)
Kermit
Kerry
Kirby
Kit
Lake
Lamar
Lanier
Laurel
Lawrence
Lawton
Leonard
Leslie
Lester (Les)
Lewis
Lionel
Lloyd
Lon (Lonnie)
Lorenzo
Louin
Louis (alt pronunciation "Louie")
Lucius
Lum
Luther
Lynn
M-R
MannManuel
Marion
Marshall
Marvin
Maurice
Maynard
Milford
Millard
Milton
Minyard
Mitchell (Mit)
Monroe
Monteen
Moses
Myles (or Miles)
Nate (sometimes short for Nathan)
Nigel (popular in the British Isles and Australia, but very rare in the U.S.)
Noah
Noel
Norman
Obediah
Oliver
Orlando (yes, this name dates back to the middle ages)
Oscar
Owen (or Owain in Welsh or Eoin in Gaelic)
Pedro
Philip (alt. Philippe)
Pierre
Pleasant
Pope
Quinn
Raleigh
Ralph
Raim
Raymond (Ray)
Rainald
Reynold
Rhett (no, Margaret Mitchell didn't make it up)
Robin
Roger
Rom
Ronald (Ron)
Roosevelt
Roscoe
Ross
Rory
Roy
Rufus
For Your Baby Boy
Baby Aspen "My Little Night Owl" Snuggle Sack and Cap, 0-6 Months
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Baby Aspen "Big Dreamzzz" Baby M.D. Two-Piece Layette Set in "Doctor's Bag" Gift Box, Green
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American Baby Company Organic Embroidered Receiving Blanket, Mocha
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 10/27/2011)
Baby Aspen "Big Dreamzzz" Baby Camo Two-Piece Layette Set in "Backpack" Gift Box, Tan
Amazon Price: $24.76 (as of 10/27/2011)
Baby Briefcase Baby Paperwork Organizer, Mint/Periwinkle
Amazon Price: $28.52 (as of 10/27/2011)
S-Z
SampsonSamuel
Selvin
Seymour
Shelby
Silas
Sullivan
Taylor
Terrance or Terrence (Terry)
Thaddeus
Theodore (Teddy)
Tobias (Toby)
Tristan
Turner
Ulysses
Varn
Vaughn
Walter
Warneus
Warren
Wartlaw (or Wardlaw)
Wat
Wilbur
Winfield
Woodrow
Xavier
Zelhah
Zero
Important!
Girls' Names
A-D
AbelotaAcelina
Ada
Adelaide
Adelia
Adeline
Agatha
Agenilda
Agnes
Aileva
Ailith
Alba
Alba
Aldith
Aldusa
Aleene
Alesua
Alfild
Alfreda
Algie
Alice
Aline
Alison
Almedia
Alswyth
Alta
Alvina
Alviva
Amabel
Ameria
America
Amice
Amis
Anita
Annis
Arabella
Arie
Audrey
Avarilla
Bea
Beatrice
Beatrix
Bede
Belzora
Bernice (Bernie)
Bertha
Beryl
Betty (or Bettie)
Beulah
Bianca
Birdie
Blanca
Blanch (or Blanche)
Bonne (or Bonnie)
Bura
Burnette
Caroline
Cassandra
Cecilia
Cecily
Charity
Charlotte
Charlottie
Christina (or Cristina)
Christine
Clara
Clarice
Colleen
Collette
Constance
Cordelia
Cornelia
Cristin
Daisy
Deborah (Deb or Debbie for short)
Delia (I believe this is pronounced Deal-yuh)
Delilah
Diane (or Diana)
Doris
Dorothy (Dot)
Personlized Baby Gifts
Pink Baby Girl Birth Certificate Pillow Personalize
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Personalized Baby Girl Princess Pacifier
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Mud Pie Baby Little Princess Personalization Piggy Bank
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 10/27/2011)
Quilted Retro Design 3 Piece Diaper Bag Set Brown/Pink
Amazon Price: (as of 10/27/2011)
Havoc Gifts Baby Girl Personalization Photo Frame
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 10/27/2011)
E-I
EdaEdith
Edna
Eleanor
Elena
Elyn (a spelling variation of Ellen)
Emaline
Emma
Emma Jean (meant to be used as a conjunction name)
Estill
Ethel
Ethelene
Eula (or Eulah)
Eunice
Eva
Eve
Evie
Fanny (or Fannie)
Fay (or Faye)
Florence (Flo)
Frances
Gabrielle
Galdys
Gatha
Gay (or Gaye)
Georgia
Gertrude
Gillian
Grace
Guinevere (several alternate spellings and pronunciations; nickname "Gwen")
Gwyndolyn (or Gwendolyn)
Gylda (or Gilda)
Hannah
Harriet
Hazel
Helen
Heloise (or Helewise)
Ida
Imogene (Igie)
Inez
Ione (I believe this is pronounced I-own-e)
Isabeau (pronounced "ease-a-bow")
Isabel (alt. Isabella)
Iseult (this has a WIDE variety of spellings and similar pronunciations)
Isolda
J-N
JanelleJanet
Jean
Jeanette
Jeanne
Jo (usually used as a middle name or as a nickname)
Joan
Joanna (or Johanna)
Josephine
Joyce
Juliana
Laurabelle
Lelia
Leona
Lettice (alt. Leticia; pronounced "lettuce" and "let-tuh-see-uh" respectively)
Liberty
Lillie (or Lily)
Lilith
Lizzie (sometimes short for Elizabeth)
Lois
Lolita
Lorena
Lou (usually used as a middle name)
Louise
Lovey
Lucille
Lucrica
Lucy (Latin: Lucia)
Mabel
Madeline
Magdelana
Margery
Marian (this is a variant of Mary, and can be an alternate to Mary-Ann)
Marinda
Marita
Martha
Matild (or Matilda)
Maud (or Maude)
May (or Mae)
Mimmie
Minnie
Mitzi
Myrtle
Nannie (yes, this used to be a name it its own right)
Naomi
Nora
Norma
Amazon
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Baby Aspen "Big Dreamzzz" Baby Ballerina Two-Piece Layette Set in "Studio" Gift Box, Pink
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Baby Girl Reversible Sun Hat with Ruffle, Pink/Green, 0 - 12 Months
Amazon Price: (as of 10/27/2011)
Baby Aspen "Snug As A Bug" Ladybug Snuggle Sack, 0-6 Months
Amazon Price: $28.77 (as of 10/27/2011)
O-Z
OmaOpal
Ophelia
Patience
Pearl
Petunia
Philippa
Phyllis
Polly
Quinn
Ragnild (pronounced "Ruh-kneeled")
Rita
Rosamund
Rosanna (or Rosannah)
Rose (or Rosa)
Ruby
Salome
Serina
Sheila
Sibilla (alt. Sibyl)
Stella
Steveanna
Sue (sometimes short for Susan; sometimes used as a conjunction name, such as Brenda Sue)
Tedra
Thelma
Thomazin (or Thomasine)
Uma
Velma
Velva (Vel)
Vina
Violet
Virginia
Vivian
Wilella
Willie Lou
Wilma
Winifred
Zelda
Zelma
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Baby Names
Still undecided? Try a baby name book for even more naming options.
The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby
Amazon Price: $8.53 (as of 10/27/2011)
Cool Names for Babies
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 10/27/2011)
The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names, Their Meanings, Origins, and Spritual Significance
Amazon Price: (as of 10/27/2011)
The Complete Book of Baby Names: Traditional and Modern
Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 10/27/2011)
A Dictionary of First Names (Oxford Paperback Reference)
Amazon Price: $11.72 (as of 10/27/2011)
Links of Interest
- Medieval Name List
- Some of the medieval names I have listed here come from this list, although I have only tapped the English names. There are names from multiple other medieval countries that I have not featured.
Related Lenses
TheMedievalNun's Lensography- This lens is meant to serve as a sort of card catalog of all my lenses, so if you like something I have written, you can quickly see if I have anything else
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