Forget Blue, North and Apple. These days the old fashioned is in fashion, making vintage baby names like Cora and Caleb the more trendy choice for parents looking to give their child a classic moniker with a slightly modern edge. Plucked from popularity lists at least 100 years old, these names range from the biblical to the mythological and are all just as notable today as they were back in their prime. Hit the flip for our picks of the best vintage baby names for boys and girls.
Oldies but Goodies: 30 Vintage Baby Names for Boys & Girls
Ada
A German name meaning “noble or nobility,” Ada was a fave at the end of the 19th century and serves as a more mature alternative to Ava.
Arabella
This vintage baby name allows parents to break from the overly used wildly popular Isabella, and still maintain the nickname of “Bella.” Though Latin in origin, Arabella — meaning “yielding to prayer” — is commonly used by the British.
Caleb
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Meaning “devotion to God,” this moniker is straight out of the Old Testament and follows Jacob and Noah as one of the most popular biblical boy’s names.
Calvin
The meaning may not be what draws you in (“bald, hairless”), but the Latin name, Calvin, has been made quite er– fashionable by famed clothing designer, Calvin Klein, and gets its street cred by being the birth name of rapper Snoop Dogg.
Cyrus
Though it may bring to mind the twerk-tastic Disney star turned delinquent, Miley Cyrus, this vintage boy’s name meaning “throne” actually originated in Persia and is very popular in the Iranian community.
Effie
A Greek girl’s name meaning “well-spoken,” Effie is a classical alternative to the more traditional “Evelyn.”
Emmett
The masculine version of the name “Emma,” Emmett — meaning “universal” — is often associated with the young Emmett Till whose controversial murder trial helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.
Genevieve
Perfect for those who want to use the nickname “Jen,” without joining the masses, Genevieve means “tribe woman” and can be pronounced either GEN-uh-veev, or the French zhahn-vee-EV.
Henry
Of German origin meaning “estate ruler,” the name Henry has been linked with royalty for years and is actually at its highest point in popularity since 1956.
Iris
One of the turn-of-the-last-century flower names, Iris — meaning “rainbow” — is of Greek origin and has been making a strong comeback thanks to celebs like Jude Law & Sadie Frost, and Judd Apatow & Leslie Mann who’ve chosen the vintage girl’s name for their daughters.
Isaiah
Meaning “salvation of the Lord,” the biblical name, Isaiah hasn’t lost its luster at all; staying popular, especially in the sports world (Think Isaiah Thomas).
Isaac
Another biblical boy’s name meaning “laughter,” other forms of Isaac include Ike and Isa.
Josephine
The female version of Joseph, Josephine is of French origin meaning “Jehovah increases.” Though it’s been around for ages, this vintage girl’s name remains a popular choice, ranking among the Top 200 in the country.
June
Conjuring thoughts of sunny summer days, the name June is one of the classic “month names.” It’s Latin in origin, named for the goddess Juno.
Levi
This Hebrew boy’s name means “joined or attached,” and can be seen everywhere from the Old Testament to derrieres everywhere.
Lillian
A variation of one of the “flower names,” Lily, Lillian is making a strong comeback, placing in the Top 30 baby names.
Lulu
A vintage girl’s name meaning “pearl,” Lulu was in the Top 100 back in 1880 when the Social Security list was born, but hasn’t fared very well in recent years. We think it’s due for a comeback!
Mabel
Mabel — meaning “lovable” — is a Victorian fave, and a sassier alternative to old-fashioned names like Violet and Josephine.
Martin
With too many noble Martins to mention, this vintage boy’s name has definitely stayed strong over the years. It means “warlike” and is Latin in origin.
Nora
This Irish name meaning “light” has grown in popularity, now making it into the Top 100, which is the highest it’s ranked since 1913.
Olivia
There’s nothing scandalous about this sweet name. Latin in origin, meaning “olive tree,” Olivia was actually ranked the third most popular baby name in 2013; perhaps thanks to the strong lady leads in our two favorite TV dramas, “Scandal” and “Law & Order SVU.”
Phoebe
Presenting a triple threat being mythological, biblical, and Shakespearean, in recent years, Phoebe — meaning “radiant, shining one” — was brought back into the spotlight mainly because of the character on TVs “Friends.”
Ruby
As the name suggests, Ruby is a deep red precious stone; a vibrant gem that brings to mind the late great Ruby Dee. The vintage girl’s name is doing quite well in English-speaking countries, recently topping the list of baby names in Australia and making it into the Top 10 in England and Wales.
Sebastian
Classic yet unconventional, the name Sebastian — meaning “person from the ancient city of Sebasta” — is still climbing the list of the Top Baby Names; reaching number 45 in 2013. The moniker has a quite substantial place in history. And who could forget the curmudgeon crustacean of The Little Mermaid fame.
Silas
Meaning “wood or forest,” this vintage boy’s name can be found in the New Testament and is creeping up the popularity charts year by year.
Silvia
Similar to the masculine Silas, Silvia is a feminine name meaning “from the forest,” and is of Latin origin. Its peak was in 1932 when it landed at 42 on the list of Top Baby Names.
Tobias
The name of several biblical figures, Tobias — meaning “God is good” — is quite common in Europe, as is the nickname, Toby (also spelled Tobey).
Vivian
Like most of the other baby names meaning “life,” from Eva to Zoe, Vivian is on the rise. With a variety of spellings (Vivien, Vivienne), Viv and Vivi are often the nicknames of choice for this classic.
Walter
A German name meaning “army ruler,” this vintage boy’s name has been making its resurgence in the last few years, with trendy parents using it as an alternative to the more traditional James or John. The name has its place in history, literature, sports, and more recently, television with “Breaking Bad’s” Walter White — which could have either a negative or positive impact, depending on how you look at it.
Willa
Willa is the feminine variation of the name William, meaning “resolute protection.” It originated as the short form of Wilhelmina, and after being under the radar for a half-century, it’s definitely moving up on the charts today.
