23 Old-Fashioned Baby Names That Will Melt Your Heart
There is nothing quite like giving your newest little bundle a joy their name. A name is something that will go with them throughout their entire life. So, it is important to give them one that you, and when they grow up, will love. But there are so many names that are so overdone these days, that you cannot turn the corner without running into doubles and even triples of them. According to the Social Security Administration, Jessica, Jennifer and Amanda were the top three most popular girl’s names of the 80’s. As far as boy’s names in the 80’s go, Michael, Christopher and Matthew round the list as the top 3.
It is definitely high time to bring back some of those great old-fashioned names! Ones that have not been heard in quite a while! There are plenty of them out there, too! Some that have not been seen for quite a long time! It is definitely time that they make a resurgence! We would love to see some old-fashioned names climb the baby name charts in the near future! There are some pretty great ones out there, too! We can definitely guarantee that you will fall in love with these names when you see them! Perhaps you will even find inspiration for naming your soon-to-be little one!
Evelyn
Evelyn is just an absolutely sweet name for a little girl! The name itself means “beautiful bird.” The name was actually created by combining the names Eve and Lynn. In the United States, it is primarily used for little girls. However, in the United Kingdom, it is actually used as a unisex name for both girls and boys. Think of the cute nicknames you can give your little one! Eve, Lynn, Evey, it is totally up to you, but you can get totally creative! Either way, it is an absolutely sweet name that will be perfect for any little one you welcome into this world!
Silas
If you learn that you are going to have a baby boy and you are looking for a sweet name for him, then you will love this! Silas is a very cute name for your little gentleman! The name itself means “man of the forest.” The name is Latin in origin. Whether you are a nature lover or not, this name is really sweet. It invokes images of little kids in Newsboy hats, from the 1800’s! Just think of all the wonderful and sweet compliments you will get on this name! It is one that you really do not hear too much of these days!
Amelia
Amelia is an incredibly beautiful and sweet name! Latin in origin, the name itself means “work.” It is a name that is also synonymous with quite a few famous faces, including Amelia Earhart, a Saint Amelia and two princesses of the same name. This is most definitely a perfect name for your little baby girl! This name is a powerful, yet delicate one. Many nicknames include Mia, ‘Melia, Amy, Mel, and more! Sweet and soft, Amelia is a name that most definitely needs to make a big comeback! We absolutely love it, and we bet that you will love it, too!
Marshall
Marshall is the absolute sweetest name for a bouncing baby boy! It is an adorably old-fashioned name that originated in France. It means “horse keeper.” Even if you are not an equine lover, this name is lovely and a wonderful way to bring back an old name. This is definitely a name that we really do not hear a lot of these days. We totally want to see this name make a revival! Who knows, maybe generations down the line it could become a family name that future generations use? How cool would that be? That would be just awesome!
Orville
No, we are most definitely not thinking about movie theater flavored popcorn here! Orville is a name that is another one that is French in origin. It means “golden city.” A great nickname could be Ory! How cute is that? A few famous Orvilles include Orville Wright, of the Wright brothers, who piloted the first airplane. Another one is, yes, Orville Redenbacher, the famed popcorn brand founder. But we really like this name for it’s charm and how old-fashioned it really does sound! This is a great name to come back, and we sure hope that it does sometime soon!
Josephine
Josephine is the feminine form of the name Joseph. It is also French in origin and means “God will increase.” It is an absolutely beautiful name for a sweet baby girl! You could even put a spin on the name and spell it “Josefine,” to make it your own! Some great nicknames could be Josie or even JoJo, or maybe even just Jo! It is whatever your heart desires, and of course as she grows, it is what she will like too! This name is not just a “grandma” name anymore, it is definitely poised to make a comeback soon!
Clark
Clark is such a cute name for a little baby boy! English in origin, it means “clerk,” and we are absolutely in love with this name! Think Clark Gable, or Clark Kent, Superman’s alter-ego! See, you could name your little guy after a beloved superhero, and nobody would know! But the name has withstood the test of time, and is certainly one that we think will be popular again! Oh! There is also the famous Clark Bar candy bar, too! Think about it, that just makes this name all the more sweet! So many great reasons to give your little boy this lovely name!
Ada
When we think of the name Ada, pictures of proper ladies in bustle dresses come to mind! The name Ada means “noble and happy.” It is German in origin. This name is just short and sweet, perfect for your little baby girl! One famous Ada is Ada Byron, the very first computer programmer! Now that is a big deal! Definitely get her into some STEM classes when she gets older! It is a name that you can pretty much pair with any other name, too! Think Ada Lee, Ada May or even Ada Marie. These are all great pairs to the name, and you can most definitely come up with your own!
Rosalind
Rosalind has so many possibilities when it comes to this name! The origin is English and it means “pretty rose.” Cute nicknames can include Rosa, Roz, or even just Ro! It may be an old-fashioned name, but there are plenty of ways that you can spin it around to make it your very own! There is no doubt that your little lady will be as pretty as a rose! This is the perfect name if you are searching for one that sounds old-fashioned, yet just a little bit modern as well! It may even become a beautiful family name, you never know!
Foster
Now, Foster is the kind of name that we certainly do not hear on the everyday. But it is a lovely old-fashioned name. The origin is English and the name itself means “forest worker.” If you or your partner are nature lovers, then this may be the perfect name for a little boy! This name is definitely old-fashioned, but it kind of feels modern, in a way. That is the thing about some of these names! We totally love it! We believe that names like these will certainly make their way back up onto the baby name boards very soon!
Cordelia
Cordelia is an incredibly beautiful name! It is so beautiful in fact, that the name is of uncertain origin! Some believe that it may have been Welsh, Latin or French. A great nickname for Cordelia is, of course, Delia! You could even call her Cori, if you wish! The name itself is a lovely way to bring back this gem of an old-fashioned name! If you have been searching for names for your little girl, then this one just may be the one for you! We totally love this name because it just sounds so sophisticated, sweet and elegant, wrapped in one!
Judson
Judson is yet another name that we do not hear all too much of, and it is most definitely time to change that! The name is of English origin and translates to “Son of Judd.” It is an incredibly unique name for your brand new little man! For short, you could call him “Jud.” Perhaps there are names that you could pair it with. For example, Judson Joseph or Judson Benjamin? The choice is entirely up to you! This name is one of our top-favorite old-fashioned names! It really sounds kind of awesome and unique in a way, doesn’t it?
Bernard
Bernard is a really amazing name. With French origins, it translates into “bold as a bear!” It is perfect for your bold and adorable little boy! Bernie could be a really cute nickname that you could give to him! It is quite a powerful name, and it will for sure fit the new littlest man in your family! Just think, those teddy bears that he will most likely have will have a hidden meaning for him! Because he is “as bold as a bear!” Hey, that could be his first Halloween costume, a little baby bear! How sweet would that be?
Pearl
Pearl is most definitely an old-fashioned name for certain! The name itself is of English origin. It of course means “a small round bead formed by a mollusk.” Basically, the pearls that we ladies love to wear! Your little lady will be incredibly beautiful, just like the famed jewelry accessories are! Just think, when she is old enough, you can even gift her with her very own set of pearls to wear on a special occasion! Whether it is her graduation day or her wedding, or even her own child’s birth, that will most certainly be a special day for you and her!
Felix
Felix is not only an old-fashioned name, but it is such a fun name, too! The name is Latin in origin, and it translates to “happy and prosperous.” We have to acknowledge one of the most famed Felixs, Felix The Cat. He would walk around with his magic bag, where he kept everything! That is what makes this name a really cute and fun name for a little boy! With a name like this one, your little one is sure to do great things! We love the name because, hey, it is also fun to say! This is absolutely a unique name to bestow upon the newest little gentleman in your family!
Dante
Oh, Dante! What a fascinating name for your little boy! The name is Latin in origin, and it means “everlasting or enduring.” Another way to spell the name is Donte. Either way, it is a great name! It is absolutely a name that you do not hear these days! You may have heard of the famed poet Dante Alighieri, who wrote The Divine Comedy. Some great nicknames for the name Dante can include Dan, Don, or even Te (pronounced “Tay.”) Have fun with it! It is a very different, yet very old name that we would like to see more of!
Nora
Nora is a name that is just too sweet! The name is English in origin and it means “honor.” What an honor it would be to have a name such as this one! It is the diminutive form of the names Honora and Eleanora. If you are on the hunt for a baby girl name that is definitely old-fashioned, Nora is definitely the way to go! If you want to be a little different, you could always spell it Norah. A fun nickname for her could be “Nory!” This name is quite an elegant one, and is certainly one that we hope stays around!
Raymond
Raymond is a name that is English in origin. The name itself means “Counsel Protection.” It is a great choice for a baby boy because it is versatile. Ray is a great nickname for the name itself. Of course, when they are little you could call them your little “Ray-Ray” of sunshine! But something tells us that they will grow out of that one pretty darn fast! No matter, though. As long as they are little you can call them whatever you wish! You’ve got at least three or four years before they go to school! Then they can decide whether they want to be called “Ray” or by their full name, “Raymond.”
Violet
Violet is without a doubt, one of the best old-fashioned names out there! The name is of English origin, and it of course comes from the purplish-blue flower of the same name. The name was traditionally very popular over in England and parts of Great Britain! But we are pretty happy that this lovely name has also “crossed the pond” and made it’s way to America! If you don’t want to go with the traditional spelling, you could always spell the name “Vyolet,” instead. Just think of all of the fun photo opportunities with the flowers that you can have!
Cary
Cary is actually an old-fashioned name that can be used for both boys and girls! The meaning of the name is “pure,” with it’s origin being English. An alternative spelling is Carey. Think Cary Grant, for example. Carey Elwes of The Princess Bride fame is also another famous Carey. There are many different ways to spell this name. If you are looking for a gender neutral name, then Cary will be the right choice for you! We love this name because it is quite versatile, for both boys and girls. With it being feminine and masculine, this name is a great choice!
Shirley
Shirley is surely a wonderful choice of an old-fashioned name for a little girl! With English origins, the meaning behind the name is “bright meadow.” Of course she will be the “bright” spot in your life, so this is the perfect name! It is an adorable name for any baby girl! Fun nicknames include Shirl, Sherry, or maybe even Lee. Some famous Shirleys include Shirley Temple Black, the famously young entertainer with her iconic curls. We love that it is not really heard these days, so it is unexpected when you hear it! Your sweetheart Shirley will be a lovely little lady!
Oswald
Oswald is a very old name and is absolutely perfect for a baby boy! The origin of the name is English, and the name itself means “God Rule.” There are plenty of fun nicknames you can give your little guy! Ozzy, of course is one of them! While they are little you could probably get away with calling them Waldo, too! A game of peek-a-boo instantly becomes “Where’s Waldo?” Pretty fun! Oswald is a great name for a little boy, if you are looking for something just a little bit different that you know people haven’t heard in a while!
Ida
Ida is a beautiful name, of that there is no doubt. The name itself is German in origin and means “hard worker.” There are some wonderful names that will go along with the name! Ida May, Ida Lee, and Ida Marie are all great ways that you can use this beautiful name! You can have fun with this name! It is short and sweet, and that is why we like it! If you have found out that you are having a little girl, consider choosing Ida as a name! You definitely cannot go wrong with such a beautiful and old-fashioned name!
