87 Classic Girl Names That Aren't Popular or Boring

Picking an uncommon name rooted in tradition is a great way to make sure your child stands out without the risk of confusion that often goes hand in hand with newly-coined names. If you're expecting a baby girl and love the idea of giving her a well-established name that stands out in the modern world, have a look at our master list of classic girl names that aren't popular or boring:

1. Adrienne. Twentieth-century poet Adrienne Rich lends this classic A-name some literary appeal, while actress and TV personality Adrienne Bailon injects it with some pop culture cred.
2. Alicia. This sweet, upbeat name has a subtle 80s vibe and plenty of pop culture cred thanks to Alicias Silverstone, Keys and Witt.
3. Alma. A name with multiple possible etymologies, Alma has a long and illustrious history as a given name.
4. Anita. This one combines a certain classic appeal with a nod to the 50s.
5. Annette. This classic name still suffers from overuse in the 1960s but could make an intriguing possibility for parents looking for something a little unexpected.
6. Arlene. A vintage classic ending in a silent "e", this name had an illustrious career in Old Hollywood, with several Golden Age stars laying claim to the name (think Dahl, Francis, Harris...).
7. Beatrice. This one has a lot to offer: a beautiful sound, Catholic cred via Saint Beatrice of Silva, and a nice selection of short forms.
8. Belinda. A name with a sterling literary pedigree, Belinda has appeared as a character name in works by authors as diverse as Charles Dickens, Alexander Pope and Maria Edgeworth.
9. Betty. Betty is an Old Hollywood darling, borne by everyone from Betty Hutton to Betty White to Betty Grable. Golden Age Hollywood actresses aside, there's also the 20th century feminist writer and activist Betty Friedan, the 38th first lady of the United States Elizabeth "Betty" Ford, and the fictional character Betty Boop.
10. Bridget. Of all the things you may wish for your child, strength is probably right there on top of the list. So why not give your little one this charming moniker derived the Gaelic/Irish name Brigid, which in turn is thought to have its roots in the noun brígh, meaning "power, strength, vigor, or virtue".
11. Carmen. Of Spanish/Italian origin, Carmen has saintly credentials, theatrical history (think Georges Bizet's Carmen), and a cool meaning ("song" or "poem", from Latin). What's not to love?!
12. Charlene. This one makes a great alternative to the more popular Charlotte.
13. Claudia. This biblical classic has plenty of secular appeal as well.
14. Constance. Sure, Constance has a bit of a dusty image at the moment. But if you can see past that image and look at Constance with fresh eyes, you might see a gorgeous, sophisticated classic with some serious royal and literary cred.
15. Dana. This formerly unisex baby name leans heavily toward the girl side of the fence today.
16. Della. A forgotten classic begging for revival.
17. Dolores. A classic name of Spanish origin linked to the Virgin Mary.
18. Dora. A diminutive for Dorothea, Isadora or Theodora, Dora also works on its own. Bonus points for a lovely meaning ("gift", derived from the Greek word doron).
19. Doris. A neglected classic with literary underpinnings.
20. Edith. There have been royals, saints, artists and first ladies all bearing the name Edith. Talk about a name with historic and cultural cred!
21. Eileen. A warm, welcoming name with an Irish flair.
22. Elaine. A lilting, rhythmic choice taken from Arthurian legend.
23. Ellen. Love the El- sound but want something a little more surprising than Elizabeth or Ella? Try Ellen, a well-known but currently underused baby name possibility for a daughter.
24. Eve. A powerful little palindrome with biblical roots.
25. Faye. A short, gentle name that also works without the final E.
26. Felicia. A Hispanic classic with an auspicious meaning ("lucky" or "happy"), Felicia is having a bit of a hard time at the moment, but sooner or later, it will back!
27. Flora. If you're a nature lover, this vintage classic might be just right for your baby girl.
28. Florence. Borrowed from the capital of Italy's Tuscany region.
29. Frances. Yet another name with a number of Old Hollywood stars sharing the name (think Dee, Farmer, Drake, Langford). Frances Cleveland gives the name a presidential edge.
30. Geneva. An oft-overlooked classic with place name panache thanks to the principal French-speaking city of Switzerland.
31. Geraldine. Undeniably dusty by modern standards, but if you manage to shake off the dust and take the time to appreciate its original charm, you might see a strong, dignified appellation with French roots and plenty of historic and cultural cred.
32. Gloria. Past peak, but not past game!
33. Gwendolyn. A long, gorgeous appellation of Welsh origin.
34. Harriet. Related to the French Henriette and the male names Henry and Harry, Harriet could be exactly what twenty-first century parents are after: a name that's instantly familiar, but rarely heard on playgrounds.
35. Helen. The age-old Helen will eventually make a comeback. Want to stay ahead of the curve? Then grab it now!
36. Ida. The short but substantial Ida boasts saintly credentials, literary overtones, and links to Greek mythology. Take it or leave it!
37. Inez. Strong, traditional, and yours for the taking!
38. Irene. An underappreciated classic with literary and saintly credentials.
39. Irma. A dusty, musty moniker or a forgotten classic worthy of revival? We're not sure.
40. Jacqueline. This one brings together French style, mid-century vibes, and the legacy of Jackie Kennedy.
41. Jean. Mostly seen as a variation of Jane in English-speaking countries.
42. Jeanette. Janet with a French twist.
43. Jeanne. Borne by everyone from saints to queens, this name is steeped in history.
44. Jenny. The 70s' chart-topper Jennifer only entered the American baby name scene in the 20th century, but Jenny, which was originally a nickname for Jane, has been around for centuries.
45. Joan. An unsung classic with impeccable saintly, literary and royal bona fides.
46. Joy. A no-nonsense name with an appealing meaning, frills-free femininity, and a long history of use as a given name.
47. Judy. Judy may be the go-to nickname for Judith, but it's also a given name in its own right.
48. Justina. A severely neglected classic with saintly credentials.
49. Kathryn. Popular long before -ryn names became a thing.
50. Leona. Derived from the Latin word leo, meaning "lion", this name promises to lend its bearer strength and courage.
51. Loretta. This one offers some vintage vibes, if that's what you're after.
52. Lorraine. A currently underappreciated French beauty.
53. Louise. If you're looking for a name that packs a royal, saintly and literary punch, look no further.
54. Mabel. Looking for a classic name that means "love"? The mellifluous Mabel traces its origins to the Latin word amabilis, meaning "lovable" or "worthy of love".
55. Madeleine. Madeline and Madelyn are all over the place, but the French original—Madeleine—is keeping a low profile.
56. Mae. A traditional yet fresh possibility for a baby girl. Hilary Duff used Mae as a first name for her baby girl born in 2021, and Iliza Shlesinger has a daughter called Sierra Mae.
57. Marcella. An Italian-flavored possibility with literary and saintly credentials.
58. Marcia. With a history that spans centuries and strong literary credentials, Marcia cannot be called anything but a classic, even if it isn't wildly popular at the moment.
59. Marguerite. A lesser-known variation of Margaret, with a floral meaning.
60. Marian. An old name with great provenance. Marian Keyes is a notable literary bearer.
61. Marianne. For some, Marianne is an unfairly neglected classic with literary and saintly credentials; for others, it's an outmoded moniker trapped in a mid-century time warp. What's your take?
62. Marie. A traditional name that everyone knows but that's rarely heard on today's playgrounds. If you like this one, you may also like our list of classic girl names that end in -ie or y.
63. Marion. A sister for Maurice!
64. Martha. A biblical classic that occasionally takes a dip in popularity but always comes back again.
65. Maxine. A dignified X-powered name with a solid built-in nickname.
66. Monica. Monica Lewinsky and the fictional Monica from the sitcom "Friends" may be the most famous bearers of this name, but history has also seen plenty of other famed Monicas, including Saint Monica, the patron saint of motherhood, and the 1990s' tennis star Monica Seles.
67. Myra. An old name well-represented in literature, both as a character name and as the name of a bunch of acclaimed authors.
68. Olga. A straightforward Slavic classic without frills. Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic parents may appreciate the connection to Saint Olga of Kiev.
69. Opal. A classic gemstone name with a touch of vintage feel.
70. Paula. With Catholic cachet via St. Paula and a connection to the classic masculine given name Paul, Paula is destined to stage a comeback, sooner or later.
71. Pauline. This currently-neglected classic has a patently French vibe as well as Catholic gravitas from Saint Pauline.
72. Pearl. A compelling gemstone name that manages to pack a lot of old-school charm, frills-free femininity, and literary credentials into a single syllable.
73. Priscilla. A biblical classic that isn't getting much attention at the moment.
74. Ramona. An understated classic with literary credentials.
75. Regina. An underused R-name with a big sound and an even bigger meaning ("queen").
76. Rita. Some see Rita as a charming classic with saintly associations; for others, it's a musty mid-century moniker. What do you think?
77. Roberta. Last making waves in the 1940s and 1950s, the feminine form of Robert remains under the radar—for now.
78. Rosa. A nice change of pace from Rose.
79. Rosemary. An evergreen plant—and a classic girl's name with cute nicknames.
80. Sonia. If you're looking for a classic name with strong literary credentials, Sonia delivers, having appeared in works by everyone from Tolstoy to Dostoyevsky to McKenna.
81. Suzanne. Dressed-up version of Susan.
82. Sylvia. A name drenched in history, Sylvia passes muster as a classic, even though it isn't hugely popular at the moment.
83. Veronica. A venerable classic with literary credentials and history to spare.
84. Viola. Overshadowed by the hugely popular Violet.
85. Virginia. For some, this elaborate appellation brings to mind the U.S. state of Virginia; for others, it summons the prolific 20th century novelist Virginia Woolf.
86. Yvonne. Sleek and sophisticated but currently overlooked, this cross-cultural name crosses linguistic borders with ease.