Vintage Baby Names

Are you looking for a retro baby name that harkens to times gone by? Whether you're after a charming vintage name for a baby boy or a sweet old-fashioned name for a baby girl, you've landed on the right page.

The list of old-fashioned baby names is long, encompassing everything from popular comeback names to dusty, musty monikers no one seems to be interested in today (many mid-century names belong to the latter category). But what all vintage baby names have in common is that they were once perfectly in tune with the zeigeist and then, suddenly or gradually, lost their panache.

Currently, popular old-fashioned baby names include Margaret, Henry, Ruth, Theodore, Annie, Silas, Jane, Emmett and Alice. Names that check the "vintage" box but haven't made a big comeback yet include Maude, Agnes and Verna for girls, and Clement, Eldon, Merlin for boys.

Current popularity aside, the origin/meaning of the name is also an important consideration for many parents. For example, Christian parents may be drawn to old-fashioned biblical boy names and old-fashioned biblical girl names, while a nature-loving couple might hone in on old-fashioned flower names.

You can also browse vintage baby names by length. Perhaps your last name is long and complicated, and you want to pair it with a short old-fashioned boy name like Eli, George or Otto? Having a baby girl? Try Ella, Nora, Lucy or any of the other pretty short vintage girl names.

Or maybe the opposite is true and you're looking for a long and elaborate first name to balance your baby's short surname? Then have a look at our list of long vintage names for boys, or jump to our list of long old-fashioned girl names if it's for a little lady. Or pick one of the long vintage girl names with sweet nicknames, like Beatrice which comes with the built-in nickname Bea, or Dorothy which shortens to Dottie.

If you don't know exactly what you're looking for and are simply seeking some initial inspiration, here are 100 charming vintage baby names for boys and girls, loosely ordered by current popularity: