Rare 1910s Names for Baby Girls

Are you looking for a beautiful, unusual name for your unique baby girl? Something that will set her apart among all the little Olivias and Emmas? If you're into all things retro and vintage, including baby names from times gone by, unusual and rare names from the 1910s might provide the perfect starting point for your search. From nature-inspired picks (Olive, Birdie, Nettie, Dovie) to Catholic girl names (Ada, Agatha, Mathilda), our list of unusual girl names from the 1910s has options for every taste.

To come up with this list, we dug through the U.S. Social Security Administration's (SSA) baby name data and picked out the names that met the following criteria: the name was given to more baby girls in the 1920s than any other decade the SSA has records for; the name was given, on average, to at least 100 baby girls every year from 1920 through 1929; and finally, the name had to be outside the 1910s' Top 100 Most Popular Girls' Names (so no Agnes and Ethel, Mabel and Myrtle on this list!)

Ready to get inspired? Let's dive in!

• Ada. Offers all the retro charm Ava—but with less popularity.
• Agatha. A Catholic saint's name with literary cred via author Agatha Christie, one of the world's most prolific mystery novelists.
• Albina. Our advice: go for Alvina, instead!
• Alpha. Sitting on the fringes—then and now.
• Alvina. This one has an elven quality to it, courtesy of the "alv" prefix which comes from the Old English ælf. If you speak Norwegian, Alvina may have an even stronger elven connotation for you, since alv means 'elf' in modern Norwegian.
• Artie. A unisex name given to hundreds of baby girls and boys in the early decades of the 20th century, but rarely used (for either gender) today.
• Augusta. This one screams "old lady". The numerous fictional old ladies (Oscar Wilde's Augusta Bracknell, J.K. Rowling's Augusta Longbottom, Graham Greene's Aunt Augusta) may be to blame.
• Belle. An accurate description of any and every little girl, Belle means "beautiful" in French.
• Birdie. If you're trying to find animal-inspired name for your little princess, Birdie moves from the sky to the playground with ease.
• Catharine. One of the many variations of Catherine.
• Cecil. The distinctively feminine Cecilia has managed to maintain its popularity, but the unisex Cecil remains an unusual choice.
• Celia. The beautiful Celia has a quite the literary pedigree, having appeared in works by such heavyweights as William Shakespeare and George Eliot. Because of its literary associations and vintage vibe, it could also be a top contender for parents who are looking for alternatives to Ophelia.
• Dovie. Another cute, bird-inspired option.
• Edythe. Edith, with extra frills and lace.
• Effie. For some, this Euphemia short form summons The Hunger Games character Effie Trinket; for others, it's a sweet sepia-toned name with great potential for a modern baby.
• Era. Era is a subdivision of geologic time, an acronym for a number of associations—and a neat and streamlined baby name occasionally used in the early decades of the 20th century.
• Erna. An old-lady name through-and-through.
• Estelle. A variation of Estella with a modern royal connection (Estelle is the eldest child of Princess Victoria of Sweden).
• Fannie. Once a viable baby name choice, Fannie today sounds dreadfully dated to some people, and rude to others.
• Ferne. A variation of the comeback nature name Fern.
• Flossie. To some ears, Flossie is a cheek-pinching old lady in an apron. To others, it's cool retro baby name dripping with potential.
• Frieda. An all-but-lost moniker with vintage panache.
• Garnet. A gemstone-inspired appellation reaching its apex in the 1910s.
• Gertie. A short form of Gertrude but also used as a given name, especially in the early decades of the 20th century.
• Golda. A turn-of-the-twentieth-century throwback with a glittering meaning.
• Goldie. The glittery, vintage vibe of Golda, with added cuteness thanks to the -ie ending.
• Gussie. A short form of Augusta but also in moderate use as a given name in the early decades of the 20th century.
• Hattie. After a long break, Hattie is regaining a foothold on birth certificates once again.
• Hedwig. A dusty, musty name from yesteryear that, some would argue, can be categorically declared out of style forever.
• Hester. Yes, this name sounds pretty dated to contemporary ears—but so did name-cousin Esther not so long ago.
• Hettie. A warm, friendly appellation with loads of old-school charm.
• Leone. A feminine counterpart of the current European favorite Leon.
• Lessie. With two syllables and the sweet -ie ending, Lessie has an old-fashioned, diminutive charm.
• Linnie. A cute retro name with soft edges and frills-free femininity.
• Lizzie. Today most often used as a nickname for names like Elizabeth and Annelise, Lizzie was also used as an indepedent name at the turn of the 20th century.
• Lona. A pared-down version of the early twentieth-century favorite Leona.
• Lottie. A warm and welcoming moniker loaded with vintage charm.
• Lucile. Lucile is at risk of falling into extinction if parents don't start using it again. What a shame that would be!
• Mathilda. A less common variation of Matilda.
• Matilda. Matilda used to have a definite grandma vibe, but it's become so popular in the recent past that it barely belongs on this list.
• Maudie. A variation of Maude.
• Maybelle. Pretty, but may evoke a multinational cosmetics company.
• Mayme. A less common variation of Mamie.
• Mollie. This one might not have a particularly strong 1910s vibe as it's been in fairly consistent use since the beginning of recorded baby name history in the U.S., but still, it enjoyed its highest popularity in the 1910s so it deserves a spot on this list.
• Nelle. If the 1910s' favorite Nellie is too popular for your taste, how about just Nelle?
• Nettie. If you're looking for a 1910s' name with a subtle nature link, Nettie could work: it's a short form of Netta, which means "plant" in Hebrew.
• Ocie. If short and sweet is your style, this one might appeal.
• Olive. Why not take inspiration from nature and name your baby after a tree that doubles as a symbol of peace?
• Orpha. A little too close to the word "orphan" for our liking.
• Roxie. The perfect blend of edge and sweet.
• Sallie. A spelling variation of Sally used in the 1910s.
• Sibyl. A less common variation of Sybil.
• Tessie. Tessie has a friendly, down-to-earth vibe thanks to the -ie ending.
• Tillie. Another friendly and approachable T-name with the sweet -ie ending.
• Vesta. The virgin goddess of hearth, home, and family in Roman mythology, an asterioid named after the goddess—and a 1910s-inspired baby name!
• Wilhelmina. An long, German name that might pair well with a spare and simple surname.
• Yetta. A name relic with Yiddish roots.