Naming your child can be such a difficult decision. There are so many ways to name them but you can only make one choice and it has to be perfect.
You want something that stands out, but not too much because you know there’s the potential to get bullied. Parents also don’t want their child to really not like their name either. What to do?
You could go the celebrity route and choose the name of a fruit or something. There’s also the pop culture route. After all, there are many great female characters to name your kid after. And hey, there’s probably a record number of little girls out there named Katniss, Hermione, or Arya nowadays.
If you want a name that sounds new, maybe recycling something from an older era isn’t such a bad idea. Some of these names are just common enough. You know, not everyone has them, but they don’t seem too out there.
Below we’ve picked a list of 30 names from the 1700s we felt sounded just the right amount of vintage. We tried to make sure they sound like a baby’s name, but that they can be used in whatever version of LinkedIn will exist in the future.
Enjoy these names and their curious meanings!
30. LYDIA
Lydia is a simple name with a cool origin story. Originally from Greece, this name used to refer to women from an ancient kingdom in Asia Minor.
It was very popular in the 1880s and went through a bit of a sleepy period. The name has been slowly increasing in popularity. For those who are spiritually inclined, the name is also mentioned in the New Testament.
But hey, the name also refers to people who are noble and kind—that’s always a great thing!
29. LUCIA
A name out of Italy, Lucia means graceful light in the romantic language. Though the name is originally from Italy, it is considered a total U.S. name, as well.
Lucy is also a common nickname for people with this name. In fact, in that so commonly spoken language currently being used, this form of the name has actually been used since the 12th century.
Are we cheating by including this name here? Yes, but even people in the 17th century needed to recycle older names for baby girls.
28. TEMPERANCE
Fans of Bones are probably all over this one. The name has its origins in England and was quite popular in the 17th century. This name is considered yet another virtue name, as it means sobriety and abstinence.
Okay, maybe that’s not something you want to think about when you name your child. However, the name is associated with meticulousness and excellence, thanks to Emily Deschanel’s portrayal of Temperance Brennan.
At the very least, it’ll give your daughter a unique conversation topic for the rest of her life.
27. ADA
With just three letters, Ada sounds lovely and chic! This name is from Germany and refers to nobility or people who are of noble origin. The name has gone through ebbs and flows in its popularity.
It was quite popular in the 18th century and an alternative the equally stylish name Ava or Ivy. Famous mathematician Ada Lovelace also carries the name. Your daughter will have an intelligent woman to look up as she learns the meaning of her name. Nothing beats nobility, right?
26. CHARLOTTE
This name out of France is actually the female form of Charles! Now we know!
If you look throughout history, you will notice that many women named Charlotte are actually royalty. The name is also quite popular thanks to the novel Charlotte’s Web.
Many celebrated writers and leaders also carry the name, such as Charlotte Brontë. BabyCenter also mentions that Disney characters, great U.S. women, and other women leaders have also been named Charlotte. No matter where you look, there’s an awesome person named Charlotte.
25. BRIAR
Briar is a name inspired by nature and actually means “thorny patch.” The name received some exposure when Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen named their daughter Briar Rose. It makes sense that they chose this combination because roses are definitely full of thorns!
Briar Rose also happens to be the name of Princess Aurora in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. However, the name appears in various TV series and even comics. The name is unique enough to be interesting but still sounds beautiful and intelligent.
24. ELSIE
Elsie is a name that has origins in Scotland, Germany, and the Hebrew language. However, each culture assigns a different meaning to this name.
In beautiful Scotland, Elsie means “god of plenty.” The name is also a different version of the name Elspeth, originating in the same country. In Hebrew, the name originates from Elisheba, which means “God is satisfaction.”
In Germany, this name means “noble.” But not to worry, the name is close enough to the name Elsa, which was popular with Frozen fans, so it’s also Elsa with a twist.
23. FAITH
The name Faith comes from the concept of faith that things will be all right. It was quite popular with Puritans in the 17th century.
The name also derives from Latin origins denoting belief and confidence. Though it is a common name in Christian communities, it’s also the name of one of the slayers from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
It’s also one of the few names that stem from a complex concept. Plus, faith is a universal idea common in many cultures.
22. PATIENCE
Yet another name that is unique in that it comes from virtue or concept. The name was actually popular with 17th century Puritans because of its Latin origin, patientia, which comes from pati- and its meaning has to do with going through the tougher stuff in life.
Well… yes it’s strange to choose a name based on experiencing hardship, but let’s remember that Puritans didn’t have an easy go at it during the 17th century. We can now think of this name as a virtue we can all cultivate in ourselves instead.
21. TACE
This name actually means silence, and now that we think of it, it might also make a cute name for a boy too. Though the name was popular for a time, it fell out of favor.
However, it still sounds classic enough today. It’s a great name for people who want something unconventional without jarring people with a name that seems pulled out of nowhere. Though it has a lovely ring, it’s still not in the top baby names, so it’s unique enough.
20. FELICITY
Felicity is a great series from the ’90s, and its lead was a thoughtful young person who moved to New York City. But the actual name is another form of Felicia and comes from the Latin word for “happy.”
Considering that all parents want their children to lead happy, fulfilled lives, naming your child happy seems like a good way to start. The name actually rose in popularity in the 2000s, but it is still barely number 375 in the list of popular baby names.
19. OMELIA
Naming your kid Omelia might mean they’ll have a lifetime of people mistaking them for Emilia or Amelia, but it’s still adorable. In the United States, a whopping 8 people were named Omelia in 1912.
That means that if you name your child Omelia, she will most likely be the first person someone else meets with that name. Data shows the name is mostly used in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The name is likely to make more of an impact in the West Coast.
18. BERENICE
In Greece, Berenice means “victory bringer.” The name was quite popular in the 1800s and then declined in popularity.
It remained steadily hidden through the baby boomer era but is now popular in a great number of countries. The name is also quite popular in Mexico. In the 1980s, the name was noticed by more people and it has steadily climbed in popularity without becoming too ubiquitous.
We’re not surprised about this. After all, everyone wants their little girl to be a winner.
17. CHLOE
The form of this name in Greece is Khloe, and some people choose to be adventurous and add more punctuation symbols (Chloë, anyone?).
The name stands in for Demeter, the goddess of fertility. However, it actually means “green shoot” or “blooming.”
In a way, naming your daughter Chloe means you understand that she’s going to bloom into an awesome human being. Plus, she’ll share her name with actors such as Chloe Sevigny, and yes, Khloe Kardashian. Everyone will know she’s fierce.
16. EVADNE
This is a great name if you want to sound like you chose something out of a hit fantasy series. You’ll still choose a cool name but won’t have anyone comparing your daughter to a comic book character if that’s not your thing.
The name has origins in Greece and was the name of a character in a play called “Seven Against Thebes,” written by Aeschylus. Definitely sounds alluring. If you want your child to be creative, it helps to name her after something that sounds cultured.
15. ORINDA
Orinda isn’t a character on shows such as Game of Thrones, but she could be. That’s because the name means “fire serpent.” It’s originally from the country of Germany.
Very little data is available about the popularity of this name because it is so uncommon. But let’s face it, as cool meanings go, knowing that you’re named after a fire serpent is probably quite empowering.
It can alternatively be spelled Orenda. The male form of this name could be Ormund, in case you were wondering.
14. CLAUDE (OR CLAUDIA!)
Claude is traditionally considered a boy’s name, and you may be familiar with the female form, Claudia. The name is of Latin origin and actually means “lame.”
However, it is a name that is frequently chosen for artists. Maybe you can think of Claude Monet, Claude Levi-Strauss, and others.
Plus, like Taylor and Andy, it’s perfectly fine to name your child using a name that is traditionally meant for men. It’s 2019, and Claude is a cute name for girls too!
13. JOAN
We’ve heard of Joan of Arc, and this may make many parents think Joan is a French name. It’s actually of Hebrew origin! The name has been around for centuries and wasn’t too mainstream in the 1880s.
However, it became very popular in the 1920s and its popularity slowly declined. In Shakespeare’s era, the name Joan became quite common and it was eventually replaced by the very similar Jane.
The names Ione and Juana are the equivalents of Joan, too!
12. FRANCES
In Latin, the name Frances means “from France” but it can also mean “free.” Some people have used this name for their young boys, or they spell it Francis.
The name is in the top 500 most popular in the United States, but it’s still not super common. Several famous people in real life and onscreen area also named Frances. For parents and grandparents who grew up in the 80s, did you know Baby’s name in Dirty Dancing is actually Frances?
11. SELINA
In Greece, “Selene” means moon. Selina is simply a derivation of that interesting version of this name. Some people also choose the alternative spelling, Selena.
Both of these names involve glamour and beauty. One of the most famous TV and comic characters of all time, Catwoman, is named Selina Kyle. Let’s forget that there are other versions of this name, such as Céline, which are equally classy.
The name is also quite popular with Arab speakers and Muslims because of its meaning.
10. SKYLER
Skyler is definitely a cool name. In the 17th century, it was most commonly spelled Schuyler. The name comes to us from the Netherlands and was considered a male name until it crossed over. It is now considered a unisex name.
It means ‘scholar’ or ‘guarded.’ Either spelling of this name seems like a great option, especially if you value education. Plus, using this as a name for your child also means you can give them the nickname Sky. Variations of this name include Sky
9. VERONICA
This name never entirely went out of fashion, but it is definitely older than we all believe. In Latin, the name means both “true image” and “victory bringer.”
There are also many cool pop culture icons with this name, including Veronica Mars, and Riverdale’s Veronica Lodge. Veronica is also the Latin form of the name Berenice.
Ronnie is actually a common nickname for people named Veronica. We can appreciate this in episodes of the popular series Riverdale, which could make the name more popular.
8. JOY
Joy is short, sweet, and to the point. The name actually comes from the old French iteration, Joie. Of course, it means delight and happiness. Once again, this name comes from a concept or virtue, just like names such as Faith and Hope.
In addition to its totally positive meaning, there are many great personalities —real and fictitious—that carry the name. A few of these are Disney-Pixar’s Joy in the film Inside Out. Joy is also a great middle name.
7. ABIGAIL
Like other names popular during the 17th century, Abigail was also popular with the Puritan community. The name is of Hebrew origin and means “father of exaltation.”
In much of the modern world, it began appearing more often in the 16th century because of the Puritans. You may have heard common derivations of this name, such as Gayle, Abby, and Abba.
There have been multiple famous figures with this lovely name, as well, making it all the more appealing to history nerds and beyond.
6. ARABELLA
Arabella is a cool name that we’re sure will make waves. It once again sounds as if it came from a fantasy film or book series. Fun fact: the roots of this name are kind of uncertain.
It is said that it is a corruption of the name Annabel, which is another name with unknown roots. The name is thought to come from the Norman word for eagle and hearth (arn and arin, respectively). The name means “beautiful altar” and common nicknames for it include Bella.
5. HANNAH
In Hebrew, Hannah means “favor” or “grace.” The name is considered steadily popular, but let’s just admit that it’s still not a name you hear every day.
That makes it perfect for parents who want to give daughters a classic name that never quite goes out of style. Again, this name became quite popular with Puritans in the 16th century and its popularity took off then.
The name rose in popularity in the 1970s, peaked in the 2000s, and has been declining since.
4. GRACE
This name is derived from the Latin word “gratia” and means “God’s favor.” In the 17th century, the—you guessed it—Puritans made the name increasingly popular because of its meaning.
The name is associated with favor, mercy, and intelligence. The name remained quite popular until the 19th century until its ubiquitousness decreased with the times. It’s now making a comeback thanks to its timeless meaning.
It’s also common, but not so common that everyone will turn around when you yell this name out loud.
3. LEAH
The name Leah is quite ancient and is of Hebrew origin. It is thought to mean “weary.” Though it is a name of biblical origin, it did not become popular until the 16th century.
The name became so legendary that a little-known director named George Lucas decided on a modified version of this name for one of his lead characters. The rest is now history and people now associate this name with Star Wars. But it has a much longer history than that.
2. MERCY
This name isn’t so common anymore, but it was quite popular during the 16th and 17th centuries. The word mercy is synonyms with pity, forgiveness, and compassion.
Some people instead choose to name their daughter Mercedes and call her “Mercy” for short. Though the name is not as common, Madonna did name her younger daughter Mercy. Actor and comedian Andy Richter also has a daughter named Mercy.
Hey, if you’re going to name your child after a virtue, forgiveness is a good one.
1. RENATA
The name Renata means “reborn” in Latin and it has some religious undertones. This name was consistently given to baby girls to show that our spirits can also be reborn.
However, one of the characters on Ratatouille is named Renata, as is one of the characters from Big Little Lies.
The name is also quite popular in Italy. Some variations of the name include Rena and Renate. This classic name definitely seems fit for a strong girl with a mysterious backstory.