When you go to compare old-fashioned baby names for girls to what parents are calling their kids in the 21st century, there is a surprising amount of overlap.
For example, there are the really classic names that are totally in fashion now, and never even left the top 100 — baby names like Emma (#1 in 2017), Catherine, Elizabeth, Anna and Mary. Then there are the ones you might have noticed are being used more and more — like Clara, Pearl, Frances and Dorothy.
Next up are are the names that most of us didn’t think would be popular again during our lifetimes — if ever — but are being seen more and more. A couple examples: Edith and Mabel.
Finally, there are the names that have been fading almost since they were at the top of the charts back in 1900. Here, take a look at the top 50 old-fashioned baby names for girls from the turn of the 20th century for names that don’t even rank among the top 1000 in America today.
Top 50 old-fashioned baby names for girls from the year 1900
| 1. Mary 2. Helen 3. Anna 4. Margaret 5. Ruth 6. Elizabeth 7. Florence 8. Ethel 9. Marie 10. Lillian |
11. Annie 12. Edna 13. Emma 14. Alice 15. Bessie 16. Bertha 17. Grace 18. Rose 19. Clara 20. Mildred |
21. Gladys 22. Minnie 23. Gertrude 24. Pearl 25. Mabel 26. Frances 27. Dorothy 28. Martha 29. Hazel 30. Ida |
31. Irene 32. Myrtle 33. Eva 34. Catherine 35. Louise 36. Edith 37. Sarah 38. Elsie 39. Esther 40. Lillie |
41. Agnes 42. Ella 43. Nellie 44. Mattie 45. Laura 46. Julia 47. Josephine 48. Carrie 49. Viola 50. Hattie |
👶 How those old-fashioned baby names for girls score on today’s charts
Take a peek at how more than a dozen girl baby names from way back when are rare in the modern day… at least so far.
Agnes
#41 on the girls’ baby name list in 1900
Agnes departed the top thousand names after her last appearance in 1972 — the year the Watergate scandal broke — and when the name was ranked at #987.
Ida
#30 most popular baby name for girls in 1900
In 1986, the name Ida just barely made the top 1000, claiming #996. After that, it faded away, and has been seldom seen since.
Myrtle
#32 on the girls’ baby name list in 1900
Myrtle has been missing in action since 1965. Our guess is that with the Harry Potter character Moaning Myrtle still in the minds of many, the name won’t be popping up in kindergarten classes any time soon.
This is one of the three names on this list that has been out of the top 1000 the longest — 53 years and counting.
Nellie
#43 most popular baby name for girls born in in 1900
The girl’s name Nellie dropped off the list in 1980, after dropping throughout the ’90s and ending its place in the top 1000 at number 954.
Viola
#49 most popular girl baby name from 1900
The baby name Viola made its last appearance on the list back in 1972, when it waved goodbye from the #958 spot.
Hazel
#29 on the girls’ baby name list in 1900
The name Hazel dropped off the chart in 1976, after falling to #945 on the list in 1975. It came back up for a quick breath of air in 1998, but slipped back into the ether immediately thereafter.
Gertrude
#23 most popular baby name for girls in 1900
One of the two names on this list that has been out of the top 1000 the longest: Gertrude. Number 976 in 1965, it has not been not a favorite pick of parents for 53 years and counting.
Minnie
#22 most popular girl baby name from 1900
Despite the world’s most famous girl mouse sharing this name, Minnie dropped off the rolls after hitting #956 in 1971.
Gladys
#21 most popular baby name for girls in 1900
This name held on almost until the eve of the 21st century! It was last seen on the top 1000 in 1999, when it reached #967. Since then, Gladys hasn’t been written on many birth certificates.
Mildred
#20 on the girls’ baby name list in 1900
After decades of declining popularity, Mildred waved goodbye in 1984 (at #971) and hasn’t been back in the top 1000 baby names since.
Bertha
#16 most popular girl baby name from 1900
Bertha, which was a top 10 girl’s name in 1880, suffered a long and slow decline over the course of a century before it left the baby name list in 1985.
Bessie
#15 most popular baby name for girls born in in 1900
Bessie, a really beloved name way back when, made its final appearance among the top 1000 names in 1975, when it held the #957 spot.
Edna
#12 on the girls’ baby name list in 1900
Edna held on until the ’90s before slipping back into baby name oblivion. Last known location: #913 in 1991.
Ethel
#8 most popular baby name for girls in 1900
Dear Ethel is the only name from the top ten in 1900 not to make it on to the top 1000 names of today. In fact, it’s been gone a long time — after making its final appearance at #889 in 1975.
Here’s one that is making a surprising comeback: Elsie
#38 most popular baby name for girls in 1900
But some names do come around… eventually. Elsie dropped off the baby names map after hitting #910 in 1975. After a 30 year hiatus, it returned in 2005, and has climbed up to the #301 spot in 2017.
Florence: A rising star?
#7 most popular baby name for girls in 1900
For 36 years — between 1981 and 2017 — the name Florence fell off the map. It managed to slide into the 21st century at #980 — so let’s see what the future holds!
2 Responses
It’s interesting that Gertrude was such a popular name for so long, and yet it hasn’t been used much for the last few decades. I would imagine that public perceptions and name associations play a big role in how popular a name is. If I were to have a girl, I’d want to give her a name with some meaning and history.
I applaud you. You’re either an adult and a good person or one of the few good young people that isn’t nasty to classmates like most. Kids are ruthless, and a funny sounding name that is usually an 80 year is ammo for bullies.