Old Fashioned Girl Names (With Meanings)

Looking for some beautiful old fashioned girl names? When picking out the name for their baby, parents often want their child’s name to represent who their child is and all that they will become in life. Wouldn’t you? Here are fifty-nine vintage girl names that are certain to give your daughter a distinctive feel as she grows up.

This post will offer inspirational vintage girl names to name a daughter or granddaughter. You can scroll through the list of baby names, click for comments on each one, and search by the first letter of the name.

Check out the article for fun, cute, and old fashioned girl names like Pauline, Mabel, Lillie, or Bertha.

Vintage Girl Names You Don’t Hear Anymore – old fashioned girl names

A

1 Alina

Alina is a name of Slavic origin, which translates as “lovely and bright.”

2 Ada

The name Ada is of Germanic origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Germanic name “Adal”, which means “noble” or “nobility”.

3 Agatha

The name Agatha is of Greek origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Greek name “Agathē”, which means “good” or “kind”.

In ancient Greece, the name Agatha was associated with the virtues of goodness and kindness. It was also the name of a popular saint in the Catholic Church, Saint Agatha, who was martyred for her Christian faith in the 3rd century.

4 Adaline

The name Adaline is of Germanic origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Germanic name “Adalheidis,” which means “noble kind” or “of noble birth.”

5 Adele

The name Adele is of Germanic origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Germanic name “Adela”, which means “noble” or “nobility”.

In the Middle Ages, Adele was a popular name among royalty and nobility in Germany, France, and other parts of Europe. It was also a popular name among early Christians, as it was believed to be a shortened form of the name Adelaide, which means “noble kind” in Germanic.

6 Amelia

The name Amelia is of Latin origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Latin name “Amalia”, which means “work” or “industrious”.

Amelia was a popular name in Europe in the Middle Ages, particularly in Germany and Italy. It was also a popular name among early Christians, associated with the virtues of diligence and hard work.

7 Arista

The name Arista is of Greek origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Greek word “aristos”, which means “best” or “excellent”.

In ancient Greece, the term “aristos” was used to describe the best or most excellent in various areas, such as in warfare, sports, or politics. The name Arista was later used as a first name for girls, with the meaning of “the best” or “the most excellent”.

8 Arabella

The name Arabella is of Latin origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Latin name “Orbella”, which means “yielding to prayer”.

In medieval times, the name Arabella was popular among the English nobility and was used as a variant of the name “Annabel”, which means “lovable”. It was also used as a variant of the name “Amabel”, which means “lovable” in Latin.

9 Audrey

The name Audrey is of Old English origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Old English name “Æðelþryð”, which means “noble strength”.

In medieval England, the name Audrey was popular among the nobility and was used as a variant of the name “Etheldreda”, which means “noble strength” in Old English. The name was also associated with the legend of St. Audrey, a 7th-century English saint who was renowned for her piety and charity.

10 Azalea

The name Azalea is of Greek origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Greek word “azaleos”, which means “dry”.

In botany, the azalea is a flowering shrub that is native to Asia, Europe, and North America. It is known for its beautiful, colorful flowers and is often used as a decorative plant in gardens and parks.

B

11 Barbara

The name Barbara is of Greek origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Greek word “barbaros”, which means “foreigner” or “stranger”.

In ancient Greece, the term “barbaros” was used to describe anyone who did not speak Greek, and it was often used in a derogatory way. The name Barbara was later used as a first name for girls, with the meaning of “foreign” or “strange”.

12 Becca

The name Becca is a diminutive form of the name Rebecca, which is of Hebrew origin. It means “to tie, bind, snare” or “a noose” in Hebrew.

In the Bible, Rebecca was the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau. She is regarded as a matriarch in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. The name Rebecca has been a popular given name throughout history, and it has many variations and diminutive forms, including Becca.

13 Beverly

The name Beverly is of English origin and is a unisex name, although it is more commonly used as a feminine name. It is derived from the Old English words “beofor” meaning “beaver” and “leah” meaning “meadow” or “clearing”, so the name Beverly means “beaver meadow”.

14 Bernadette

The name Bernadette is of French origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Germanic name Bernard, which means “brave as a bear”.

15 Belinda

The name Belinda is of uncertain origin, but it is believed to have been created by the English poet Alexander Pope in the 18th century.

It is speculated that the name was inspired by an Old English term “beorn” which means “bright” or “beautiful” and “linde” which means “serpent” or “snake”. Thus, the name Belinda could mean “bright serpent” or “beautiful snake”.

16 Bonnie

The name Bonnie is of Scottish origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Scottish word “bonnie” which means “pretty” or “attractive”.

The name Bonnie became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in Scotland and other English-speaking countries. It is often associated with qualities such as beauty, happiness, and charm.

17 Bridget

The name Bridget is of Irish origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Gaelic name Brighid, which means “exalted one” or “goddess”.

In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess associated with fertility, poetry, and healing. She was also closely associated with the Christian saint St. Brigid, who was one of Ireland’s patron saints and who founded the first monastery in Kildare in the 5th century.

18 Brenda

The name Brenda is of Old Norse origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Old Norse name Brandr, which means “sword” or “torch”.

The name Brenda became popular in the 20th century, especially in English-speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. It is often associated with qualities such as strength, independence, and leadership.

19 Belle

The name Belle is of French origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the French word “belle”, which means “beautiful” or “pretty”.

The name Belle became popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in English-speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. It is often associated with qualities such as beauty, charm, and grace.

20 Bernice

The name Bernice is of Greek origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Greek name Berenike, which means “bringing victory”.

In ancient Greek mythology, Berenice was the name of a princess who sacrificed her hair as an offering to the gods in exchange for her husband’s safe return from war. Her hair was said to have been placed in the stars by the gods and became the constellation known as Coma Berenices.

C

21 Cicely

The name Cicely is of Latin origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Latin name Caecilia, which means “blind” or “blind one”.

In ancient Rome, St. Cecilia was a martyr who became the patron saint of music and musicians. The name Cicely may have originally been a nickname for women who were blind or who had a connection to music.

22 Cora

The name Cora is of Greek origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Greek word “kore”, which means “maiden” or “young girl”.

In Greek mythology, Persephone was also known as Kore, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and the goddess of the springtime. The name Cora may have originally been a reference to this mythological figure.

23 Cordelia

The name Cordelia is of English origin and is a feminine name. It is derived from the Old Celtic name “Cordeilla” or “Cordula”, which means “daughter of the sea” or “jewel of the sea”.

In Shakespeare’s play “King Lear”, Cordelia is the name of the youngest and favorite daughter of King Lear. Cordelia is known for her loyalty and honesty, and her name has become associated with these qualities.

24 Carol

The name Carol is of English origin and is a unisex name, although it is more commonly used for girls. It is derived from the Old English word “ceorl”, which means “free man” or “peasant”.

The name Carol became popular in the 19th century, especially in English-speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. It was often given to girls born around Christmas time, as it is associated with the carol singing and the joyful spirit of the holiday season.

25 Carmen

Carmen – the vineyard of God

26 Catherine

Catherine – Pure

27 Celia

Celia – Heaven or Heavenly

28 Charlene

Charlene – free woman

29 Claire

Claire – ‘illustrious’ or ‘enlightened’

30 Clementine

Clementine – gentle

31 Clarissa

Clarissa – brilliant

D

32 Daisy

Daisy – day’s eyes

33 Daphne

Daphne – laurel tree

34 Donna

Donna – lady of the home

35 Dolly

Dolly – the gift of God

36 – Doris

Doris – sea

37 – Dottie

Dottie – the gift of God

38 Devon

Devon – poet

39 – Darlene

Darlene – darling

40 – Darcy

Darcy – dark haired

41 Dana

Dana – God has judged

E

42 Emilia

Emilia – strength

43 Elizabeth

Elizabeth – my God is the abundance

44 Eloise

Eloise – famous warrior

44 Emily

Emily – hardworking

45 Elsie

Elsie – God is my oath

46 Elaine

Elaine – torch & bright

47 Eileen

Eileen – beautiful bird

48 Ellis

Ellis – the Lord is my God

49 Edna

Edna – youthfulness

50 Edith

Edith – blessed

51 Edalyn

Edalyn – gifted by the Gods

F

52 Felicity

Felicity – good luck or fortune

53 Florence

Florence – blossoming in faith

54 Fanny

Fanny – free one

55 Farrah

Farrah – happiness

56 Flossie

Flossie – prosperous

57 Fiona

Fiona – Fair

58 Fran

Fran – free one

59 Freya

Freya – the goddess of fertility

60 Francine

Francine – free spirited

G

61 Georgia

Georgia – farmer

62 Gillian

Gillian – youthful

63 Gloria

Gloria – immortal glory

64 Geraldine

Geraldine – a ruler with a spear

65 Gemma

Gemma – gem

66 Glenna

Glenna – valley

67 Glenda

Glenda – pure

68 Gretchen

Gretchen – pearl

69 Grace

Grace – kindness, beauty

70 Goldie

Goldie – gold

H

71 Hazel

Hazel – hazel tree

72 Harriette

Harriette – estate rule

73 Hannah

Hannah – grace

74 Helen

Helen – shining light

75 Heather

Heather – heather plant

76 Hillary

Hillary – cheerful

77 Hope

Hope – positivity of wanting wishes to come true, desire

78 Henrietta

Henrietta – ruler of the home

79 Holly

Holly – holly tree

80 Hyacinth

Hyacinth – a type of flower that is purple in color

I

81 Irene

Irene – peace

82 Imogen

Imogen – maiden

83 Iris

Iris – rainbow

84 Ivy

Ivy – Ivy plant

85 Ishbel

Ishbel – God is my oath

86 Izzy

Izzy – God is my oath

87 Ilsa

Ilsa – noble

88 Irma

Irma – deer

89 Iphigenia

Iphigenia – born to strength

90 Isabeau

Isabeau – God is my oath

J

91 Jennifer

Jennifer – white fairy

92 Jessica

Jessica – God beholds

93 Jean

Jean – God is gracious

94 Jessie

Jessie – God has been gracious

95 Joan

Joan – God is gracious

96 Josephine

Josephine – God shall grow

97 Judy

Judy – she will be praised

98 June

June – young, someone born in the month of June

99 Julia

Julia – youthful

100 Juanita

Juanita – God is gracious

We often hear of given names that were hugely popular decades ago but are now relatively rare, like Marie, Jean, and Helen. Did you know that the same names have been cherished for centuries? In the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, surnames frequently would be passed down to children in order to preserve family history. If a mother had a grandmother or aunt with the same name, she would likely honor her by naming her child after her as well.

In a world where parents become so caught up in finding the “perfect name” for their baby girl, many have forgotten the beauty of those vintage and classic names. There are plenty of great old fashioned girl names you might not know about- but you don’t need to look for very deep in the naming pool when there’s a deep sea ready for exploration!

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