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Unusual Vintage Baby Names For Girls

Published: Jun 24, 2016 · Modified: Feb 13, 2025 by Alice · This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

Vintage Names For Baby Girls Ready For A Revival
Vintage Baby Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names From The 1920s
Unusual Vintage Baby Names For Girls
Vintage Baby Names For Girls
Vintage Girls Names
Cute Vintage Girls Names
Gorgeous Vintage Baby Girls Names
Vintage Girls Name From The 1920s, 1930s & 1940s
Rare Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage photograph of woman in the 1920s
Smiling little girl running
Young girl wearing checked shirt and straw hat on pink background
Little girl smiling
Unusual Vintage Baby Names For Girls

Vintage names have been super popular recently, so it can be hard to find a lovely rare vintage name for your baby girl.

But there are plenty of forgotten and uncommon vintage girls names from the early 1900s just raring for a comeback.

These forgotten vintage names all felt refreshingly modern in the early 20th Century and became the height of fashion in the golden era of glamorous movie stars.

So if you're searching for a forgotten vintage name for your daughter check out these lists of vintage girls names by decade :

  • 1900s - 1910s Girls Names
  • 1920s Girls Names
  • 1930s Girls Names
  • 1940s Girls Names

Or browse the full list alphabetically to discover meanings, famous namesakes and cute variations for these vintage names.

Forgotten Vintage Girls Names

Girls Names From The 1900s - 1910s

Popular Girls Names From The Early 1900s

The late gilded age in the 1900s and 1910s before World War One looks old fashioned to us but felt incredibly modern at the time.

The era was bursting with inventions - cars, planes and movies - matched by a whole host of new but now forgotten girls names.

There were stylish short names such as :

  • Ada
  • Cora
  • Della
  • Dora
  • Hilda
  • Ida
  • Lena
  • Lola
  • Mabel
  • Mae
  • Nora
  • Stella
  • Una
  • Velma

PLUS a cluster of gorgeous names tied to romantic but very independent heroines in books and the first silent movies :

  • Angela
  • Dorothy
  • Elsie
  • Gertrude
  • Grace
  • Gwendoline
  • Lillian
  • Lucille
  • Luella
  • Marion
  • Myrtle
  • Pauline
  • Veronica
  • Viola

1920s Girls Names

Vintage 1920s Girls Names

Many of the vintage names most in vogue in the roaring 1920s can feel to us now like old-lady names but in the 20s these girls names sounded super sophisticated and modern.

Some names were again very short :

  • Alma
  • Bebe
  • Clara
  • Irene
  • Irma
  • Lois
  • Norma
  • Rita
  • Thelma
  • Vilma
  • Wilma

Whilst others were forgotten old British names revived with a modern twist :

  • Doris
  • Evelyn
  • Gladys
  • Mildred
  • Monica
  • Muriel
  • Virginia
  • Vivian

1930s Girls Names

Vintage 1930s Girls Names

Most fashionable girls names in the 1930s came from huge Hollywood movie stars.

Some of these vintage names hung around :

  • Anita
  • Barbara
  • Diana - Diane
  • Iris
  • Joyce
  • June
  • Loretta
  • Marlene
  • Nancy
  • Patricia
  • Sylvia

Whilst others are now forgotten and rare :

  • Claudette
  • Claudine
  • Dolores
  • Edna
  • Joan
  • Marcia
  • Myrna
  • Noreen

Curiously some stars who made these names popular - such as Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford and Loretta Young - grew up with completely different names!

1940s Girls Names

Vintage 1940s Girls Names Now Uncommon And Rare

The most popular girls names in the 1940s came again from Hollywood movie stars.

Some of these were new variations on old fashioned names forgotten at the time :

  • Angela
  • Bette
  • Carole
  • Connie
  • Faye
  • Janet
  • Jean
  • Kay
  • Lana
  • Pamela
  • Paulette
  • Phyllis
  • Wanda

Whilst others had strong Celtic influences :

  • Eileen
  • Glenda
  • Gloria
  • Maureen
  • Moira

And others were super rare but trended with their Hollywood namesakes :

  • Greer
  • Hedy
  • Merle

Vintage Girls Names A to Z

Vintage Names For Girls

For more inspiration browse all the vintage girls names from the early 20th century in alphabetical order and discover their :

  1. Meanings
  2. Origins
  3. Glamorous namesakes
  4. Variations

Ada

Meaning : Noble

Ada is an old girls name that came back into vogue in Britain after the heroine Ada Clare in the bestseller Bleak House and then hit the heights of fashion in the USA in the 1910s. Another famous namesake is the inventor Ada Lovelace. Variations : Adie, Addie, Adelia, Adelina, Adela

Alma

Meaning : Spirit lifting

Alma started to trend in the early 1900s in the USA reaching peak popularity in the 1920s with silent movie stars such as Alma Rubens and Alma Hanlon. Variations : Almina, Alma-May

Angela

Meaning : Angel, messenger of God

Angela has been used as a girls name since medieval times but had sudden waves of popularity in the 1910s and 1940s partly influenced by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother whose second name was Angela. Variations : Angelica, Angie, Angelina

Anita

Meaning : Full of grace

Vintage Names For Girls

Anita is an old fashioned English girls name from medieval times brought back into style in the 1910s and 1920s with movie stars Anita Stewart and Anita Page until it peaked in the 1930s. Variations : Anitra

Barbara

Meaning : Exceptional

The name Barbara, which originated long ago with St Barbara, was fashionable with British aristocrats in the 1600s but came back big time in the early 1900s, hitting its peak in the 1930s with movie stars like Barbara Stanwyck. Variations : Babs, Babsie

Bebe

Meaning : Perfection of the Lord

Bebe is a long forgotten but increasingly popular vintage girls name that first trended in the 1920s with movie star Bebe Daniels as a cute diminutive of Beatrice or Barbara. Variations : Bibi, Beatrice, Barbara

Bette

Meaning : God's promise

Vintage Girls Names From 1940s - Bette

Bette as a diminutive of Elizabeth became super fashionable as a given name in the 1940s with stars like Bette Davies Variations : Betty, Bettina, Beth, Bethie

Carole

Meaning : Strength

Carole is a feminine version of Charles which came into vogue in the 1940s with one of Hollywood's best loved stars Carole Lombard.Variations : Carrie, Carolina, Carola

Clara

Meaning : Clear & bright

Clara became one of the most popular American girls names in the 1920s inspired by iconic star Clara Bow. Variations : Clarabella, Claribel, Clarrie

Claudette

Meaning : Strong willed

Unique 1930s Vintage Girls Names

Claudette is a feminine version of Claude that trended in the 1930s influenced by Claudette Colbert but is now largely forgotten. Variations : Claudine, Claudia

Claudine

Meaning : Strong willed

Claudine is another feminine version of Claude popular in the 1930s but now largely forgotten. Variations : Claudette, Claudia

Connie

Meaning : Steadfast

A diminutive of the popular 19th century name Constance, Connie became fashionable in the 1940s Variations : Constance, Concetta, Constanza

Cora

Meaning : Heart held

Cora was a super stylish golden era girls name - think Cora in Downton - but continued to be very fashionable in the 1920s. Variations : Coralie, Coral, Coraline

Della

Meaning : Noble

Della is a late 19th century derivative of the old English name Adela that was chic in the 1900s. Variations : Adella, Odella

Delores - Dolores

Meaning : Life's grace

Uncommon 1930s Girls Names

Dolores is a Spanish girls name honouring the grace of the Virgin Mary which was very fashionable in the 1920s and 1930s with stars like Dolores Costello. Variations : Dolly, Dollie, Dores

Diane - Diana

Meaning : Daylight

The name Diana, from the Roman goddess of hunting and fertility, was popular in Britain in the 1700s but swept back into high fashion in the USA and Britain in the 1940s with stars such as Diana Lynn. Variations : Di, Dayanna, Dayann, Deana

Dora

Meaning : God's gift

Dora is now a rare vintage girls name but was a fashionable diminutive of Dorothy and Theodora in the 1920s. Variations : Theodora, Pandora, Isadora, Doris

Doris

Meaning : Gift of the seas

Vintage Girls Names From The 1920s

Doris may sound like a forgotten old ladies name to us but was very chic and modern in Britain in the 1900s and then the USA in the 1920s when - influenced by movie stars Doris Kenyon and Doris Pawn - it was one of the 10 most popular girls names. Originally, Doris was the name of a Greek goddess of the sea. Variations : Dora, Dorrie

Dorothy

Meaning : Gods gift

Dorothy is an old English girls name from the 1600s that returned to fashion in the 1910s and 1920s with leading film stars Dorothy Gish and Dorothy Mackall, Variations : Dorothea, Dora, Dottie, Dot, Dollie, Dorrie

Edna

Meaning : Essence, true heart

Edna is an old British girls name that was in vogue in the 1930s but is now forgotten and rare. Variations : Eddie, Edie, Edina

Eileen

Meaning : Bright shining one

Originally Irish, Eileen hit peak popularity in the 1920s in Britain and in the 1940s in the USA with stars such as Eileen Percy. Variations : Lina, Leena, Aileen, Aveline

Elsie

Meaning : God's gift

Popular Girls Names Of The 1900s

Elsie was a very fashionable diminutive for Elizabeth in the 1900s to 1920s with silent movie stars Elsie Ferguson, Elsie Randolph and Elsie Janis. It is now having a super cool revival with actresses like Elsie Hewitt and Elsie Fisher Variations : Elsa, Elspeth, Elsweth.

Evelyn

Meaning : Desired

Evelyn is a modern early 20th century version of old English girls names such as Aveline and Elvina Variations : Evie, Lyn, Ellie

Faye

Meaning : Fairy like, loyal

Vintage Girls Names

Faye is a vintage name that became a popular new twist on Faith in the 1940s after movie stars such as Alice Faye and Faye Emerson. Variations : Faith, Felicia

Gertrude

Meaning : Strength

Gertrude is a rare vintage name with a real old-lady feel but it was very fashionable in the 1900s and 1910s. Gertrude Lawrence was a big Broadway actress and Gertrude Astor a major silent movie actress and trombonist. Variations : Gertie, Trudy, Trudie

Gladys

Meaning : Princess

Forgotten Vintage Girls Names

Gladys is a vintage girls name from Wales fashionable from the 1900s to 1920s. Gwladys was a Welsh queen and saint in the 5th century and Gladys Cooper a multiple academy award nominated actress and theatre producer. Variations : Gwladys

Glenda

Meaning : Pure goodness

Glenda is another vintage girls name originally from Wales. It was most in vogue in the 1940s with actresses such as Glenda Farrell Variations : Glen, Glennie

Gloria

Meaning : Glorious

Popular Girls Names In The 1940s - Gloria

The vintage name Gloria soared into vogue in the 1920s with movie star Gloria Swanson reaching its peak in the 1940s under the influence of heiress Gloria Vanderbilt. Variations : Glorianna, Glory

Grace

Meaning : Graceful

Everyone has heard of Grace Kelly but the early age of silent movies had a whole host of stars called Grace including Grace Cunard, Grace Darling, Grace La Rue and Grace Moore who helped get the name trending in the 1900s and 1910s. Variations : Gracie

Greer

Meaning : Swift

Greer is a unique vintage girls name that was made famous by Greer Garson one of the world's biggest movie stars in the 1940s. Greer was originally an Irish family name.

Gwendoline - Gwendolen

Meaning : Blessed ring

Gwendoline, which became very stylish in Britain in the 1900s, is another vintage girls name like Gladys that comes from a Welsh princess and saint. Diminutives : Gwen, Gwennie, Gwendolyn

Gwenda

Meaning : Blessed good

Gwenda is a largely forgotten vintage girls name from Wales that had a burst of popularity in the 1940s. Diminutives : Gwen, Gwennie, Gwendoline

Hedy

Meaning : Warrior

Unique Vintage Girls Names From The 1940s - Hedy

Hedy - a diminutive of Hedwig - is another unique vintage girls name from the 1940s which was made famous by stunning movie star and awesome inventor Hedy Lamarr. Variations : Hedda, Hedwig

Hilda

Meaning : Mother, teacher, leader

Hilda is an old English girls name connected to Saint Hilda that came back into fashion in the 1900s with other old Anglo-Saxon names such as Edith, Mildred and Winifred. Variations : Hildie, Hildegard

Ida

Meaning : Prosperous

Ida was an old fashioned medieval name of French nobility e.g. Ida Countess of Boulogne, Ida of Lorraine that became very fashionable pre-war in the 1900s and 1910s. Variations : Idaho, Idelia

Irene

Meaning : Peace

Popular Vintage Girls Names From The 1920s - Irene

Irene has been around as a girls name since ancient Greece but was largely forgotten until it came back into vogue in the 1890s with Queen Victoria's granddaughter Princess Irene and trended through into the 1920s with movie stars Irene Rich, Irene Dunne and Irene Browne and the hit film 1926 Irene. Variations : Renee, Irenee, Irena

Iris

Meaning : Rainbow

Iris is another vintage name with ancient Greek origins. It hit peak popularity in the 1930s with movie stars Iris Adrian and Iris Stuart. Variations : Irissa, Eirys, Irys

Irma

Meaning : Complete

Irma is a forgotten vintage girls name with German origins that became fashionable in the United States in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. Variations : Erma, Irmela

Janet

Meaning : Gracious gift of god

Janet is a feminine version of John that had a big wave of popularity in the 1940s influenced by for example big band singer Janet Blair and actress Janet Leigh. Variations : Jan, Nettie, Janette

Jean

Meaning : God is gracious

Most Popular Vintage Girls Names From The 1940s - Jean

Jean is a very old girls name with Hebrew, French and medieval British origins that had a big wave of popularity peaking in the 1940s under the influence of stars such as Jean Harlow, Jean Simmons and Jean Peters. Variations : Jeanie, Jeanette

Jeanette

Meaning : God is gracious

Jeanette is a version of Jean that also became popular in the 1920s to 1940s. Famous Jeanettes of the period included singer and movie star Jeanette McDonald. Variations : Jeanie, Jean

Joan

Meaning : Gracious

Joan has been a popular old English girls name since medieval time but had a big revival in the 1930s with stars Joan Crawford and Joan Fontaine. Variations : Joanie

June

Meaning : Love & marriage

Top Vintage Baby Girls Names From The 1930s - June

The name June comes from Juno Roman goddess of love and marriage. It has long been used as a girls name in Britain and the USA but like Joan and Jean became super fashionable in the 1930s and 1940s. Famous namesakes of the time included jazz singer June Christy and actresses June Allyson and June Lockhart. Variations : Junia

Joyce

Meaning : Joyous, joyful

Joyce is an old fashioned name popular in Britain since medieval times that took off in the United States in the 1900s, peaking in the 1930s and 1940s with a wide range of stars called Joyce including Joyce Reynolds, Joyce Carey, Joyce Howard and Joyce Compton. Variations : Joy, Joye, Joycella

Kay

Meaning : Purity

Kay is a short form of Katherine which trended in the early 1940s in the USA influenced by Kay Francis who was one of the biggest movie stars of the 1930s but is now largely forgotten.

Lana

Meaning : Shining light

Popular Vintage Girls Names In 1940s - Lana

Lana is an old girls name that had been used in the United States since the 1700s but was pretty uncommon until it burst into fashion in the 1940s with mega star Lana Turner. Variations : Lanabel, Allana, Allanah

Lena

Meaning : Bright light

Lena became fashionable in the 1900s in the United States as a pretty diminutive of Helena, Elena and Magdalena. Famous namesakes include singer and civil rights activist Lena Horne. Variations : Helena, Magdalena, Elena

Lillian

Meaning : Pure beauty

Lillian was one of a cluster of romantic girls names that came into vogue in the 1900s. Lillian Gish was one of the biggest stars of silent movies. Variations : Lil, Lilly, Lillyanne

Lois

Meaning : Most beautiful

Popular Vintage Girls Names In 1920s - Lois

Lois is a vintage name that actually comes from the Bible but in the 1920s it sounded super modern and the cutting edge of fashion. Actress Lois Wilson starred in large numbers of Hollywood silent movies, writing and directing some herself. Variations : Louisa, Luisa, Louisiana

Lola

Meaning : Life's grace

Lola is a short form of Dolores that became very chic between the 1910s and 1930s with science fiction film Lola in 1914 and silent movie stars Lola Todd and Lola Lane. Variations : Dolores, Lourdes, Marlow

Loretta

Meaning : Completeness, balance

Vintage Girls Names From 1930s - Loretta

Originally an Italian name, Loretta started to trend in the USA in the early 1900s and remained popular throughout the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s but has always been very rare in Britain. Loretta Young was a major film star from the 1920s to 1940s. Variations : Lettie, Lottie, Lorrie, Lora

Lucille

Meaning : Light

Lucille first became popular in France in the 1840s as a diminutive of Lucy and then took off in the USA in the 1910s peaking in the 1940s. It has always been very rare in Britain. Variations : Luci, Lucia, Lucilla

Luella - Louella

Meaning : Warrior, shining light

Luella became fashionable between the 1900s and 1920s in the United States but remained rare in Britain. It is often thought of as a combination of of Louise and Eleanor but is actually an old English girls name from the 1500s which was a feminine version of the family and boys name Lowell. Variations : Lou, Lola, Ella, Lula, Lulu

Mabel

Meaning : Adorable

Uncommon Vintage Girls Names From 1900s - Mable

Mabel was an old english girls name that came back into fashion in the 1900s. Variations: May, Maybella

Mae - May

Meaning : Fair light

The name Mae is a version of May and Maia but also a short form of Maerewen a long forgotten old English name. May became crazily popular in the 1890s and 1910s influenced by Princess May who later became the British Queen and Mae continued to trend into the 1940s in the USA with movie star Mae West. Variations : Maeria, Merewen, Maisy

Marcia - Marsha

Meaning : Warrior

Marcia is an old fashioned feminine version of Marcus that took off in the 1930s and continued to trend in the 1940s. Marcia Mae Jones was a child star in the 1930s appearing with Shirley Temple in Heidi and Little Princess Variations : Marcella, Marcie, Martia

Marion

Meaning : Beloved, star of the sea

Vintage Girls Names From Early 1900s - Marion

Marion - a derivative of Mary or Marie - is an old fashioned name long popular in Britain that trended in the United States in the 1900s and 1910s. Marion Davies was a famous star of the Ziegfield Follies Variations : Marian, Maryanne, Merion

Marjorie

Meaning : Pearl

Marjorie is an old British girls name that came back into vogue between the 1900s and 1920s. Variations : Margie, Margery

Marlene

Meaning : Star of the sea

Marlene is a vintage German name adapted from Maria and Magdalene that took off in the 1920s and 1930s with movie star Marlene Dietrich but is now fairly uncommon. Variations : Marlena

Maureen

Meaning : Little beloved one

Maureen, a version of the Gaelic name Máirín meaning little Mary, trended in the United States in the 1940s with stars like Maureen O'Hara and Maureen O'Sullivan Variations : Maura, Moira, Mo, Renee

Merle

Meaning : Bright sea

Unique And Uncommon 1940s Vintage Girls Names

The now very rare name Merle is most associated in Britain with Merle Oberon a major movie star of the 1940s but had already had a burst of popularity in the United States before World War One. Variations : Merelyn, Muriel

Mildred

Meaning : Gentle strength

Mildred is a very old British girls name that was rediscovered in the 1900s hitting peak fashion in the 1920s. It was still popular in the 1940s when Joan Crawford made her Oscar winning film Mildred Pierce. Variations : Millie, Mimi, Mildrid, Mildryd

Monica

Meaning : Unique wisdom

Monica has Italian and Spanish origins but can be found in records of old English girls names. It became fashionable in Britain in the 1920s. Variations : Monique, Moniqua

Moira

Meaning : Destiny

Moira is a Scottish and Irish name that became fashionable in Britain in the 1940s under the influence of Scottish ballet dancer Moira Shearer who starred in the award winning film The Red Shoes. Variations : Maire, Moyre

Muriel

Meaning : Bright sea

The vintage name Muriel has Celtic origins in the British Isles and Brittany but was rare in Britain until the early 1900s when it took off and become fashionable in the United States in the 1920s with movie stars such as Muriel Ostriche. Variations : Meriel, Riella

Myrna

Meaning : Beloved, peaceful

Unique Vintage Girls Names From 1930s - Myrna

The rare vintage girls name Myrna, which has Celtic and Slavic origins, was made famous in the 1930s by actress Myrna Loy Variations : Mirna, Merna, Muirne

Myrtle

Meaning : Loyal love

Myrtle is a flower traditionally used in wedding bouquets. A now rare vintage girls name Myrtle trended in the 1900s and 1910s in both Britain and the USA with early silent movie stars Myrtle Gonzalez and Myrtle Stedman. Variations : Myrtille

Nancy

Meaning :

Nancy was a popular girls name in the British Isles and USA from the 1700s and trended in Victorian times following Nancy in Oliver Twist but then had a massive resurgence in the USA in the 1930s and 1940s. Nancy Carroll and Nancy Kelly were 1930s movie stars. Variations : Nan, Nancie

Nora

Meaning : Light

Nora is a diminutive of Leonora, Eleonora and Anora a beautifully rare old British girls name. Very chic and modern in the 1900s, it has had an old-lady-name feel but both Leonora and Nora are having a revival in Europe with Princess Leonor of Spain and Princess Leonora of Sweden Variations : Norah, Anora, Honora, Eleonora, Leonora, Norabelle, Norabella

Noreen

Meaning : Little light, honour

Noreen, which has both Irish and Persian origins, is a now pretty uncommon vintage name. It is a diminutive of Nora, i.e. little Nora, that became a fashionable alternative to Nora in the 1930s and 1940s. Variations : Norenee, Noirin, Renee

Norma

Meaning : Core truth

Vintage 1920s Girls Names - Norma

Norma was made famous as a girls name by the opera Norma but only became fashionable in the 1920s and 1930s. Academy award winning actress Norma Shearer was one of the most popular stars of the 1930s. Variations : Normandie, Nora-May, Nola

Pamela

Meaning : Sweet honey

The vintage name Pamela first appeared in the 16th Century story Arcadia with the character Princess Pamela. It was very fashionable in the 1700s and early 1800s then had a sudden resurgence in the 1940s. Pamela was the heroine in Alfred Hitchock's hit film The 39 Steps. Variations : Pam, Pammie, Pamelia

Patricia

Meaning : Noble

The name Patricia started to trend after the birth of Queen Victoria's granddaughter Princess Patricia in 1886 but then had a huge surge in the 1930s and 1940s to become the 4th most popular girls name in the USA. Patricia Ellis and Patricia Roc were major movie stars in the 30s and 40s. Variations : Patsy, Patti, Tricia, Trixie

Paulette

Meaning : Humble

Uncommon Vintage Girls Names From 1940s - Paulette

Originally French, Paulette is a now uncommon vintage name that had a sudden surge of popularity in the USA in the 1940s influenced by Paulette Goddard a major star of the late 1930s with the hit film Modern Times. Variations : Pauletta

Pauline

Meaning : Humble

The name Pauline began its rise to popularity with European aristocrats such as Princess Pauline of Metternich in the 19th century and by the 1910s and 1920s was in the top 50 US girls names influenced by a whole host of early silent movie actresses including Pauline Curley, Pauline Starke, Pauline Bush and Pauline Frederick. Variations : Paulina, Powlina

Phyllis

Meaning : Love & rebirth

The name Phyllis comes from a Greek goddess. Phyllis was symbolised by some of the first flowers of late winter, the almond blossom, and traditionally the name was given to babies born in February and March, when the almonds were in flower. Phyllis was super popular in the British Isles in the 1900s and 1910s but didn't peak in the USA until the 1940s. Phyllis Konstam and Phyllis Haver were once well known but now forgotten movie stars. Variations : Phillida, Phyllicia, Phyllida, Phil, Phillie

Rita

Meaning : Pearl

Vintage Baby Girls Names

Rita is an early 20th century diminutive for Margarita that became very chic in the 1920s in the USA and in the 1940s in Britain under the influence of the most famous Rita of them all Rita Hayworth, who was herself. baptised Margarita. Variations : Margarita, Marguerita, Reta

Shirley

Meaning : Bright meadow

Shirley is an old English family name that started to be used as a girls name in the 19th Century after Charlotte Bronte's book Shirley and hit peek popularity in the 1930s closely tied to child star Shirley Temple . Variations : Sherley, Shirlee, Shirleen

Stella

Meaning : Bright star

The girls name Stella first appeared in a love sonnet by Philip Sydney in the 1500s but remained very rare until the 1900s when it shot into fashion as a name that was stylishly modern to the Edwardians but still romantic. Stella Adams was one of the very first American movie stars and Stella Dallas was a hit 1920s book and 1930s movie. Variations : Estella

Sylvia

Meaning : Spirit of the wood

Vintage Girls Names From 1930s - Sylvia

Sylvia is a vintage name adapted from Silvia the Roman goddess of the forest for whom Shakespeare wrote a poem "Who Is Silvia?". The name started to take off in the 19th century with the Elizabeth Gaskell novel Sylvia's Lovers and was a top 100 name in the USA from the 1910s peaking in the 1930s. Sylvia Sidney was an Oscar nominated actress in the 1930s who was still making movies e.g. Beetlejuice in the 1980s and 90s!! Variations : Silvia, Sylvina, Sylvie

Thelma

Meaning : Delicate beauty

The vintage name Thelma was incredibly rare in American and British birth records before 1890 but shot into high fashion with the popular novel Thelma in 1887, the basis for the British movie Thelma in 1918 and the US movie Thelma in 1922. Often seen as an old-lady-name now, Thelma was thought of as very chic in the 1920s with the likes of major socialite Thelma Furness and movie star Thelma Todd. Variations : Delma

Una

Meaning : Lamb, One

Una has Gaelic origins and featured as a character in Spenser's The Faerie Queene in 1590 but was a rare vintage girls name until the 1900s and 1910s. Una Merkel was a silent movie star who continued acting in films until the late 60s. Variations : Unity, Euna

Velma

Meaning : Determined protector

Velma is found in old British and American birth records but was a rare girls name until the 1900s. Velma is now associated with Velma Dinkley from Scooby Doo but through the 1910s and 1920s it was a very chic girls name. Velma Middleton was a big band singer with Louis Armstrong Variations : Vilma

Veronica

Meaning : She who brings victory

Vintage Baby Names For Girls - Veronica

Veronica was an uncommon girls name until the 1900s in the USA when it rose rapidly in popularity. It trended separately in the British Isles in the 1940s influenced by movie star Veronica Lake. Variations : Ronnie

Vilma

Meaning : Determined protector

Vilma was a rare girls name until the 1920s when it became a fashionable twist on the in vogue name Velma. Vilma Banky was a silent movie star who often partnered Rudolph Valentino. Variations : Velma, Wilma, Thelma

Viola

Meaning : Violet

Viola was one of Shakespeare's favourite heroines in Twelfth Night but it remained a rare girls name until flourishing in the 1900s and 1910s. Viola Dana, Viola Richard and Viola Allen were all famous early 20th century actresses. Variations : Violet, Violetta

Virginia

Meaning : Pure

Virginia became a very fashionable girls name in the United States in the 1920s and in the British Isles in the 1940s. Virginia Rappe, Virginia Grey and Virginia Bruce were all popular stars in the 1920s. Variations : Ginnie, Ginny

Vivian - Vivien

Meaning : Lively, vivacious

Vintage Baby Names For Girls - Vivien

Vivian is an old girls name with Latin origins in Saint Viviana and was traditionally the name of the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian myth as featured in Tennyson's poem Vivien's Song but was uncommon until the 1900s when it came into vogue, peaking in the 1920s. Vivian Blain and Vivian Dandridge were popular singers and Vivien Leigh an Oscar winning actress in the 1930s. Variations : Viviana, Vivi, Vivienne, Vivianne

Wanda

Meaning : Truth seeker

Wanda was originally a Polish name celebrating the beautiful and wise 12th century Princess Wanda, which became fashionable in the 1940s. Wanda Hawley and Wanda Hendrix were both glamorous movie stars. Variations : Vonda

Wilma

Meaning : Protector

In the 1920s Wilma was a chic diminutive name for Wilhelmina which had trended throughout Europe and America in the 1800s with famous figures such as Queen Wilhelmina. Wilma can be used as a feminine version of William. Variations : Vilma, Velma, Will

And there you go, a huge list of uncommon and forgotten vintage girls names.

For even more rare vintage names read this guide to old English girls names.

And do follow me on Pinterest ...

Original image sources : Beverly & Renee, Simple Insomnia

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  • Short Cute Baby Names For Girls
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  • Old Fashioned English Baby Names For Girls

Comments

  1. Wally says

    August 10, 2022 at 9:30 pm

    I hope Hilda, Gladys and Shirley never have a comeback.

    Reply
  2. Irene Madrid says

    July 12, 2023 at 3:29 pm

    Both of my grandmothers were Irene, which means PEACE in the Greek. Strong beautiful name...and it has the word" I" in it! My daughter's middle name and first grand daughter's name is Irene .

    Reply
    • Terri says

      April 19, 2024 at 7:20 pm

      My mother’s middle name was Irene, her first name Doris.

      Reply
      • Alice says

        April 21, 2024 at 8:47 am

        They are such pretty names, it's lovely to see them coming back.

        Reply
  3. Walter says

    December 05, 2023 at 3:02 pm

    You left out “Kitty”. nothing says roaring 20s better .

    “ a lot of those names were around 1940s and 1950s

    Reply
  4. Irene Madrid says

    December 10, 2023 at 3:45 pm

    I was named IRENE for both my grandmothers. My first daughter was born on my 30th b day and her middle name is Irene. Her first daughter carries Irene as a middle name as well. In the Greek, IRENE means Goddess of PEACE.

    Reply
    • Alice says

      December 12, 2023 at 8:59 am

      It's such a beautiful name Irene and so wonderful to have it passed down through the generations providing those connections back to our loved ones x

      Reply

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Vintage Names For Baby Girls Ready For A Revival
Vintage Baby Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names From The 1920s
Unusual Vintage Baby Names For Girls
Vintage Baby Names For Girls
Vintage Girls Names
Cute Vintage Girls Names
Gorgeous Vintage Baby Girls Names
Vintage Girls Name From The 1920s, 1930s & 1940s
Rare Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage photograph of woman in the 1920s
Smiling little girl running
Young girl wearing checked shirt and straw hat on pink background
Little girl smiling
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Vintage Names For Baby Girls Ready For A Revival
Vintage Baby Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names From The 1920s
Unusual Vintage Baby Names For Girls
Vintage Baby Names For Girls
Vintage Girls Names
Cute Vintage Girls Names
Gorgeous Vintage Baby Girls Names
Vintage Girls Name From The 1920s, 1930s & 1940s
Rare Vintage Girls Names
Vintage Girls Names
Vintage photograph of woman in the 1920s
Smiling little girl running
Young girl wearing checked shirt and straw hat on pink background
Little girl smiling
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