Every parent is looking for the right name for their baby. But in doing so, many go for names that aren’t popular for whatever reason.
However, this is a costly mistake because you can’t change the name later.
We’ve all heard stories where parents name their child something that the child ends up growing up to hate it.
How can you avoid that? Do some research and check out some popular old baby names to get a better idea.
Daisy – “day’s eye”
Darcy – “dark one”
Darlene – “darling”
Dodie – “gift of God”
Dolores – “sorrow”
Dora – “gift”
Dorothy – “gift of God”
Edith – “riches”
Edna – “pleasure”
Elaine – “shining light”
Eleanor – “shining light”
Eloise – “famous warrior”
Elsbeth – “God is my oath”
In the past, some parents have named their children after celebrities or fictional characters. Sometimes the parents themselves will choose a name that is not typical.
Other times they will choose a name that is not common at all.
Some parents are so overwhelmed with the task of naming their child that they opt for a one-word baby name.
And although this has been a popular choice, it’s not always the best decision.
In many cultures around the world, a name is considered an important part of a child’s identity.
Besides, it’s a good idea to avoid naming your child the same as their father, which might lead to confusion.
So, what should the perfect baby’s name be? Let’s dive into the list of awesome old baby names.
Emily – “rival”
Emma – “whole”
Enid – “spirit”
Esther – “star”
Ethel – “noble”
Etta – “ruler of the home”
Eugenie – “good genes”
Evelyn – “beautiful bird”
Faye – “fairy”
Fern: After leafy forest ferns
Gabrielle – “God is my strength”
Genevieve – “woman of the race”
Old Names
Georgette or Georgia – “farmer”
Geraldine – “she rules with a spear”
Gertie – “strong spear”
Gertrude – “strength”
Gladys – “royalty”
Gloria – “immortal glory”
Grace – “God’s grace”
Greta – “pearl”
Harriet – “power”
Hattie – “ruler of the home”
Hazel – “from the hazelnut tree”
Helen – “light”
Hilda – “battle”
Ida – “prosperous”
Imogen – “maiden”
Ines – “virtue”
Irene – “peace”
Iris – “rainbow”
Jane – “God is gracious”
Josephine – “God shall grow”
Popular Old Names
Judith – “woman from Judea”
Katherine – “pure”
Kitty – “pure”
Lacy – “cheerful”
Laura – “laurel plant”
Lillian – “lily”
Liza – “God’s promise”
Lois – “better”
Loretta – “laurel”
Lorraine – “famous army”
Louise – “famous warrior”
Lucille – “light”
Lydia – “beautiful one”
Margaret – “pearl”
Marilyn – “sea of bitterness”
Martha – “lady”
Mathilde – “might and strength”
Maude – “mighty in battle”
What are some of the cutest old baby names?
Maureen – “daughter of the sea”
Maxine – “greatest”
Minnie – “bitter”
Miriam – “wished for”
Mollie – “sea of bitterness”
Myrtle – “evergreen shrub”
Nancy – “grace”
Nellie – “shining light”
Nora – “light”
Norma – “Norse”
Octavia – “eighth”
Olive – “peace”
Opal – “jewel”
Patricia – “noble”
Beatrix – “traveler”
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Tips for Naming Your Babies
There are millions of baby names out there, and while most parents decide on a name and stick with it for the rest of their lives, there are some who wish the best for their future child, but don’t have a clue how to choose a name.
These parents may be confused about why they can’t come up with a name for their baby, or they may have tried several times and have given up on the idea.
If you are considering giving your child a name, there are some things you should know:
1. Pick the name you love, even if it is popular.
It is popular and you love it. Anything else you need to think upon? Nope. Go for it. If you want to give it uniqueness, think of a great middle name.
Here are some popular old baby names out there:
Clara – “bright”
Florence – “flourishing”
Mabel – “lovable and dear”
Olivette – “olive tree”
Adelaide – “noble kind”
Adeline – “noble”
Agatha – “honorable”
Agnes – “pure” or “holy”
Alexandra – “defender of people”
Alice – “noble”
Alma – “kind”
Amara – “bitter”
Amelia – “work”
2. Do not skip lovely old baby names even if they are unique, unusual, and different.
Sometimes, parents will not go for unusual, unique, and different baby names.
They consider it weird. Let me tell you that being attractive and thought provoking is the game these days.
How would you like these old baby names:
Anita – “gracious”
Annette – “merciful”
Arlene – “pledge”
Barbara – “foreign”
Bea – “bringer of joy”
Beatrice – “she who makes people happy”
Bernadette – “bear”
Bernice – “bringer of victory”
Bessie – “God is my oath”
Betsy – “God is perfection”
Bonnie – “beautiful”
Camille – “religious helper”
Catherine – “pure”
3. Be confident if you want to go toward personalized spellings for your baby’s name.
SURE. You should be confident when giving personalized spellings to your baby’s name.
However, it is important that you do not make it weird. Adding or removing an alphabet would be enough here.
Try changing these baby names spellings into personalized ones:
Agatha
Meaning: “Goodhearted”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Goodhearted.
Spellings & Variations: Aga, Agacia, Agata, Agathe.
Famous People with this Name: Agatha Barbara.
Astrid
Meaning: “Godly or divine strength, divine beauty”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning divine beauty.
Spellings & Variations: Aayasrid.
Famous People with this Name: Astrid Lindgren.
Brenna
Meaning: “Sword”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Sword.
Spellings & Variations: Brennda, Brenda.
Famous People with this Name: Brenna Todd.
Dagny
Meaning: “A new day started”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning A new day started.
Spellings & Variations: Dagne, Dagnee, Dagney, Dagni, Dagnia, Dagnie, Dagnija.
Famous People with this Name: Dagny (Dags) Knutson.
Dahlia
Meaning: “Dahlia flower”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Dahlia flower.
Spellings & Variations: Dalia.
Famous People with this Name: Dahlia Lithwick (journalist).
Ella
Meaning: “Sympathy, compassion”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning compassion.
Spellings & Variations: Ele, Elle.
Famous People with this Name: Ella Rae Wahlberg .
Eda
Meaning: “Poetry, wealthy, happy”
Origin: Viking
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning happy.
Spellings & Variations: Edda.
Famous People with this Name: Edda Renouf (artist).
Emma
Meaning: “Whole, universal”
Origin: Viking, Germanic, Old Danish
Description: Origin Viking Germanic and its Meaning universal.
Spellings & Variations: Ema.
Famous People with this Name: Emma Watson .
Erica
Meaning: “Ruling forever”
Origin: Viking, English
Description: Origin Viking English and its Meaning Ruling forever.
Spellings & Variations: Erika, Ericka, Erykah.
Famous People with this Name: Erica Durance .
Freya
Meaning: A noble woman.
Origin: Viking, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning A noble woman.
Spellings & Variations: Freja, Freyja, Frea, Frøya.
Famous People with this Name: Dame Freya Madeline Stark .
Frida
Meaning: “Woman of peace”
Origin: Viking, Germanic.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Woman of peace.
Spellings & Variations: Freeda, Freida, Frieda.
Famous People with this Name: Frida Lyngstad.
Helga
Meaning: “Divine woman”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Divine woman.
Spellings & Variations: Hella, Helka, Helle, Olga.
Famous People with this Name: Helga Glantschnig.
Ingrid
Meaning: “Beautiful woman, goddess”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning goddess.
Spellings & Variations: Inkeri, Inger.
Famous People with this Name: Ingrid Asensio.
Kari
Meaning: “Chaste, pure”
Origin: Viking
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning pure.
Spellings & Variations: Kerry, Keri, Karie, Carrey.
Famous People with this Name: Kari Byron.
4. Crossing your favorite old baby names on the feedback on friends and family members.
Feedback is important. But it does not mean to listen to every other person’s opinion. You will hardly find old baby names that everybody would like. Therefore, get feedback but still know your choice.
Consider getting feedback on these baby names from your friends and family members:
Celia – “heaven”
Connie – “constant”
Cordelia – “daughter of the sea”
Pearl – “The precious stone”
Peggy – “pearl”
Penelope – “weaver”
Phoebe – “bright”
Phyllis – “foliage”
Polly – “humble”
Pollyanna – “optimistic”
Priscilla – “ancient”
Prudence – “good judgment”
Queenie – “ruler”
5. Do a little research and find what is out there.
Research is important step for the first-time parents as well for those who do not know what sort of names people pick. You will be all good once you do a little internet research.
You will also be able to find some great old baby names that you might consider now or in the future.
Here are some common baby names examples to help you:
Kelsey
Meaning: “From the island of ships”
Origin: Viking
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning From the island of ships.
Spellings & Variations: Kelcie, Kelsea, Kelsi, Kelsie, Kelsee.
Famous People with this Name: Kelsey Chow.
Liv
Meaning: “Of life”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Of life.
Famous People with this Name: Liv Tyler.
Matilda
Meaning: “Powerful and mighty in battle”
Origin: Viking, Germanic.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Powerful and mighty in battle.
Spellings & Variations: Mathilde, Matylda, Mafalda, Mathilda.
Famous People with this Name: Matilda Coxe Stevenson.
Randi
Meaning: “Lovely goddess, shield, shrine”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning shrine.
Spellings & Variations: Randy, Randie.
Famous People with this Name: Randi Rhodes.
Sandy
Meaning: “Protector of humanity”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Protector of humanity.
Spellings & Variations: Sandy, Sandi, Sandie.
Famous People with this Name: Sandy Duncan.
Shelby
Meaning: “From the farm of willows, where the willows grow”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning From the farm of willows.
Spellings & Variations: Selby, Shelbi.
Famous People with this Name: Shelby Young, Shelby Lane (actresses).
Sigrid
Meaning: “Marvelous victory, beautiful woman who leads to victory”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Marvelous victory.
Spellings & Variations: Siegrid, Siegrida, Sigryd.
Famous People with this Name: Sigrid Wolf.
Sylvi
Meaning: “From the house of strength”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning From the house of strength.
Spellings & Variations: Sylvia, Solvi, Solvej, Solveig.
Famous People with this Name: Sylvi Bratten, Sylvi Graham (Norwegian politicians).
True
Meaning: “Real, genuine”
Origin: Viking, German.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning genuine
Spellings & Variations: Tore.
Famous People with this Name: True Thompson.
Tyra
Meaning: “Like thunder”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Like thunder.
Spellings & Variations: Thyra, Thora .
Famous People with this Name: Tyra Banks.
Yrsa
Meaning: “Wild she-bear”
Origin: Viking, Icelandic.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Wild she-bear.
Spellings & Variations: Ursa.
Famous People with this Name: Yrsa .
Ylva
Meaning: “Female wolf”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Female wolf.
Spellings & Variations: NA.
Famous People with this Name:Ylva Johansson.
Ake
Meaning: “Forebear, ancestor”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning ancestor.
Spellings & Variations: Aki.
Famous People with this Name: Åke Borg.
6. Consider the names of the subsequent children.
Maybe, you are first time parents and figuring out some cool old baby name. It is a good idea to consider the names of subsequent children too.
7. Avoid the names with bad meanings.
Baby names with bad meanings can be a cause of embarrassment for you and your kid. Be sure to know the meaning of the name you are gonna pick and be sure it is encouraging and positive.
Here are some of the cool old baby names with meanings:
Rhea – “flowing stream”
Rosalind – “lovely rose”
Rosamund – “rose of the world”
Rosemary – “dew of the sea”
Ruby – “The red precious stone”
Ruth – “friend”
Sadie – “princess”
Sandra – “defender of men”
Scarlet – “red”
Selma – “beautiful view”
8. Pick up good people’s names from history.
The name of person has an effect on his/her personality, it is said. Maybe, that’s the reason why people choose names from history. You can consider this as well. I am sure you have heard about many legends from the past. I bet you’d find some awesome and useable old baby names if you look into it.
We have a small list of old baby names here for you to check out and know if you have heard them before:
Dustin
Meaning: “Thor’s stone”
Origin: Viking, English
Description: Origin Viking, English and its Meaning Thor’s stone.
Spellings & Variations: Thorstein, Dorsteinn.
Famous People with this Name: Dustin Hoffman, Dustin Diamond.
Erik
Meaning: “King forever, eternal ruler”
Origin: Viking
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning eternal ruler.
Spellings & Variations: Erick, Eric, Erich, Aric, Aurick.
Famous People with this Name: Eric Clapton.
Finn
Meaning: “Fair, light”
Origin: Viking, Irish
Description: Origin Viking, Irish and its Meaning light.
Spellings & Variations: Fynn, Fionn.
Famous People with this Name: Finn Dossing, Finn Seeman.
Frode
Meaning: “Wise, enlightened, clever”
Origin: Viking
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning enlightened.
Spellings & Variations: Fordy.
Famous People with this Name: Frode Andresen.
Gunner
Meaning: “Army, warrior”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning warrior.
Spellings & Variations: Gunnarr, Gunnar, Gunar.
Famous People with this Name: Gunnar Hansen.
Gram
Meaning: “Grey hill, from the gray home, gravelly land, farm home”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning from the gray home, gravelly land, farm home.
Spellings & Variations: Graham.
Famous People with this Name: Graham Norton.
Gustav
Meaning: “Staff of the gods”
Origin: Viking, Germanic.
Description: Origin Viking, Germanic and its Meaning Staff of the gods.
Spellings & Variations: Gustave, Gustaf, Gus.
Famous People with this Name: Gustav Elijah Åhr.
Harald
Meaning: “Powerful man in the army, army ruler”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning army ruler.
Spellings & Variations: Harold, Harry.
Famous People with this Name: Harald V (King of Norway since 1991).
Kirk
Meaning: “Church, of the church, dweller of the church”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Church.
Spellings & Variations: Kerk.
Famous People with this Name: Kirk Douglas.
Kol
Meaning: “Dark, victory of the people”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Goodhearted
Spellings & Variations: Cole, Kole, Khol, Kohl.
Famous People with this Name: Cole Mitchell Sprouse.
Loki
Meaning: “Mischievous, trickster, god of destruction”
Origin: Viking
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Mischievous, trickster, god of destruction.
Spellings & Variations: Loke.
Famous People with this Name: Loki (Norse God).
Leif
Meaning: “Successor, descendant, heir”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking, and its Meaning Successor, descendant, heir.
Spellings & Variations: Leiv, Leiff.
Famous People with this Name: Leif Ericson.
Manning
Meaning: “Powerful and valiant, son of man, son of the hero”
Origin: Viking.
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning powerful and valiant, son of man, son of the hero.
Spellings & Variations: Manangi.
Famous People with this Name: Manning Force Haye.
Oliver
Meaning: “Elf warrior, descendant”
Origin: Viking, Germanic
Description: Origin Viking, Germanic and its Meaning descendant.
Spellings & Variations: Áleifr, Olaf, Olliver, Olivier.
Famous People with this Name: Oliver Stone.
Oscar
Meaning: “Friend of the deer, God’s spear”
Origin: Viking
Description: Origin Viking and its Meaning Friend of the deer, God’s spear.
Spellings & Variations: Oskar, Ásgeirr
Famous People with this Name: Oscar Wilde
9. Make sure the first and second names fit with each other.
This happens rarely that the first and seconds names do not fit and meet each other well. It is, however, something you would not want.
Check out old baby names and try to make full names that fit each other nicely:
Sophia – “wisdom”
Stella – “star”
Shoshana – “lily”
Sylvia – “spirit of the wood”
Tabitha – “gazelle”
Theresa – “huntress”
Trudy – “ruler of the spear”
Ursula – “she-bear”
Valentina – “strong and healthy”
Vera – “faith”
Viola – “purple”
Virginia – “maiden”
10. Avoid names with too many syllables.
Baby names with too many syllables are complex. They are hard to remember. They should be avoided.
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