Classic Baby Names for Girls
Timeless American Name Choices That Never Go Out of Style
Looking for a baby girl name that's rich with history and that won't go out of style? Here are some beautiful classic names to consider.
Classic baby girl names never go out of style. Unlike trendy girl's names, which come and go, classic names are ones that remain at least moderately popular for many generations. While some classic names are more popular than others in any given time period, all of them have a timeless quality that won't date your child. While "Jennifer" screams 1970 and "Madison" screams 2000, a female with a name like Elizabeth could be 9 years old or 90. Classic names also are characterized by having a history. Most are associated with either the Bible or royalty (or both), and usually originate from the ancient languages of Hebrew, Latin, or Greek. These names have been given to children for hundreds or even thousands of years.
If you're looking for a beautiful and classic name with a rich history, here are some timeless choices.
Mary. Mary has its roots in the Old Testament, perhaps from "Miriam," which means "wished for child," or "Mara," which means "bitter." Of course, Mary is best known as a New Testament name and the mother of Jesus. The name was considered too pious until around the 17th century, when it became among the most popular names for generations. Its popularity waned after the mid-20th century Baby Boom, but it's never left the Top 100. Variations such as Marie and Maria also have a classic appeal, as do combination such as Mary Ann or Mary Beth.
Elizabeth. Elizabeth originates from the Hebrew name Elisheva, which means "God's promise," and it's been among the most enduring of names in the Western world for centuries. Of course, it draws its fame from the two Queen Elizabeths of England. The name was usually spelled Elisabeth until the 16th century British queen popularized the spelling with the Z. In the U.S., Elizabeth has been in the top 10 or just below it since the early 1990s. Like many classic names, Elizabeth comes with a host of nicknames: Beth, Liz, Betsy, Betty, Bess, Ellie, and so forth. Earlier in the 20th century, Betty as a stand-alone name was very popular.
Anne/Anne/Anna/Annie. These simple and timeless names originate from the Biblical name Channah, which means "favored grace." In the U.S., all of these names were among the most popular in the early 20th century. Ann soared during the Baby Boom and remained in the top 50 until the mid-1960s, when it fell from favor, but Anna has graced the top 50 since 1992 and climbed to #23 in 2006. The combination Anne Marie also has a classic feel.
Catherine/Katharine. This classic name comes from the Greek name Aikaterine, which means "pure." It's one of those names that is never at the very top of the list, but there's always a Katie or Cathy or Kate around. The variation "Kathryn" caught on during the Baby Boom, as did "Kathleen", a related name that originates from the Gaelic. In the 1990s, Kathleen evolved into the trendy variation of "Kaitlin," with numerous spellings.
Margaret. Like Catherine, Margaret is one of those names that's always around, even though it's waned in popularity since the 1960s (it was #161 in 2006). The name comes from the Greek word margaron, which means "pearl." Margaret comes with a host of nicknames, including Meg, Marge, Maggie, and Peggy (which was a popular stand-alone name from around 1930 to 1960).
Laura. This classic name has an all-American feel, thanks largely to Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House books about pioneer life. Laura comes from the Latin word laurus, which means "laurel plant." In the 20th century, Laura peaked in popularity during the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, it has declined in popularity, supplanted by the related name Lauren. During the Baby Boom years, Laurie and Lori were popular variations.
Sarah. Other than Mary, Sarah is probably the most enduring Biblical girl's name. The name comes from a Hebrew phrase that means "princess." Sarah was popular during the early 20th century, then declined in popularity until the 1970s. It has been in the Top 20 names since 1974. The variation Sara is also popular.
Isabella/Isabel. These classic names are variations of Elizabeth, which makes sense if you consider that Elizabeth used to be more commonly spelled Elisabeth. These names were never very common in the United States until around 2000, when Isabella shot up out of nowhere to the Top 10-- making this the most trendy of the classic names.
Jane. If you're looking for a classic name that's hardly used anymore, Jane is a good choice. It was common in the early 20th century, but now it's on the bottom of the Top 500. The related names Janet and Janie have suffered the same fate. Jane drives from he Hebrew word Yochana, which means "God's grace."
Victoria. Like Elizabeth, Victoria is a quintessential "queen" name. It's from a Latin expression hat means "victory." Victoria has been moderately popular throughout the 20th century-- joined by the variations Vickie and Vicki during the Baby Boom. Since the 1990s, the name has claimed to the Top 25 and may eventually join Isabella as an outright trendy name with classic roots.
