There is something quietly rebellious about giving a tiny, fresh-faced newborn a name that sounds like it belongs to a woman who has been knitting since the Eisenhower administration. And yet, here we are in 2026, and parents everywhere are doing exactly that. I know, because I did it too.
Old-fashioned baby names – think Edith, Harold, and Eleanor – have been creeping back onto birth certificates for a while now, but they’ve officially hit their stride. When I was naming my daughters, I went deep down the vintage rabbit hole. What came out the other side surprised even me. So let’s dive in.
1. Eleanor
Honestly, Eleanor was at the very top of my shortlist for the longest time. There is just something about it that feels complete – like the name itself already has a life story behind it. Eleanor has dominated baby name circuits for years, and with the rise in its prominence in 2024 showing yet again that its vintage charm is hard to challenge, it comes with endless variations and derivations – like Ellie, Ella, Leonor, and Nora – that each have vibrant popular lives of their own.
The name draws from French and Greek cultures and means “shining light” – a turn of phrase that can be interpreted as something wholly simple or profoundly mystical. That dual meaning is exactly why Eleanor keeps pulling parents in. Eleanor was a popular 1920s girl name and has returned to the top of the SSA list. It is one of those names that never really feels old. It just feels ready.
2. Hazel
Hazel has a pleasantly hazy, brownish-green-eyed, old-fashioned image that more and more parents are choosing to share. Former “old lady name” Hazel reentered the popularity lists in 1998 and now is near the top of the charts. I seriously considered it for a long time, drawn in by its nature-forward quality and that warm, autumnal feeling it carries.
According to PureWow, names like Hazel, Violet, Oliver, Theodore, and Henry, all popular in the early 1900s, are now among the fastest-rising baby names in recent years. There is something deeply satisfying about a name rooted in the natural world – and Hazel delivers that without trying too hard. The name Hazel is of English origin and means “hazel tree.” Historically, a wand of hazel symbolized protection and authority. That little historical detail made it even more appealing to me.
3. Violet
Let’s be real – Violet is arguably the most stylish name on this entire list. It has color, it has a flower, it has a slightly melancholy literary edge, and it somehow still manages to feel fun on a small child. Violet has moved up over 20 spots in recent years, and this pretty, floral-inspired name of Latin origin means “purple.”
Vintage girls’ names like Eleanor, Violet, and Hazel continue their upward trajectory in 2024 naming data. The name has been on a consistent climb, and I think it’s earned every bit of that momentum. Violet, of Latin origin, means “purple flower” and is considered a soft and elegant pick. Soft and elegant, yes – but also deeply distinctive in a roomful of Olivias and Emmas.
4. Florence
Florence is the name that feels like a European holiday you never want to leave. It carries so much warmth and history that it practically glows. Florence hit number seven in the early 1900s, and it’s currently crushing international rankings: number eight in England, number twenty in New Zealand, number thirty in Australia, and number twenty-three in Canada. As parents seek elegant vintage alternatives to Charlotte and Eleanor, Florence delivers historical weight with modern appeal.
Florence was a top 100 name in the 1920s and is now climbing the charts again. I love that Florence comes with a built-in nickname in Flo, which sounds breezy and modern without losing any of the original name’s gravitas. Florence, of Latin origin, means “flourishing” – perfect for someone who thrives. A name about flourishing, for a daughter you hope will do exactly that. Hard to argue with that logic.
5. Mabel
Move over, Kayden and Mia – here comes Mabel, ready to make her mark with vintage charm and a sense of history. Mabel genuinely surprised me as a contender. It sounds like something your great-aunt would be called, and I mean that as a compliment. It has a roundness to it, a warmth, and a pluckiness that feels genuinely charming.
Mabel is a Latin name meaning “lovable” – a vintage name with charm. Simple as that. Mabel, ranked at number 278 in the SSA data, continues its steady climb. It is still rare enough to feel special in a school corridor, which is honestly part of the appeal when you are naming someone who will have to live with that name for the next century or so. It’s hard to say for sure, but I think Mabel might be the sleeper hit of the entire grandma-name wave.
6. Clara
Clara is just clean. Short, bright, and impossible to mispronounce. Classic choices like Eleanor, Clara, and Margot are rising because they feel timeless and elegant. Clara has that quality of belonging to every era simultaneously – it sounds equally at home on a Victorian-era heroine and a modern toddler running around a playground.
Clara is among the names from 1925 that fell out of favor but are now back, according to baby name trend data. Clara is a Latin name meaning “bright” or “clear” – a name full of light. That meaning sealed it for me emotionally. Who wouldn’t want to give their daughter a name that literally means brightness? Vintage revivals like Clara and Eloise are making a big comeback in the current naming landscape, and the data backs that feeling up completely.
7. Josephine
Josephine is the grandest name on this list, and I say that with full admiration. It has imperial energy – think Napoleon’s wife, think the jazz era, think a woman who drinks her coffee black and has an opinion about everything. Josephine is among the names from 1925 that fell out of favor but have since made a comeback. There is a reason it keeps returning to parents’ lists. It earns its place every single time.
Josephine appears on the list of popular 1920s baby girl names that naming experts predict could be climbing the SSA list in the coming years. The nickname options alone make it worth considering: Jo, Josie, Fifi – every nickname signals a slightly different personality, which gives the child some ownership over how the name grows with them. The theory of “grandparent avoidance,” where parents skip their own parents’ generation’s names but embrace those from earlier generations, helps explain why grandma names are popular – they strike the perfect balance between familiar and unique. Josephine is a perfect example of that exact sweet spot.
The grandma-name trend is not going anywhere, and honestly, I think that says something beautiful about where we are culturally right now. Just like fashion trends, after a few decades on the outs, names that were popular in the 1920s are cool again. Whether parents are drawn to vintage names to honor a family member or just love the sound or feeling of them, parents are bringing back Roaring ’20s names once more. Every one of the names on this list carries weight, warmth, and the kind of staying power that a name like “Kayden” simply cannot promise.
Vintage names often perform exceptionally well professionally because they sound distinguished and timeless. That matters more than people admit when choosing a baby name. What do you think – did any of these names make your own list? Tell us in the comments.
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