10 Vintage Baby Names That Are Too Outdated & 10 Parents Actually Consider
Names That Do & Don't Work In This Generation
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by baby names when there are so many to consider, so what parents should do is narrow down their choices. If you're a fan of older, more vintage names but worry about whether they feel modern enough to fit in with present tastes, this article is just for you. Here are 10 vintage baby names that feel far too outdated, and 10 that blend right in.
1. Bernard
Leaving behind a sort of nasally sound, Bernard doesn't quite capture the preference parents have for baby boy names in current times. It's a little too aggressive-sounding and doesn't match the Jakes, Theos, or Olivers of today. Unfortunately, soft and gentle is the way to go.
2. Loretta
Loretta is simply an old-fashioned name that doesn't feel like it belongs to a baby girl at all. It gives off the impression that it's a name that belongs solely to the 1930s-1950s when it was last used.
3. Midge
While Midge might be cute as an occasional nickname, it lacks the appeal of modern preferences for it to work as a full-time name in today's society. It does have a strange grandma-like quality that we don't see working too well for a baby girl.
4. Clifford
If you're immediately thinking about a big red dog, we wouldn't blame you. Because Clifford is such a rare name you hear in real life, the only thing that pops to mind is the fictional character you might not want to be associated with. So if you're choosing between being outdated or a dog's name, maybe just stay away as a whole.
5. Cecil
A name that immediately screams that it came from a different time, Cecil just isn't a very attractive baby boy name in today's time. It sounds much older, much more mature, and very old-fashioned. We're not sure those are qualities you want in a name for your baby boy.
6. Lorraine
Another one that sounds too mature for who you're trying to name, Lorraine gives off the impression that it belongs to an older lady. It lacks the gentle and feminine sound that most parents look for today, making it a name that might just stay in the past.
7. Norbert
A little too harsh-sounding, Norbert is a name that might be a little too vintage for it to ever be cool again. It doesn't roll off the tongue very smoothly, and doesn't capture the young, innocent, and playful nature of babies that you want to capture in a name.
8. Cosette
Unless you want your baby girl to sound like a woman from the 60s, it'll be hard to make Cosette appeal to modern times. It's certainly a unique pick, with the name having a very different sound than what we're used to today.
9. Sybil
Sybil is a distinct arrangement of letters that creates just as strange of a name. Sounding too close to "civil" or even "syllable," people's unfamiliarity to it make it stand out, but not necessarily in a good way.
10. Wallace
While it might sound cute for a moment giving your baby boy a "grandpa-esque" name, the novelty won't last forever. Wallace simply sounds too old-fashioned for the times, tacking on some extra years to your baby before he can even speak or walk.
1. Eugenia
While the name Eugenia does have an obvious old-fashioned feel to it, the softness of it makes it adapt to modern preferences much better than those on the previous list. Given that it's also the name of a flower, it naturally sounds feminine, making this a unique pick for your baby girl.
2. Dallas
Dallas is the perfect example of a name that sounds totally modern yet is actually considered vintage. It has deep ties to Scottish and English history if you're interested in names with unique meaning, but it also just simply sounds cool if that's all you care about. It's a win-win!
3. Daphne
Bridgerton fans, we know you're going to love a few names from this list! Soft, gentle, and incredibly girly, Daphne has seen a recent spike in popularity. It's likely due to a combination of the show's wide-reaching influence, but also because the name itself is absolutely lovely and deserves to be used more often.
4. Edwin
Though Edwin definitely has a more old-fashioned feel to it, it doesn't sound too outdated or misplaced in modern times. There's even a gentleman-like quality to it that we love, giving it a mature and sophisticated tone that's harder to find these days.
5. Eloise
Speaking of Bridgerton, we of course couldn't leave out the name Eloise, a name just oozing elegance and grace. It's a very satisfying name to say on top of that, with each letter blending together to create one soothing, melodic sound.
6. Mavis
Though it's not the most flowery or feminine name here, there is a gentle quality to Mavis that we can appreciate. We think it's a name that goes well with modern preferences but is definitely unique and will stand out from the more basic and familiar names used today.
7. Augustus
Rocked by Ansel Elgort in the hit book and movie The Fault in our Stars, Augustus is a full-body name that carries a lot of weight to it. There's just a nice oomph to the name that makes it distinct yet still very approachable. For parents seeking something more much different than the usual Michael or Justin, it's worth considering.
8. Hazel
Did you know Hazel is actually considered a vintage name? Because we sure didn't! That's how modern the name feels. It has such a lovely warmth to it, perhaps thanks to the earthy color it represents, but what we love most about it is how soft the name sounds.
9. Kenneth
A name that hasn't been very popular since the 1950s and 1960s, we say it's time to bring back Kenneth. It's hard to describe but there's a very friendly yet respectful tone that makes it seem like a name fitting for any fine young gentleman.
10. Willard
A very uncommon name you likely haven't heard of, there's something about the name Willard that draws us in. It's almost like the male equivalent of the name Willow! We love how it doesn't contain any harsh sounds, making it a smooth name to say.
