Names From A Bygone Era
We've seen a resurgence of both "old lady names" and "grandpa names" recently, and we're wondering just how far that will go. Is there a point at which a name is simply too dated to salvage? Some of these names definitely toe that line, while others would fit right in on attendance rosters.
1. Sophronia
Sophronia sounds like a parody of a name that stuffy Victorian parents would give their daughters, but it was actually quite common! Surprisingly it isn't related to Sophie, though the latter was used as a nickname. Sophronia means "self-controlled" which is fitting for such a tight-laced era.
2. Cleveland
Cleveland means "sloped land", though we doubt that anyone would chose this name for its meaning today. Some city names make great baby names like Phoenix and Houston, but there's something a little bit geeky about Cleveland as a name. No offense to the lovely city, of course.
3. Lettice
No, this name was not inspired by someone's devotion to leafy greens. Lettice is a nickname for Letitia, which means "gladness" in Latin. A beautiful name that unfortunately sounds like a salad.
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4. Raspberry
Believe it or not, Raspberry was used as a given name in the Victorian era. And it wasn't just a one-off thing either, there are multiple censuses listing variations such as Rasberry or Roseberry. Interestingly, it was a masculine name.
5. Araminta
There are a few meanings thrown around for this name that run the gamut from "lovable" to "defender". If we can be frank, this sounds like a name for a thoroughbred racehorse rather than a child. However, it was Harriet Tubman's birth name, we wouldn't blame parents for taking inspiration.
6. Guy
Okay, perhaps it's unfair to label this as a "Victorian" name, since it's been used for over a thousand years, and there are still Guys who walk among us. However, we can only imagine how confusing it must be, being a guy named Guy in 2025. Etymology isn't clear on this one either, with the most common meanings being "wood" or "wide".
7. Chastity
While we associate virtue names such as Prudence and Patience with New England puritans, their use continued well into the 19th century. Unfortunately, not all virtues work as names. Not only would naming your kid Chastity practically guarantee she'd be bullied, it can also come with icky implications.
8. Elbert
Albert is, unsurprisingly, a variation on Albert, meaning "noble and bright". While there's nothing wrong with this name, you'd run the risk of constantly having to correct people. No, it isn't Albert, it's Elbert,
9. Beulah
Beulah, pronounced BEW-lah, is far older than the Victorian era, dating all the way back to the Bible. This name is used in the Old Testament and means "married". While we think that meaning is a little weird for a newborn, the "ew" sound may prove to be the bigger problem.
10. Cornelius
Cornelius comes to us via the Roman Empire, where it meant something to do with horns...the exact meaning is lot to time. We don't hate this name, and there are a lot of iconic fictional Corneliuses—Cornelii?—looking at you, Yukon Cornelius. However, this name isn't likely to be popular anytime soon
Now that we've looked at some names that won't work in 2025, let's look at a few that would!
1. Zadie
Every daughter is a princess in her parents' eyes, but with this name, she'll be able to prove it. This name derives from the Hebrew name Sarah, meaning "princess". What we love about this name is that it puts a twist on a traditional name without being overly cutesy.
2. Sidney
Like a few of the other names on this list, Sidney is far from outdated. However, its target demographic has shifted from boys to girls, and we'd love to see a few boy Sids in the mix. Sidney has the lovely meaning of "wide water meadow".
3. Ottilie
We're honestly surprised this name hasn't had a major resurgence! Ottilie derives from the name Otto, meaning "prosperous in battle". With Lottie and Tillie as potential nicknames, we can't imagine why there aren't a bunch of little Ottilies running around.
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4. Lester
Lester is a simplified spelling of the English city of Leicester, meaning "fortified town". This name could be a cute place-inspired name for a child with English ancestry. Lester uses the popular -ter suffix found in Hunter, Carter etc and would fit right in with the others.
5. Maud
Maud is (somehow) a nickname for Mathilda, which we aren't going to question. Maud means "powerful in battle" and was especially popular in the Victorian era after the publication of Alfred Tennyson's poem of the same name. This name has a mysterious, literary sound to it.
6. August
Okay, August is having a comeback as we speak, hanging near the bottom of the top 100 baby names for boys in America. However, we think it could be more popular as a cool and breezy name for boys. Despite the association with the month, the original Latin means "esteemed".
7. Imogen
Like several names on this list, the meaning behind Imogen is unclear—best guesses are that it means something generic like "maiden" or "daughter". However, that shouldn't stop you from choosing this gorgeous name for your gorgeous girl. While Imogen is relatively popular in the UK, it's never made the jump across the pond.
8. Anton
Another name that goes back to ancient Rome but enjoyed a resurgence in Victorian England, Anton derives from the Antonia clan, who claimed descent from Hercules. While this name is popular across most of Europe, it hasn't enjoyed the same popularity in America. A great name for a baby as strong as an ox.
9. Pearl
Diamonds may be a girls' best friend, but we think that pearl is the better name choice. We don't think we have to explain the meaning behind this one. A name as precious as the girl bearing it.
10. Roscoe
Hear us out: on the scale of human name to dog name (it's real, we promise!) Roscoe comes down firmly on the side of canines. However people give their dogs all sort of human names, so don't let that deter you. Roscoe is a Cornish name meaning "doe wood".
