30 Best Chic Vintage Old Lady Names
Gallery
Traditional old names, used over 100 -years ago, are increasing in popularity. We probably all have a great aunt "Maude" somewhere in our family tree and it may be a lovely legacy to name your baby after them.
Maybe picking a beautiful, delicate flower name like; Lily, Ivy, Iris and Rose or a vintage girl’s name like “Betty,” could be the perfect match for your little bundle of joy. You could even choose a vintage Old Hollywood name for extra glitz and glamour!
During pregnancy, there is a mountain of baby girl names to wade through and it can be overwhelming. It may be a leap too far to choose an old Victorian name like “Fanny,” or “Ethel”, but, there is plenty of other classic, old-fashioned lady baby names and we’ve listed our favourites.
Royal Names
Crown your daughter with one of these beautiful girl names inspired by nobility.
1. Beatrice: Of Italian origin, with the most famous being the Queen’s grand-daughter, an alternative spelling is Beatrix, as in Beatrix Potter, the famous author and illustrator.
2. Catherine: This classic old namecan be shortened to "Kate" and can be spelt with a “C” or a “K” and means “pure” in Greek.
3. Elizabeth: A good, strong, regal name, widely used after the reign of the powerful Queen Elizabeth 1st and latterly after our own Queen Elizabeth, the name has so many variations and can be shortened to; Betty, Lilibet, Bessie, Beth, Lizzie and Liz.
4. Victoria: The noble Latin name means, “winner” and “conqueror” and the most famous being the long-reigning monarch, Queen Victoria. Nicknames include; Vicky and Vic.
Old Lady Name Chic
A few generations back, Elsie and Florence were commonplace; here is a selection of old fashioned names for girls making a comeback in 2020.
5. Agnes: OfGreek and Latin origin and if it’s good enough for the famous supermodel, Agyness Deyn and one of the Despicable Me girls, then it’s got to be very on-trend!
6. Agatha: Greek origin meaning “good” or “honourable” and probably one of the most famous Agatha is the crime writer Agatha Christie. This name can be shortened to Aggie.
7. Betty: Such a lovely vintage name, derived from the name Elizabeth. Betty can also be spelt Bette as in Bette Davis, the Hollywood actress.
8. Dorothy: Anostalgic name of Greek origin from “Dorothea” andprobably most famously used for the little pig-tailed girl in The Wizard of Oz. A cute shortened retro version of Dorothy is; Dottie, Dolly (this is where the word doll ones from) and Dot.
9. Edith: This very English vintage name is a real trip down memory lane, meaning “riches” or “blessed” and made famous by the infamous French singer Edith Piaf. Edith was recently made memorable with one of the lead characters in Downton Abbey, “Lady Edith“. The shortened versions are adorable with; Eddie, Eddy or Edie.
10. Esme: This pretty French name is making a big come-back, meaning “loved” or “esteemed”, it was shortened from the original name Esmeralda, the heroine of The Hunchback of Notre Dame novel and more recently the feisty character in the TV series Poldark.
11. Elsie: Of Scottish heritage and a shortened version of Elspeth and an alternative to names like; Ella and Ellie.
12. Flora: From the Latin name meaning “flower,” this sweet, feminine name was used as a character in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
13. Florence: Of Latin origin, with the most famous Florence being the world-renowned nurse Florence Nightingale to the present-day band, “Florence and The Machine”, nicknames are just as cute with; Flo, Flossie and Florrie.
14. Iris: Of Greek origin, meaning “rainbow” which is used today as a symbol of hope. Iris is also associated with the delicate flower.
15. Ivy: An English word, deriving from the plant and a popular choice for Christmas babies, famously there is Blue Ivy, the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay Z.
16. Imogen: The first recorded use of the name Imogen is by Shakespeare, for a British princess, in his play Cymbeline. Imogen and is a Celtic name meaning "maiden."
17. Matilda: Roald Dahl may have played just a small part in the revival of this traditional name which means “battle” or “mighty” and in Australia, they have the popular folk song “Waltzing Matilda”; it can also be spelt Mathilda if you want something a little bit different.
18. Mabel: Meaning “loveable” of English origin andnow a popular chart-topping singer, just known as “Mabel.”
19. Millicent: Of German origin and meaning, “strong worker” Millicent can be shortened to Millie.
20. Nellie or Nelly: OfEnglish origin, meaning, “bright” and “shining” it’s a shortened version of Eleanor, Helen and Ellen.
21. Olive: Unsurprisingly, derived from the olive tree and well known for being Popeye’s long-suffering sweetheart Olive Oyl. Many Hollywood celebs have chosen Olive for their daughter’s including; Drew Barrymore, Isla Fisher and David Tennant.
22. Ruby: Named after the pretty red gem stone. There have been several songs with a Ruby in the title such as: “Ruby Tuesday” by The Rolling Stones, and “Ruby” by the Kaiser Chiefs.
23. Sylvia: Of Latin origin, meaning a “girl from the forest”, the most famous Sylvia is the US poet Sylvia Plath and the name can be shortened to Sylvie.
Unique Baby Girl’s Names
There are lots of benefits to having a unique baby name; maybe the most important is how beautiful they are. Have a look at some of our pretty, unique names.
24. Augusta: Derived fromLatin, it’s a strong, powerful name meaning “great” and was used to address important people in Ancient Rome. A variation of the name is August.
25. Adelaide: Of German origin, meaning “noble” and of course everyone knows the Southern Australian City!
26. Clementine: Of Latin origin and better known in this country as a small citrus fruit! Clementine is the female version of Clement and features in the US song “Oh My Darling Clementine”. The French version is Clémence and shortened to Clem or Clemmie.
27. Constance: a Latin derivative meaning “constant” and “steadfast” and can be shortened to Connie.
28. Eva: Meaning, “the giver of life” and of Hebrew origin, this simple, short name is becoming very popular baby name in the UK.
29. Evelyn: Means “beautiful bird” and can be used for both boys and girls.
30. Thea: Of Greek origin is an alternative spelling of the Greek goddess Theia and so the name literally meaning 'goddess'. Other alternatives include; Theodora, Dorothea, or Althea.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.