From the anticipation of meeting your little one, to looking for the best room decorations, there are a lot of exciting parts of pregnancy. One of the most integral steps includes finding a name that best fits your newest addition. Whether you know the sex of the baby or are waiting to find out, having a couple name options ready for your baby’s arrival can be helpful, and hopefully alleviate some pressure. It can also be fun to nail down the style of name you favor, and to sift through the options, from gender neutral names to cute names to meaningful names. But if you and your partner are looking for a classic name for a baby girl, we’re here to help out.
Firstly, historical data from the Social Security Administration is a good place to get inspired. The agency has collected the most popular baby names for more than a century. We found that the top 100 names from the 1910s include a range of both beautiful baby names and traditional baby names, and many don’t get much love or recognition today. So if you’re looking for options that are familiar and traditional, yet not overused, we think you’ll want to look over the list below. With names like Alice to Vera to Genevieve, there are plenty of options to get the ball rolling.
To inspire you, here are the top 100 girl names from that decade, in order of popularity. We’ve also included the origins and meanings of each name from Nameberry, because that can also help guide your big decision.
— Additional reporting by Charlotte Kho
Classic Baby Girl Names From the 1910s
- Mary: Hebrew — Beloved; “Drop of the sea”
- Helen: Greek — Torch; shining light
- Dorothy: English — “Gift of God”
- Margaret: Greek — Pearl
- Ruth: Hebrew — Compassionate friend
- Mildred: English — Gentle strength
- Anna: Hebrew — Grace
- Elizabeth: Hebrew — “Pledged to God”
- Frances: Latin — “Free man”
- Virginia: Latin — Pure
- Marie: French — Beloved; “Drop of the sea”
- Evelyn: English — Desired; water; island
- Alice: German — Noble
- Florence: Latin — Flourishing; prosperous
- Lillian: Latin — Lily; “Pledged to God”
- Rose: Latin — Rose; a flower
- Irene: Greek — Peace
- Louise: French — “Renowned warrior”
- Edna: Hebrew — Rejuvenation, delight
- Catherine: Greek — Pure
- Gladys: Welsh — Land; nation
- Ethel: English — “Noble maiden”
- Josephine: French — “Jehovah increases”
- Ruby: Latin — A deep red precious stone
- Martha: Aramaic — Lady
- Grace: English — Virtue name
- Hazel: English — The hazelnut tree
- Thelma: Norwegian — Literary name
- Lucille: French — Light
- Edith: English — “Prosperous in war”
- Eleanor: English — Light
- Doris: Greek — “Gift of the ocean”
- Annie: English — Grace
- Pauline: French — Small
- Gertrude: German — “Strength of a spear”
- Esther: Persian — Star
- Betty: Hebrew — “Pledged to God”
- Beatrice: Latin — Blessed; “She who brings happiness”
- Marjorie: Scottish — Pearl
- Clara: Latin — Bright; clear
- Emma: German — Universal
- Bernice: Greek — “She who brings victory”
- Bertha: German — Bright; glorious
- Ann: English — Grace
- Jean: English — “God is gracious”
- Elsie: Scottish — “Pledged to God”
- Julia: Latin — Youthful
- Agnes: Greek — Pure
- Lois: Greek — Most desirable
- Sarah: Hebrew — Princess
- Marion: English — Beloved; “Drop of the sea”
- Katherine: Greek — Pure
- Eva: Hebrew — Life
- Ida: German — Industrious one
- Bessie: Hebrew — “Pledged to God”
- Pearl: Latin — Gemstone
- Anne: French — Grace; eagle
- Viola: Latin — Violet
- Myrtle: Greek — Botanical name
- Nellie: Greek — Horn
- Mabel: Latin — Lovable
- Laura: Latin — Bay laurel
- Kathryn: Greek — Pure
- Stella: Latin — Star
- Vera: Russian — Faith
- Willie: German — Resolute protection
- Jessie: Hebrew — Wealthy
- Jane: English — “God is gracious”
- Alma: Latin — Nurturing; soul
- Minnie: Latin — Intellect; “Of the mind”
- Sylvia: Latin — “From the forest”
- Ella: German — All; completely; fairy maiden
- Lillie: English — Lily; “Pledged to God”
- Rita: Spanish or Hindi — Pearl; truth; order
- Leona: Latin — Lioness
- Barbara: Latin — “Foreign woman”
- Vivian: Latin — Life
- Lena: Latin — Bright; beautiful
- Violet: English — Purple
- Lucy: English — Light
- Jennie: English — Wellborn
- Genevieve: English — “Tribe woman”
- Marguerite: French — Pearl; daisy
- Charlotte: French — Free man
- Mattie: Hebrew — “Gift of God”
- Marian: Polish — Related to Mars; Roman god of War
- Blanche: French — White
- Mae: English — Pearl; bitter
- Ellen: English — Shining light; torch
- Wilma: German — Resolute protection
- Juanita: Spanish — “God is gracious”
- Opal: Sanskrit — Gem
- June: Latin — Month name for goddess Juno
- Geraldine: German or French — “Ruler with the spear”
- Beulah: Hebrew — Married
- Velma: German — Will helmet
- Theresa: English — To harvest
- Carrie: English — Free man
- Phyllis: Greek — Green bough/tree
- Maxine: Latin — Greatest