300 old-fashioned baby names: vintage and traditional baby names for girls and boys
Sometimes you can’t beat a throwback. Check out our list of 300 old-fashioned baby names to help you find that perfect vintage name for your baby.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Apr 9, 2024
Choosing a baby name is one of the most important (and difficult) decisions you can make as a new parent.
Sure, there are lots of modern and cool baby names around, but if you’re a fan of old films, love the traditional monikers, want to honour the name of an elderly relative or stick with a family first name used for generations, this list is for you.
Whatever you’re looking for, there are sure to be some retro finds in this list of 300 top old-fashioned baby names for both girls and boys that we think are due a comeback. We’ve also included a selection of gender-neutral baby names, but if your mind is set on a unisex name, explore our full list of unisex baby names for some much-needed inspiration.
Traditional baby names have grown hugely in popularity over recent years, with parents influenced by popular TV shows or social media. We’ve researched the latest ONS data to see current trends, before exploring Mumsnet parents’ views on everything from Arthur and Archie to Wilma and Winifred. Read on to find the best and most popular old-fashioned baby names here.
What is an old-fashioned baby name?
An old fashioned baby name is a name that was popular in years gone by. In recent years, we’ve seen many vintage names for both boys and girls make an appearance in the top baby names lists. Many Mumsnet users favour old-fashioned baby names for their traditional spellings, familiarity and link to grandparents or ancestors.
How we chose the top old-fashioned baby names
Every year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects birth registration data to analyse the frequency of name choices, before ranking them based on popularity and creating an official top 100 chart, categorised by gender.
To bring you this list of the best traditional and vintage baby names, we first researched the latest ONS data from 2021 (which was released in October 2022) to gain insights into the most popular baby names, including vintage names that have made a comeback in recent years. We then scoured through the Mumsnet Baby Names forum to learn more about the old fashioned baby names that are regularly making the wishlists of expectant parents.
Old-fashioned baby girl names
Abigail - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘my father's joy’
Agnes - of Greek origin, meaning ‘pure’
Alexandra - of Greek origin, meaning ‘protector of mankind’
Alice - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘pure’
Alison - of Scottish and Irish origin, meaning ‘noble’ or ‘honest’
Alma - of Latin origin, meaning ‘nourishing’
Amelia - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘work of the Lord’ and is the second most popular girls name in the UK according to the latest ONS data
Amy - of Latin origin, meaning ‘beloved’
Angela - of Greek origin, meaning ‘angel’ or ‘messenger of God’
Annette - of Hebrew origin, and a variation of the name Anette, meaning ‘grace’. Can be Annie for short
Arlene - of Gaelic origin, meaning ‘pledge’ or ‘oath’, this name was popular in the 1920s but has links to a character in True Blood, which may increase its popularity over coming years
Ava - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘life’ and the fourth most popular name in the UK according to recent ONS data
Ada - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘noble’
Audrey - of Old English origin, meaning ‘noble strength’
Barbara - of Latin and Greek origin, meaning ‘stranger’, ‘foreigner’ or ‘beautiful stranger’
Beatrice (or Beatrix) - of Latin origin, meaning 'bringer of happiness'
Bella - of Italian origin, meaning ‘beautiful’, this is an apt choice for your baby girl, making it a top 100 ranking name according to the latest ONS data
Bernice - of Greek origin, meaning ‘bringer of victory’
Bethan - a Welsh diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning ‘dedicated to God’
Blanche - of Old French origin, meaning ‘pure’ or ‘white’
Bonnie - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘beautiful’ or ‘pleasant’, this name has been consistently in the top 100 girls' names for the last five years according to recent ONS data
Caroline - of French and Germanic origin, meaning ‘beautiful woman’ or ‘song of happiness’.
Catherine - of Greek origin, meaning ‘clear’ or ‘pure’. This name has been declining in popularity over the last few years according to ONS data
Catriona - of Gaelic origin, meaning ‘pure’
Celia - of Latin origin, meaning ‘heavenly’
Cecily - a British named derived from the Saint Cecilia, from the Latin word ‘caelum’, meaning ‘heaven’
Charlotte - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘petite’, this is the 25th most popular girls name in the UK according to the latest ONS data, most likely influenced by the daughter of the Prince and Princess of Wales
Chloe - of Greek origin, meaning ‘green shoots’ or ‘young plant’
Clara - of Latin origin, meaning ‘bright’ or ‘clear’
Claudia - of Latin origin, meaning ‘persevering’
Clemency - of Latin origin, meaning ‘mercy’. Quite a vintage feel to this name, but Clem or Clemmie for short gives it a nice update
Clementine - of French origin, meaning ‘mercy’
Daisy - of English origin, referring to the flower by the same name, this name is akin to nature and beauty
Darcey - of Irish origin, meaning ‘dark haired’. Thiscould be one for the list if your daughter is born with a full head of dark locks
Delores - of Spanish origin, meaning ‘lady of sorrows’. This may not seem like an obvious choice, however thanks to the character Dolores Madigral in the Disney film Encanto, this name could easily be climbing the ranks over the next few years
Diana - of Latin origin, meaning ‘heavenly’
Dinah - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘judged’
Dora - of Greek origin, meaning ‘gift’. Nick Jr would also have you believe that it means ‘explorer’
Dorothy - of Greek origin, meaning ‘gift from God’
Edith (or Edie) - one of those old-fashioned names that has come back into fashion. Of Old English origin, it means ‘riches’ or ‘blessed’
Eleanor - of Greek origin, meaning ‘light’ or ‘torch’
Ellen - of Greek origin, meaning ‘light’, ‘torch’ or ‘bright’
Eliza - of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God is my oath'. A form of Elizabeth below
Elizabeth - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘God is my oath’, and a name that makes a consistent appearance in the top 100 girls' names. This may increase in popularity again following the passing of the Queen
Eloise - of Old French and Old Germanic origin, meaning ‘healthy’
Elsie - of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Elizabeth above meaning ‘God is my oath’
Emma - it might be vintage, but it’s still very much popular. Currently the 61st ranked name in the UK. Emma is of Gaelic, German, Dutch and English origin, and means ‘emancipated lady’
Enid - of Welsh origin, meaning ‘soul’ or ‘life’, this could be a popular choice for parents who grew up with The Famous Five and The Magic Faraway Tree
Ethel - a name of Old English origin, meaning ‘noble’
Etta - of Old English origin, meaning ‘estate ruler’
Eunice - of Greek origin, meaning 'good victory'
Evelyn (or Evie) - of English origin, meaning ‘desired’
Fay - of Old English origin, meaning ‘fairy’
Fern - a lovely old-fashioned baby name with connections to the natural world. It's of Anglo-Saxon origin and refers to the plant of the same name
Florence - of Latin origin, meaning ‘flourishing’
Frances - a gender neutral name of Latin origin, meaning ‘from France’
Genevieve - of French origin, meaning ‘white wave’
Georgina (or Georgie) - from the Greek word for farmer, meaning ‘earth worker’
Gertie - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘spear of strength’
Grace - of Latin origin, meaning ‘favour’ or ‘blessing’
Greta - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘pearl’
Harriet - of English and German origin, meaning ‘ruler of the home’
Hazel - of Old English origin, referring to the tree of the same name
Heather - of English origin, referring to the beautiful flowering plant of the same name
Helen - of Greek origin, meaning ‘torch’ or ‘shining light’
Heidi - of German origin, meaning ‘noble’ or ‘noble one’, this name’s been making a steady appearance in the top 100 girls' names for the last few years according to ONS data
Hester - of Hebrew origin, meaning 'myrtle tree'
Hope - of Old English origin, meaning ‘optimism’
Ida - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘hard working’
Imogen - a name with vintage origins, not least because it was what William Shakespeare decided to name his daughter. It's from the Celtic name ‘Innogen’ and means ‘maiden’
Ingrid - of Scandinavian origin, meaning ‘daughter of Ing’ or ‘meadow’. For more names like this, check out our list of 100 Norse baby names
Isabella - of Hebrew origin and a variation of Elizabeth meaning ‘God is my oath’, this name has been consistently in the top 10 girls' names for over a decade. Thanks to the flower growing sister in Encanto, it’s likely this name will be sticking around for a while
Isla - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘island’, this names been the third most popular girls name three years on the trot according to the latest ONS data
Ines - of Greek origin, meaning ‘pure’
Iris - of Greek origin, meaning ‘rainbow’ or ‘messenger’, this traditional name has been consistently working its way up the girls' name rankings over the last few years
Ivy - of Old English origin, referring to the climbing plant of the same name
Jane - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘God is gracious’
Jennifer - of Cornish and Welsh origin, meaning ‘fair one’ or ‘soft one’
Joanna - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘God is gracious’
Josephine - of Hebrew origin, meaning 'God increases'
Judith - another one of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘woman from Judea’
Juliet - of Latin origin, meaning ‘youthful’. A good one for literature lovers, after Juliet of Romeo and Juliet fame
June - of Latin origin, not surprisingly referring to the month of June. It may not be the most original choice, but if your baby is born in, well, June, this might be a great place to start
Katherine - of Greek origin, meaning ‘pure’
Kitty - of Greek origin, derived from the name Katherine above, meaning ‘pure’
Laura - of Latin origin, meaning ‘laurel plant’
Lillian - of Hebrew origin, it means ‘God is a vow’
Louise - of Female origin, meaning ‘famous warrior’
Lorraine - of French origin, this name has geographical links with the region of Lorraine in France
Lucy - of Latin origin, meaning ‘light’, this name works well for all life stages and has been a consistent contender in the top 100 girls' name chart
Lydia - of Greek origin, meaning ‘beautiful one’
Mabel - of French origin, meaning ‘beautiful’
Marilyn - of English origin meaning ‘star of the sea’, this name has seen a big increase in popularity in the last year according to the latest ONS data. It’s still a unique choice, but thanks to its links to the iconic singer Marilyn Monroe, it’s a name associated with beauty and power
Margaret - of Greek origin, meaning ‘pearl’. Margot for short is adorable!
Maria - of Latin origin, meaning ‘sea of bitterness’
Martha - of Aramaic origin, meaning ‘lady’, ‘mistress’, ‘who becomes bitter’ or ‘provoking’
Mary - of Latin and Hebrew origin, meaning ‘sea of bitterness’
Matilda - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘mighty in battle’, this name has stayed around the 25th most popular girls' name for some time. Thanks to the recent release of Matilda the Musical, the names of this Roald Dahl heroine may be popping up far more often
Maud - of Germanic origin, meaning 'strong in battle'
Maureen - of Irish origin, meaning beloved
Maeve - of Irish origin, meaning ‘she who rules’, this name has seen a big surge in popularity thanks to the leading character in hit Netflix series Sex Education
May (or Mae) - of English origin, referring to the month of the same name, this girl’s name is also popular as a middle name, or for double barrelled names such as Molly-May (or Molly-Mae) and Millie-May
Meredith - of Welsh origin, meaning ‘great chieftain’, ‘guardian of the sea’ or ‘great Lord’. It might be vintage, but it certainly isn’t out of fashion thanks to Gray’s Anatomy’s Meredith Grey.
Minnie - of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Mary, meaning ‘beloved’
Miriam - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘rebellion’, ‘queen of the sea’, ‘wished for child’ or ‘bitter’
Molly - of Hebrew origin and is another name derived from Mary, meaning 'sea of bitterness'
Nancy - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘favour’
Nellie - a shortened form of Eleanor, of English origin, meaning ‘bright’
Nora - of Irish origin, meaning ‘honour’ or ‘light’
Norma - of Latin origin, meaning ‘rule’ or ‘pattern’
Octavia - of Latin origin, meaning ‘eighth’
Olivia - of English, Greek, Latin and Nordic origin, meaning ‘olive’ or ‘elf army’. It has long had a chokehold on the title of ‘most popular girl's name in the UK’, according to the ONS. Olive is a popular, but arguably more unique, alternative
Opal - of Sanskrit origin, meaning ‘gemstone’
Pearl - of English origin, this name also refers to a precious gemstone
Peggy - of Greek origin, derived from the name Margaret meaning ‘pearl’
Penelope - of Greek origin, meaning ‘weaver’
Phyllis - of Greek origin, meaning ‘foliage’ or ‘green branch’
Polly - of Latin origin, meaning ‘star of the sea’, this name is actually derived from the name Mary
Poppy - of Latin origin, linked to the natural beauty of the poppy flower
Priscilla - of Latin origin, it may not be the obvious choice for a newborn baby, given its meaning of ‘ancient’, but baby Cilla sounds pretty cute
Prudence - of Latin origin, meaning ‘wisdom’
Rebecca - of Hebrew and Old English origin, meaning ‘to tie’ or ‘to bind’
Rhea - of Greek origin, meaning ‘flowing’
Robyn - of course iconically connected with two wonderful pop stars: Miss Robyn Fenty (Rihanna) and Robyn of the 2013 classic, ‘I Keep Dancing on My Own’. Of Norman origin, it appropriately means ‘fame’ or ‘bright’
Rosie - a name that’s just dropped out of the top 10 girls names in the latest ONS data, Rosie is of Latin origin, derived from the rose flower
Rose - of Latin origin, named after the flower of the same name
Ruby - of Latin origin, meaning red
Ruth - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘satisfied’, ‘merciful’, ‘compassion’ or ‘friend’
Sally - of Hebrew origin, you may not know that Sally actually is a variation of the name Sarah, meaning ‘princess’
Samantha - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘heard of God’
Sophia - of Greek origin, meaning ‘wisdom’
Sylvia - of Latin origin, meaning ‘forest’
Teresa - of Spanish origin, meaning ‘harvester’
Tabitha - of Hebrew and Aramaic origin, meaning ‘action’ or ‘graceful’
Vera - of Russian origin, meaning ‘faith’ or ‘truth’
Victoria - of Latin origin, meaning ‘victorious’
Violet - an Old English name referring to the flower of the same name
Virginia - of Latin origin, meaning ‘spring-like’
Wanda - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘wanderer’. An apt choice for the child of someone who likes to travel
Wilma - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘desire’, you may immediately think of the red-headed wife of Fred Flinstone
Winifred - going way back with this one, a real old-timey feel here. Of Old English origin, it means ‘holy’ or ‘blessed reconciliation’
What Mumsnetters say about old-fashioned baby names
“Classic, traditional names are popular for a reason! They’re timeless and guaranteed not to cause embarrassment. They’re also pretty flexible so whoever your child turns out to be personality or lifestyle wise they’ll suit it” - Mumsnet user, Pumpertrumper
"For boys I like George, Robert, Magnus and Jack" - Mumsnet user, ThePaperDoll
"Eliza is lovely!" - Mumsnet user, Theoldwoman
"I'm so in love with Francis" - Mumsnet user, canigohomenow
Old-fashioned boy names
142. Adam - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘man’ or ‘earth’ and is known to be the name of the first man in the Christian faith
143. Alan - of Celtic, meaning ‘rock’, ‘noble’ and ‘harmony’
144. Albert - of German origin, meaning ‘noble’ and ‘bright’
145. Alexander - of Greek origin, meaning ‘helper and defender of mankind’
146. Alfred - this one is posh, we can’t deny, but Alfie for short is very cute and a nice way of updating a retro name. Of Anglo-Saxon origin, it means ‘elf counsel’, ‘wise counsel’ or ‘supernaturally wise’
147. Alvin - of Old English origin, meaning ‘wise friend’, although the 80s and 90s children amongst us may also link it back to the classic movie Alvin and the Chipmunks
148. Angus - of Celtic and Gaelic origin, meaning ‘one choice’
149. Anthony - of Latin origin, meaning ‘priceless one’. An ideal choice for your precious firstborn
150. Archie - of German origin, meaning ‘bold’ or ‘brave’
151. Arthur - of Gaelic, Latin and Welsh origin, meaning ‘bear’, ‘stone’, ‘bear man’, ‘noble’, ‘courageous’, ‘noble strength’ and ‘guardian’. Arthur might be an olden day name, but it is actually very popular, ONS data tells us it is currently the fourth most common name in the UK
152. Arnold - of German origin meaning ‘strong’, this name is associated with leadership
153. Barnaby - of Cornish origin, meaning ‘leprechaun’ or ‘son of consolation’
154. Bartholomew - of Aramaic origin meaning ‘son of a farmer’
155. Benedict - of Latin origin, meaning ‘gift from God’ or ‘blessed’
156. Benjamin - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘son of the right hand’
157. Bernard - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘bear hard’ or ‘strong as a bear’. Lovers of the now retro children’s book will remember David McKee’s Not Now Bernard, a 1980s about a boy who is continually dismissed by his parents, until he is eventually eaten by a monster. Poor Bernard, but we love this name!
158. Bobby (or Bobbie) - of Germanic origin. It's derived from the name Robert and means ‘bright fame’. While traditionally a boys' name, Bobby has become a unisex choice in recent years
159. Brian - of Irish origin meaning ‘noble’, it is regularly associated with strength
160. Charlie - of Germanic origin and derived from the name Charles, meaning ‘free man’
161. Christian - of Latin origin, meaning ‘follower of Christ’. This name became far more popular following the release of the Fifty Shade of Grey series
162. Christopher - of Greek and Hebrew origin, meaning ‘to bear’, ‘Christ within’ or ‘bearer of Christ’
163. Clement - of Latin origin, meaning ‘gentle’, ‘mild’, ‘good' and ‘merciful’
164. Clyde - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘friendly’, this name also has geographical links to the River Clyde which flows through Glasgow
165. Colin - of Irish or Gaelic origin, meaning ‘young pup’
166. Damien - of Greek origin, meaning ‘to tame’, this name may a brave choice due to its unconscious links made to the devil child in The Omen movie
167. Daniel - of Hebrew origin meaning ‘God is my judge’
168. Dennis - of Greek origin meaning ‘follower of Dionysus’ (the Greek god of wine and fertility)
169. Derek - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘ruler of the people’
170. Dominic - of Latin origin, meaning ‘belonging to God’
171. Donald - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘ruler of the world’, this name signifies leadership. One for Disney fans perhaps?
172. Douglas - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘dweller by the dark stream’ or ‘from the dark river’. A lovely old-timey choice that has stood the test of time. For more names like this of Scottish origin, take a look at our list of Scottish baby name
173. Dylan - of Welsh origin, meaning ‘son of the sea’ this name could be a popular choice for families living by the ocean
174. Edgar - of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning ‘spear carrier’ or ‘protector of the good’
175. Edmund - of Old English origin, meaning ‘wealthy defender’ or ‘protector’
176. Edward - as above, of Old English origin meaning meaning ‘wealthy protector’. This name become popular again in the early 2000s thanks to the release of the Twilight Saga
177. Edwin - of Old English origin, meaning ‘wealthy friend’ or ‘prosperous friend’
178. Elliot - of Greek origin, meaning ‘Jehovah is God’
179. Elmer - of Old English origin, meaning ‘noble’ or ‘famous’, it’s also the name of the much loved patchwork elephant, a book series that is as popular now as it was back in the 1960s
180. Elon - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘oak tree’, this name is associated with strength, and is also the name of the richest man in the world, Tesla and ‘X’ owner Elon Musk
181. Elton - of Old English origin, this name may have you humming away to ‘rocket man’, but actually means ‘old town’ and is a small village in Cambridgeshire
182. Ernest - a real vintage feel to this one. Of English origin, meaning ‘earnest’, ‘resolute’, ‘serious’, ‘determined’ or ‘sincere’
183. Erwin - of Germanic origin, this name means ‘friend of the army’ or ‘respected friend’
184. Evan - of Welsh origin, meaning ‘young warrior’, ‘God is good’, ‘rock’ and ‘God is gracious’. Also spelled Ifan, it's the Welsh version of John. For more choices like this, check out our list of beautiful Welsh baby names
185. Francis - of Latin origin, meaning ‘a Frenchman’
186. Frank - of Germanic, English and Latin origin, meaning ‘straightforward’, ‘sincere’ and ‘honest’
187. Frederick - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘peaceful ruler’, this name is often shortened to ‘Freddie’ and a popular choice for fans of iconic British rock band Queen
188. Gabriel - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘God is my strength’
189. Gareth - of Welsh origin, meaning ‘enclosure’
190. Garfield - you may immediately be thinking of the lasagne loving tabby cat, but the name Garfield is actually of Old English origin and means ‘spear field’ associated with protection and weaponry
191. Gary - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘spear bearer’, who wouldn’t want to name their child after the beloved Mr Barlow?
192. George - of Greek origin, meaning farmer, this was the name chosen for the first born son of Prince and Princess of Wales and is the third most popular boys name in the UK based on ONS data
193. Gerard - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘spear hard’
194. Graham - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘gravelly homestead’ or ‘grey home’
195. Gunther - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘battle warrior’, this name also evokes memories of the much loved coffee shop worker from Friends
196. Gus - A shortened version of Augustus or Angus, of Latin or Scottish origin, meaning ‘great’
197. Harold - of Scandinavian origin, meaning ‘strong fighter’ or ‘army ruler’
198. Harry - of Germanic origin, derived from the name Henry, meaning ‘ruler of the household’. Another top 10 baby boys' name according to the latest ONS data.
199. Harvey - of Old English origin, meaning ‘battle-worthy’, this name is associated with strength
200. Hector - of Greek origin, meaning ‘steadfast’ or ‘holding fast’
201. Henry - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘house ruler’
202. Herbert - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘bright army’
203. Herman - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘warrior’
204. Howard - of Old English origin, meaning ‘brave guardian’
205. Hoyt - whilst the direct translation of this Old English name is ‘long stick’, the name has connotations of growth and maturity
206. Hugo - of Germanic and Portuguese origin, meaning ‘heart’, ‘mind' and ‘spirit’
207. Humphrey - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘peaceful warrior’
208. Ian - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘grace’
209. Irving - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘green river’. A great choice for families who love the outdoors
210. Ivor - of Scandinavian origin, meaning ‘archer’
211. Jack - derived from the English name John, meaning ‘God is gracious’
212. Jacob - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘supplanter’ (to replace or follow at someone’s heels)
213. James - of Hebrew origin, with a meaning of ‘one who follows’, similar to Jacob above
214. Jasper - of Persian origin, meaning ‘bringer of treasure’
215. Jeffrey (or Geoffrey) - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘peaceful ruler’
216. John - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘the Lord has favoured’
217. Jonas - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘dove’, this name is associated with a peaceful and gentle nature
218. Joseph - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘God will add’
219. Justin - of Latin origin, meaning ‘fair’ associated with a sense of justice
220. Karl - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘free man’
221. Keir - of Scottish origin, meaning ‘dark one’. Maybe it’s old-fashioned, but it’s certainly in the public eye at the moment, represented by the current Labour leader, Keir Starmer. For a future politician perhaps?
222. Kenneth - of Scottish origin, this name means ‘handsome’ or ‘born of fire’ and was traditionally a popular choice for a first born son
223. Kevin - of Irish origin, also meaning ‘handsome’ and ‘gentle’
224. Kirk - of Old Norse origin, meaning ‘church’
225. Laurie - of English and Scottish origin, meaning ‘crown of laurels’
226. Leonard - of Germanic and Italian origin, meaning ‘brave as a lion’ or ‘lionhearted’
227. Lewis - of Welsh and Scottish origin, meaning ‘fame’ and ‘war’
228. Liam - of Germanic and Irish origin, short for William, meaning ‘resolute protector’
229. Lloyd - of Welsh origin, a name linked to wisdom, meaning ‘grey’ or ‘holy’
230. Louis - of French origin, meaning ‘renowned warrior’
231. Luke - of Greek origin, meaning ‘light’
232. Marcus - of Latin and Gaelic origin, meaning ‘warlike’ or ‘shining’. A retro name with a modern champion in Marcus Rashford
233. Martin - of Latin origin, meaning ‘dedicated to Mars’ or ‘God of war’
234. Matthew - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘gift of God’
235. Merton - of Old English origin, meaning ‘town by the lake’
236. Michael - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘God-like’
237. Miles - of Latin origin meaning ‘soldier’
238. Mohammad - of Arabic origin, meaning ‘praised’. The fifth most popular boys name in the UK for the second year running according to the latest ONS data
239. Morris - a pretty old-fashioned choice, this one. Of Latin origin, it means ‘dark-skinned’
240. Moses - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘taken from the water’
241. Nathaniel - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘gift from God’
242. Ned - of Old English origin, derived from the name Edward, meaning ‘wealthy guardian’
243. Neil - of Gaelic origin, meaning ‘cloud’ or ‘champion’
244. Neville - of French origin, meaning ‘new town’, this name has become a popular choice amongst Potterheads thanks to Harry’s trusted friend Neville Longbottom
245. Nicholas - of Greek origin, meaning ‘victory of the people’
246. Noah - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘rest’. It's also a name that’s stayed steadily in the top 100 boys; names since 2011, currently taking the top spot for the most popular boys' name according to ONS data
247. Norman - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘man from the north’
248. Norris - of Old French origin, meaning ‘from the north’, although soap lovers may struggle not to link it to the nosy neighbour from Corronation Street
249. Oliver - an old-timey name which is very popular nowadays. The second most popular name in the UK according to ONS data. Oliver is a name of French origin, meaning ‘olive tree’
250. Oscar - of Old English, Celtic and Irish origin, meaning ‘divine spear’ or ‘deer friend’
251. Oswald - of Old English origin, meaning ‘divine power’
252. Otis - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘wealthy’ or ‘prosperous’, this name has moved up the popularity ranks since the release of Netflix hit series ‘Sex Education’. According to ONS data, it jumped 15 places to be the 81st most popular boys name in 2021
253. Owen - of Welsh origin, meaning ‘well born’ or ‘youthful warrior’
254. Paul - of Latin origin, meaning ‘small’ or ‘humble’
255. Peter - of Greek origin, meaning ‘rock’ or ‘stone’
256. Randall - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘wolf shield’
257. Ralph - of Old English origin, meaning ‘wolf counsel’
258. Raymond - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘wise protector’
259. Reginald - a corker of an old-fashioned baby name here. This bold choice is of Latin origin, meaning ‘ruler’ or ‘advisor to the king’. Reggie for short is cute though!
260. Robert - of Germanic and Old English origin, meaning ‘bright with glory’ or ‘bright and bold’
261. Robin - of English and French origin, meaning ‘bright with glory’, ‘bright flame’, or ‘bright and bold’
262. Roger - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘famous with spear’. Or if you’re a Federer fan, it could be ‘famous with tennis racquet’
263. Ronald - one for Harry Potter fans. Of Nordic origins, it means ‘ruler’s counsel’. And of course, famous in part thanks to Ron Weasley
264. Rupert - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘bright fame’
265. Russell - of Old French origin, meaning ‘little red’. A popular choice for those born with a covering of red locks
266. Samuel - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘God has heard’
267. Sebastian - of Greek origin, meaning ‘venerable’ or demanding of respect
268. Sidney (or Sydney) - of French origin, meaning ‘wide meadow’. This is a fantastic gender-neutral baby name for boys or girls.
269. Stanley - of English origin, meaning ‘stony clearing’
270. Terrance - of Latin origin, meaning ‘smooth’ or ‘soft’ with connotations of a kind and gentle nature
271. Theodore (or Theo) - of Greek origin, meaning ‘gift of God’
272. Thomas - of Aramaic origin, meaning ‘twin’
273. Tommy - of Aramaic origin, derived from the name Thomas above, meaning ‘twin’
274. Vernon - of German origin, meaning ‘alder grove’
275. Victor - of Latin origin, meaning ‘conquerer’
276. Walter - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘ruler of the army’ or ‘powerful ruler’
277. Wayne - of Old English origin, meaning ‘wagon maker’
278. Wilfred (or Wilf) - of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning ‘bringer of peace’
279. William - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘resolute protector’
280. Winston - of Old English origin, meaning ‘joyful stone’. This name is meant to convey happiness and positivity
Old-fashioned unisex baby names
281. Addison - of Old English origin, meaning ‘Son of adam’. Associated with strength and leadership, it’s great to see that this name is also being used for girls in modern times
282. Alex - of Greek origin, short for Alexander or Alexandra, the abbreviated version is a popular gender-neutral choice meaning ‘defender of the people’
283. August - of Latin original meaning ‘majestic’ or great’, this unisex name is a popular choice for summer babies
284. Bertie - of Old English origin, meaning ‘bright’ or ‘famous’
286. Billy (or Billie) - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘resolute protector’
287. Cecil/Cecille - of Welsh origin, meaning ‘sixth’
288. Clover - an Old English choice named after the plant of the same name, this name is associated with luck and good fortune
289. Dale - of English origin, meaning ‘valley’
290. Ellis - of Old English origin, meaning ‘kind’ or ‘benevolent’
291. Finn - of Irish origin, meaning 'fair' or 'white'
292. Ira - of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘vigilant’
293. Jennings - of Old English origin, meaning ‘little John’. An affectionate choice for a youngest child perhaps
294. Max - of Latin origin, this name was traditionally used for boys. It’s now increasingly being chosen for girls too, perhaps encouraged by the popularity of TV series Stranger Things
295. Quinn - of Irish origin, meaning wisdom
296. Ray (or Rae) - of Germanic origin, meaning ‘counsel’
297. Raleigh - of Old English origin, meaning ‘deer's meadow’
298. Ramsey - of Old English origin, meaning ‘low lying land’
299. Remy (or Remi) - of Latin origin, meaning ‘rower’
300. Wren - of Old English origin, named after the bird of the same name, this name has jumped up significantly in popularity in the most recent ONS data
How to name your baby
Should I give my child an old-fashioned name?
Thinking of sticking with the classics when it comes to naming your baby? Convention is no bad thing, of course. Popular things are popular for a reason – and not everyone needs to pick an unusual baby name as seems to be the trend with many celebrity babies.
Traditional baby names are as close to crash-tested as is possible when it comes to something so abstract. Classic names make for a low-risk investment, as they have already proved themselves to have stood the test of time. So you know that like a fine wine, your baby's name will get even better with age.
Unsure about whether a name will go with your surname? Looking to your great-grandparents (or even great-great-grandparents) is a good, safe bet. Unless they are called something whacky like Ptolemy, naturally.
What is a good old timey name?
For great names with a vintage feel, we suggest Edith for a girl or Edie for short. What about Jasper for a boy? We know what you might be thinking… these names sound pretty posh, but maybe that’s what you’re after. For more like these, check out our list of posh baby names.
Are old-fashioned baby names popular?
In a world of Oliver's and Olivia's, it is perfectly understandable that you might want to break away from the crowd. Don't think for a second that you are alone in making this decision – you only have to look at the current top 100 most popular baby names to see the names our great-grandparents are currently undergoing something of a revival.
“Lots of names will date to some extent, and some traditional classic names will too. Things come back around - when I was growing up (late 80s baby), I remember my dad saying that you don't hear many kids being called Edward, Arthur, Jack, Oliver, Olivia, Isabel and Eleanor very often, but in recent years those names have increased in popularity again” - Mumsnet user CaffiSaliMali
History, as the saying goes, repeats itself. So too do name trends. According to the ONS, popular Victorian names such as Daisy and Ella slumped in the mid-20th century, yet are among the most popular girls’ names for this year.
Are old-fashioned names unusual?
As the above lists show, old-fashioned baby names are far less unusual than you might think, so you might need to do a little research to find one that is really off-the-beaten-track if that's what you're looking for.
“Mine have traditional names that aren't used very often. When we meet other people with those names, the parents usually say they don't come across one regularly” - Mumsnet user, LolaSmiles
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of baby products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help parents make confident purchases that benefit their families.
As a Mum of two daughters, Lucy has spent hours researching names - weighing up the pros and cons of choosing between traditional classic names and modern, unique alternatives. While she ended up opting for names somewhere in the middle, she fully appreciates the overwhelm involved when making (and agreeing) upon your final choice!
Originally from a HR background with a degree in Business Studies, Lucy developed a real passion for blogging and writing when her children were young, going on to write for several online publications including US parenting site Pregistry and the Evening Standard.
When she’s not manically tapping the keys of her laptop, Lucy loves nothing more than to cosy up with her Kindle and enjoy the latest thriller, or compete in Nintendo Switch rallies with her daughters aged six and 10.