Baby Names

101 Adorable Classic Girl Names

Old-fashioned names are all the rage right now, especially for baby girls. Any name your great grandmother might have had is instantly popular again. We’ve compiled a list of classic girl names from popular and beautiful timeless names to unique old-fashioned names for girls that will become instant classics. Read below to read this list of adorable classic girl names.

Classic Girl Names

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I personally love the trend toward old-fashioned girls names. These names are beautiful, classy and timeless. You will never have to worry about regretting having chosen a classic name for your daughter. These names are adorable for little girls and will be taken seriously as your daughter grows into a professional young woman with career aspirations.

Both of my girls have old-fashioned names (both first and middle). I wanted names that were easy to pronounce and familiar without being too common. The names I chose names were simple, but elegant. I am so pleased with my choices, but as I compiled this list of classic girl names, I see many more options for girls names should we ever have another daughter!

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These classic girl names make striking first names or can be used as beautiful and sophisticated middle names. Each of these traditional names sound lovely and will be a source of pride.

If you are concerned that traditional girls names are over-used, don’t be. There are many beautiful and unique old-fashioned names that have not been over-used in the least!

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classic names for baby girls

Classic Girl Names In Alphabetical Order

I’ve listed my favorite classic girl names in alphabetical order. I hope this will help you on your quest to find the perfect name for your baby!

Abigail

From Hebrew, meaning ‘My father is joy’. Popular in England in the 16th and 17th centuries, its popularity was revived in the 20th century.

Ada

Shortened form of Adelaide.

Adele

French form of Germanic Adela, meaning noble.

Adelaide

Meaning noble and kind. Saint Adelaide was the wife of Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great. A city in Australia bears the name Adelaide.

Alexandra

The feminized version of Alexander.

Alice

A variant of Adelaide, popularized in the 12th century and again when Lewis Carrol published Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Allison

Variation of Alice.

Amelia

Variant of Amalia (another gorgeous name), meaning ‘work’.

Anastasia

Feminized variant of Anastasius. This name evokes tradition and just a bit of glamour.

Anna

Variant of Hannah, meaning ‘grace’.

Annabelle

Variant of the more obscure Amabel, or a combination of Anna and Belle.

Audrey

Name of a 7th century saint and movie icon Audrey Hepburn.

Ava

Variant of Eve, made famous by movie icon Ava Gardener.

Blythe

From the surname meaning cheerful.

Brynn

From Welsh, meaning ‘mound’ or ‘hill’. This beautiful classic name is simple yet unique.

Catherine

Meaning pure, a popular name in both French and English, several queens and empresses have borne this name.

Caroline

Feminized form of Carl.

 

Cecelia

A 2nd/3rd century martyr, brought to England by the Normans. This name is beautiful and sophisticated.

Cecily

Anglicized version of Cecilia, a more unique spin and a touch less formal.

Celeste

Feminized form of Caelestis, meaning ‘heavenly’.

Charlotte

Meaning ‘petite’, this French name is the feminized form of Charles. Charlotte is the name of several queens and princesses, as well as Charlotte York from Sex and the City.

Claire

The French form of Clara is another simple, elegant name.

Clara

Meaning clear, bright, famous.

Cora

Comes from ancient Greek, meaning ‘goddess’.

Coraline

Debated origin, likely a form of Cora, or coined by Adolphe Adam for his opera, Le toreador.

Corinne

Form of Corinna, meaning ‘maiden’.

Dolores

From Spanish, meaning ‘sorrows’.

Diana

Meaning divine, Diana is the name of a goddess, and more recently, Princess Diana.

Dora

Shortened form of Dorothy, meaning gift of God.

Elenora

An elegant variant of Eleanor.

Eliza

Shortened form of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth

A popular name among queens and royals, coming from a Greek form of Hebrew, meaning ‘my God is an oath’.

Elise

Shortened form of Elizabeth, Elise is a sophisticated choice that is classic but underused.

Ellen

Variant of Helen or Eleonora.

Eloise

From Heloise, Saint Eloise was a 12th century saint. Eloise of children’s book fame is a lovely choice.

Emma

Meaning ‘whole’ or ‘universal’. Emma has been quite popular for the past few decades.

Estella

Form of Estelle or Stella, meaning star.

Esther

Hebrew name meaning star

Evelyn

From an English surname, Aveline. This classic name is so feminine and lovely.

Evangeline

From Greek, meaning ‘good news’, and made popular by Longfellow’s famous poem of the same name.

Felicity

Meaning happiness or good luck, it was popular among Puritans in the 17th century

Florence

Meaning prosperous, often associated with famous nurse, Florence Nightengale.

Georgia

Feminine form of George, famous 19th century painter Georgia O’Keefe bears this name.

Gloria

Spanish and Portuguese name meaning ‘glory’ and was popularized in the US through several works of literature and actress Gloria Swanson.

Grace

From the English word, grace, and the Latin, gratia, meaning God’s favour. Grace Kelly, later Princess Grace of Monaco, popularized this name in the 1950’s.

Gretchen

Shortened name of Margareta, from German.

Hannah

From the Hebew word for ‘favour’ or ‘grace’.

Harriet

Feminized form of Harry, popular in the 18th century.

Henriette

French feminized form of Henry.

Imogen

A character in the Shakespeare play, Cymbeline, meaning maiden.

Iris

The Greek Goddess of the rainbow, or after the flower.

Isabel

A form of Elizabeth, popular in Spain.

Ivy

From the small crawling plant of the same name.

Jane

Feminine form of John, meaning ‘Jehovah has been gracious’.

Josephine

Feminized form of Joseph, meaning ‘may God add’ or ‘may Good increase’.

Leigh

Variant of Lee, meaning ‘clearing’.

Lenora

Shortened for of Elenora. Also the princess in ‘The Balloon Tree’ by Phoebe Gilman

Lillian

From the Latin for Lily, or a shortened form of Elizabeth.

Lily

Named from the flower, a symbol of purity.

Louise

Feminized form of Louis, from the French ‘renowned warrior’.

Lucy

Feminized form of Lucius, meaning ‘light’.

Lydia

Meaning ‘from Lydia’ and area in Greece.

Lynn

From the Welsh surname, meaning ‘lake’.

Mabel

From the name Amabel, meaning ‘loving’.

Madeline

Form of Magdalene, from Mary Magdelene. The main character in the books of the same name by Ludwig Bemelmans.

Maeve

From the Gaelic word for ‘intoxicating’. Maeve was a warrior queen of Conanacht in legend.

Margaret

From Margarita, meaning ‘pearl’. Margaret was the name of several queens and authors, including Margaret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind and Margaret Atwood, who wrote the Handmaiden’s Tale, among other works.

Margot

French shortened form of Margaret.

Marjorie

A variant of Margaret, influenced by the herb, marjoram.

Marion

Variant of the French name, Marie.

Marlena

Variant of Marlene, which is a combination of Mary and Magdalene, made famous by actress Marlene Dietrich.

Marie

French or Czech form of Maria, Marie was made famous by Marie Antoinette.

Mary

Anglicized version of Maria, debated original meaning, possibly meaning ‘sea of bitterness’, or ‘beloved.’

Maud

Form of Matilda, which means ‘strength in battle’. Tennyson revived its popularity with this 19th century poem of the same name.

May

From the month of May or Maia, a Roman goddess.

Miriam

Hebrew form of Mary. Moses’ older sister.

Moira

From the Greek for ‘destiny’, or an anglicized version of the Irish, Maire.

Norah

Shortened form of Eleanor or Honora.

Olive

French of English name from olive tree.

Olivia

This beautiful name was first used in the Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night, may have been based on Oliver or Oliva.

Ophelia

From the Greek word for ‘help’, Shakespeare also used this name in Hamlet.

Penelope

Derived from Greek, a type of duck. In Homer’s the Odyssey, Penelope was Odyesseus’s wife.

Polly

A variant of Molly, which in turn is a variant of Mary.

Rose

Associated with the flower of the same name, it was Norman and Germanic roots.

Rosalind

A Shakespeare heroine, meaning ‘beautiful rose’.

Rosemary

Combination of Rose and Mary, or for the herb of the same name. Rosemary Clooney was a famous actress in the 1950’s.

Ruby

From the precious stone, it became popular in the 19th century.

Sadie

Version of Sarah, meaning ‘noblewoman’ in Hebrew.

Scarlett

From a surname referring to one who made or sold clothes in a scarlett hue. Popularized by Margaret Mitchell’s the main character in Gone with the Wind.

Sophia

Meaning ‘wisdom’ in Greek. Sophia Loren was a famous actress of the past.

Sophie

Version of Sophia

Stella

Meaning ‘star’, made popular in Tennessee Williams’ Streetcar Names Desire’.

Sybil

Meaning prophetess from ancient Greek, Sybil was the youngest sister on Downton Abbey.

Tess

Shortened form of Theresa.

Veda

Meaning ‘knowledge’ in Sandskrit.

Vera

Meaning faith in Russian or ‘true’ in Latin.

Veronica

From Latin, meaning ‘true image’.

Victoria

Roman goddess of victory. Queen Victoria popularized this name in the 19th century.

Violet

English word for the small purple flower of the same name.

Vivian

From the Latin word for ‘alive’.

Wynne

Feminized form of the Welsh, Wyn, meaning ‘blessed’ or ‘fair’.

*information on name origins from Beyond the Name.

There you have my list of 101 beautiful classic girl names. I hope this helps you on your quest to find the perfect baby name!

 

Don’t forget that Amazon now offers a baby registry so you can add all your favorite products from the comfort of your own home. No more scanning items at a store or trying to coordinate several registries from different stores. Amazon has EVERYTHING, so you’re sure to get all your favorite brands and every adorable product you could imagine.

 

Which classic girl name do you love the best? What are your baby name no-no’s? Comment below and let me know!

101 adorable classic girl names

9 Comments

  1. Melissa January 3, 2019
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