Do you love the vintage baby name trend, but are looking for a name that is a bit more unique? This list of sassy old lady names is a great balance between old fashioned and uncommon names.
Spunky Grandmother Names for Girls
Giving your daughter a vintage baby name is probably the biggest baby name trend over the past 15 years. Names like Isabelle, Olivia, and Sophia skyrocketed to the top of the baby name charts in the early 2000’s and have stayed there ever since.
However, while vintage names are incredibly popular, they have also become incredibly common. You can’t throw a stick at a playground without hitting a Lily, Georgia, Ava or Amelia.
As a result, parents are looking for names that are a little more unique for their baby girl. That’s where the sassy old lady names come in. A step away from the more delicate and frilly names of the 19th century, these names are a little less common and a little more… spunky. They follow the vintage name trend but stand apart from the more common vintage names.
Sassy Old Lady Names We Love
So without further ado, here is the list of our favorite sassy old lady names we hope you’ll love!
Agatha
Agatha is a Greek baby name that means ‘honorable’.
Agnes
Agnes is a name stemming from the Greek name, Hagne, meaning ‘pure’. Agnes is a very old name. Saint Agnes was a popular Christian saint. Inez is the Spanish version of Agnes.
Alberta
The feminine form of Albert, Alberta means ‘noble and bright’. Prince Albert was the king consort of Queen Victoria, and their daughter was named Princess Louise Alberta, making Alberta a popular name in Victorian times. Bertie makes a great nickname for Alberta, and is even sassier than its full version!
Alma
Alma originally comes from Latin and means ‘nourishing’ or ‘life-giving’. Its popularity peaked around the 1880’s and is due for a comeback! Find more Victorian girl names here.
Alta
Alta is a Latin name which means ‘elevated’. Its popularity peaked in the 1890’s. Alta is the perfect baby name for someone who is looking for an undiscovered vintage name.
Augusta
Coming from the Latin name, Augustus, Augusta means ‘to increase’ or ‘esteemed’. Sometimes it’s also used to honour the eighth month of the year as well.
Beatrice
Beatrice is a beautiful French/Italian baby name, stemming from the Latin word Beatrix, which means ‘she who makes happy’.
Bernice
Bernice has Greek origins and means ‘victory-bringer’. What a perfect sassy old lady name!
Bertha
Bertha has Germanic origins and means ‘bright one’.
Related Posts:
Bridgerton-Inspired Vintage Names from the 19th Century
Vintage Names for Boys and Girls That Aren’t Overused
Beautiful Girls Names That Can be Shortened
Bertie
Bertie is a nickname for Alberta, which means ‘noble and bright’. Prince Albert was the king consort of Queen Victoria, and their daughter was named Princess Louise Alberta, making Bertie a popular name in Victorian times.
Bessie
Bess and Bessie is a nickname for Elizabeth, which means ‘God is my oath’. It can be used as a nickname or stand as its own name. For more vintage names with great nicknames, see here.
Betty
Bette is another vintage name that evokes Old Hollywood glamour. Bette comes from the French and can be a nickname of Elizabeth, meaning ‘my God is plentiful’. Betty and Bettie are English versions of the name.
Beulah
Beulah has Hebrew origins and means ‘married’. Another great spunky name that is old fashioned and super unique!
Birdie
Birdie means ‘bright, famous’ or ‘little bird’. It has roots in English, German and Swedish. This name is making a revival as some celebrities, including Busy Philips and Maura West, have named their daughter’s Birdie.
Blanche
From the medieval French word for ‘fair’. Blanche is a classic Southern baby name.
Cornelia
Cornelia has Latin origins and means ‘horn’.
Daisy
Daisy is a super cute vintage name that you don’t often hear these days. The name is, of course, after the flower of the same name. The flower name comes from the Old English word meaning ‘day’s eye’. It is also a common nickname for Marguerite, the French name for the flower. For more flower-inspired names for girls, click here.
Della
Della is the feminine form of the name Dell, and refers to a dell, or small valley. Della was quite popular in the 19th century. It’s a unique vintage name that hasn’t regained popularity as quickly as many other. For more great names inspired by nature, see here.
Delia
Delia is a Greek name, which means ‘born on the island of Delos’.
Dollie
Dollie is a nickname for Dorothy, meaning ‘gift of God’. It can also make a great grandma name on its own.
Dora
Dora is a shortened form of Dorothy (meaning ‘gift’ in Greek). It was very popular in Victorian times. One of the main characters in Dicken’s David Copperfield was named Dora. Dora is a fun alternative to Cora, Flora, Nora, etc.
Dorothy
Dorothy comes from the Greek and means ‘God’s gift’.
Edith
Edith comes from Old English and means ‘riches’ or ‘blessed’.
Edna
Edna is a Hebrew name which means ‘pleasure’.
Effie
Effie means ‘pleasant speech’ in Greek and is the shortened form of Euphemia. It’s another vintage name that is not over-used today.
Eliza
Eliza is another variant of Elizabeth, meaning “God is my light”.
Elsie
Elsie was originally a nickname for Elizabeth, which means “God is my light”, but it now being used as an independent given name.
Enid
Enid is a Welsh baby name that means ‘life’.
Esme
Esma is a French baby name that means ‘loved’.
Essie
Essie is a beautiful baby name meaning ‘star’. It makes a great nickname or standalone name for a little girl!
Estella
Estella comes from the Latin word meaning ‘star.’ Stella is a cute, less formal option for a nickname.
Estelle
Stemming originally from Latin, Estelle means ‘star’ in Old French.
Esther
Esther means ‘star’ in Persian. Queen Esther is a notable woman in the Old Testament.
Ethel
Ethel comes from Old English and means ‘noble’.
Etta
Etta is an English name meaning ‘estate ruler’. Is was generally a shortened form of Henrietta, or in some cases, Jamesetta.
Eula
Eula originally comes from the Greek and means ‘well-spoken’.
Eunice
Eunice is a Greek name and means ‘good victory’.
Fannie
Fannie us a shortened form of Frances, a French name meaning ‘free one’.
Flora
From the Latin for ‘flower’ or ‘flower-like’. Flora was the Latin goddess of spring and flowers.
Florence
Florence is a name derived from Saint Florentia, a Roman martyr. Florence means ‘blossoming’ in Latin.
Flossie
Flossie is a shortened form of Florence, which means ‘blossoming’.
Gertrude
Gertrude comes from the Germanic language and means ‘strength’ or ‘spear’.
Gladys
Gladys can come from the Welsh language, meaning ‘royalty’ or come from the Latin word for gladiolus, a type of flower.
Goldie
Goldie can be a nickname for Golda, a Yiddish name meaning ‘gold’ or simply a nickname for someone with gold hair. Goldie makes a super-cute name that is recognizable, but unique. Its popularity peaked at the beginning of the 20th century.
Harriet
If you like “old lady names”, you can’t get any more old fashioned than Hattie, which reminds me of a sweet old grandmother. Harriet is a lovely name that hasn’t regained popularity yet, but is bound to come soon.
Hattie
Hattie is a nickname for Harriet, the female form of Harry (a nickname for Henry) which means ‘home ruler’. Hattie was the 33rd most popular girls name in Victorian times.
Helen
Originally from the Greek, meaning ‘moon’. This is a more traditional name that still pays homage to the moon.
Henrietta
Henrietta means ‘estate ruler’ and comes from Old English.
Hilda
Hilda is an Old Norse name meaning ‘battle’.
Ida
Ida is a name that comes from several different cultures including the German (meaning ‘to work’), Old Norse (after the goddess, Iounn), and the Anglicization of the Irish saint, Ide.
Ina
Ina comes from the Anglo-Saxon name for ‘home’ or ‘to entertain’ and means ‘queen’. Ina is also a nickname for any name ending in -ina, such as Marina and Christina.
Inez
Inez is the Portuguese form of Agnes, which stems from the Greek name, Hagne, meaning ‘pure’.
Irene
Irene comes from the Greek word for peace.
Iva
Iva means ‘God is gracious’. Its often a nickname for names beginning with Iv, including Ivana, Ivy, etc.
Jean
Jean is a unisex name meaning ‘God is gracious’.
Josie
Josie is a French name that means ‘God increases’. It can be a nickname for Joanne or Josephine, or can stand alone.
Leila
Leila stems from the Arabic word meaning ‘night’, or ‘dark beauty’. Leila rose to popularity in the Victorian times after George Byon’s poem, “The Giaour”, was published in 1813.
Lela
Lela is another version of Lelia, originating with the Persian word for ‘dark beauty’ or ‘night’.
Lelia
Lelia is a variation of the name Eulalia, meaning ‘well-spoken’.
Leona
Leona is the feminine version of the name Leon, meaning ‘lion’. It’s a cute French baby name that is a great grandma name.
Lois
Lois is originally a Greek name, which means ‘better’.
Lola
Lola is a nickname for several names. In Spain, it’s a shortened version of Dolores, which means ‘sorrows’, while in German, it’s short for Aloisia, a form of Louise, meaning ‘warrior’. Lola seems like a very modern name, but actually is a Victorian girl name!
Loretta
Loretta is a beautiful Italian baby name, meaning ‘laurel’ or ‘bay’. Loretta is another great old lady name.
Lottie
This is often a nickname for Charlotte, meaning ‘petite’, but can stand on its own as a name.
Louisa
Feminized form of Louis, from the French ‘renowned warrior’.
Louise
Louise was the 38th most popular name in the 1880’s. It’s an old German name meaning ‘famous warrior’. Queen Victoria’s fourth daughter was named Louise, making it a popular choice in the Victorian era.
Lou
Variation of Louis.
Luella
Luella is the combination of two popular baby names, Louise and Ella, combining to mean ‘famous warrior’.
Lulu
The name Lulu stems from Persian and means ‘pearl’.
Lydia
Meaning ‘from Lydia’ and area in Greece.
Mabel
This English name originally stems from the Latin, and means ‘lovable’.
Mamie
Mamie originates in Latin. It is a name related to Mary and can mean ‘bitterness’ or ‘star of the sea’.
Marguerite
You might be wondering how Daisy every became a nickname for Marguerite. Marguerite is actually the French word for Daisy. A super cute, yet uncommon pair.
Marion
Variant of the French name, Marie.
Marjorie
Marjorie is a Greek baby name that means ‘pearl’.
Marlena
Marlena has Hebrew and German origins. It can mean ‘woman from Magdelene’ or be related to the name Mary, and can mean ‘bitterness’ or ‘star of the sea’.
Martha
Martha means ‘the lady, the mistress’, and comes from Aramaic. Martha is featured in the New Testament as the sister of Lazarus.
Matilda
Since I first read Roahl Dahl’s famous book, the name Matilda has stuck with me. Tillie is a super spunky vintage nickname that words perfectly with Matilda, which means ‘strength in battle’.
Maude
An old form of Matilda, meaning ‘strength in battle’.
Mavis
A Scottish name that refers to the thrush plant.
Mayme
Mayme originates from the Latin and is related to the name Mary. It means ‘star of the sea’. or ‘bitterness’.
Mildred
Mildred is an Anglo-Saxon name meaning ‘gentle strength’.
Millie
Millie can be a shortened form of several names, including Amelia, Camilla, Melissa, Mildred or Millicent. It means ‘industrious’.
Minnie
Minnie is traditionally a shortened form of the Hebrew name, Miryam, meaning ‘sea of bitterness’, but can also be a nickname for any ‘M’ name, including Mary, Margaret, Minerva, etc.
Muriel
Muriel is an Irish baby name that means ‘bright sea’.
Myra
Myra is a name created by the 17th century poet, Fulke Greville. It possibly comes from myrrh, which is myrra in Latin.
Myrtle
English word for an evergreen shrub.
Nancy
Nancy is a diminutive of Ann and means ‘grace’. Nancy peaked in the 1930’s.
Nellie
Nellie is another nickname for Helen, and also means ‘bright, shining one’.
Nettie
Nettie can be a nickname for Annette or stand as a name in its own right. Nettie means ‘clean’.
Nina
Nina has etymologic roots all over the world including Russia, Spain, Babylon, South America and a nickname for many names ending in -nina.
Ola
Ola comes from Arabic and means ‘arise’. It also is a nickname for the Polish Aleksandra, or a male name in Norway and Sweden.
Olive
This French girl’s name honours the olive tree. It’s a less common alternative to Olivia. Olive has risen in popularity in the past few years.
Olga
Olga is an Old Norse name that means ‘holy’ or ‘blessed’.
Ora
Ora is a beautiful girl name meaning ‘prayer’ in Latin. It’s a lovely and unique Victorian name.
Pauline
Pauline is the French form of Paulina, meaning ‘little’ or ‘younger’.
Pearl
The name of a gemstone that forms in some shellfish.
Rena
Rena is a Hebrew name meaning ‘melody’. It can also be a shortened form of Irene, meaning ‘peace’.
Rhoda
Rhoda is a Greek and Latin name which can mean ‘rose’, or ‘from Rhodes’.
Rosa
Rosa is a Spanish and Italian vintage girl name that means ‘rose’ in Latin. Rosa is a little more unique than the classic Rose, but is just as sweet.
Roxie
Roxie can be a shortened form of Roxanne, or stand as a name on its own. It comes from the Persian word for ‘dawn’.
Ruth
From the Hebrew, meaning ‘friend’.
Sallie
Sallie is a Hebrew baby name meaning ‘princess’.
Sheila
Sheila is an Irish name that means ‘blind one’.
Sue
Shortened form for Susanna, meaning ‘lily’.
Susan
Susan means ‘lotus flower’ in Greek. It’s also a variant of the Hebrew name, Susannah, meaning ‘to be joyful’.
Sylvia
Sylvia is a Latin name meaning ‘spirit of the wood’. The Roman god of the forest was Silvanus. Sylvia is the feminine form.
Tillie
Tillie is a shortened form of Matilda, which is a German name meaning ‘glorious in battle’.
Vera
This is a super recognizable, but unique vintage name that is very hip at the moment. Vera is a Russian baby name meaning ‘faith’. This could be the perfect baby name if you’re looking for underused vintage name!
Viola
Viola is an Italian vintage girls name. It comes from Latin and means ‘violet. Viola Davis is a well-known actress with this beautiful name.
Virginia
Virginia stems from the Latin and means ‘virginal or pure’. Virginia is the perfect grandma name that is barely used anymore. It has two adorable nicknames, Ginny or Ginger.
Willie
A nickname for Wilhelmina or a female form of William, meaning ‘resolute protector’. What a cute and fresh grandma name!
Winifred
Winifred is a Welsh and Old English girl’s name, meaning ‘joy and peace’. Winnie, or Wynne makes a very cute nickname for this sassy old lady name.
Well, we hope that helps you with your search for the perfect sassy old lady name! Happy name hunting!
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Name meanings sourced from Behind The Name.
