Old lady names are wrapped in a cozy housecoat, topped with silver-blue hair, and shining with a storied sense of wisdom. Many baby names for girls have been fashionable for decades like Amelia and Adeline while others like Geraldine and Gertrude have fallen from favor. Old lady names that have dropped in popularity over the years sound like retro antiques, but they do deserve your consideration because they sound very much alive and vital today. These baby names for girls have an unnamable quality that we will dare to call Granny-chic.
Old lady names are appellations that have not appealed to new parents for decades but should deserve a renaissance today. These timeless baby names for girls sound classic and often have a storied past shared with dignified namesakes throughout history. We decided to take a deep dive into yesteryear to discover which of these old baby names for girls will appeal most to parents today. Are you ready to comfortably stroll at a reasonable pace through this list?
Check Out These Charming Old Lady Names for Baby Girls!
Old Lady Names That Start with A
Names like Alice and Adelaide are making a comeback today. What other old lady names that start with A should expecting parents explore?
- Ava – A German name for girls, meaning “nobility”
- Anastasia – A name from Greek that’s popular in Russia, meaning “resurrection”
- Adeline – Related to Adelaide but not as popular, Adeline originated in French as a diminutive form of Adele, meaning “nobility”
- Alma – A most gentle appellation from Latin, meaning “nurturing”
- Agnes – A Latin name from Greek, meaning “pure”
- Agatha – A name steeped in mystery, not popular in the US since the 1940s, meaning “good woman”
- Alberta – An English, feminine form of Albert, meaning “noble” and “bright”
- Antonia – A name of Latin origin, meaning “priceless one”
- Adelaide – A name of German origin that’s on the rise in just about every majority English-speaking country today, meaning “noble”
- Ada – Another German name from the same root that brings us Adelaide, Adeline, etc., meaning “noble”
Old Lady Names That Start with B
Brooklyn and Bella are currently the two most popular names for girls that start with B. But, what old lady names are parents looking over?
- Beatrice – A mildly popular name for babies today, Beatrice comes from Latin and means “bringer of happiness”
- Bea – We love this diminutive form of Beatrice so very much that we had to also suggest it, Bea once was a standalone favorite before she started collecting dust!
- Bess – Bess is a diminutive form of Elizabeth, a name coming from Hebrew and meaning “pledged to God”
- Blanche – A Golden Girls name last popular in the 1960s, Blanch comes from French and means “white”
- Blythe – A unique name from Old English that originated as a nickname for someone who is carefree, meaning “happy”
- Bertha – Is it time to bring Bertha back? The name has been out of favor for decades, but we see potential in this German name that means “glorious”
- Betty – A diminutive form of Elizabeth, meaning “pledged to God”
- Bernice – A name of Greek origin, with a winning meaning: “she who brings victory”
- Bernadette – A name of German origin that has not been popular for newborns since the 1980s, meaning “brave as a bear”
- Beulah – A name that was last openly given in the 1960s, Beulah has Hebrew origin and means “married”
Old Lady Names That Start with C
Names like Charlotte and Camila never really went out of style. What other names that start with C should parents bring back? Check out these old lady names!
- Cora – A delightful name from Greek, related to the mythological Persephone, meaning “maiden”
- Cordelia – A name that made a brief return to the US popularity charts in 2014, Cordelia is an underutilized gem from Celtic origin, meaning “daughter of the sea”
- Celia – A favorite of Shakespeare, Celia has been mildly popular in recent years, the name has Latin origins and means “heavenly”
- Constance – An English virtue name from Latin, an appellation that gave way to a multitude of Connies, meaning “steadfast”
- Cornelia – A virtuous ancient Roman name, meaning “horn”
- Coretta – Despite belonging to the admirable Coretta Scott King, Coretta is a name that has not been popular in the US since the 1970s, an English form of Cora, meaning “maiden”
- Clyde – A unisex Scottish river name that should be put to good use for girls today
- Clarabelle – A name that was last popular for baby girls in the 1930s, from Latin, meaning “bright and beautiful”
- Clementine – A French name from Latin, meaning “merciful”
- Celeste – A perennial favorite, from Latin, meaning “heavenly”
Old Lady Names That Start with D
One of the old lady names winning a lot of hearts these days is Delilah which ranked in the US top 100 names for girls recently. What other names should parents revisit?
- Dorothy – An English form of a Greek name, meaning “gift of God”
- Dinah – An Old Testament charmer that’s scarcely heard today, meaning “God will judge”
- Delia – A name steeped in Greek mythology, Delia comes from the name of an island inhabited by Apollo and Artemis, meaning “from Delos”
- Daphne – An appellation that has made a huge comeback in recent years, Daphne comes from Greek and means “laurel tree”
- Delphine – Yet another Greek name, however, this one has not been popular in the US since the 1960s, Delphine means “dolphin”
- Delta – We promise we had no intention of going full-on Greek for the D names, but we have yet another charmer from the Mediterranean, Delta refers to a letter from the Greek alphabet, not popular in the US since the 1930s
- Dora – A name that saw its height before 1950, Dora comes from Greek and means “gift”
- Dahlia – A Swedish surname-name, meaning “Dahl’s flower”
- Dorcas – A name used by Ancient Romans and later the Puritans, Dorcas ultimately comes from Greek and means “gazelle”
- Doris – A name that was most popular before 1960, Doris also originated in Greek and means “gift of the ocean”
Old Lady Names That Start with E
Evelyn and Emma are two of the hottest names for girls today which is great because the names are very old but still feel fresh! Take a look at some more old lady names that start with E!
- Edith – A name that’s making a bit of a comeback these days, Edith has English origins and means “prosperous in war”
- Edie – A cute diminutive form of Edith that many Ediths prefer to be known by, Edie Sedgwick, Edie Falco, and Little Edie are a few famous examples
- Esther – A perennial favorite, Esther has Persian origins and means “star”
- Etta – A diminutive form of Henry and Henrietta, meaning “estate ruler”
- Effie – An English name from Greek, meaning “pleasant speech”
- Edna – One of America’s most beloved names until the middle of the 20th century when it began to fade, Edna means “delight”
- Elsie – A Scottish diminutive form of Elizabeth, meaning “pledged to God”
- Enid – A name that was most popular in the 1920s, from Welsh, meaning “spirit”
- Evelyn – An English name from French and German, meaning “desired” and “island”
- Ethel – An English name, meaning “noble maiden”
Old Lady Names That Start with F
We are not sure why so many names that start with F sound like old lady names, but it’s a feature! Faith and Fiona are the two most popular F-names today, what others should expecting parents consider?
- Flora – A mythological Roman goddess of spring and flowers, Flora sounds delightfully old-fashioned, this appellation means “flower”
- Florence – For some reason, parents have been looking over Florence for decades, this charming Latin name means “prospering”
- Frances – The third most popular F-name for girls today, meaning “free man”
- Fay – Last popular in the late 1960s, Fay originated in English and means “fairy”
- Frederica – A name from German, meaning “peaceful ruler,” last popular in 1911!
- Felicia – Don’t say “bye” to this Latin appellation from Felicity, meaning “lucky”
- Francine – A French diminutive form of Francoise, meaning “from France”
- Fanny – A name only popular in the US before the 1950s, a diminutive form of Frances, meaning “free man”
- Felicia – One of the old lady names that persisted through the 1980s, Felicia comes from Latin and means “lucky”
- Fran – A diminutive form of Frances, meaning “free man”
Old Lady Names That Start with G
Gianna and Grace are two timeless names that new parents are choosing for their daughters today. What are some old lady names to also consider?
- Geraldine – An appellation that was most popular before the 1950s, Geraldine has French and German origins and means “ruler with the spear”
- Gertrude – An old favorite that gives you the option of using the very grandma-nickname Trudy, Gertrude comes from German and means “strength of the spear”
- Gretchen – This name for girls has not moved the needle in decades, Gretchen also has German origins and is related to Margaret, meaning “pearl”
- Greta – A name that’s mildly popular today, also German and a diminutive of Margaret, meaning “pearl”
- Guinevere – A treasure of a Welsh name, meaning “white ring”
- Goldie – A bright name that was last popular for babies in the 1950s, Goldie comes from Yiddish and means… “gold”
- Gladys – A very popular name in the early 20th century, from Welsh, meaning “land”
- Gussie – A diminutive form of Augusta, a popular choice until the 1940s, meaning “greatest”
- Georgia – A name that’s on the rise again today, a feminine form of George, from Greek, meaning “farmer”
- Griselda – A name from German, meaning “grey battle”
Old Lady Names That Start with H
Harper is the most popular baby name beginning with H today. Due to its contemporary literary credentials, this appellation does not feel like a grandma name at all! Let’s take a look at some that do.
- Hazel – A top 50 name for babies, Hazel is a delightful name, meaning “hazelnut tree”
- Hermione – Thanks to Harry Potter, this name is at least on parents radars once more, the name comes from Greek, meaning “messenger”
- Hester – A name from the Persian Esther that emerged in the Middle Ages, also meaning “star”
- Henrietta – A German name from Henry, meaning “estate ruler”
- Harriet – A name that could be mounting a comeback very soon, another femme form of Henry
- Hedwig – A polarizing appellation, Hedwig has not been popular in the US since the 1920s, meaning “war”
- Hattie – An English diminutive form of Henrietta, meaning “estate ruler”
- Hephzibah – An old-fashioned name from Hebrew, meaning “she captures my delight”
- Hortense – A name of Latin origin, meaning “of the garden”
- Hulda – A Hebrew name that was last popular in the US in the 1920s, meaning “lovable”
Old Lady Names That Start with I
As with names that start with F, so many of the names for girls that start with I sound antique. Ivy and Iris and are the most popular names that start with I today. Do either sound particularly new and novel to you? Let’s check out some other vintage gems.
- Imogen – A name from Celtic tradition that was misspelled by Shakespeare for it to appear in its most popular form today, Imogen means “maiden”
- Ida – One of our very favorite old lady names that we want expecting parents to consider! Ida was last popular in the early 1980s. It comes from German and means “industrious”
- Irene – A name originating in Greek that belongs to a goddess of peace, thus, this appellation means “peace”
- Ines – A Spanish (Inez) and Portuguese form of Agnes, last popular in the 1920s, meaning “pure”
- Ingrid – A name that’s coming back, from Norse, meaning “In is beautiful”
- Ibbie – A Spanish diminutive form of Isabel, meaning “pledged to God”
- Idella – A variation of Ida, meaning “industrious”
- Iris – A name that’s experiencing a comeback, Iris is of Greek origin and means “rainbow”
- Ivy – Another name that’s on the rise today, Ivy is an English botanical name
- Isobel – A Scottish form of Elizabeth, meaning “pledged to God”
Old Lady Names That Start with J
The most popular name for girls is unquestionably a grandma-name. Josephine is a top 100 name for girls and despite some ups and downs, has been in the top 500 since the 1880s! What other J-names sound vintage?
- Judith – A hugely popular name in the 1940s, Judith has since faded. This Hebrew name means “woman of Judea”
- Joanne – Once one of the most popular names for baby girls, Joanne is the French form of Johanna, meaning “God is gracious”
- Janice – One of the many forms of Jane that emerged in the middle of the last century as favorites, Janice means “gracious gift”
- Jacqueline – Still a popular choice today, a French form of Jacques, meaning “supplanter”
- Jolene – While this name is a modern invented one first appearing on the baby name popularity charts in 1920, it just fits in with these other old lady names!
- Jemima – Last popular in the US in the 19th century, Jemima is one of the old lady names with Hebrew origins that means “dove”
- Josephine – A French, feminine form of Joseph, meaning “Jehovah increases”
- Juliet – An English name from Latin, a form of Julius, meaning “youthful”
- June – A vintage-sounding month name, relating to the Roman goddess Juno
- Jill – An English diminutive form of Juliana, meaning “youthful”
Old Lady Names that Start with K
Kinsley, a very fresh name for girls today, is the most popular K-name for girls and it only emerged as such in the early 2000s. What more traditional names are out there?
- Kay – Unpopular since the 1980s, Kay is an English diminutive form of Katherine, meaning “pure”
- Kathy – Yet another diminutive form of Katherine, meaning “pure”
- Kathleen – An anglicized form of the Irish name Caitlin, itself from Katherine, also meaning “pure”
- Keziah – An Ancient Hebrew name that means “cassia”
- Kitty – Popular until the 1960s, Kitty was a favored form of Katherine, meaning “pure”
- Katrina – A German form of Katherine, also meaning “pure”
Old Lady Names That Start with L
Luna is a wildly popular name for girls today! It was unpopular for 100 years before it returned to favor. You could consider that a factor for calling it an old lady name, but it does not have that vintage feel. It just sounds romantic! What names that start with L qualify as old lady names?
- Lavinia – An unpopular choice for girls since the 1930s, Lavinia comes from Latin and means “from Lavinium”
- Leona – An appellation that has made a mildly successful comeback, Leona comes from Latin and means “lion”
- Leonora – An Italian name and form of Eleanor, the meaning is unknown!
- Letitia – A name that fell from favor completely by the 1980s, Letitia comes from Latin and means “joy”
- Lois – The name of Superman’s love interest was wildly popular before the 1960s, this name comes from Greek and means “desirable”
- Lucinda – A most popular choice in the late 19th century, Lucinda has fallen off the radar, the name comes from Latin and means “light”
- Lucretia – A name born by abolitionist Lucretia Mott, Lecretia has not seen favor in almost a hundred years! The meaning of this name is unknown!
- Lucasta – An English name from Latin, meaning “pure light”
- Letha – A name from Greek mythology, meaning “forgetfulness”
- Lillian – An English name from Latin, meaning “lily” or “pledged to God”
- Lottie – An English diminutive form of Charlotte, meaning “free man”
- Louella – An English combo-name that was last popular in the 1960s, Louella means “renowned warrior” + “all”
- Lula – A diminutive form of an Lu-name, that can mean “renowned warrior”
Old Lady Names That Start with M
Mia, Mila, and Madison are three timeless classics that are currently enjoying the most love from new parents. Let’s take a look at other M names with vintage appeal.
- Mabel – A beguiling Latin name, a form of Amabel, meaning “lovable”
- Miriam – A Hebrew (and likely Egyptian as well) name, a form of Mary, meaning “bitter”
- Minerva – Popular before the 1950s, Minerva has Latin origins and means “intellect”
- Marjorie – A Scottish name, a form of Margaret, meaning “bitter”
- Martha – A hugely popular name in the US that has been on the decline since the 1950s, Martha comes from Aramaic and means “lady”
- Maude – A name that has not been popular since the early years of the 20th century, Maude comes from Matilda and means “mighty in battle”
- Mamie – A diminutive form of Margaret or Mary, meaning “bitter” or “pearl”
- Matilda – A German name, meaning “mighty in battle”
- Minerva – A name belonging to the Roman goddess of wisdom, Minerva is of Latin origin, and means “intellect”
- Madge – A diminutive form of Margaret that fell from favor by the 1950s, meaning “pearl”
- Mina – A multicultural favorite that’s on the rise again today, Mina is one of the old lady names with a variety of meanings as it is used in at least six different languages
More Old Lady Names Starting with M
We have even more old lady names that start with M because there are so many names M-name that have fallen out of fashion but should definitely return.
- Mavis – A name that’s returned to the US top 1000 in the last couple of years, from French, meaning “songbird”
- Mildred – You will be hard-pressed to find anyone under 50 named Mildred today! The name has English origins and means “gentle strength”
- Millicent – Last popular during the roaring twenties, Millicent comes from German and means “strength in work”
- Minnie – A top 10 name in the 1880s, Minnie has fallen from those great heights! It’s a diminutive form of Minerva, meaning “intellect”
- Muriel – A poetic Celtic name that needs some love today, Muriel means “from the bright sea”
- Myrtle – Once a hot literary name appearing in such titles as Meet Mr Mulliner and The Great Gatsby, Myrtle, a botanical name, has lost its luster today
- Mahala – A name that has not been popular since the early 1900s, Mahala is of Hebrew origin and means “tender”
- Marion – An English and French diminutive form of Mary, meaning “bitter”
- Mercy – An English virtue name that is on the rise again after falling from favor for over 100 years
- Meta – A name that predates Facebook, meaning “daisy” or a diminutive form of Margaret meaning “pearl”
- Molly – An English diminutive form of Mary, meaning “bitter”
RELATED: 25 Ancient Baby Names for Girls That Sound Unique and Energetic Today
Old Lady Names That Start with N
Nora and Nova are the two most popular names that start with N today. Both sound too new for our tastes! Let’s find some appellations with that granny charm!
- Nellie – Once one of the hottest names a baby could get, Nellie comes from Eleanor and means “horn”
- Nancy – A grandma-name that has stood the test of time, Nancy is a diminutive form of Ann and means “grace”
- Nadene – A name with Russian and Slavic origins, meaning “hope”
- Nanette – A French diminutive form of Anne, meaning “grace”
- Nell – Another diminutive form of Eleanor, Nell has not been popular since the 1950s!
- Nettie – A sweet name that was a top 100 choice before 1901! The name is diminutive form for a combination of Hebrew and English names, meaning “plant”
- Norma – An English name from Latin, meaning “of the north”
- Nancy – An English diminutive form of Ann, once one of the most popular names in the US, meaning “grace”
- Nina – A Russian name that comes from a variety of appellations that end with -nina
- Nora – An Irish form of Honora, from Greek, meaning “light”
Old Lady Names That Start with O
The most popular name for girls at the moment is Olivia. It’s a timeless classic that deserves to enjoy so much favor! Let’s find older names that we should dust off!
- Opal – Opal has made a comeback in recent years after losing luster for about 60 years. Opal has Sanskrit origins and means “gem”
- Odette – A French name from German, meaning “wealthy”
- Ottilie – Last popular in the 1900s, Ottilie comes from German, a form of Otto, meaning “wealthy in battle”
- Odile – Another German name popular in the early 20th century that you seldom encounter today is Odile, meaning “wealthy in battle”
- Odessa – A Russian place name that was popular in the US until the early 1950s
- Odelia – Another vintage favorite, from Hebrew meaning “I will praise the Lord”
- Olive – A name of Latin origin, meaning “olive true”
- Ora – One of the old lady names that was last popular in the 1960s, meaning “prayer”
- Ophelia – A name that fell of the popularity charts for over 40 years, Ophelia is back today and it means “help”
- Oriana – A vintage Latin name, meaning “dawn”
Old Lady Names That Start with P
Penelope, a storied name from Greek mythology, is currently the most popular P-name for girls. Let’s find more old lady names that start with P!
- Pearl – Thankfully this Latin gem-name has finally made a comeback, keep it going!
- Prudence – A virtue name that’s been unpopular for decades, Prudence deserves to make a comeback too.
- Prue – A diminutive form of Prudence that was a standalone favorite at the same time, also meaning “caution”
- Priscilla – A grandma-name that’s had real staying power, Priscilla comes from Latin and means “ancient”
- Philomena – A name that peaked in the 1940s, Philomena has Greek origins and means “lover of strength”
- Phyllis – A fashionable choice for decades, is it time for Phyllis to have a renaissance? This Greek name means “green bough”
- Penny – Okay, so we are cheating a bit as Penny is a form of Penelope, meaning “weaver”
- Paula – A Latinate feminine form of Paul, meaning “small”
- Peggy – A hugely popular mid-century name that’s fallen from favor, Peggy is one of the old lady names from Margaret, meaning “pearl”
- Polly – A curious favorite until the 1970s, Polly is a form of Molly, which itself is a form of Mary, meaning “bitter”
Old Lady Names That Start with Q
Queen and Quinn are the only two names that start with Q in the US top 1000 baby names. Just those two! Let’s discover some with some old lady flair!
- Quincy – A French name from Latin, meaning “fifth son”
- Queenie – With Queen in the top 1000, is it time for Queenie to stage a comeback? It was once a popular choice for babies born between 1880-1920
- Quintessa – Although it sounds fake to our ears today, Quintessa is a real appellation from Latin meaning “essence”
- Quitterie – Quitterie has always been a rare choice in the US but it’s heating back up in Europe today. Quitterie is a French name meaning “the red one”
- Quince – A name from Latin that describes a “pear-like fruit”
Old Lady Names That Start with R
Riley is the most popular name for girls that starts with R followed by the attractive old lady name Ruby. What other possibilities are out there?
- Ruth – A perennial favorite, Ruth’s popularity has dipped slightly recently. A name with Hebrew roots, Ruth means “compassionate friend”
- Rosalind – A hot name in the 1940s, it’s time to bring this gem back! Rosalind comes from Latin and means “pretty rose”
- Reba – A name belonging to a country star that has seen brighter days, Reba comes from Hebrew and means “fourth born”
- Retta – A surprisingly popular name for girls in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Retta comes from Latin and means “speaker”
- Rhonda – A super fresh name from the 1960s, Rhonda comes from Welsh and means “noisy one”
- Roberta – Hottest in the 1930s, Roberta has been lukewarm today. The name comes from German, meaning “bright fame”
- Rolanda – A German name, a form of Roland, meaning “famous in the land”
- Roseanne – An actual name that was popular in the middle of the last century, simply a combination of Rose and Anne
- Rena – A gorgeous vintage Hebrew name, meaning “joyful song”
- Ramona – A Spanish variation of Ramon, meaning “wise protector”
- Rosemary – A Latin botanical name that means “dew of the sea”
- Ruby – One of the old lady names that’s staged a comeback in recent years, Ruby comes from Latin and means “red precious stone”
Old Lady Names That Start with S
Sophia is on-trend for girls despite it being an ancient name. There are many appellations that start with S that are old lady names. Some are enjoying a renaissance and others are waiting to be rediscovered. Check them out!
- Stella – A top 50 name that fell out of favor for decades is solidly back, it’s a Latin name, related to Esther, meaning “star”
- Sadie – A name from Hebrew, related to Sara, meaning “princess”
- Sylvia – An appellation that’s been on the decline since the 1940s, Sylvia is still with us but it is hardly as popular as it once was, the name means “from the forest”
- Selma – An evocative name from German that has not been a popular choice since the 1950s, meaning “godly helmet”
- Sybil – Unpopular since the 1970s, Sybil comes from Greek and means “prophet”
- Sandy – A diminutive form of Sandra or Alexandra, from Greek meaning “defending men”
- Sheryl – A form of Cheryl, from Charlotte, meaning “free man”
- Sophronia – A forgotten name of Greek origin, meaning “sensible”
- Samantha – A name that spent 1907 to 1964 off of the popularity charts, Samantha is back today, of Hebrew origin, meaning “told by God”
- Scarlett – A name that’s seen some of its most popular years ever in recent decades, Scarlett means “red”
- Susan – A name that’s been on a steep decline since the 1960s, Susan is of Hebrew origin and means “lily”
Old Lady Names That Start with T
The most popular name for girls that start with T today is Taylor. That seems to new for us! Let’s find the old lady names that start with T!
- Thea – A mildly popular name once more, Thea comes from Greek and means “godly”
- Theodora – A name that ceased being popular in the US in the 1950s, Theodora might be on its way back! This name means “gift of God”
- Thora – Last popular in the 1920s, Thora comes from Norse and means “thunder goddess”
- Thomasina – An English feminine form of Thomas, meaning “twin”
- Tanya – A Russian diminutive form of Tatiana, this name hit its height in 1970
- Terry – An alternative form of Theresa that was a top 30 pick in the 1950s, meaning “to harvest”
- Trish – A Latin name from Patricia, meaning “noble”
- Tamar – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “date palm”
- Tawny – An English color name, meaning “golden brown”
- Thirza – A vintage Hebrew name, meaning “harvest” and “delightful”
- Tillie – One of the old lady names that fizzled out by the 1950s, Tillie comes from English by way of German and means “battle mighty”
- Tabitha – An ancient name of Aramaic origin, meaning “gazelle”
- Tessie – An English diminutive form of Theresa, meaning “harvest”
- Tryphena – A name of Ancient Greek origin, meaning “softness”
Old Lady Names That Start with V
The stately Victoria is the most popular V-name for girls today. It’s a rather timeless name that’s been popular forever. Let’s find some neglected old lady names that start with V!
- Viola – A hugely popular name in Europe, Viola has not seen much favor in the US since the 1970s. The name has Latin origins and means “violet”
- Vivian – A name on the rise again, Vivian has Latin origins and means “life”
- Vera – Another name that’s heating up again, Vera comes from Russian and means “faith”
- Vada – Not just a weird name for the sweet girl in My Girl, Vada was a popular German name in the US until the 1940s, meaning “famous ruler”
- Vita – Another name from Latin, meaning “life”
- Vida – The Spanish form of Vita, both Vida and Vita fell from favor by the 1950s
- Verna – A seasonal Latin name, meaning “springtime”
- Vesta – Last popular in the 1940s, Vesta is of Latin origin and means “pure”
- Violet – One of the old lady names that’s more popular today than ever before, Violet comes from Latin and means “purple”
- Victoria – A name that’s never gone out of style, Victoria comes from Latin and means “victory”
Even More Old Lady Names That Start with V
How is it that so many V-names have fallen out of style? Check out more of them below!
- Violetta – An Italian diminutive form of Violet, Violetta was once popular in the 1930s
- Verena – A vintage find from Latin virtually unheard since the 19th century in the US, meaning “integrity”
- Vicky – A midcentury name that has seldom been used for babies over the last few years, a diminutive form of Victoria
- Vonnie – A Latin alternative form of Berenice, meaning “vera icon” or “true image”
- Virginia – An English name from Latin, meaning “pure”
- Valerie – A name that peaked in the 1960s, Valerie is of Latin origin and means “strength”
- Viveca – A Swedish name from Old Norse that means “alive” and “place of refuge”
Old Lady Names That Start with W
We move right along to W-names that have that quirky, antique quality you are looking for. Let’s jump right in!
- Wilma – A diminutive form of William not popular since the 1940s, meaning “resolute protector”
- Wilhelmina – Another diminutive form of William that has fallen from fashion
- Willa – One of the few William spin-off names to regain traction, currently a top 500 name
- Winifred – A hot as fire name in the 1920s, Winifred has Welsh roots and means “blessed peacemaker”
- Winnie – Although cute, this shortened form of Winifred has not been popular for years but it is on the upward trend since 2019
- Wanda – A name with Slavic origins that has not been hot since the 1970s, meaning “shepherdess”
- Waverly – First popular in 19th century England, Waverly is making waves today as a given name, meaning “of the meadow of aspens”
- Wendy – An invented name by Sir James Barrie for his play Peter Pan, Wendy is considered a diminutive form of Gwendolyn and means “white shadow”
- Wallis – An English name, meaning “a Welshman”
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 150 Cool Baby Names for Girls & Boys
Old Lady Names That Start with X, Y, or Z
It turns out there aren’t too many old lady names that start with letters nearing the end of the alphabet. Here are the few we did find for you!
- Yvette – Peaking in the 1960s, Yvette comes from French and means “yew tree”
- Yvonne – It’s a similar story for Yvonne, a name that means “yew wood”
- Yolanda – While there are some young people named Yolanda today, the appellation has not been widely applied since the 1970s. From Greek, this name means “violet flower”
- Zelda – Is it time to bring back this diminutive form of Griselda? The name means “gray fighting lady,” so… there’s that!
- Zenobia – Last popular in the 1920s, this name from Greek means “force of Zeus”
- Zillah – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “shade”
- Ziva – An evocative name of Hebrew origin, meaning “life”
- Zola – A name that spent over 75 years off of the popularity charts, Zola is back today, meaning “earth”
- Zora – Peaking in 1885, Zora is on its way to staging a comeback as it has been trending up since 2018. The name has Serbo-Croatian origins and means “dawn”
- Zorina – A diminutive form of Zora, meaning “golden dawn”
- Zula – A name of Polish origin, meaning “lily”
There you go! We hope you adored and feel inspired by these old lady names that would sound just as good for an infant as they would for a grandma. Classic names hold history and famed namesakes past making for fun conversations with your child later in life. We encourage you to go vintage as you will not regret the heaps of charm these appellations bring.