Top 100+ Old Fashioned Girl Names

Discover the charm of old fashioned girl names! From nature-inspired to literary gems, these timeless names will evoke a sense of nostalgia and grace.

Are you tired of the same old trendy baby names that seem to dominate every playground? Perhaps it’s time to take a step back and draw inspiration from the past. Old-fashioned girls names are making a comeback, and for good reason. 

Not only do they have a timeless charm, but they also evoke a sense of nostalgia and elegance. From classic literary heroines to beloved pop culture icons, there’s no shortage of fun references to draw from when it comes to naming your little one. 

Whether you’re a fan of vintage films, old-fashioned music, or retro fashion, there’s an old-fashioned girl name that’s sure to capture your heart.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular old fashioned girl names and the cultural references that make them so beloved. From Audrey to Zelda, we’ll explore the meanings behind these vintage girl names, and why they continue to endure through the decades. 

So sit back, grab a cup of tea, and get ready to be inspired by the timeless charm of old-fashioned girl names.

• Victorian Elegance: Names that were popular during the Victorian era, reflecting grace and sophistication. Examples: Victoria, Florence, Adelaide, Eleanor, Beatrice
• Literary Heroines: Names inspired by classic literature, representing strong and memorable female characters. Examples: Elizabeth (Pride and Prejudice), Jane (Jane Eyre), Catherine (Wuthering Heights), Emma (Emma), Jo (Little Women)
• Biblical Names: Timeless names with roots in the Bible, often symbolizing virtues and values. Examples: Ruth, Esther, Miriam, Rebecca, Abigail
• Mythological Names: Names inspired by ancient myths and legends, evoking a sense of mystery and enchantment. Examples: Athena, Penelope, Cassandra, Daphne, Ariadne
• Regal Names: Names with royal associations, reflecting power, nobility, and grandeur. Examples: Isabella, Matilda, Charlotte, Eleanor, Margaret
• Nature-Inspired Names: Names that evoke the beauty and tranquility of the natural world. Examples: Rose, Ivy, Daisy, Hazel, Violet
• Timeless Classics: Names that have stood the test of time and never go out of style. Examples: Alice, Clara, Evelyn, Grace, Lucy
• Vintage Charm: Names that convey a sense of nostalgia and old-world charm. Examples: Lillian, Ruby, Edith, Mabel, Agnes

25 Victorian Elegance Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Adelaide – A Germanic name meaning “noble” and “kind,” Adelaide was the name of several queens and princesses in European history.

2. Araminta – A name of uncertain origin, possibly invented in the 17th century, it has a refined and elegant Victorian feel.
3. Aurelia – A Latin name meaning “golden,” Aurelia was the name of several early Christian saints and a Roman empress.
4. Cecilia – Derived from the Latin “caecus” meaning “blind,” Cecilia is the patron saint of music and musicians, giving the name an air of sophistication and artistic sensibility.
5. Clementine – A feminine form of the Latin name Clement, meaning “merciful” and “gentle,” Clementine exudes grace and kindness.
6. Cordelia – A name of uncertain origin, possibly from the Latin “cor” meaning “heart,” Cordelia was a character in Shakespeare’s King Lear and conveys a sense of nobility and strength.
7. Eleanora – A variant of Eleanor, possibly derived from the Provencal name Alienor, meaning “foreign” or “the other,” Eleanora has a regal and stately air.
8. Emmeline – A name of Germanic origin, meaning “work” or “industrious,” Emmeline was a popular name in Victorian England and was associated with the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.
9. Isadora – A variant of the name Isidora, meaning “gift of Isis” in Greek, Isadora was the name of the famous dancer Isadora Duncan and exudes grace and elegance.
10. Lavinia – A name of Latin origin, possibly from the ancient city of Lavinium, Lavinia was a character in Virgil’s Aeneid and conveys a sense of refinement and sophistication.
11. Octavia – A Latin name meaning “eighth,” Octavia was the name of several Roman aristocrats and has a stately and distinguished air.
12. Ophelia – A name of Greek origin, meaning “helper” or “serpent,” Ophelia was a character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and is associated with beauty and tragedy.
13. Theodora – A name of Greek origin, meaning “gift of God,” Theodora was the name of several Byzantine empresses, giving it a regal and majestic feel.
14. Wilhelmina – A feminine form of the name Wilhelm, meaning “will” and “protection” in Germanic, Wilhelmina has a strong and commanding presence.
15. Agnes – A name of Greek origin, meaning “pure” or “holy,” representing virtue and innocence.
16. Constance – Derived from the Latin word “constantia,” meaning “steadfastness” or “faithfulness,” representing loyalty and resolve.
17. Evangeline – A name of Greek origin, meaning “bearer of good news” or “gospel,” symbolizing hope and inspiration.

18. Florence – A name of Latin origin, meaning “flourishing” or “prosperous,” representing growth and success.
19. Georgiana – A feminine form of George, meaning “farmer” or “earthworker” in Greek.
20. Henrietta – A feminine form of Henry, meaning “home ruler” or “ruler of the household” in Germanic languages.
21. Leona – A feminine form of Leo, meaning “lion” in Latin, symbolizing strength and courage.
22. Minerva – A name of Latin origin, representing the Roman goddess of wisdom, art, and warfare.
23. Seraphina – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “fiery” or “ardent,” inspired by the seraphim, the highest order of angels.
24. Tabitha – A name of Aramaic origin, meaning “gazelle” or “beauty and grace,” symbolizing elegance and swiftness.
25. Virginia – A name of Latin origin, meaning “virginal” or “pure,” also inspired by the U.S. state named in honor of Queen Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen.”

19 Literary Heroines Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Elizabeth – From Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” the strong and intelligent Elizabeth Bennet.

2. Jane – The title character of Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre,” a resilient and self-reliant woman.
3. Catherine – The passionate protagonist of Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights.”

4. Emma – The witty and charming heroine of Jane Austen’s novel “Emma.”

5. Scarlett – The strong-willed and resourceful heroine of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind.”
6. Dorothy – The brave protagonist from L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
7. Estella – The beautiful and enigmatic character from Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations.”
8. Juliet – The romantic heroine of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
9. Hester – The courageous and resolute protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”
10. Marian – The intelligent and resourceful heroine from Elizabeth Gaskell’s “North and South.”
11. Elinor – The sensible and caring heroine of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility.”
12. Dorothea – The idealistic and compassionate protagonist of George Eliot’s “Middlemarch.”
13. Lucy – The brave and kind-hearted heroine of C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia” series.

14. Nancy – The resourceful and courageous character from Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist.”

15. Fanny – The patient and empathetic heroine of Jane Austen’s “Mansfield Park.”
16. Edith – The strong and independent protagonist of Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Wives and Daughters.”
17. Hermione – The brilliant and brave heroine of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series.
18. Sybil – The passionate and idealistic heroine of Benjamin Disraeli’s “Sybil, or The Two Nations.”
19. Ramona – The spirited and adventurous protagonist of Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona” series.

21 Biblical Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Abigail – The wife of Nabal and later King David, known for her wisdom and beauty.
2. Deborah – A prophetess and judge of Israel who led the Israelites to victory against the Canaanites.
3. Esther – The Jewish queen of Persia who saved her people from extermination.
4. Hannah – The mother of the prophet Samuel, known for her devotion and faithfulness.
5. Leah – The first wife of Jacob and mother of six of the twelve tribes of Israel.
6. Miriam – The sister of Moses and Aaron, a prophetess and leader of the Israelites.
7. Naomi – The mother-in-law of Ruth, who guided her in finding a new husband after the death of her first.

8. Ruth – A Moabite woman who remained loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi and later married Boaz, becoming an ancestor of King David.
9. Sarah – The wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, the first matriarch of the Jewish people.
10. Rebecca – The wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau, known for her kindness and beauty.
11. Rachel – The second wife of Jacob, who gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin.

12. Lydia – A merchant from Thyatira who became a follower of Paul and one of the first converts to Christianity in Europe.
13. Martha – The sister of Mary and Lazarus, known for her hospitality and service to Jesus.
14. Magdalene – A follower of Jesus, named Mary Magdalene, who was present at his crucifixion and resurrection.
15. Salome – The daughter of Herodias, who requested the head of John the Baptist.
16. Susanna – A woman who was falsely accused of adultery but later vindicated by the prophet Daniel.
17. Zipporah – The wife of Moses and the daughter of Jethro, a Midianite priest.
18. Anna – A prophetess who recognized Jesus as the Messiah when he was presented in the temple.
19. Jael – A woman who killed the Canaanite general Sisera, delivering Israel from oppression.
20. Priscilla – A Christian missionary and wife of Aquila, who worked closely with the apostle Paul.
21. Phoebe – A deaconess in the early church, mentioned by Paul in his letter to the Romans.

19 Mythological Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Cassandra – A Trojan princess in Greek mythology, gifted with the power of prophecy but cursed to never be believed.
2. Circe – A sorceress from Greek mythology who lived on the island of Aeaea.
3. Daphne – A nymph in Greek mythology who was pursued by Apollo and transformed into a laurel tree.

4. Diana – The Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature, equivalent to the Greek goddess Artemis.

5. Eurydice – The wife of Orpheus in Greek mythology, who tried to bring her back from the underworld.
6. Hera – The Greek goddess of marriage, childbirth, and family; wife of Zeus.
7. Juno – The Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth, equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera.
8. Leda – A queen of Sparta in Greek mythology, mother of Helen of Troy and the Dioscuri.
9. Persephone – The Greek goddess of spring and the underworld, daughter of Demeter and wife of Hades.
10. Thalia – One of the Greek Muses, the goddess of comedy and idyllic poetry.

14 Regal Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Victoria – Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, who ruled from 1837 to 1901.
2. Isabella – Queen Isabella of Castile, who ruled alongside her husband, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, and sponsored Christopher Columbus’ voyages.

3. Alexandra – Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom.
4. Charlotte – Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of the United Kingdom.
5. Sophia – Sophia of Hanover, the mother of King George I of Great Britain, and several other noblewomen.

6. Louise – Several queens and princesses, including Louise of Prussia and Queen Louise of Denmark.
7. Caroline – Several queens and princesses, including Caroline of Ansbach, the wife of King George II of Great Britain.
8. Amelia – Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom, the daughter of King George III and Queen Charlotte.
9. Helena – Princess Helena, the third daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
10. Irene – Several princesses, including Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark and Princess Irene of the Netherlands.
11. Madeleine – Princess Madeleine of Sweden, the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

20 Nature-Inspired Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Flora – Derived from the Latin word for “flower,” also the name of the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
2. Rose – A classic and elegant name inspired by the beautiful and fragrant flower.
3. Ivy – Inspired by the evergreen climbing plant, symbolizing fidelity and eternity.

4. Hazel – Derived from the Old English word for the hazel tree or the light brown color of its nuts.

5. Lily – A name inspired by the elegant and fragrant flower, symbolizing purity and innocence.

6. Daisy – A cheerful and lighthearted name inspired by the simple and charming flower.
7. Willow – Inspired by the graceful willow tree, known for its flexibility and resilience.
8. Fern – A name derived from the ancient and delicate plant, symbolizing sincerity and humility.
9. Celeste – Derived from the Latin word for “heavenly,” evoking images of the night sky.
10. Marigold – A vibrant and sunny name inspired by the bright orange-yellow flower.
11. Iris – A name inspired by the colorful and delicate flower, also the Greek goddess of the rainbow.

12. Briar – Derived from the Old English word for a thorny shrub, giving a strong and resilient impression.
13. Wren – A name inspired by the small and energetic songbird, symbolizing cheerfulness and agility.
14. Sylvia – Derived from the Latin word for “forest” or “woodland,” evoking images of nature and tranquility.
15. Pearl – A precious and timeless name inspired by the lustrous gemstone formed within oysters.
16. Coral – A name inspired by the beautiful and diverse marine invertebrates that form coral reefs.
17. Opal – A name inspired by the iridescent gemstone, symbolizing hope and creativity.
18. Laurel – A name derived from the laurel tree, whose leaves were used to make wreaths for victors in ancient Greece.
19. Heather – Inspired by the hardy and resilient flowering plant that grows in moorlands and rocky areas.

21 Timeless Classics Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Alice – A popular name for centuries, derived from the Old French name Aalis, meaning “noble.”
2. Clara – A classic name meaning “clear” or “bright” in Latin, representing purity and brilliance.
3. Eloise – A name with French origins, combining elements meaning “famous” and “warrior.”
4. Evelyn – Originally a surname, it became a popular first name for girls, meaning “desired” or “wished for” in Old English.
5. Genevieve – A name of French origin, possibly meaning “tribe woman” or “woman of the race.”
6. Grace – Derived from the Latin “gratia,” representing elegance, beauty, and divine favor.
7. Harriet – The English form of the French name Henriette, meaning “home ruler.”
8. Josephine – The feminine form of Joseph, meaning “Jehovah increases” in Hebrew.

9. Julia – A feminine form of Julius, a Roman family name, meaning “youthful” or “vibrant.”
10. Louisa – A feminine form of Louis, meaning “famous warrior” in German.
11. Margaret – Derived from the Greek word “margarites,” meaning “pearl,” symbolizing beauty and value.
12. Nora – A short form of Eleonora or Honora, meaning “honor” or “light” in various languages.
13. Olivia – A popular name created by Shakespeare for a character in “Twelfth Night,” possibly derived from the name “Olive.”

14. Penelope – A Greek name meaning “weaver,” also the name of the loyal wife of Odysseus in Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
15. Rosemary – A combination of Rose and Mary, inspired by the fragrant herb and its association with remembrance.
16. Stella – Derived from the Latin word “stella,” meaning “star,” symbolizing brightness and guidance.
17. Susannah – A name of Hebrew origin, meaning “lily” or “rose,” symbolizing purity and beauty.
18. Vivian – A name of Latin origin, meaning “life” or “lively,” symbolizing vitality and energy.
19. Winifred – An Anglo-Saxon name meaning “joy” and “peace,” representing happiness and harmony.

12 Vintage Charm Old Fashioned Girl Names

1. Beatrice – A name with Latin roots, meaning “she who brings happiness” or “blessed.”
2. Eleanor – A name of Old French origin, possibly meaning “shining light” or “bright one.”
3. Felicity – Derived from the Latin word “felicitas,” meaning “happiness” or “good fortune.”
4. Gwendolyn – A Welsh name, meaning “white ring” or “blessed ring,” symbolizing purity and protection.
5. Imogen – A name possibly created by Shakespeare, meaning “maiden” or “innocent.”

6. Lucille – A diminutive of Lucia, meaning “light” in Latin, representing illumination and guidance.
7. Mae – A short form of names like Mary or Margaret, also inspired by the month of May, symbolizing growth and renewal.
8. Millicent – A name of Old German origin, meaning “strong in work” or “industrious.”
9. Prudence – Derived from the Latin word “prudentia,” meaning “caution” or “wisdom,” representing good judgment and foresight.
10. Rosalind – A name of Old German origin, meaning “gentle horse” or “pretty rose.”
11. Ursula – A name of Latin origin, meaning “little bear,” symbolizing strength and protection.
12. Veronica – A name of Latin and Greek origin, meaning “true image” or “victory bringer.”

Final Thoughts

Old fashioned girl names have a timeless charm that is hard to resist. Whether you draw inspiration from nature, literature, film, mythology, or cultural references, these beautiful lady names have a sense of elegance and grace that never goes out of style. 

Choosing a cute old-fashioned name for your baby can be a way to honor the past while also celebrating the future. These names are steeped in history and tradition and can offer a sense of continuity and connection to generations that have come before. 

No matter which old-fashioned name you choose, you can be sure that it will be a unique and special choice for your little one.