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Classic Baby Names

What are the most classic baby names for girls and boys? They’ve been used for centuries, and the majority have always been in the Top 1000 — counted since 1880. Many of the most popular baby names today are classics, including Olivia and William.

Along with Olivia and William, other classic baby names in the US Top 20 include Emma, Sophia, Charlotte, and Emily for girls, and James, Benjamin, Henry, and Jacob for boys. Many classic names are also royal baby names , such as Elizabeth, Charles, Victoria, and Philip.

While there are hundreds of classic baby names from the Bible, ancient cultures, and other traditional sources in common use today, these are our picks for the most, um, classic classic baby names.

Classic Names for Babies

Thomas

Meaning: twin

Origin:Aramaic
59
Adam

Meaning: son of the red earth

Origin:Hebrew
154
Samuel

Meaning: told by God

Origin:Hebrew
87
Nathan

Meaning: given

Origin:Hebrew
121
Alexander

Meaning: defending men

Origin:Greek
42
Nicholas

Meaning: people of victory

Origin:Greek
124
Michael

Meaning: who is like God?

Origin:Hebrew
224
Luke

Meaning: man from Lucania

Origin:Greek
83
Christopher

Meaning: bearer of Christ

Origin:Greek and Latin
206
Simon

Meaning: he has heard; flat-nosed

Origin:Hebrew, Greek
61
Henry

Meaning: estate ruler

Origin:German
40
Jack

Meaning: God is gracious

Origin:English, diminutive of John
93
George

Meaning: farmer

Origin:Greek
191
Louis

Meaning: renowned warrior

Origin:German and French
39
Peter

Meaning: rock

Origin:Greek
107
Patrick

Meaning: noble, patrician

Origin:Latin
205
Paul

Meaning: small

Origin:Latin
265
John

Meaning: God is gracious

Origin:Hebrew
299
Richard

Meaning: dominant ruler

Origin:German
359
Jonathan

Meaning: gift of Jehovah

Origin:Hebrew
258