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Top 1900s Baby Names

The top baby names of the 1900s include some choices back in style (or even past their most recent peak), such as Lillian and Leo, Josephine and Jack. Others are still moored in that long-ago era, including Ethel and Elmer.

Along with Josephine and Leo, other 1900s baby names that are currently in the US Top 1000 include Elsie, George, Hazel, Leonard, Nellie, Oscar, Virginia, and Walter. In addition to Ethel, the names with the steepest drops in popularity include Bessie, Myrtle, Thelma, and Bertha.

While we may not be hearing many babies named Gertrude and Clarence soon, names such as Mabel and Florence, Henry and Arthur are very much back in style. Sourced from the Top 100 of the decade from 1900 to 1910, here is a list of popular baby names which are relatively rare today.

Mabel

Meaning: lovable

Origin:Diminutive of Amabel, Latin
40
Ruby

Meaning: deep red precious stone

Origin:Latin
48
Elsie

Meaning: pledged to God

Origin:Diminutive of Elizabeth via its Scottish variation, Elspeth
67
Florence

Meaning: flourishing, prosperous

Origin: Latin
74
Dorothy

Meaning: gift of God

Origin:English variation of Greek Dorothea
352
Rose

Meaning: rose, a flower

Origin:Latin
52
Hazel

Meaning: the hazelnut tree

Origin:English
61
Esther

Meaning: star

Origin:Persian
105
Edith

Meaning: prosperous in war

Origin:English
70
Ida

Meaning: industrious one

Origin:German
166
Irene

Meaning: peace

Origin:Greek
195
Evelyn

Meaning: desired; or water, island

Origin:English from French and German
117
Ruth

Meaning: compassionate friend

Origin:Hebrew
255
Louise

Meaning: renowned warrior

Origin:French and English, feminine variation of Louis
377
Lillian

Meaning: lily; pledged to God

Origin:English from Latin
110
Mildred

Meaning: gentle strength

Origin:English
778
Gertrude

Meaning: strength of a spear

Origin:German
838
Viola

Meaning: violet

Origin:Latin
340
Leo

Meaning: lion

Origin:Latin
48
Arthur

Meaning: bear

Origin:Celtic
32