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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.

Alfred

Meaning: wise counselor; elf counsel

Origin:English
178
Edward

Meaning: wealthy guardian

Origin:English
235
Sam

Meaning: told by God

Origin:English, diminutive of Samuel
593
Harry

Meaning: estate ruler

Origin:Diminutive of Henry
294
Ernest

Meaning: serious, resolute

Origin:English from German
291
Minnie

Meaning: of the mind, intellect

Origin:Diminutive of Minerva
355
Martha

Meaning: lady

Origin:Aramaic
433
Bessie

Meaning: pledged to God

Origin:Diminutive of Elizabeth
1552
Myrtle The meaning of Myrtle ‘of the myrtle plant’ ...
Origin:Greek botanical name
886
Lucille

Meaning: light

Origin:French variation of Latin Lucilla
418
Marie

Meaning: drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved

Origin:French variation of Mary
604
Virginia

Meaning: virginal, pure

Origin: Latin
657
Gladys

Meaning: land, nation

Origin:Possibly a form or Claudia or Welsh
964
Bertha

Meaning: bright, glorious

Origin:German
1108
Lillie Lillie is a name with several possible origi...
Origin:Spelling variation of Lily/ Lilian
3074
Origin:Diminutive of Martha or Matilda
3682
Origin:Diminutive of Helen, Eleanor, et al
543
Francis

Meaning: Frenchman or free man

Origin:Latin
240
Leonard

Meaning: brave lion

Origin:German
490
Raymond

Meaning: wise protector

Origin:German
398