Vintage Girl Names

Names that reached the U.S. top 300 before 1960, from forgotten favorites to names back in style.

Name & meaning	Babies 2025 · rank	5-year rank movement	Peak year
Patricia Noble	167#1,336	Down 219 rank positions in five years	1951
Linda Tender, soft	294#902	Down 87 rank positions in five years	1947
Barbara Strange, foreign	264#968	Down 82 rank positions in five years	1947
Susan Lily	222#1,091	Down 116 rank positions in five years	1955
Dorothy Gift of God	743#421	Up 114 rank positions in five years	1924
Helen Possibly torch or moon; deeper origin disputed	668#462	Down 36 rank positions in five years	1918
Nancy Grace, through Ann; earlier linked with Annis	265#967	Down 70 rank positions in five years	1947
Betty My God is an oath, through Elizabeth	212#1,113	Up 62 rank positions in five years	1930
Sandra Defender of people, through Alessandra	188#1,210	Down 107 rank positions in five years	1947
Donna Lady; also a feminine form of Don or Donald	98#1,965	Down 419 rank positions in five years	1959
Carol Man, in the Charles family; also song or hymn	82#2,242	Down 331 rank positions in five years	1946
Deborah Bee	313#864	Up 40 rank positions in five years	1954
Sharon Plain	179#1,256	Down 112 rank positions in five years	1947
Kathleen Traditionally pure, through Katherine; deeper origin disputed	201#1,156	Down 151 rank positions in five years	1951
Cynthia Woman from Cynthus	247#1,014	Down 141 rank positions in five years	1957
Shirley Bright clearing	133#1,586	Down 36 rank positions in five years	1935
Catherine Traditionally pure; deeper origin disputed	972#314	Down 47 rank positions in five years	1956
Virginia Traditionally maiden or virgin; Roman family name of uncertain origin	572#526	Up 55 rank positions in five years	1922
Frances Frenchwoman; feminine form of Francis	960#318	Up 100 rank positions in five years	1918
Pamela Possibly all sweetness; a literary creation	82#2,251	Down 577 rank positions in five years	1954
Carolyn Feminine form of Charles, from a Germanic word meaning man	185#1,222	Down 275 rank positions in five years	1947
Janet Yahweh is gracious, through Jane	61#2,791	Down 780 rank positions in five years	1954
Martha Lady; mistress of the household	393#713	Up 54 rank positions in five years	1947
Debra Bee, through Deborah	31#4,477	Down 1,018 rank positions in five years	1955
Marie Meaning uncertain; French and Czech form of Maria	474#618	Down 1 rank positions in five years	1920
Diane Divine; goddesslike, through Diana	66#2,620	Down 272 rank positions in five years	1955
Joyce Lord, from Breton Judoc	226#1,074	Down 97 rank positions in five years	1942
Joan Yahweh is gracious, through John	222#1,087	Up 460 rank positions in five years	1932
Ann Favor; grace, in the Hannah family	225#1,076	Up 29 rank positions in five years	1957
Doris Dorian woman	58#2,909	Down 529 rank positions in five years	1928
Jean Yahweh is gracious, through John	88#2,130	Up 228 rank positions in five years	1927
Judith Jewish woman; woman of Judah	344#790	Up 120 rank positions in five years	1943
Charlotte Free man, through Charles	13,400#2	Up 3 rank positions in five years	2025
Mildred Gentle strength	98#1,973	Up 1 rank positions in five years	1920
Cheryl Darling, through Cherie	32#4,375	Up 95 rank positions in five years	1958
Gloria Glory	437#655	Down 77 rank positions in five years	1947
Janice God is gracious, through Jane	70#2,522	Down 560 rank positions in five years	1951
Theresa Meaning uncertain; Teresa name family	136#1,559	Down 149 rank positions in five years	1961
Judy Jewish woman; woman from Judea, through Judith	105#1,874	Down 291 rank positions in five years	1947
Beverly Beaver clearing or beaver stream, through Beverley	246#1,018	Up 249 rank positions in five years	1953
Marilyn Combination of Mary and the name ending -lyn	356#761	Down 127 rank positions in five years	1947
Denise Belonging to Dionysus, through Denis	123#1,677	Down 800 rank positions in five years	1961
Irene Peace	442#651	Down 31 rank positions in five years	1921
Florence Flowering, flourishing	796#391	Up 372 rank positions in five years	1918
Eleanor From Occitan Alienòr; deeper meaning disputed	7,649#12	Up 10 rank positions in five years	1920
Louise Famous in battle, through Louis	579#516	Up 165 rank positions in five years	1921
Kathy Traditionally pure, through Katherine; deeper origin disputed	48#3,274	Down 1,091 rank positions in five years	1958
Lois Possibly better or more desirable in Greek; Galician form of Louis	124#1,670	Up 176 rank positions in five years	1927
Josephine He will add, through Joseph	4,126#53	Up 34 rank positions in five years	1918
Bonnie Fine, beautiful	785#396	Up 210 rank positions in five years	1947

Page 1 of 2

Sources & methodology

Meaning summaries use Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and referenced name histories. Each name’s detail page includes its sources.

Vintage membership uses historical U.S. rankings. This selection includes names now outside the top 1,000, names that have climbed back into the top 300, and names quietly in use between those groups. Rankings and counts come from official SSA birth records. “—” means fewer than five published applications for that sex and year.

Related lists