'Old Lady' Baby Names Are On The Rise. Here Are 38 To Inspire You

Baby names rise and fall in popularity, often in cycles – so it’s perhaps no surprise then that vintage monikers like Ada, Dorothy and Elsie are making a comeback.

That’s according to The Daily Record, which suggested names that were once considered “old lady” or “old gentleman” names are becoming increasingly popular. 

Earlier this year, BabyNames.com founder Jennifer Moss said the trend for old-school names isn’t going anywhere, as people are researching their ancestry online and “finding these cool names that sound fresh because they haven’t been heard for so long”.

What’s more, the baby names expert told Today.com that period dramas such as Bridgerton and Downton Abbey are likely behind the rise in parents choosing olden day names for their little ones. 

Celebrities and social media influencers are also exploring the vintage name trend, which could prompt others to follow suit. 

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, for example, called two of their children Betty and Inez; while Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey welcomed a baby girl, who they named Matilda, earlier this year. 

According to experts at Nameberry, the best vintage names are inspired by literary, biblical and royal sources.

So, if you’re thinking of opting for a classic name for your new arrival, here are 38 girls’ names that evoke “old lady chic”. 

1. Ada
2. Adelaide
3. Agatha
4. Beatrice
5. Betty
6. Celia
7. Cordelia
8. Dorothy
9. Edna
10. Edith
11. Eleanor
12. Elsie
13. Evelyn
14. Estelle
15. Etta
16. Flora
17. Florence
18. Frances
19. Henrietta
20. Irene
21. Ivy
22. Lois
23. Mabel
24. Margaret
25. Martha
26. Matilda
27. Maude
28. Minnie
29. Nellie
30. Olive
31. Ophelia
32. Pearl
33. Penny
34. Ruby
35. Sadie
36. Sylvia
37. Vera
38. Winnie