Names that Peaked in 1880

An appealing surname-name that sounds perfectly feminine, unless you consider the association to Vice President Dick.

This quirky Old Testament name has potential, as parents are digging deeper into the Bible to find names for their children. It has also been used as a nickname for Obediah.

Minta is an eighteenth century short form of a literary beauty still used in England today, but yet to be discovered by American baby namers. It has a fresh and dainty feel.

Has a rather heavy surname feel.

Sybilla and its near-identical twin Sibylla are dainty and demure names with a powerful namesake that also happen to be extremely rare -- no baby girls were given either name in the US last year.

A very Christmas-y Christmas baby name, that may avoid the Santa image by instead adopting the alternative spelling Klaus.

Sociable middle name choice with a Quaker feel.

This alternative spelling of Harriet has always ranked in the England top 1000, reaching as high as the top 50 in the late 1800s. The extra T changes nothing about the pronunciation but adds a little flair and balances out the double R's in the middle of the name.

Aside from the singer, there aren't many people around named Pink or Pinkie or Pinky -- zero, in fact.

Retro nickname for Charles that has the potential for revival, a la Hal, Ike, and Gus.

Sounds like a displaced Dr. Seuss character.

Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.

We once dismissed Bird as "too flighty", but with the rise of avian names from Lark to Robin to, well, Birdie, we don't see why Bird can't be a fine choice, especially as a middle name.