Names that Peaked in 1887

An appealing name almost unknown in our culture but with roots in several others; worldlier than cousins Celia and Delia.

Overly ambitious choice, recently borne by the hapless hero of cult movie hit Napoleon Dynamite.

If you use this for a boy, it had better be a family name, hidden away in the middle.

Though it sounds like a modern invention, Champ actually has a long history as a first name. It hit the Top 1000 several times just before and after the turn of the 20th Century.

A name with various origins, Elmira combines the sounds of multicultural Mira with the popular El- beginning. Despite this, the name is rarely heard in the US, though it does rank in the Top 100 names in Azerbaijan.

Carlota is the preferred version of Charlotte in Spain and Portugal, each where it ranks among the Top 50 most popular girl names. Carlotta, with two Ts, is the Italian spelling.

Pansy is an early floral name that lost credibility when it became a derogatory slang term for gay people. Better these days: Posy or Poppy.

An anagram of Mama, in tune with its Tamil meaning.

If you're looking for a presidential first name, keep looking.

Antique girl names like Louise, Louisa, Loretta, and Etta are all on the rise, and Louetta is a hidden gem among them. Rumer Willis recently revived this vintage compound name for her daughter, Louetta Isley Thomas Willis. Louetta, a combination of Lou and Etta, was used consistently from the 1910s-1960s' but has never been given to more than 50 baby girls in a single year.

This name has a nicely fragrant woodsy feel, bringing it into the nature-tree name category. Its only well-known bearer, folk singer and Oscar-winning actor Burl Ives, had the full birth certificate name of Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives — nothing compared to his two siblings named Argola and Lillburn.

Seldom heard as a first name.

Anabel is the sleekest version of this lovely name with so many variations, all of them correct. But Anabel and all her sisters -- Annabel, Annabelle, Anabella etc. -- took a downward turn after the 2014 horror film Annabelle.

One of the surname names used more in the last century, à la Milton and Morton.

Depending on its origin, this cool single-syllable name has either a wonderful meaning ("give thanks" in Igede) or a terrible one ("persecuted", as a variant of the Hebrew name Job).

Stylish way to name your son after basketball great Walt -- though Walt is sounding fresh again too.

A commanding word name that feels occupational like Miller, Palmer, and Shepherd, while also fitting in with ambitious choices like Legend, King, Major, Maverick, and Saint. Referring to someone who takes the lead and holds influence and responsibility, Captain has links to team sports, the military, seafaring, superheroes, and the police.