Names that Peaked in 1896
- Essie
Origin:
Diminutive of Esther, PersianMeaning:
"star"Description:
Cute short form of Esther, now associated with the iconic nail polish brand.
- Mckinley
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of the fair hero"Description:
New Presidential name, if you're ready to move beyond Lincoln and Jefferson. At the turn of the last century, during the original McKinley's heyday, as a first name it almost reached the Top 100.
- Hazen
Origin:
Dutch surname from GermanMeaning:
"gray, black; hare"Description:
Hazen is a variation of the Dutch surname Hasin, which has two separate origins. The first is as a nickname for Haso, a Germanic given name derived from haswa, meaning "gray" or "black." Hasin was also a variation of Haas, a Dutch and German surname meaning "hare."
- Price
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"son of Rhys"Description:
Some names referring to expensive things -- Tiffany, Armani, Porsche -- are in fact declasse, but Price transcends that label with its simplicity and strength.
- Lonnie
Origin:
Short form of Alonso or Alonzo, variations of AlphonsoMeaning:
"noble, ready"Description:
Lonnie is one of those antiquated nicknames that is used much more often in the US than you might think, especially as a short form of Alonso or Alonzo, names always on the US Top 1000.
- Mahlon
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"sickly"Description:
Obscure Old Testament name -- he was the son of Naomi and the husband of Ruth -- that's become even more obscure over the past century, perhaps due to its unappealing meaning.
- Tressa
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"third"Description:
More unusual than Tessa, this would make an interesting, meaningful and attractive choice for a third child.
- Crawford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"ford where crows gather"Description:
A common surname in Scotland, but a starchy first name choice.
- Cam
Origin:
Diminutive of Cameron, ScottishMeaning:
"crooked nose"Description:
Cameron is still more popular as a boy's name than a girls and this simple, snappy short form works well for either sex.
- Park
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
A grassy place with trees is a nice image to attach to a name.
- Evans
Origin:
Welsh surnameMeaning:
"the Lord is gracious"Description:
Evans is an historic Welsh patronymic surname, derived from Evan, which is a form of John. With Evan's popularity in the U.S. and the U.K. -- it's a Top 50 names -- the stylish s-ending version may also be on the rise.
- Aurore
Description:
Aurore is a feminine name of Latin origin meaning 'dawn.' It's the French form of Aurora, the Roman goddess of the morning. The name evokes images of daybreak, new beginnings, and golden light. In French-speaking countries, particularly France and Canada, Aurore has maintained steady popularity over the centuries. The name carries an air of classic elegance and natural beauty. Its literary connections include the protagonist of George Sand's novel 'Histoire de ma vie.' While less common in English-speaking regions, Aurore offers an alternative to the more widely used Aurora. The name's soft sounds and romantic associations give it a timeless quality. Parents might choose Aurore for its subtle French sophistication or meaningful connection to light and renewal.
- Bertrand
Origin:
French from GermanMeaning:
"magnificent crow"Description:
This name of famed philosopher, mathematician and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell becomes slightly more plausible with the French pronunciation, bare-TRAHN. Another noted bearer is French director and screenwriter Bertrand Tavernier.
- Hobart
Origin:
English and Dutch variation of HubertDescription:
More user-friendly than the original.
- Elmore
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"moor with elm trees"Description:
Boys' names beginning with "El" were all the rage in the 1910s, but today Elmore - along with Elwin, Ellsworth and others - has barely been used for decades. It has literary connections through writer Elmore "Dutch" Leonard. More recently, several children's book characters have given the name a cuddly feel: Holly Hobbie's Elmore the Porcupine, and Elmore Green in Lauren Child's "The New Small Person".
- Lela
Origin:
Variation of Leila, ArabicMeaning:
"night"Description:
There are a dizzying number of varieties of the Arabic name Leila or Layla, two of the most popular versions, with Lela one of the rarer, given to fewer than 100 baby girls in the US each year. Pronunciation and spelling can be a challenge, so if you choose this simple, lovely name, you will be explaining it much more often than you want to.
- Little
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
A name that shows up on the Social Security roles of a hundred years ago. Let's hope it was a never-to-be-repeated mistake.
- Eugenio
Origin:
Spanish and Italian variation of EugeneDescription:
The name of four popes and several saints: a promising Italian import.
- Milda
Origin:
Lithuanian mythological nameMeaning:
"goddess of love"Description:
The name of the Lithuanian love diety is a unique way to get to the nickname Millie. Milda has also been seen as a diminutive for names such as Matilda and Mildred. It appeared on the US Top 1000 in 1886 and 1887.
- Vira
Description:
Vira is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Slavic languages, particularly Ukrainian, it means "faith" and functions as a counterpart to the Russian Vera. In Sanskrit, Vira means "brave" or "hero" (though it's more commonly masculine in Indian contexts). The name also appears in ancient Roman contexts as a shortened form of names containing "vir" (man, strength). Vira's simplicity and cross-cultural presence give it versatility while remaining relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries. The name's brevity, combined with its meaningful associations with faith and strength, makes it appealing to parents seeking short, strong feminine names. Its multicultural roots allow it to function well across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds while maintaining a distinctive character.