Unusual Antique Baby Names

An English surname derived from multiple place names, which ranked in the Top 500 for boys in the US until the turn of the 20th century.

General as a name sounds more like a military rank than another word for "widespread". You may find your little General ruling the household.

Has a harmonic feel.

Like Silver, Golden is a shimmering metallic color name, almost too dazzling for an ordinary girl.

Despite the presidential pedigree, it's still hard to shake the image of the cartoon cat (named after his creator Jim Davis's grandfather). However, there are other Garfields, such as Barbadian cricket player Sir Garfield Sobers, who carries it with gravitas.

An English family name used a few generations ago as an Anglicization of Moses, but hardly heard since th 1950s.

Early is a word-turned-name, pleasantly suggesting the start of a bright new day. Of the new word and day names, Early is one of the best.

Flamenco dancer.

Palma is an appealing Latin name that's both geographical -- it's the romantic city on the Spanish island of Majorca -- and botanical, relating to the palm frond. Sometimes given to girls born on Palm Sunday.

The visibility of actor Wilmer (That 70s Show) Valderrama has highlighted this name, but it's not likely to spread because of its similarity to the feminine (and dated) Wilma.

This Victorian pen name is the childish version of the novelist's real name, Louisa, but it has managed to gain a sophisticated image. Ouisa is a similar childhood nickname name.

Thebe is the name of more than one daughter of Zeus, according to some myths, and is also the name of a moon of Jupiter. Thebe rhymes with Phoebe and may appeal to lovers of that name.

Lovie is one of a vast number of ie-ending nickname names popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, which means they should be back in style now.

Variation of Tennessee.

Lacks the cachet of some newer place-names.

Hilda with a stuffed nose.

Orpha, with its Biblical roots and its animal meaning, was once a fairly popular name, but fell from sight around the time of the Second World War, along with so many other Old School Names. And its similarity to the word orphan probably didn't help.

A unique international short form of Margaret.

Problematic, even if not for Dilbert.