Old-Fashioned, Vintage, Retro, Classic, Eclectic, Unusual and Uncommon Names for Girls

  1. Seraphina
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "ardent; fiery"
    • Description:

      Seraphina is one of the most-searched name on Nameberry, destined for even greater popularity. The highest-ranking angels, the six-winged seraphim, inspired the lovely name Seraphina.
  2. Seraphine
    • Origin:

      French from Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "burning ones"
    • Description:

      Seraphine is the Gallic version of the angelic name Seraphina. But while Seraphina has been rising rapidly since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck chose it for their second daughter, Seraphine has been largely ignored, though we believe the French vowel-sound ending will soon be more stylish than the a-endings that have predominated in girls' names for years.
  3. Severina
    • Origin:

      Latin, feminine variation of Severino
    • Meaning:

      "stern, serious"
    • Description:

      Not only stern and serious, but a little too severe.
  4. Severine
    • Origin:

      French, feminine variation of Severus; Latin
    • Meaning:

      "stern"
    • Description:

      This long-popular name in France sounds fresh, elegant and unusual here. Severine is the name of the most recent gorgeous James Bond Girl in the film Skyfall. Students of film history will associate the name with the complex character Catherine Deneuve played in the 1967 Bunuel classic, Belle de Jour..
  5. Sharon
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "a plain"
    • Description:

      This Old Testament place name was in the Top 10 fifty years ago, but now Sharon, along with sound-alike Karen, have fallen out of favor.
  6. Sheila
    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Cecilia
    • Meaning:

      "blind"
    • Description:

      Sheila peaked in popularity from the 1930s to the 1960s (she reached Number 49 in 1965), along with Maureen and Colleen; parents today would probably go back to the original Cecilia or forward to Shea.
  7. Shelley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "clearing on a bank"
    • Description:

      The Shirley of the 1950s. Shelley Winters was born a Shirley.
  8. Shelly
    • Sherry
      • Origin:

        Phonetic variation of French Cheri; also a Spanish fortified wine
      • Description:

        Peppy cheerleader name of the 1960s and 70s that's sure to evoke the Four Seasons song of that name.
    • Shirl
      • Shirley
        • Origin:

          English
        • Meaning:

          "bright meadow"
        • Description:

          Shirley Temple almost single-handedly lifted the gloom of the Great Depression, and in tribute (and perhaps wishing for a similarly curly-headed, dimpled darling of their own), thousands of parents of that generation gave their little girls her name. In 1935, Shirley was the second most popular girls' name in the country with more than 42,000 babies named Shirley.
      • Sibilla
        • Sibylla
          • Origin:

            Greek
          • Meaning:

            "seer, oracle"
          • Description:

            This elongated form of Sibyl is dainty and delicate -- dare we even say demure? It's got deep history, a powerful namesake, and it's extremely rare -- zero baby girls were named Sibylla or Sybilla in the US last year.
        • Sibylle
          • Sidonia
            • Origin:

              Dutch variation of Sydney; variation of Sidonie
            • Description:

              Sidonia is an international spin on the recently-trendy Sydney. Plus Sidonia has an advantage over the French Sidonie in that it sounds more distinct to the English speaker. An original way to honor grandpa Sid.
          • Sidonie
            • Origin:

              Latin
            • Meaning:

              "from Sidon "
            • Description:

              Sidonie is an appealing and chic French favorite that is starting to attract some American fans as a fresher alternative to Sydney. Also spelled Sidony, Sidonie was the birth name of the French novelist Colette.
          • Simona
            • Simone
              • Origin:

                French, feminine variation of Hebrew Simon
              • Meaning:

                "hearkening"
              • Description:

                Simone, the elegant French feminization of Simon, strikes that all-important balance between unusual and familiar, and it's oozing with Gallic sophistication. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has a daughter named Simone; Chris Rock used it in the middle place for his daughter, as did Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates
            • Simonetta
              • Origin:

                Italian, variation of Simona
              • Meaning:

                "harkening"
              • Description:

                An over-elaborate Italian name associated with fashion designer Simonetta Colonna, a key figure in the emergence of Italian haute couture. Stop at SIMONE or SIMONA.
            • Sofia
              • Origin:

                Greek
              • Meaning:

                "wisdom"
              • Description:

                Sofia is a variation of the Greek name Sophia, which was derived directly from sophia, the Greek word for wisdom. It was the name of a Roman saint—the mother of Faith, Hope, and Charity—and queens of Russia and Spain.