vintage girl names begging to be rediscovered

Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Flossie was one of the younger twins in the iconic children's book series The Bobbsey Twins, first published in 1904. Appealing, if a little cutesy--sweet as candy floss. A similar name is Florrie.

All but unheard of today, Floy was a popular Florence nickname used on its own in a century ago: it was Number 448 in 1914. Charles Dickens uses Floy as a pet name for the character Florence Dombey in his novel Dombey and Son.

Floyce is a feminine name with likely roots as a variation of Florence or Floyd, combining traditional elements with a unique spelling. The name has an old-fashioned charm reminiscent of early 20th century naming patterns. Its distinctiveness comes from the unusual blend of the flowing 'Flo-' prefix with the crisp ending. Floyce saw modest usage in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s but remains quite rare today, making it an uncommon vintage choice. The name carries connotations of individuality while maintaining links to more traditional naming patterns. Its rarity means most Floyces today would likely be older adults, giving the name a distinctive generational character. For contemporary parents, choosing Floyce represents an embrace of genuinely uncommon vintage style.

Foy is a medieval French name, or sometimes nickname, meaning "faith". Highly unusual now as a first name, it's most familiar to contemporary English speakers as the last name of British actress Claire, who played the young Elizabeth in The Queen.

Gaeta is a southern Italian region; this makes a sunny first name.

More uncommon and powerful than garden varieties like Rose and Lily. Named for Scottish botanist Dr Alexander Garden.

Garland is fragrant and celebratory, and also has a celebrity-tribute tie to the star of The Wizard of Oz.

One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.

Gayla is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. It most likely developed as a feminine form of Gale (meaning "cheerful" or "merry" in Middle English) or as a variant of Gaila, which has Hebrew roots meaning "joy" or "wave." Some also connect it to the Latin "gaillardia" (meaning "lively" or "high-spirited"). Gayla experienced modest popularity in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s alongside other melodic names ending in 'a'. Though never reaching the top rankings, the name conveys a sense of happiness and vivacity. The name's bright, uplifting meaning and pleasant sound continue to attract parents seeking a relatively uncommon name with positive associations and straightforward pronunciation.