vintage girl names begging to be rediscovered

One of the few remaining unrestored vintage gems, with a choice of two winning nicknames--the girlish Winnie and the tomboyish Freddie. Winifred, the name of a legendary Welsh saint, was a Top 200 name into the mid-1920's.

Rode two rockets to fame, with actress Winona Ryder and singer Wynonna Judd. Winona entered the Top 1000 for the first time since 1957 this past year in 2022, following in the footsteps of trending short form Winnie.

Wynette is a feminine name of Welsh and Old English origin, derived from 'Wyn' meaning 'fair' or 'blessed' combined with the French diminutive suffix '-ette,' creating the meaning 'little fair one' or 'little blessed one.' The name gained notable recognition through American country music legend Tammy Wynette in the 20th century. Despite this association, Wynette remains relatively uncommon as a given name. It has a vintage charm that appeals to parents seeking distinctive names with historical roots. The name's unique combination of Welsh origins and French styling gives it a sophisticated yet approachable quality. While never reaching widespread popularity, Wynette carries a musical legacy and conveys a sense of gentle beauty and blessing.

The name of a Christian saint and a city in Ohio, Xenia is one of the more accessible and intriguing x names. It is the name of one of the Bond Girls--played by Famke Janssen in the film "GoldenEye."

When aspiring British writer Sadie Smith decided to change her name to the more distinctive and zippy Zadie at the age of fourteen, this attention-magnet name was born. But though it might sound like a modern initial-switch, Zadie was actually Number 539 in 1881, remaining in the Top 1000 for almost thirty years.

Could be some disconnect between spelling and pronunciation.

Classified as an early beauty, Zelda has long and often been used as such for characters in books and films. Since 1986, Zelda has been a prime Nintendo name, as in the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

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

Sunny, sassy, and stylish, Zella is a multicultural and versatile choice which works across multiple languages. Popular back in the early 19th century, Zella is now catching the attention of cotemporary parent as a rival to Ella, Stella, and Della.

Zelpha is an uncommon feminine name with biblical connections, appearing as a variation of Zilpah, who was the handmaid of Leah in the Book of Genesis. The name has Hebrew origins, though its precise meaning is somewhat disputed, with some sources suggesting 'frailty' or 'drooping.' Zelpha enjoyed modest usage in the 19th century, particularly in religious communities, but remained relatively rare. The name has an antique, distinctive quality with its uncommon 'Z' beginning and 'ph' combination. While never reaching mainstream popularity, Zelpha carries a sense of history and biblical connection that appeals to some parents seeking an uncommon name with religious roots. Its vintage sound aligns with the revival of other rare biblical and historical names.

Familiar through the similarly pronounced TV Warrior Princess, Xena, this name ultimately derives from the Greek Xenia, meaning "guest, foreigner, hospitality". Familiar in the early 19th century in the US, it may also be used as a short form of Alexina, Rozina, Zenobia, and similar.

This name of a daughter of Zeus has an intriguing air of antiquity.

A tip-top word name—literally, Zenith means the top or apex. Zen makes a cute nickname.

With historical roots as a beautiful and intelligent ancient queen and literary ties to Hawthorne and Edith Wharton novels, this rarity could appeal to adventurous parents seeking the romantically unusual. Tina Fey used it as her daughter Alice's middle name.

Zeola is a feminine name with uncertain origins, possibly derived from Greek roots or representing a variant of Zeola. Some sources suggest connections to 'zoe' meaning 'life.' The name emerged in American naming patterns in the early 20th century but has remained exceptionally rare throughout its history. Zeola has a melodic, flowing quality with its three syllables and distinctive 'z' beginning. The uncommon 'zeo' sound combination gives it a unique auditory signature. The name may appeal to parents seeking something genuinely unusual with an exotic feel. While Zeola never entered mainstream popularity, it represents the kind of distinctive, vowel-rich name that occasionally experiences renewed interest in contemporary naming trends that favor unique sounds and vintage rediscoveries.

Zephyrus was the Greek god of the west wind, and all names associated with him have a pleasantly gentle, breezy feel. With its cool Z initial and similarity in sound to Stephie and Serafina, Zephyr has been rising up the US charts in recent years as a unisex name.

The sixth letter of the Greek alphabet, popularized by Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones -- Zeta was her grandmother's first name. Zeta can also refer to the letter Z, the last in the Roman alphabet, or be a spelling variation of Zita, a name with several possible origins and meanings.