A List of Trendy Old Fashioned Names

  1. Levi
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "joined, attached"
    • Description:

      Levi, lighter and more energetic than most biblical names, with its up vowel ending, combines Old Testament gravitas with the casual flair associated with Levi Strauss jeans.
  2. Liam
    • Origin:

      Irish short form of William
    • Meaning:

      "resolute protection"
    • Description:

      Liam is the top boys' name in the US, holding the Number 1 spot for the past seven years and also ranking as one of the most popular boys' names around the western world.
  3. Lian
    • Origin:

      Variation of Leon or German short form of Julian, Chinese
    • Meaning:

      "waterfall; lotus"
    • Description:

      As a masculine name, Lian has historically been used as a nickname for names such as Julian and Killian, particularly in Europe. It’s also a unisex Chinese name pronounced as a single syllable.
  4. Libby
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Through all the years when Betty, Betsy, Beth, Liz, and Lizzie were the Elizabethan nicknames of choice, the bubblier Libby was set aside, but today it may be the most modern of all—it has already made a strong comeback in England and Wales, where it ranks Number 139.
  5. Lilith
    • Origin:

      Assyrian, Sumerian
    • Meaning:

      "ghost, night monster"
    • Description:

      Lilith is derived from the Akkadian word lilitu meaning "of the night." In Jewish folklore she is portrayed as Adam's rejected first wife, who was turned into a night demon for refusing to obey him. Lilith is unrelated to most other Lil- names, with the exception of Lilita, which is the Latvian variation.
  6. Lillian
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "lily; pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Lillian has ranked among the US Top 50 for the past 20 years, making it Lily's less popular but more grownup cousin.
  7. Lilliana
    • Origin:

      Variation of Lillian or Liliana
    • Meaning:

      "lily, a flower"
    • Description:

      While Lillian is the English version of this elaborated flower name and Liliana is the authentic Spanish and Portuguese spelling, Lilliana is a familiar and perfectly usable option in the US.
  8. Lillith
    • Linnie
      • Lion
        • Lionel
          • Origin:

            Latin
          • Meaning:

            "young lion"
          • Description:

            Lionel is one leonine name that hasn't taken off as cousins Leo and Leonardo have, though it did reenter the Top 1000 in 2010 after several years away; it was at its highest point in the 1920s and 1930s.
        • Locke
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "enclosure or fortified place"
          • Description:

            Usually adding an e to the end of a name makes it more feminine, but Locke is at most recent count used only for baby boys. Still, this stylishly strong one-syllable name is theoretically gender-neutral.
        • Loewy
          • Origin:

            Swiss and German nickname for brave person
          • Description:

            Enigmatic choice of enigmatic John Malkovich.
        • Lola
          • Origin:

            Spanish, diminutive of Dolores
          • Meaning:

            "lady of sorrows"
          • Description:

            A hot starbaby name – chosen by Kelly Ripa, Chris Rock, Lisa Bonet, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, Carnie Wilson, and Annie Lennox, and used as the nickname of Madonna's Lourdes – Lola manages to feel fun and sassy without going over the top. Be warned, though: "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets," to quote a song from the show Damn Yankees.
        • Lollie
          • Origin:

            Diminutive of Charlotte, French
          • Meaning:

            "free man"
          • Description:

            A sweet (literally) and rare nickname for Charlotte. Lollie would also work as a short form of other names with a strong L sound, such as Elizabeth, Lauren, Lola, Lorelei, and Louisa.
        • Lonan
          • Origin:

            Irish
          • Meaning:

            "blackbird"
          • Description:

            This name of several early Irish saints makes a nice Logan/Conan alternative.
        • Loni
          • Origin:

            Variation of Leona
          • Description:

            In baby name limbo along with Ronni, Connie, and Bonnie.
        • Lorcan
          • Origin:

            Irish
          • Meaning:

            "little, fierce"
          • Description:

            Lorcan is a name rich in Irish history as belonging to several kings, including the grandfather of the most famous high king of Ireland, Brian Boru. Lorcan O'Toole, known in English as Laurence O'Toole, is the patron saint of Dublin, so it's not too surprising that Irish-born actor Peter O'Toole named his son Lorcan.
        • Lorelai
          • Origin:

            Spelling variation of Lorelei, German
          • Meaning:

            "alluring, temptress"
          • Description:

            Lorelai is the spelling used for the character played by Lauren Graham on The Gilmore Girls, as well as her daughter, who preferred the nickname Rory. The television show reintroduced this name to a new generation, but the Lorelai spelling could be confusing -- is it lor-ah-LAY? -- to those unacquainted with the Gilmores.
        • Loretta
          • Origin:

            English variation of Italian Lauretta; diminutive of Laura
          • Meaning:

            "bay laurel"
          • Description:

            Though Loretta has long ago lost its Latin flair, fashionable Sarah Jessica Parker's choice of it as the middle name of one of her twin daughters freshens it up a bit. It's one of several such names, like Anita and Rita that we can envision making a comeback.