100 Classic Baby Girl Names To Inspire Your Search

By Annie Gabillet

Updated on 6/22/2023 at 6:45 PM

Pexels | Catalina Carvajal Herrera
Pexels | Catalina Carvajal Herrera

From the anticipation of meeting your little one, to looking for the best room decorations, there are a lot of exciting parts of pregnancy. One of the most integral steps includes finding a name that best fits your newest addition. Whether you know the sex of the baby or are waiting to find out, having a couple name options ready for your baby's arrival can be helpful, and hopefully alleviate some pressure. It can also be fun to nail down the style of name you favor, and to sift through the options, from gender neutral names to cute names to meaningful names. But if you and your partner are looking for a classic name for a baby girl, we're here to help out.

Firstly, historical data from the Social Security Administration is a good place to get inspired. The agency has collected the most popular baby names for more than a century. We found that the top 100 names from the 1910s include a range of both beautiful baby names and traditional baby names, and many don't get much love or recognition today. So if you're looking for options that are familiar and traditional, yet not overused, we think you'll want to look over the list below. With names like Alice to Vera to Genevieve, there are plenty of options to get the ball rolling.

To inspire you, here are the top 100 girl names from that decade, in order of popularity. We've also included the origins and meanings of each name from Nameberry, because that can also help guide your big decision.


— Additional reporting by Charlotte Kho

Classic Baby Girl Names From the 1910s

  1. Mary: Hebrew — Beloved; "Drop of the sea"
  2. Helen: Greek — Torch; shining light
  3. Dorothy: English — "Gift of God"
  4. Margaret: Greek — Pearl
  5. Ruth: Hebrew — Compassionate friend
  6. Mildred: English — Gentle strength
  7. Anna: Hebrew — Grace
  8. Elizabeth: Hebrew — "Pledged to God"
  9. Frances: Latin — "Free man"
  10. Virginia: Latin — Pure
  11. Marie: French — Beloved; "Drop of the sea"
  12. Evelyn: English — Desired; water; island
  13. Alice: German — Noble
  14. Florence: Latin — Flourishing; prosperous
  15. Lillian: Latin — Lily; "Pledged to God"
  16. Rose: Latin — Rose; a flower
  17. Irene: Greek — Peace
  18. Louise: French — "Renowned warrior"
  19. Edna: Hebrew — Rejuvenation, delight
  20. Catherine: Greek — Pure
  21. Gladys: Welsh — Land; nation
  22. Ethel: English — "Noble maiden"
  23. Josephine: French — "Jehovah increases"
  24. Ruby: Latin — A deep red precious stone
  25. Martha: Aramaic — Lady
  26. Grace: English — Virtue name
  27. Hazel: English — The hazelnut tree
  28. Thelma: Norwegian — Literary name
  29. Lucille: French — Light
  30. Edith: English — "Prosperous in war"
  31. Eleanor: English — Light
  32. Doris: Greek — "Gift of the ocean"
  33. Annie: English — Grace
  34. Pauline: French — Small
  35. Gertrude: German — "Strength of a spear"
  36. Esther: Persian — Star
  37. Betty: Hebrew — "Pledged to God"
  38. Beatrice: Latin — Blessed; "She who brings happiness"
  39. Marjorie: Scottish — Pearl
  40. Clara: Latin — Bright; clear
  41. Emma: German — Universal
  42. Bernice: Greek — "She who brings victory"
  43. Bertha: German — Bright; glorious
  44. Ann: English — Grace
  45. Jean: English — "God is gracious"
  46. Elsie: Scottish — "Pledged to God"
  47. Julia: Latin — Youthful
  48. Agnes: Greek — Pure
  49. Lois: Greek — Most desirable
  50. Sarah: Hebrew — Princess
  51. Marion: English — Beloved; "Drop of the sea"
  52. Katherine: Greek — Pure
  53. Eva: Hebrew — Life
  54. Ida: German — Industrious one
  55. Bessie: Hebrew — "Pledged to God"
  56. Pearl: Latin — Gemstone
  57. Anne: French — Grace; eagle
  58. Viola: Latin — Violet
  59. Myrtle: Greek — Botanical name
  60. Nellie: Greek — Horn
  61. Mabel: Latin — Lovable
  62. Laura: Latin — Bay laurel
  63. Kathryn: Greek — Pure
  64. Stella: Latin — Star
  65. Vera: Russian — Faith
  66. Willie: German — Resolute protection
  67. Jessie: Hebrew — Wealthy
  68. Jane: English — "God is gracious"
  69. Alma: Latin — Nurturing; soul
  70. Minnie: Latin — Intellect; "Of the mind"
  71. Sylvia: Latin — "From the forest"
  72. Ella: German — All; completely; fairy maiden
  73. Lillie: English — Lily; "Pledged to God"
  74. Rita: Spanish or Hindi — Pearl; truth; order
  75. Leona: Latin — Lioness
  76. Barbara: Latin — "Foreign woman"
  77. Vivian: Latin — Life
  78. Lena: Latin — Bright; beautiful
  79. Violet: English — Purple
  80. Lucy: English — Light
  81. Jennie: English — Wellborn
  82. Genevieve: English — "Tribe woman"
  83. Marguerite: French — Pearl; daisy
  84. Charlotte: French — Free man
  85. Mattie: Hebrew — "Gift of God"
  86. Marian: Polish — Related to Mars; Roman god of War
  87. Blanche: French — White
  88. Mae: English — Pearl; bitter
  89. Ellen: English — Shining light; torch
  90. Wilma: German — Resolute protection
  91. Juanita: Spanish — "God is gracious"
  92. Opal: Sanskrit — Gem
  93. June: Latin — Month name for goddess Juno
  94. Geraldine: German or French — "Ruler with the spear"
  95. Beulah: Hebrew — Married
  96. Velma: German — Will helmet
  97. Theresa: English — To harvest
  98. Carrie: English — Free man
  99. Phyllis: Greek — Green bough/tree
  100. Maxine: Latin — Greatest