Looking for a classic baby name? Here are some beautiful antique names that will make your baby super classy from day one.
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00:00Lots of parents in the 21st century have opted for ultra-modern or unusual baby names, like
00:05Elon Musk and singer Grimes calling their son X-Ash A-12. But classic names can be just
00:11as impactful. Here are some beautiful antique names that will make your baby super classy
00:16from day one.
00:18If you're looking for a lovely, sophisticated, classic baby name, Vivienne is a great option
00:22for a girl. The name is of French origin and means alive. The name offers some opportunities
00:28for a few adorable nicknames, like V, Viv, and Vivi.
00:32Vivienne is a great choice for parents who love all things retro. After all, one of the
00:37best-known Viviennes in history is the iconic star of the silver screen, Vivienne Leigh.
00:42Vivienne Leigh rose to fame after her roles in Gone With the Wind, Wuthering Heights,
00:46and A Streetcar Named Desire. She was one of the most celebrated and beautiful silver
00:50screen stars of her time.
00:52Both Angelina Jolie and Rosie O'Donnell have daughters named Vivienne. Jolie and her Vivienne
00:57appeared in the movie Maleficent together.
01:00Theodore is definitely a pretty uncommon baby name these days. According to NameBury.com,
01:05it comes from the Latin name Theodorus and the Greek name Theodoros, so it's definitely
01:11one of the oldest names you can choose.
01:14The site goes on to note that the name means gift of God. On top of that, it comes with
01:18some truly adorable nicknames for baby Theodores, such as Ted, Teddy, and Theo.
01:22There are also plenty of famous Theodores, starting with Theodore Roosevelt, who became
01:27the President of the United States in 1901. Historical records show that the name was
01:32hugely common when Roosevelt was in office, and according to BabyNames.com, it was the
01:37third most popular name of 2020 in the United States.
01:40The name is also pretty common in the literary world. Theodore is the first name of the boy
01:45next door in Little Women, as well as the name of Christian and Anna's son in the Fifty
01:49Shades of Grey series.
01:51The name Evelyn has an old-fashioned vibe, and it's certainly a baby name you don't hear
01:56every day. Evelyn is an English name that can be traced back to the German name Eva,
02:01which means desired and wished for, or water or island. It comes with some lovely nicknames,
02:07such as Eve, Eva, or Evie.
02:09Even though Evelyn has a very feminine feel, in the 20th century, Evelyn was actually a
02:14man's name popular in Britain. One famous Evelyn was the classic author Evelyn Waugh.
02:20Throughout the late 20th century, the name fell out of favor. However, more recently,
02:24some celebrities, such as Carey Mulligan, have used the name for their children. We
02:27can't blame them for choosing it, it's a beautiful old-school name.
02:32It doesn't get more antique than a name like Fitzwilliam. If you want to commit to a truly
02:36classic baby name, this British name is the perfect option. While it has an incredibly
02:41retro feel, this name can easily be modernized with nicknames like William, Will, Bill, Fitz,
02:46or Willie. According to BabyNames.com, the name literally translates to Son of William.
02:52One of the most famous Fitzwilliams is, of course, the male lead in Jane Austen's Pride
02:57and Prejudice. This romance story has been adapted multiple times over the years, with
03:01the 1995 version featuring Colin Firth as Fitz. In fact, this super old-school name
03:07probably would have completely faded out of the public consciousness if it hadn't been
03:12for the enduring popularity of Pride and Prejudice.
03:15I would be very happy if you would do me the honor of dancing with me, Miss Bennet."
03:19Hazel is another charming girl's name that is fairly rare these days, and it literally
03:23means the hazelnut tree. Birth records show that the name had a bit of a moment in the
03:2819th century, but then it eventually lost its steam, but not for good. It became popular
03:33once again in the late 90s. It has remained fairly common, making it a lovely antique
03:38name choice that isn't too out there.
03:40The name is especially popular among celebrities. Julia Roberts and Emily Blunt have both picked
03:46it. Plus, there are plenty of famous fictional characters named Hazel. The main character
03:50in The Fault in Our Stars is named Hazel. In Degrassi, The Next Generation, Hazel was
03:55part of the show's ensemble for the first five seasons. As far as names go, this one
04:00is truly beautiful.
04:02Everett is a wonderful old-school boy's name for parents looking for a classy option for
04:07their newborn. According to The Bump, the name means brave, strong boar, and is of Old
04:12English origin. The name now has a New England feel, and it is definitely a lovely choice
04:18for parents who are after a classic name.
04:20Looking for Everetts in pop culture? You better believe the name has been given to several
04:24different characters. There's Everett Young in Stargate Universe, and George Clooney played
04:29an Everett in the 2000 film Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? According to EverythingBirthday.com,
04:34the name has become increasingly popular since the early 2000s, making it a great name
04:40that won't feel too dated.
04:42Adeline is a pretty, feminine name with a classy, vintage feel. It's an English name
04:47that means noble. The name lends itself to nicknames like Ada, Lena, Adele, or Lynn.
04:53Some of the famous Adelines you might know include figure skater Adeline Canack and writer
04:58Adeline Pond Adams. As far as examples of fictional characters go, Blake Lively played
05:03a character called Adeline in 2015's The Age of Adeline.
05:07Adeline is also a popular name in the world of music. The indie British band Alt-J wrote
05:11a song called Adeline, and Sweet Adeline is a barbershop classic. If you want a few beautiful
05:16songs to sing to your newborn, Adeline is a great option for you.
05:21Most people probably know the name Dorian from the famous novel by Oscar Wilde, The
05:25Picture of Dorian Gray, where Dorian was used as a first name for the first time. The book
05:31was turned into a film several times, most recently in 2009 with Ben Barnes in the lead
05:36role. The name has Greek origins and is said to mean gift.
05:40There have been quite a few Dorians in the public sphere, including actor Dorian Gregory
05:44from Charmed, as well as Full Metal Jacket actor Dorian Harewood. And let's not forget
05:49bodybuilder and six-time Mr. Olympia, Dorian Yates.
05:53Statistics show that this name is hugely popular in Europe. This name is a great option for
05:58fans of classic literature who want a classic, unusual name for their baby boy or girl.
06:04Rose is a beautiful, simple name inspired by the flower. The name comes from the Latin
06:09word rosa. This name was hugely popular between 1896 and 1921, according to historical data,
06:15when flower names like rose, ivy, lily, and iris all became common.
06:20Rose presents the opportunity for nicknames such as Rosie and Rosa. Or you could opt for
06:25a longer version of Rose, like Rosemary, Rosalind, or Rosamund, all of which have a lovely vintage
06:31feel.
06:32Rose is a very popular baby name among celebrities. Jennifer Garner, Jon Stewart, Eric Clapton,
06:37and Ewan McGregor all have kids named Rose. There are also a few famous Roses, like Rose
06:42Byrne and Rose McGowan. Plus, Rose is the name of the much-loved lead character in the
06:471997 film Titanic.
06:50I'm Jack Dawson.
06:53Rose DeWitt, big hitter.
06:55I'm gonna have to get you to write that one down.
06:58This is definitely a super classy, old-school name choice that won't sound out of place
07:03today.
07:05Atticus is definitely a pretty old-fashioned name. Choosing this name for your baby will
07:09instantly give him or her a dignified, sophisticated feel. The name is traditionally a boy's name
07:14and, as parents noted, it is of Greek and Latin origin and literally means someone who
07:20lived in the Attica region of Greece. There are both real and fictional examples of people
07:25named Atticus.
07:26Titus Pomponius Atticus was a figure in Roman history. Atticus Finch, the literary character,
07:32is the father and lawyer with a heart of gold in Harper Lee's famous Pulitzer Prize-winning
07:37novel To Kill a Mockingbird. It is also the name of Casey Affleck's son.
07:41Atticus also happens to be the name of the clothing line started by Blink-182's Mark
07:45Hoppus and Tom DeLonge. It became one of the top 1,000 names in the U.S. in 2004. We absolutely
07:52love this vintage-sounding name.
07:55Margaret is a classic, dignified name with a lot of history. If you want your little
07:59girl to sound like a princess, you can't go wrong with Margaret. Margaret can be traced
08:04back to the Old Persian word margarita, which means pearl. While Margaret may sound a little
08:10formal to the modern ear, there are plenty of modern nicknames like Maggie or Meg. This
08:14is one of the most famous antique names, thanks to its frequent use in the royal family. As
08:20fans of The Crown know, Princess Margaret was rather fascinating and rebellious in her
08:24younger years. There's even a PBS special called Margaret, the Rebel Princess, and we
08:29wouldn't be surprised if more parents adopted the name after watching the show.
08:33Other famous Margarets include the award-winning author Margaret Atwood, Margaret Drabble,
08:37and surprisingly, Margaret Leanne Rimes. It's also the name of one of the sisters in
08:42the novel Little Women.
08:44Grant is a vintage boys' name, originally from England, meaning large or great. It's
08:49a simple, sturdy name with a real classic feel. Grant is actually traditionally a last
08:54name. For instance, you've probably heard of Ulysses S. Grant, a former president of
08:58the United States. Cary Grant was a massive star of the silver screen in the 1930s and
09:04As The Guardian put it, he was Hollywood's most dry and dapper gentleman, so not a bad
09:09person to have as a namesake.
09:11The name had a real spike in popularity in the early 2000s, but the popularity seems
09:16to be going down a little now, which is good news for parents who don't want to choose
09:19a name that will be everywhere as their child grows up.
09:23Esther is a retro name with a significant backstory. The name means star and is of Persian
09:28origin. A name with a long religious history, Esther appears in the Hebrew Bible and Old
09:34Testament. The name reached the top 50 girls' names roughly a century ago, right around
09:38the time America's Mermaid actress Esther Williams was born.
09:42You may have also come across a few famous Esther characters in film and literature.
09:46For instance, in both the 1954 and 1976 versions of A Star Is Born, the main character's name
09:52is Esther. Sylvia Plath's classic novel The Bell Jar also features a protagonist called
09:58Esther.
09:59For parents looking for a classic name, Esther is a lovely choice. Plus, it offers the opportunity
10:03for a seriously adorable nickname for your little one, Essie.
10:08Oscar is a fantastic boy's name with a great old-school feel. Oscar is an English and Irish
10:13name that is thought to mean Godspear or Champion Warrior, making it a great name for a fierce
10:18little boy. In recent years, Oscar has fallen back into favor, with actors Hugh Jackman
10:23and Gillian Anderson both choosing the name for their children.
10:27There are a few famous Oscars in pop culture. Oscar Wilde was the larger-than-life artistic
10:32author of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Oscar De Laurentiis
10:37is a revered fashion designer. Oscar Hammerstein II was one half of the duo Rogers and Hammerstein.
10:43And of course, we can't forget beloved Sesame Street grump Oscar the Grouch. Oscar is a
10:48lovely choice for your baby's name that feels like a real throwback.
10:54Estelle is a beautiful name with a classy retro feel. The name originally comes from
10:58Latin, and like the name Esther, means star. There's also the variation Estella, which
11:03happened to be the name given to the lead female character in Charles Dickens' Great
11:08Expectations. Choosing Estella for your daughter will allude to the old-school Estelle while
11:13paying reference to the famous character from literature. Plus, with this name, you'll have
11:18the option of using the adorable Esty as a nickname.
11:21As for famous Estelles, Estellas, and Estys, there's Estella, daughter of actress and model
11:27Ali Landry, Esty Haim, the eldest sister in the band Haim, and Princess Estelle, the Princess
11:33of Sweden. This is a lovely, regal, sophisticated name that vintage-loving parents should find
11:39ideal for their baby girl.