Over the years, the world of baby names has seen its fair share of trends and transformations, from classic monikers that have stood the test of time to contemporary choices that echo the spirit of the age. When we hear the name Betsy most of us will imagine a grandmother type, whereas the name Everleigh might evoke imagery of a spunky pre-teen.
When looking to the popular names of 1880, many of their top names endured through the ages, and we are almost as likely to meet a baby Grace today as we were 143 years ago. Others have slipped through the cracks and have been all but forgotten. Minnies and Berthas have become Maddies and Bellas, and the cycle will continue.
I’ve always had an infatuation with baby names, and that interest lies largely in vintage names and vintage naming trends.
I was curious which baby girl names ranked in 1880’s top 1000 most popular baby names that are no longer ranked today in the United States. As always, I used the Social Security Administration’s database as my source, as they pull their rankings from babies born each year. (Other sites rank popularity based on how many “favorites” a name has, or how many times a name’s webpage was visited.)
Baby Names Ranked in 1880 That No Longer Rank Today
There are so many names this was the best way I could figure out how to format them so it wasn’t too overwhelming – they are in order in how popular they were in 1880 starting with the left column, moving down, and then back to the middle, then the far right.
| Minnie |
| Ida |
| Bertha |
| Carrie |
| Maude |
| Bessie |
| Jennie |
| Gertrude |
| Mattie |
| Ethel |
| Lula |
| Myrtle |
| Edna |
| Fannie |
| Dora |
| Agnes |
| May |
| Mamie |
| Blanche |
| Ellen |
| Effie |
| Sallie |
| Nettie |
| Lizzie |
| Susie |
| Maud |
| Etta |
| Harriet |
| Susan |
| Mollie |
| Addie |
| Lulu |
| Nannie |
| Viola |
| Willie |
| Henrietta |
| Ollie |
| Theresa |
| Augusta |
| Ora |
| Pauline |
| Mildred |
| Ann |
| Beulah |
| Lou |
| Delia |
| Iva |
| Mayme |
| Betty |
| Marion |
| Bettie |
| Inez |
| Lela |
| Janie |
| Cornelia |
| Winifred |
| Alta |
| Christine |
| Harriett |
| Mable |
| Tillie |
| Carolyn |
| Sally |
| Ina |
| Essie |
| Bertie |
| Nell |
| Alberta |
| Katharine |
| Lora |
| Rena |
| Rhoda |
| Mathilda |
| Abbie |
| Eula |
| Dollie |
| Hettie |
| Eunice |
| Fanny |
| Ola |
| Lelia |
| Nelle |
| Sue |
| Lucinda |
| Minerva |
| Lettie |
| Roxie |
| Hilda |
| Hulda |
| Bernice |
| Jean |
| Cordelia |
| Marian |
| Francis |
| Jeanette |
| Gussie |
| Lois |
| Lura |
| Mittie |
| Olga |
| Hester |
| Lida |
| Claudia |
| Marguerite |
| Bess |
| Emilie |
| John |
| Rosetta |
| Verna |
| Myrtie |
| Elva |
| Georgie |
| Elnora |
| Linnie |
| Madge |
| Polly |
| Virgie |
| Eugenia |
| Lucile |
| Mabelle |
| Kittie |
| Meta |
| Dessie |
| Georgiana |
| Selma |
| Wilhelmina |
| Lilla |
| Malinda |
| Vina |
| Freda |
| Gertie |
| Jeannette |
| Louella |
| Mandy |
| Roberta |
| Cassie |
| Corinne |
| Lyda |
| Norma |
| Bell |
| Margie |
| Nona |
| Zella |
| Dovie |
| Elvira |
| Erma |
| Irma |
| Leota |
| William |
| Artie |
| Blanch |
| Charity |
| Lorena |
| Lucretia |
| Orpha |
| Alvina |
| Annette |
| Catharine |
| Elma |
| Geneva |
| Janet |
| Lee |
| Leora |
| Lona |
| Sudie |
| Zula |
| Adella |
| Alpha |
| Frieda |
| George |
| Leonora |
| Tennie |
| Angeline |
| Docia |
| Ettie |
| Flossie |
| Letha |
| Minta |
| Retta |
| Rosella |
| Adah |
| Berta |
| Leola |
| Margret |
| Floy |
| Idella |
| Juanita |
| Lenna |
| Lucie |
| Missouri |
| Eda |
| Isabell |
| James |
| Letitia |
| Malissa |
| Pattie |
| Almeda |
| Dolly |
| Jannie |
| Kathleen |
| Kathrine |
| Lavinia |
| Marietta |
| Melvina |
| Ona |
| Pinkie |
| Susanna |
| Donnie |
| Gladys |
| Matie |
| Pearle |
| Vesta |
| Vinnie |
| Antoinette |
| Edythe |
| Harriette |
| Libbie |
| Lue |
| Lutie |
| Meda |
| Rita |
| Tena |
| Zelma |
| Adelia |
| Annetta |
| Antonia |
| Dona |
| Elizebeth |
| Georgianna |
| Iona |
| Lessie |
| Leta |
| Liza |
| Mertie |
| Neva |
| Oma |
| Alida |
| Alva |
| Cecile |
| Donna |
| Ernestine |
| Helene |
| Minna |
| Myrta |
| Prudence |
| Queen |
| Rilla |
| Tessie |
| Tina |
| Agatha |
| America |
| Anita |
| Arminta |
| Dorothea |
| Ira |
| Luvenia |
| Marjorie |
| Maybelle |
| Mellie |
| Nan |
| Pearlie |
| Sidney |
| Velma |
| Clare |
| Constance |
| Dixie |
| Iola |
| Jimmie |
| Louvenia |
| Ludie |
| Metta |
| Patsy |
| Phebe |
| Sophronia |
| Adda |
| Avis |
| Betsy |
| Cecil |
| Cordie |
| Emmaline |
| Ethelyn |
| Hortense |
| Louie |
| Lovie |
| Marcella |
| Melinda |
| Mona |
| Odessa |
| Aimee |
| Annabel |
| Cathrine |
| Christena |
| Clyde |
| Dena |
| Dolores |
| Eleanore |
| Elmira |
| Fay |
| Frank |
| Jenny |
| Kizzie |
| Lonnie |
| Loula |
| Magdalene |
| Mettie |
| Mintie |
| Peggy |
| Reba |
| Zada |
| Celestine |
| Celina |
| Claudie |
| Clemmie |
| Connie |
| Daisie |
| Dessa |
| Easter |
| Eddie |
| Imogene |
| Jeanne |
| Joan |
| Lenore |
| Liddie |
| Lotta |
| Mame |
| Nevada |
| Rachael |
| Robert |
| Sina |
| Aline |
| Beryl |
| Charles |
| Daisey |
| Dorcas |
| Edmonia |
| Effa |
| Eldora |
| Emmer |
| Era |
| Gena |
| Henry |
| Izora |
| Lennie |
| Lissie |
| Mallie |
| Malvina |
| Mathilde |
| Mazie |
| Queenie |
| Rosina |
| Salome |
| Therese |
| Vena |
| Wanda |
| Wilda |
| Altha |
| Besse |
| Bird |
| Birtie |
| Clarissa |
| Claude |
| Emelie |
| Erna |
| Fern |
| Florida |
| Frona |
| Hilma |
| Joseph |
| Leonie |
| Lugenia |
| Mammie |
| Manda |
| Manerva |
| Manie |
| Nella |
| Philomena |
| Rae |
| Selina |
| Sena |
| Theodosia |
| Tommie |
| Una |
| Vernie |
| Adela |
| Althea |
| Anner |
| Arie |
| Clarice |
| Corda |
| Corrie |
| Dell |
| Dellar |
| Donie |
| Doris |
| Elda |
| Elinor |
| Emeline |
| Esta |
| Estell |
| Etha |
| Fred |
| Indiana |
| Ione |
| Jettie |
| Johnnie |
| Josiephine |
| Kitty |
| Lavina |
| Leda |
| Letta |
| Mahala |
| Marcia |
| Margarette |
| Maudie |
| Maye |
| Oda |
| Patty |
| Permelia |
| Roxanna |
| Sula |
| Winnifred |
| Adline |
| Almira |
| Alvena |
| Arizona |
| Becky |
| Bennie |
| Bernadette |
| Cordia |
| Corine |
| Dicie |
| Dove |
| Drusilla |
| Elenora |
| Elmina |
| Ethyl |
| Evalyn |
| Evelina |
| Huldah |
| Idell |
| Inga |
| Irena |
| Jewell |
| Kattie |
| Lavenia |
| Lovina |
| Lulie |
| Margeret |
| Margery |
| Media |
| Millicent |
| Nena |
| Ocie |
| Orilla |
| Osie |
| Pansy |
| Ray |
| Rosia |
| Rowena |
| Shirley |
| Tabitha |
| Thomas |
| Verdie |
| Walter |
| Zetta |
| Zoa |
| Zona |
| Albertina |
| Albina |
| Alyce |
| Amie |
| Annis |
| Carol |
| Carra |
| Clarence |
| Clarinda |
| Delphia |
| Dillie |
| Doshie |
| Drucilla |
| Etna |
| Eugenie |
| Eulalia |
| Felicia |
| Florance |
| Fronie |
| Geraldine |
| Gina |
| Glenna |
| Grayce |
| Hedwig |
| Jossie |
| Katheryn |
| Katy |
| Leitha |
| Leone |
| Lidie |
| Loma |
| Lular |
| Magdalen |
| Maymie |
| Minervia |
| Muriel |
| Neppie |
| Olie |
| Onie |
| Osa |
| Otelia |
| Paralee |
| Patience |
| Rella |
| Rillie |
| Rosanna |
| Theo |
| Tilda |
| Tishie |
| Tressa |
| Viva |
| Yetta |
| Zena |
| Zola |
| Alba |
| Alda |
| Alla |
| Alverta |
| Ara |
| Ardelia |
| Ardella |
| Arrie |
| Arvilla |
| Augustine |
| Bama |
| Bena |
| Byrd |
| Calla |
| Carey |
| Carlotta |
| Celestia |
| Cherry |
| Cinda |
| Classie |
| Claudine |
| Clemie |
| Clifford |
| Clyda |
| Creola |
| Debbie |
| Dee |
| Dinah |
| Doshia |
| Ednah |
| Edyth |
| Eleanora |
| Electa |
| Eola |
| Erie |
| Eudora |
| Euphemia |
| Evalena |
| Evaline |
| Fidelia |
| Freddie |
| Golda |
| Harry |
| Helma |
| Hermine |
| Hessie |
| Ivah |
| Janette |
| Jennette |
| Joella |
| Kathryne |
| Lacy |
| Lanie |
| Lauretta |
| Leana |
| Leatha |
| Leo |
| Liller |
| Lillis |
| Louetta |
| Madie |
| Mai |
| Martina |
| Maryann |
| Melva |
| Mena |
| Mercedes |
| Merle |
| Mima |
| Minda |
| Nealie |
| Netta |
| Nolia |
| Nonie |
| Odelia |
| Ottilie |
| Phyllis |
| Robbie |
| Sabina |
| Sada |
| Sammie |
| Suzanne |
| Sybilla |
| Tressie |
| Vallie |
| Venie |
| Viney |
| Wilhelmine |
| Zilpha |
| Adelle |
| Adina |
| Adrienne |
| Albertine |
| Alys |
| Araminta |
| Arthur |
| Birtha |
| Bulah |
| Caddie |
| Celie |
| Charlotta |
| Clair |
| Concepcion |
| Cordella |
| Corrine |
| Delila |
| Delphine |
| Dosha |
| Edgar |
| Ellar |
| Elmire |
| Elvina |
| Ena |
| Estie |
| Etter |
| Fronnie |
| Genie |
| Glenn |
| Gracia |
| Guadalupe |
| Hassie |
| Honora |
| Icy |
| Isa |
| Isadora |
| Jesse |
| Jewel |
| Joe |
| Johannah |
| Juana |
| Judy |
| Junie |
| Lavonia |
| Lella |
| Lemma |
| Letty |
| Linna |
| Littie |
| Lollie |
| Lorene |
| Louis |
| Lovisa |
| Lucina |
| Lynn |
| Madora |
| Mahalia |
| Manervia |
| Manuela |
| Margarett |
| Margaretta |
| Margarita |
| Marilla |
| Mignon |
| Mozella |
| Nelia |
| Nolie |
| Omie |
| Ossie |
| Ottie |
| Ottilia |
| Parthenia |
| Pinkey |
| Pollie |
| Rennie |
| Reta |
| Roena |
| Roseanna |
| Ruthie |
| Sabra |
| Sannie |
| Sibyl |
| Tella |
| Tempie |
| Tennessee |
| Teressa |
| Texas |
| Theda |
| Thelma |
| Thursa |
| Ula |
| Vannie |
| Verona |
| Vertie |
| Wilma |
A lot of these names you might notice stopped ranking for good reason–Pansy has taken on new meanings, for instance. Others I think could be primed for a comeback.
A little girl name named Adela or Vallie would fit right in with any kindergarten class. I highlighted a few of my favorites and the ones I found the most interesting on my TikTok, and I’d love to hear what you think of these forgotten baby names, too!
