Baby Names from the Early 1900s No One Uses Anymore
When was the last time you met a Bessie?
While there are always trends in baby names, like the surge of Liams and Emmas out there in the world now, there are traditional names that people always gravitate towards, like John, Mary, Robert and Anna. But back in the early 1900s people definitely had some trendy names that have not stood the test of time. These names ranked in the top 100 baby names, according to the Social Security website, but over time they fell out of the top 1,000 and are rarely used today. Some come back in fashion, like Mabel, which fell off the list in 1964 but came back in 2013 and has grown steadily. (Same with Beatrice.) And less likely names like Ernest, Eugene and Melvin are still hanging on, probably because someone wants to honor a family member. But here are some throwback names that don’t get much attention these days, great if you are looking for something a little bit unique …
Mildred
This popular name was once in the top 10 but last ranked in the top 1,000 back in 1984.
Ethel
While this name once had its heyday, it fell out of favor in 1975.
Gladys
This once-popular name was in fashion until 1999.
Clarence
This stately boy name cracked the top 1,000 list until 2010.
Bessie
This name, which is now often associated with images of a cow, stopped making the grade in 1975.
Bertha
This name somehow managed to stay in circulation until 1985.
Earl
This former fave lost popularity in 2006.
Gertrude
Often shortened to the cuter nickname Trudy, this name hasn’t ranked since 1965.
Herbert
Surprisingly, Herbert maintained a spot on the list until 2002.
Elmer
If you choose this antiquated name for your kid, expect a lot of glue jokes in their future. Despite that, this name stayed in the top 1,000 until 2009.
Agnes
This name gives off major old lady vibes, even though some people sporting this moniker were born in 1972.
Minnie
This cute name stopped being popular in 1971, perhaps because of a favorite adorable mouse?
Lester
This old-man name maintained a spot on the list until 1999.
Blanche
While this name brings up Golden Girls vibes, it doesn’t exactly scream baby and hasn’t been on the list since 1964.
Thelma
This name fell out of fashion in 1982, long before Thelma and Louise took their infamous road trip.
Lloyd
This boy name hung on until 2002.
Bernard
Even though this name definitely screams grandpa, it stayed on the list until 2008.
Fannie
Considering that this name here in the states can often be used as a synonym for a booty (and don’t even get us started with what it is a nickname for in the UK), it’s not a big surprise it hasn’t been popular since 1967.
Bernice
Much like its male counterpart Bernard, this antiquated name hasn’t been popular since 1984.
Milton
This old-timey name hasn’t ranked since 2008.
Adam is an NYC-based writer who has covered everything from men's fashion to video games and travel. He loves any opportunity to write about pop culture or essays inspired by his personal life.
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