Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ada

Noble one

German

Adeline

Noble one

German

Agnes

Pure, holy

Greek

Alberta

Noble, bright, famous

German

Alice

Of nobility

German

Alma

Nourishing, kind; soul; young woman; learned

Modern

Amelia

Work

German

Angelina

Messenger of God

Italian

Anita

“The graceful one,” based on the Hebrew hannah, grace.

Spanish

Ann

He (God) has favored me

Hebrew

Anna

Gracious

Hebrew

Anne

He (God) has favored me

Hebrew

Annie

Gracious one

Hebrew

Antoinette

“A girl in flower or bloom,” based, ultimately, on the Greek anthos, a flower.

French

Arlene

Pledge, promise

Modern

Audrey

Noble strength

English

Barbara

Foreign woman

Latin

Beatrice

Voyager (through life); blessed

Latin

Bernice

Victory bringer

Greek

Bertha

Bright, famous

German

Bessie

House; God's promise; God is my oath

Hebrew

Bette

God's promise; God is my oath

Hebrew

Betty

A diminutive form of Elizabeth.

Hebrew

Beulah

Bride

Hebrew

Blanche

White, pure

German

Bonnie

Fine, attractive, pretty

Scottish

Carol

Free man

German

Caroline

Free woman

French

Carolyn

Free man

German

Carrie

Free man

German

Catherine

Pure

Greek

Charlotte

Free man

French

Christine

Follower of Christ

Latin

Claire

Clear and bright

French

Clara

Bright and clear

Latin

Cleo

“The celebrated one,” from the Greek kleo, make known or famous.

Greek

Constance

Constancy, steadfastness

Latin

Cora

Maiden

Greek

Daisy

Daisy flower

English

Della

Noble

German

Dolores

Sorrows

Spanish

Donna

Lady

Italian

Dora

Gift

Greek

Doris

From Doris; gift

Greek

Dorothea

Gift of God

Greek

Dorothy

Gift of God

Greek

Edith

Strife for wealth

English

Edna

Renewer

Hebrew

Eileen

“The brightly shining one,” from the Greek lielene, something shining, as a torch.

Gaelic

Elaine

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Eleanor

Of unknown meaning

English

Elizabeth

God is my oath

Hebrew

Ella

Other goddess

Hebrew

Ellen

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Eloise

Healthy one

English

Elsie

God is my oath

English

Emily

To excel

Latin

Emma

Whole or universal

German

Erma

Complete, universal

German

Essie

Star; myrtle leaf

Persian

Estelle

Star

Latin

Esther

Star

Persian

Ethel

Noble

English

Eula

Well-spoken; wealthy; gem of the sea; sacred red

Scandinavian

Eunice

Good victory

Greek

Eva

Life

Hebrew

Evelyn

Desired one

English

Fannie

From France

Latin

Fern

Fern

English

Flora

Flower

Latin

Florence

Flowering, in bloom

Latin

Frances

From France

Latin

Freda

Peaceful

German

Geneva

Juniper tree

French

Genevieve

Family woman

French

Georgia

Farmer

English

Geraldine

Spear ruler

German

Gertrude

Strong spear

German

Gladys

“The bright one,” from the Anglo- Saxon glaecl, bright, shining.

Welsh

Gloria

Glory

Latin

Goldie

Golden

Yiddish

Grace

Gracious one

English

Harriet

Home ruler

German

Hattie

Home ruler

German

Hazel

Hazelnut tree

English

Helen

Sun ray, shining light

Greek

Henrietta

Home ruler

German

Hilda

Battle woman

German

Ida

Hardworking

Greek

Inez

“The chaste one,” from the Greek lwgne, chaste.

Spanish

Irene

Peace

Greek

Irma

Complete, universal

German

Isabel

God is my oath

Spanish

Jane

God is gracious

Hebrew

Janet

“The gracious gift of God.” A diminutive form of Joanna, the feminine form of John.

Scottish

Jean

God is gracious

Hebrew

Jeanne

God is gracious

Hebrew

Jeannette

God is gracious

Hebrew

Jennie

A variant spelling of Jenny.

English

Jessie

He sees

Hebrew

Joan

God is gracious

Hebrew

Josephine

God will increase

Hebrew

Joyce

Lord

Latin

Juanita

God is gracious

Spanish

Julia

Youthful and downy

Latin

June

Month of June

Latin

Katherine

Pure

Greek

Kathleen

An Irish equivalent of Catherine.

Irish

Kathryn

Pure

Greek

Katie

Pure

English

Laura

Laurel

Latin

Laverne

“Bathed in dew,” from the Latin lavere, to bedew.

Latin

Lena

Woman from Magdala

Hebrew

Leona

Lion

Latin

Lillian

Lily flower

English

Lillie

Lily

Latin

Lois

Superior

Greek

Lola

The sorrows

Spanish

Lorene

The bay, or laurel plant

Latin

Loretta

“The knowing one,” from the Middle English lore, traditional learning.

Italian

Lorraine

From Lorraine

French

Lottie

A variant spelling of Lotty.

French

Louise

Famous warrior

German

Lucile

Light

Latin

Lucille

Of the light

French

Lucy

Of the light

English

Lula

Famous warrior

German

Lydia

From Lydia

Greek

Mabel

Lovable

Latin

Madeline

Woman from Magdala

English

Mae

The fifth month

English

Maggie

Pearl

English

Mamie

A variant form of Mary.

Latin

Marcella

Dedicated to Mars

Latin

Margaret

Pearl

English

Margie

Pearl

Greek

Marguerite

A variant form, regarded as French, of Margaret.

French

Maria

Of the sea

Latin

Marian

A variant form, through the Old French, of Mary.

French

Marie

A French form of Mary.

French

Marion

A variant form, through the French, of Mary.

French

Marjorie

Pearl

English

Martha

Lady; mistress of the house

Aramaic

Mary

Of the sea

Latin

Mattie

Lady; mistress of the house; mighty in battle

German

Maxine

Greatest

Latin

May

The fifth month

English

Mildred

Gentle strength

English

Minnie

A variant form of Mary.

English

Miriam

Of the sea

Hebrew

Muriel

Sparkling, shining sea

Irish

Myrtle

“The exclusive,” in allusion to the plant of the same name regarded as sacred to Venus.

Latin

Nancy

A diminutive-variant of Anna or Anne, from the Hebrew hannah, grace.

Hebrew

Naomi

Pleasant one

Hebrew

Nellie

Horn; sun ray, shining light

Latin

Nettie

A diminutive form of Natalie.

English

Nina

Little girl

Spanish

Nora

Honorable one

Latin

Norma

The standard or norm

Latin

Olga

Blessed, holy; successful

Scandinavian

Olive

Olive tree

English

Ollie

Olive tree

Latin

Opal

Gem, jewel

Indian (Sanskrit)

Patricia

Noble; patrician

Latin

Pauline

Small

Latin

Pearl

Pearl

Latin

Phyllis

Greenery

Greek

Rachel

Ewe

Hebrew

Rebecca

To join

Hebrew

Regina

Queen

Latin

Rita

Right

Spanish

Roberta

Bright fame

German

Rosa

Rose

Latin

Rosalie

Rose flower

French

Rose

Rose flower

English

Rosemary

Dew of the sea

Latin

Rosie

Rose

Latin

Ruby

Red gemstone

English

Ruth

Friend

Hebrew

Sadie

Princess

Hebrew

Sally

“The princess,” a diminutive form of Sarah.

Hebrew

Sara

Princess

Hebrew

Sarah

Princess

Hebrew

Shirley

Bright meadow

English

Sophie

Wisdom

Greek

Stella

Celestial star

Latin

Susie

Lily

Hebrew

Sylvia

Woods, forest

Latin

Thelma

Will, volition

Greek

Theresa

Late summer

Greek

Velma

A variant form of Wilhelmina.

German

Vera

Truth and faith

Latin

Verna

Spring green

Latin

Veronica

True image

Latin

Victoria

Victory

Latin

Viola

Purple

Latin

Violet

Violet flower

English

Virginia

Maiden

Latin

Vivian

Alive

Latin

Wanda

The tribe of the Vandals

Slavic

Willie

Will helmet, protection

German

Wilma

Will helmet, protection

German

Winifred

Holy, blessed reconciliation; joy, peace

Welsh

Vintage monikers are all the rage, making 1920s girl names familiar faces on today’s baby name charts. Many of these beauties are enjoying their time toward the top of the charts, while others are uncommon gems just waiting for rediscovery. Let’s meet some roaring 1920s girl names together and see if any speak to your heart.

Tons of popular 1920s girl names are one again chart darlings, including the top-ten sweethearts Emma and Evelyn. Not far behind them is the elegant Eleanor and her dear friend Alice. Vowel names offer a softness that is popular in girl names, so we’re not surprised to see them skyrocketing in use. See Edith, Elsie, and Esther if you like this sound but not as much popularity. Lillian is another popular 1920s girl name with a modern following, though her sister Lily tends to be more common today. 

Name popularity is a sticking point for many modern parents, but name usage is vastly different today from back in the 1920s. To put it in perspective, the most popular girl name in 1920 was Mary, and she was given to 70,982 little girls in the U.S., according to the Social Security Administration. In 2020, the most popular girl name was Olivia, and she was used 17,535 times. That’s quite a difference! 

Many baby girl names from the 1920s fall into the timeless category like Elizabeth, Catherine, and Anna. These names may see steady rises and falls in usage throughout the years, but they endure on the charts. This includes virtuous monikers like Grace and nature names like Rose. See Ruth, Maria, and Emily for more timeless 1920s girl names. 

Vintage girl names, including those from the 1920s, offer a grandma-chic feel that’s homey and inviting. Not every name has this built-in warmth, making these picks extra special. Grandma-chic names include Dorothy, Frances, and Beatrice. Yes, they’re mature, but you can also soften them with nicknames, including Dottie, Frankie, and Bea, respectively. See Florence for a more flowery feel, and for an edgy grandma vibe, check out Betty

Browse our collection of 1920s girl names and see which beauty wins you over.