The ‘100 Year Rule’ for Baby Names: Which 1920s Names Are Due for a Comeback?

Vintage baby names are having a major moment—and many of today’s favorites actually date back to the 1920s. Names like Evelyn, Arthur, and Hazel were once among the most popular baby names in the United States, according to data from the Social Security Administration. Today, thanks to the “100-year rule” of naming trends, many of these classic 1920s baby names are rising again with modern parents looking for timeless options.

As someone who named both of her kids after grandmothers, I have an affinity for what some might consider “old person names.” And I’m not alone. Some expectant parents even wander cemeteries looking for vintage baby name inspiration on the headstones. Without judging anyone’s methods for choosing a name for their baby, browsing our list of 1920s baby names—and those following the ‘100-year-rule’ for baby names—might be an easier.

Of course, some timeless baby names appear on the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) list year after year, including William, James, and Elizabeth. But other names have followed the rule. For example, today the names Jack and Henry are about as popular as they were for boys in the 1920s. For girls, Eleanor and Emma were also popular 1920s girl names and have returned to the top of the SSA list.

Keep scrolling to see the most popular names from 100 years ago that are popular again, 1920s baby names poised for a comeback, and some vintage names that may be going extinct.

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Popular 1920s baby names making a comeback

1920s girl names parents love today

Evelyn
Alice
Eleanor
Josephine
Hazel
Emma
Eva
Vivian
Charlotte
Violet
Ella
Lucy

1920s boy names that are popular again

Jack
Arthur
Henry
Leo
Theodore
Benjamin

1920s girl names to watch

After looking at the ‘100-year rule’ for baby names and the latest baby naming trends, these popular 1920s girl names are ones to watch in the years ahead. 

Betty

Betty feels poised for a comeback as other old-fashioned girl names like Alice and Sylvia gain popularity. Not to mention Taylor Swift brought the name back to the zeitgeist thanks to the song on her Folklore album.

Billy/Billie

Billy was a popular boy’s name in the 1920s, and Billie cracked the top 100 most popular baby names for girls in 1928. Today, “Billy,” meaning “protector,” is nearly extinct as a boy name, but it is rising in popularity for girls, with the trend toward more gender-neutral names. I’m sure cool girl Billie Eilish doesn’t hurt either.

Della

Della was a popular pick for girls from the early 1900s through the 1970s when the name fell of the list. However, it popped back into the top 1000 most popular girls’ names in 2018. Meaning “noble,” it’s easy to see why Della could be a rising name to watch.

Dorothy

Wicked-mania and the growing trend of vintage names may have this popular 1920s name, meaning “gift of god,” coming back into vogue.

Flora

Girl names that end with ‘a’ are another current baby naming trend, with eight of the top 10 most popular girl names last year ending with the letter. Flora also has a pretty, natural-inspired meaning: flower.

Olive

Another nature-inspired name, Olive, is inspired by the olive tree, which symbolizes peace and friendship. Plus, it’s a more unique moniker than the popular name Olivia.

Marguerite

Global picks and long girl names are predicted to be popular for new babies born this year, and French name Marguerite—at 10 letters—fits both trends. Plus, meaning ‘pearl’ or ‘daisy,’ it’s an adorable pick for a new baby girl.

Lula

For a short and sweet girls’ name that’s also strong, this 1920s name means “famous warrior.” Lula is also a unique alternative to the more popular picks, Lila and Lola.

Ruth/Ruthie

The adorable name Ruthie jumped on the SSA’s list of the most popular girls’ names in 2023 for the first time since 1967. So, while the shorter Ruth isn’t gaining popularity quite yet, the cute nickname Ruthie could be one to watch, especially with the charming meaning of “friend.”

Vera

It’d be rare to find a millennial named Vera, as this name fell off the SSA list in 1983, but this pretty name, meaning “true” and “faith,” came back to the list in 2009 and has been steadily climbing in popularity ever since.

More 1920s girl names following 2026 trends

Alma
Beatrice
Bette
Clara
Elaine
Elsie
Esther
Florence
Genevieve
Henrietta
June
Lena
Lillie
Louise
Lucille
Mabel
Mae
Margie
Mattie
Maxine
Nellie
Pearl
Rose
Ruby
Stella
Sylvia

1920s boy names ready for a comeback

Factoring in the latest baby naming trends and the ‘100-year rule,’ these popular 1920s baby boy names could be climbing up the SSA list in the coming years:

Forrest

This nature name lost a bit of popularity in the late 1990s, likely due to the association with the titular character from Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning film, but this popular 1920s name has been slowly climbing back up to its pre-Forrest Gump level.

Johnnie/Johnny

One trend that naming experts predict for 2026 is that parents will be using nicknames as first names. Often a nickname for John, Johnnie could become popular again as a standalone first name.

Howard

This surname baby name fell off the list of the most popular boy names in 2021, but with a meaning like “heart-brave” and cute nickname options like Howie or Ward, I could see this name gaining popularity in the coming years.  

Louis

Meaning “famous warrior,” it’s no surprise this royal baby name was popular in the past. But with the adorable and feisty Prince Louis, who was born in 2018, giving the name a more modern connection, it might push this name up the list of the most popular boy names.

Leon

The name Leon hit its lowest point in popularity in 2005, but might be returning as a unique alternative to Leo and Leonardo, both on the list of the 100 most popular boy names last year. Leon, not surprisingly, means “lion.”

Oscar

With Oliver as a current top baby name mainstay, Oscar is a cute “O” name alternative rooted in Irish culture and folklore and means “champion warrior.” 

Otis

A German name endowed with good fortune, Otis means “wealth.” This short boy name hit peak popularity in 1909, but over 100 years later, it could be poised for a comeback.

Roy

While the name “Roy,” meaning “red” or “king,” might not be climbing the charts, its closely connected names Rory and Royce are gaining popularity. And whether you were a fan of the dysfunctional Roy clan on Succession, this name also follows the surname baby name trend.

More 1920s boy baby names to consider

Calvin
Dean
Frederick
George
Gordon
Everett
Hugh
Lawrence
Roger
Roland
Russell
Salvatore
Vincent
Wallace
Warren

1920s baby names going extinct

These names were popular in the 1920s but are not among today’s 1000 most popular baby names. Interestingly, the gender-neutral name Willie is on both lists below. So, while Willie and others do not follow the 100-year rule for baby names, parents looking for rare baby names might be interested in the 1920s names below:

1920s baby girl names rarely used today

While the following could be considered a list of extinct baby names, don’t count all these names out just yet. Gertrude has one of the sweetest nicknames, Gertie, and Marjorie or Marion could be a unique girl name, versus the more popular Madison or Madeline. On the other hand, some names may have a hard time coming back. For example, a popular Seinfeld episode might have sealed Dolores’ fate, as the name left the top 1000 most popular baby names in 1989.

Agnes
Arlene
Bernice
Bertha
Bessie
Beverly
Carol
Carolyn
Christine
Dolores
Donna
Doris
Edna
Ethel
Geneva
Geraldine
Gertrude
Gladys
Ida
Janet
Jean
Jeanne
Jennie
Joan
Joyce
Juanita
Kathleen
Lorraine
Marion
Marjorie
Mildred
Minnie
Myrtle
Norma
Peggy
Pauline
Phyllis
Rita
Theresa
Thelma
Velma
Wanda
Wilma
Willie
Viola

1920s baby boy names that are not popular today

None of the 1920s names on the list below are on today’s SSA list of the 1000 most popular boys’ names. Still, they could be unique boy names for a little guy born this year (Milt or Gordie are pretty cute nicknames for baby boys, IMO). Although I don’t anticipate some names making a big comeback any time soon, primarily due to modern associations. For instance, Clifford may forever be associated with the “big red dog,” and Elmer is notably the glue in every elementary school classroom.

Arnold
Bernard
Cecil
Clarence
Clifford
Dale
Delbert
Don
Earl
Elmer
Ernest
Floyd
Fred
Gene
Gerald
Herman
Herbert
Hubert
Jessie
Junior
Lester
Luther
Milton
Norman
Ralph
Rudolph
Sidney
Vernon
Virgil
Wilbur
Willard
Willie

The most popular 1920s baby names

Still looking for some vintage baby name inspiration? Check out the top 200 names parents chose back in the 1920s for baby boys and girls, according to data from the U.S. Social Security Administration.

FAQs

What were popular baby names in the 1920s?
Traditional names like Robert, John, Mary, Dorothy, and Helen dominated the decade.

What is the “100-year rule” for baby names?
A theory that popular names have a three-generation cycle, meaning baby names become trendy again roughly a century later. Which is why vintage names from the 1920s—like Evelyn, Eleanor, Hazel, Violet, Arthur, and Theodore—are now rising in popularity.

Are vintage baby names trending?
Yes. According to naming experts, vintage names will continue to be a trend for parents who are looking for timeless picks for their new baby.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor

Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.

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