Looking for Victorian names inspiration?
Whether you’re after unique Victorian-era names or popular names from the 1800s, we’ve got you covered.
News flash: vintage Victorian baby names are making a comeback!
You’ll find soft, feminine Victorian baby girl names, and traditional, hardy, job-related Victorian baby boy names.
The Victorian era was from June 20 1837 until January 22 1901: throughout Queen Victoria’s reign in the United Kingdom.
From Adelaide to Zadie, Arthur to Wilbur, there are loads of Victorian names and 19th-century names for you to choose from, so you’re bound to find the perfect match for your little peanut.
These classic 1800s baby names have already stood the test of time, and we think it’s time to bring them back.
In this article: 📝
- What are Victorian girl names?
- What is a Victorian name for a boy?
- What are unisex Victorian names?
- What were common Victorian names?
- What is the rarest Victorian baby name?
What are Victorian girl names?
So many Victorian girl’s names have lasted through the ages, and with good reason!
There are lots of different old-fashioned names for girls, so you’re bound to find the perfect fit.
Here’s our list of 71 of the best Victorian names and 19th century names for baby girls and old-fashioned girl names, so you can find something traditional and meaningful for your little one.
- Ada, Adelaide, or Adelia: A beautiful Victorian girl’s name meaning ‘nobility’ in German and ‘adornment’ in Hebrew. Ada and its variations were popular amongst the Victorian elite, like the daughter of Lord Byron, Countess Ada Lovelace. Lovely nicknames include Della or Delia.
- Agatha: One of the less popular old-fashioned names for girls, this classic Victorian name means ‘good’ or ‘virtuous woman’. For the baby who’s a perfect angel.
- Agnes: Embrace tradition with this beloved Victorian girl’s name meaning ‘pure’ or ‘holy’ in Greek and ‘lamb’ in Latin.
- Alexandra: Alexandra is a name that’s never gone out of style, and has stayed at the top of the charts since the 19th century. Alexandra is a Greek girl’s name meaning ‘the people’s defender’, and it was considered a lucky name for royal families in the Victorian age. Can be shortened to Alex, Lexi, Lex, Allie, Xan, and Xandra.
- Alice: Another name that’s been popular for several consecutive centuries, Alice was the name of one of Queen Victoria’s daughters, Princess Alice. Alice means ‘noble’ in German, and gained more popularity after Lewis Carroll’s book, Alice in Wonderland, which was first published in 1865, right in the middle of the Victorian era.
- Alma: One of the lesser-known Victorian baby names, Alma has meanings in lots of different languages. Alma means ‘loving’ in Swedish, ‘apple’ in Persian, and ‘good’ in Celtic.
- Amanda: This name was first used in the UK in the 13th century before it became one of the most popular Victorian names for girls. Amanda is a Latin baby girl’s name meaning ‘worthy of love’.
- Amelia: A German Victorian baby name meaning ‘work’, ‘industrious’ and ‘striving’. Can be shortened to Amy or Lia.
- Anne, Anna, Annie, or Annabel: A beautiful Victorian girl’s name meaning ‘grace’ in Hebrew and Latin, and ‘eagle’ in German.
- Arabella: One of our favorite old-fashioned girl names, for the baby who you’ve been waiting patiently (maybe not-so-patiently) for, Arabella is a Latin baby name meaning ‘answered prayer’. Bella makes a beautiful nickname.
- Audrey: A beautifully elegant Old English name meaning ‘strength’ and ‘nobility’. Audie, Addie, and Drey are sweet nicknames.
- Beatrice or Beatrix: A Latin baby girl name meaning ‘she who makes people happy’ ‒ for the baby girl that always makes you smile. Bea is a cute nickname.
- Bernice: One of the rarest baby girl names from the 1800s, this ancient Greek baby name means ‘bringer of victory’. Bernie is a sweet Victorian-inspired nickname.
- Beryl: An uncommon Victorian girl’s name meaning ‘gemstone’ in English. Beryl gemstones come in lots of different colors: emerald (green), aquamarine (green-blue), heliodor (yellow), goshenite (clear), and morganite (pale pink).
- Betty, Bessie, or Betsy: One of the most popular Victorian baby names, the meaning of Betty is ‘God is my oath’. These names work well by themselves, but Betty is short for Elizabeth as well.
- Caroline or Charlotte: The feminine version of the boy’s Victorian name Charles, meaning ‘strong’ or ‘free’ in Latin. Can be shortened to Carrie, Char, or Lottie.
- Catherine, Katherine, Cathryn, or Kathryn: A Victorian name that’s still popular today, from the Greek word meaning ‘pure’. There are lots of nicknames for this beautiful baby girl name: Kate, Kitty, Kat, Katie, Cathy…
- Christine or Christina: A Biblical Victorian baby name meaning ‘follower of Christ’, similar to the boy’s name Christopher. Can also be shortened to the gender-neutral name Chris, or Tina.
- Clara or Clare: Top of the list for old-fashioned names for girls, Clare is based on the Latin word ‘clarus’ meaning ‘bright’ or ‘clear’.
- Clementine: One of the fruitiest Victorian-era names on this list! Clementine is an 1800s name originally popular in France, meaning ‘merciful’ and ‘gentle’. Clem or Clemmie are sweet nicknames.
- Cora: We first fell in love with this short baby girl’s name from Downton Abbey, but Cora was already popular in the 1800s, meaning ‘maiden’ or ‘good’.
- Dorothy, Doris or Dora: Meaning ‘gift of God’, this Victorian girl’s name was popular in the 19th century.
- Ebba: One of the more unique girl names from the 1800s. A Swedish and Old English name meaning ‘strong’, from the German boy’s name Eberhard.
- Edith: The meaning of Edith is ‘riches’ or ‘blessed’, favored by Victorians hoping their baby girl would bring lots of fortune to their family.
- Eleanor: Meaning ‘bright’ or ‘shining one’, for the ray of light in your life. Nicknames for Eleanor include Ellie, Nora, Elle, and Ella.
- Elizabeth: Meaning ‘God is my oath’, Elizabeth is a popular Victorian name that’s stayed popular throughout the years. There are lots of nicknames for Elizabeth, like Eliza, Lizzie, Liz, Beth, Elsie, Bessie, Ellie, Liza, and Buffy.
- Emily: From the Roman surname Aemilius, Emily means ‘striving’, ‘industrious’ and ‘eager’. Also the name of famous Victorian author Emily Brontë.
- Emma: Top of the list of old-fashioned girl names. Of course, your baby girl means the whole world to you, so what better Victorian baby name than Emma, meaning ‘universe’ from Latin and Old German.
- Esther: We’re not totally sure what Esther means, but it could be from the [Persian(https://www.peanut-app.io/blog/persian-baby-girl-names)] word for ‘star’.
- Ethel or Aethel: Similar to the German name Adelaide, Ethel is an Old English Victorian girl’s name meaning ‘noble’.
- Eugenia or Eugenie: Another name referring to high status in the Victorian era, from the Greek ‘eu’ meaning ‘good’ and ‘genos’ meaning ‘genes’ or ‘born’.
- Euphemia: One of the lesser-known Victorian names for girls. A name that’s disappeared from our baby name radar for a while, Euphemia means ‘good speaker’ or ‘well-spoken’ in Greek. Effie makes a cute nickname, like the flamboyant character from The Hunger Games.
- Eunice: One of the most popular names in the 1800s that’s been lost in the ages. The meaning of the name Eunice is ‘good victory’ in ancient Greek. It used to be common in Victorian times, but not so much recently. Due a comeback, perhaps?
- Evelyn: A beautiful Victorian baby name for the little peanut you’ve been waiting for, meaning ‘wished for’. Can be shortened to Eve, Evie, Eva, and Lyn.
- Florence or Flora: For your little flower, Florence literally means ‘flower’ in Latin. A vintage name with a floral feel. Flo is also an adorable nickname.
- Frances: A popular name in the 1800s, from the Latin word meaning ‘free’ or an English name meaning ‘from France’. Franny or Fanny are sweet nicknames, if a little cheeky(!)
- Georgia: The feminine version of the Victorian name George, from the Greek ‘georgos’ meaning ‘works with the land’ or ‘farmer’. Perfect for babies born under an Earth sign!
- Gertrude: A Germanic Victorian baby name meaning ‘strength of the spear’ ‒ a historical name for the baby who you know will always win in a battle of wits! Sweet nicknames are Trudy and Gertie.
- Genevieve: One of the fiercest Victorian-era names, this French-German baby name means ‘woman of the people’. Can be shortened to Jenny, Vive, Nev, or Viv.
- Harriet or Henrietta: A very popular name in the Victorian age and the early 1990s, and a feminine version of the names Harry and Henry, meaning ‘ruler of the home’. Etta makes a lovely nickname.
- Ida: (eye-dah or ee-dah) Not a name we’ve seen too often! This is definitely one of the rarest old-fashioned names for girls. Ida is a German name meaning ‘hardworking’ or ‘prosperous’.
- Irene: From the Greek word for ‘peace’, here’s hoping your little peanut sleeps through the night to give you some much-needed peace and quiet!
- Ivy: One of the most popular girl names from the 1800s, this is a perfect Victorian floral name for your baby girl. Ivy represents vigor and energy, great for an energetic baby.
- Jean: The female version of the popular Victorian boy’s name, John, Jean means ‘God is gracious’.
- Josephine or Josephina: A Biblical Victorian baby name meaning ‘God grows’, particularly popular in the 1880s. Nicknames include Josie, Jo, and Phina.
- Lillian: Another floral Victorian girl’s name meaning ‘lily’. Lilies were seen by Victorians as symbols of purity and innocence, perfect for your baby-to-be.
- Louisa or Louise: How about naming your baby girl after one of the best writers of the Victorian age, Louisa May Alcott, famous for her 1868 book, Little Women? Louisa also means ‘famous warrior’, making it a brilliant strong name for your little peanut.
- Luella: A beautiful unique Victorian baby name, meaning ‘female warrior’ and ‘God is my light’. Sweet nicknames include Ella, Lou, or Lulu.
- Lydia: One of the more popular names in the 1800s, this delicate Victorian name is from the Greek word meaning ‘beautiful’ or ‘noble one’.
- Mabel or Mable: For the cutest baby girl in the world ‒ yours! Mabel is an Old English name from the Latin word ‘amabilis’ meaning ‘loveable’.
- Margaret, Marjorie, Maisie or Marguerite: A beautiful German Victorian baby name meaning ‘pearl’ or ‘child of light’. Can be shortened to Maggie, Marge, or Rita.
- Marion: A Victorian baby girl name that hasn’t been in the baby name charts for a while, meaning ‘star of the sea’ in Old French. Can be shortened to Mary or Marie.
- Matilda: A sweet-but-fierce Victorian girls’ name meaning ‘strong battle maiden’ and ‘mighty in battle’ in Old German. Matilda’s definitely been creeping up the charts recently, and can be shortened to Tilly or Matty.
- Mildred: A classic Victorian Anglo-Saxon name meaning ‘gentle power’. Can be shortened to the sweet nickname Millie. Millie also means ‘noble-born’ and has been jumping up the charts in the past few years.
- Minnie: Ever wondered where Minnie Mouse gets her name? Minnie is a Victorian baby name with a few different meaning from its original Hebrew roots: ‘wished-for’ and ‘rebellion’. The perfect vintage Disney baby name!
- Molly: An ever-popular Victorian baby name meaning ‘star of the sea’ in Hebrew, similar to Mary or Marion.
- Myrtle: A traditional Victorian girl’s name meaning ‘green shrub’, myrtle is also revered as the plant of love (aside from roses, of course!).
- Nellie or Nell: From the much-loved Victorian song Nellie Bly, Nellie means ‘sun ray’ or ‘shining light’.
- Olive: One of the nature-focused girl names from the 1800s, this is a sweet and gentle Victorian name for girls ‒ we love Oli for a nickname, too.
- Pauline or Paulina: Perfect for the youngest child or a preemie, Pauline is an Old French name meaning ‘young’ or ‘little’.
- Priscilla: For the old soul, Priscilla is a Latin girl’s name meaning ‘ancient’. One of the old-fashioned girl names that’s not been in the charts lately. Can be shortened to Prissy or Cilla.
- Rose, Rhoda, Rosie, or Rosa: An absolute classic, this Victorian girl’s name is always at the top of the baby name charts.
- Ruth: A short Victorian baby girl name, Ruth means ‘friend’ in Hebrew. Ruthie is also an adorable nickname.
- Sally, Sarah, or Sara: Perfect for your little princess, Sally is a Victorian baby name meaning ‘noble’ and ‘princess’ in Hebrew.
- Sophia or Sophie: An elegant Victorian girl’s name, Sophie is a Greek name meaning ‘wisdom’ or ‘clever’.
- Sylvia, Silvia or Sylvie: A beautiful Victorian girl’s name from the Latin word for ‘wood spirit’ or ‘wood nymph’. We can see this name getting even more popular after the first season of Marvel’s Loki.
- Theresa, Therese, or Teresa: One of the more uncommon Victorian-era names. A name of Greek origin meaning ‘to harvest’ or ‘late summer’. Terri is a sweet nickname for Theresa.
- Vera: A short-but-sweet Slavic girl’s name meaning ‘faith’, Vera was first noted as a Victorian girl’s name in the 19th century.
- Victoria: The ultimate Victorian baby name! The female version of the name Victor, meaning ‘victory’, Victoria can be shortened to Vicky, Vik, and Tori.
- Winifred: Similar to the Victorian name Guinevere, Winifred means ‘fair’, ‘soft’, ‘pure’, and ‘happiness’. Can be shortened to Winnie, Fred, Freddie, or Win.
- Zadie: One of the most unusual Victorian baby names on our list, Zadie is an Arabic name meaning ‘prosperous’.
What is a Victorian name for a boy?
Victorian boy’s names are some of our favorites ‒ some have stayed in the top baby charts for centuries!
Here’s our list of 65 of the best Victorian names and 19th-century names for baby boys, complete with meanings:
- Albert: A stout Old English name meaning ‘bright’ and ‘noble’, this classic Victorian boy’s name, was also the name of Queen Victoria’s husband. Can be shortened to Al or Bert.
- Alexander: A Victorian baby name of Greek origin, Alexander means ‘people’s defender’. Name your baby boy after the famous Victorian, Alexander Graham Bell, who’s credited as the inventor of the first telephone. Sweet nicknames include Alex, Lex, Xan, and Xander.
- Amos: One of the rarest old-fashioned boy names now, this Hebrew name means ‘borne by God’, perfect for the baby boy who’s not had the easiest birth journey.
- Archibald: A sweet name that’s definitely seeing a resurgence today, Archibald means ‘precious’ and ‘bold’, for the bright baby boy who’s oh-so-cherished. Plus, Archie is an adorable nickname.
- Arthur: A powerful Celtic name meaning ‘bear’, Arthur was all the rage in the 1880s (and was the name of one of Queen Victoria’s nine children!), but hasn’t reached our charts for a while. Perfect for your little king.
- Benjamin: A Biblical Victorian baby name, Benjamin means ‘right-hand son’ in Hebrew. In the Bible, Benjamin was the youngest of Jacob’s 12 sons, so it’s perfect for the littlest baby boy of a large family. Can be shortened to Ben, Benji, or Benny.
- Bernard: Another strong Victorian baby boy name, Bernard means ‘strong bear’, ‘brave’ and ‘hardy’. Can be shortened to Bernie or Bern.
- Charles: Who better to name your baby after than famous Victorian author Charles Dickens? Charles is an Old English name meaning ‘free man’. Charlie makes for a sweet nickname.
- Clarence: A beautiful Victorian boy’s name meaning ‘bright’ or ‘clear’, from the girl’s name Clare.
- Cyril: An unusual Victorian baby boy name that’s not seen too often nowadays, Cyril means ‘lordly’ or ‘masterful’ from the Greek word ‘Κύριλλος (Kýrillos)’. Cy is a short-but-sweet nickname.
- Daniel: One of the most common boy names from the 1800s. A Victorian name that’s always top of the charts, Daniel is a Hebrew name meaning ‘God is my judge’. Dan or Danny are strong nicknames.
- David: One of the most popular old-fashioned boy names, David is a meaningful name in both Jewish and Christian cultures. David is a solid boy’s name meaning ‘beloved’. Dave is a simple nickname that’s been passed down for generations.
- Edgar: An Old English Victorian name meaning ‘prosperous’, ‘fortune’ and ‘spear’. Perfect if you’re looking for a Victorian gothic name, since Edgar Allan Poe was one of the most prolific American writers in the Victorian era.
- Edmund, Edward, or Edwin: These similar names all have the same meaning: ‘prosperous friend’ or ‘rich guardian’. Easily one of the most popular names in the Victorian era, Edmund can be shortened to Ed or Eddie.
- Elmer: A name that was more popular in America during the 1800s, Elmer means ‘noble’ or ‘famous man’.
- Enoch: A Victorian boy’s name with roots in Hebrew and Welsh, meaning ‘dedicated’ or ‘walked with God’. Another name that’s dipped in popularity since the 1900s, but we think we can start seeing it in the charts soon.
- Ephraim: (eff-ruhm) One of the least common Victorian-era names. For the baby boy that’s the apple of your eye, the meaning of Ephraim is ‘fruitful’.
- Ernest: Another name after a famous American Victorian author, Ernest Hemingway, Ernest means ‘serious’ or ‘warrior’. Ernie or Ern are lovely nicknames.
- Eugene: A French-Latin Victorian baby name meaning ‘well-born’ or ‘noble’. It’s been rising in popularity ever since Tangled, after Rapunzel’s love interest, Eugene Fitzherbert (known by his alias, Flynn Rider). Gene is a sweet nickname for this kind baby boy.
- Francis, Franklin, or Frank: Similar to Frances, the Victorian girl’s name, Francis means ‘free man’ or ‘from France’.
- Frederick: A German name that was all the rage in the Victorian era, and has since stayed near the top of the baby name charts. Frederick means ‘peace’ and ‘power’, for the baby who doesn’t have to scream to let you know they’re in charge! Can be shortened to Freddie, Rick, or Fred.
- George: Like Georgia, George means ‘farmer’ or ‘he who works with the earth’. George was also the name of Queen Victoria’s grandfather and one of her uncles.
- Harold, Harry, or Harrison: An Old English-Scandinavian boy’s name meaning ‘ruler of the army’. Harrison is a more modern-sounding version of the Victorian boy’s name Harold.
- Henry: For the baby boy who’s always in charge, Henry means ‘ruler of the house’. It’s been consistently popular since the 19th century ‒ you’ll always find a Henry in the playground.
- Herman: Similar to the Victorian boy’s name Harold, Herman is an old German name meaning ‘soldier’ or ‘army man’.
- Hiram: Another of the old-fashioned boy names we haven’t seen for a while, the Victorian name Hiram means ‘kind brother’ in Hebrew. Perfect for the baby boy who already has siblings.
- Hubert: A sweet Old German Victorian boy’s name meaning ‘bright heart’ or ‘famed heart’. Hubie is an adorable nickname for this little peanut.
- Irving: Perfect for the baby boy born into a sea-faring family, Irving means ‘friend of the sea’ or ‘fresh water’. Irv is a lovely nickname.
- Ivor: One of the less common boy names from the 1800s. A short boy’s name from the Welsh name Ifor, meaning ‘yew tree’ or ‘archer’. This name was particularly popular in Wales during the Victorian age, if you want to pay homage to your Welsh heritage.
- Jack or Jacob: A powerful Victorian boy’s name meaning ‘follower’ or ‘God is gracious’. Always top of the baby name charts.
- John, Jonathan, or Johnathan: Similar to Jack, John also means ‘God is gracious’ in Hebrew. Can be shortened to Jonny.
- Joseph: Like the feminine Josephine, Joseph is a Biblical Victorian baby boy’s name meaning ‘God will increase’. Joe is a short, strong nickname.
- Leonard or Leopold: For the brave baby boy who roared his way into the world! Leonard is an Old English and German name meaning ‘strong as a lion’. Leo is a popular modern name and would make for a strong nickname.
- Louis: One of the most popular Victorian-era names in France, Louis means ‘famous warrior’. Lou is a lovely nickname.
- Matthew: A Victorian boy’s name with Hebrew roots meaning ‘gift from God’, perfect if you’ve had a long TTC journey. Matt or Matty are strong nicknames.
- Melvin or Marvin: A Victorian baby name of Celtic origins, meaning ‘kind leader’ or ‘friend of the sea’. Can be shortened to Mel or Marv.
- Merritt: Merritt was a popular surname in Victorian England, meaning ‘boundary’ or ‘gate’. It’s since evolved into a first name for boys in recent years.
- Michael: Another Biblical Victorian boy’s name from the Hebrew ‘he who is like God’ or ‘made in God’s image’. Mike and Mich make stout nicknames.
- Morris or Maurice: A Latin name from the Victorian age, Morris means ‘dark’, and while it was traditionally a name given to people with darker skin in Victorian England, it can be a sweet name for a baby boy with dark hair.
- Nicholas: From the Greek name Νικόλαος (Nikolaos), meaning ‘the people’s victory’, this is a great Victorian baby boy’s name for a future activist. Can be shortened to Nick or Nicky.
- Norman: A name that used to be given to Northerners in the Victorian age, Norman means ‘north man’. Can be shortened to Norm.
- Oliver: From Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, Oliver is a name for a kind baby boy, meaning ‘peace’, from the olive tree.
- Oscar: A name with a couple of different meanings: in Old English, Oscar means ‘God’s spear’, and in Gaelic, it means ‘friend of deer’. Now, it’s a name we associate with awards ‒ great for a baby with a famous future!
- Percival: For the baby who will change your world, Percival is a French name in the Victorian age meaning ‘pierces the valley’. Can be shortened to Percy.
- Philip: An ancient Greek name popularised in the 1800s, Philip means ‘loves horses’ ‒ ideal for a baby boy from a ranch family. Phil makes a sweet nickname.
- Phileas: A name that peaked in the 1800s but hasn’t been seen since, Phileas means ‘friend’ in ancient Greek. Perhaps this baby will travel, like his namesake, Phileas Fogg, from the Victorian novel by Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days.
- Phineas: Similar-sounding to Phileas, this unusual Victorian baby name means ‘oracle’ or ‘serpent’s mouth’ in Hebrew.
- Ralph: A name that’s been around since medieval times, Ralph means ‘advice’ and ‘wolf’ ‒ for the baby boy who arrived howling into the world.
- Reginald: A royal name for your baby boy, Reginald means ‘king’ in Latin, and was a popular name in the Victorian era. Reg or Reggie make great nicknames.
- Richard: One of the most favored boy names from the 1800s. Richard means ‘powerful’ and ‘brave’ in Old German. Can be shortened to Rich, Rick, Ricky, and Dick.
- Robert: A powerful Victorian boy’s name for the baby boy who will change the world. Robert means ‘bright fame’ in Old German. Nicknames include Rob, Bob, Robbie, Bert, Bobby, Bo, and Ro.
- Samuel: Another name that’s always been popular, Samuel has roots in the Hebrew meaning ‘name of God’ or ‘God has heard’, for when your prayers have been answered. Can be shortened to Sam or Sammy.
- Sidney or Sydney: Another Victorian surname-turned-first-name, Sidney comes from the Old English for ‘wide meadow’ or ‘water meadow’. Sid is a lovely nickname.
- Silas: A rare Victorian baby name, the meaning of Silas is ‘of the forest’, perfect for the baby born into a nature-loving family.
- Sterling: A Victorian baby boy’s name for the crème-de-la-crème, Sterling means ‘high quality’, like sterling silver.
- Sylvester: For the baby boy born with a bush of unruly hair, Sylvester is a Latin name from the Victorian age meaning ‘wild’.
- Thaddeus: A regal-sounding Victorian boy’s name meaning ‘courageous heart’ or ‘wise’ in Greek and Aramaic. Can be shortened to Tad.
- Theodore: One of the most popular names in the 19th century, Theodore is a French-Greek name meaning ‘gift from God’. Plus, Theo is one of the cutest nicknames ever!
- Thomas: Perfect for a twin, Thomas is an ever-popular Greek Victorian baby name meaning ‘twin’. Can be shortened to Tom or Tommy.
- Timothy: Another name that’s been doing the rounds since the 1800s, Timothy means ‘honored by God’. Tim and Timmy make short-but-sweet nicknames.
- Victor: Of course Victor was a popular boy’s name in the Victorian era! From the Latin word ‘vincere’ meaning ‘to win’, Victor is a powerful-sounding Victorian baby boy’s name.
- Virgil: Ideal for a first-born baby boy, Virgil is a popular Victorian name of Latin origin meaning ‘staff bearer’, for the little peanut who leads the rest of the clan.
- Wallace or Wallis: A great way to honor your Welsh heritage, Wallace is a French-German Victorian boy’s name meaning ‘from Wales’. Wally is an adorable nickname.
- Walter: A German name from the 19th century meaning ‘army commander’, Wally also works as a nickname for this mighty Victorian baby boy name.
- William, Wilfred, or Wilbur: Still one of the most popular names since the 1800s! William means ‘strong protector’ or ‘gilded helmet’ in Old German and Old English. Can be shortened to Will, Willie, Fred, or Liam.
What are unisex Victorian names?
There aren’t many Victorian baby names and 19th-century names that can be used for boys, girls, and they-bies, but we’ve put together a list of our favorites to give you some inspiration:
- Ira: A beautiful, short gender-neutral Victorian baby name from the Sanskrit word for ‘the earth’, perfect for babies born under Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn Sun ‒ the Earth signs.
- Jessie or Jesse: A Victorian baby name for boys and girls, meaning ‘royalty’ or ‘God’s gift’. Usually, Jessie is the feminine spelling and Jesse is the masculine spelling, but both can be used for any gender.
- Elijah or Elias: A Hebrew unisex name popularized in the 1800s meaning ‘Yahweh is my God’ or ‘Jehovah is my God’. Can be shortened to Eli, El, or Ellie.
- Ellis: A musical Welsh gender-neutral baby name that was common in the 19th century, meaning ‘kind’ or ‘benevolent’. El, Ellie, or Eli can also be nicknames.
- James: A name that’s recently become used for baby girls, baby boys, and they-bies (looking at you, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds). James is a Hebrew name popular in the 1800s meaning ‘supplanter’.
- Jules, Jooles, or Jools: A sweet Victorian gender-neutral baby name that’s perfect for the youngest baby in your brood. The French name, Jules, means ‘youthful’ or ‘young’.
- Leslie: A Victorian unisex name meaning ‘garden of holly trees’, ideal for babies born in December. Can be shortened to Les.
What were common Victorian names?
Victorian baby names have been top of the baby name charts for centuries, and with good reason!
Here’s our list of the most popular names in 1800s:
Popular Victorian baby girl names include:
- Alexandra
- Amelia
- Anne
- Catherine
- Elizabeth
- Emily
- Emma
- Louise
- Rose
- Sophie
- Victoria
Some of the most popular Victorian baby boy names are:
- Alexander
- Benjamin
- Daniel
- George
- Harry
- Henry
- Jack
- John
- Leo
- Matthew
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Richard
- Thomas
- William
No doubt you know at least one baby with one of these popular Victorian names ‒ timeless classics!
What is the rarest Victorian baby name?
Sometimes you want to avoid the most common names in the 1800s in favor of something a little more different.
There are some unique Victorian baby names that have vanished from our baby name radars recently, but we think they’re due a revival.
If you’re looking for an unusual Victorian name for your little peanut, take a peek at our favorites.
Rare Victorian baby girl names include:
- Adelia
- Beryl
- Ebba
- Euphemia
- Ida
- Luella
- Zadie
Some of the rarest Victorian baby boy names are:
- Elmer
- Enoch
- Ephraim
- Hiram
- Merritt
- Phineas
- Silas
Victorian baby names are an elegant nod to your family’s heritage, so finding the right one is extra special.
Why not share your favorite Victorian names on Peanut?