In recent years, baby names for old people have become popular again, and honestly, it’s fun to meet little Ruth and Theodore in nature. When choosing a name for your baby, there’s something comforting about choosing a timeless name that will last for generations. Names have staying power and don’t automatically reveal when a child was born a generation or two later. Vintage middle names in particular feel very chic right now. You can also pair it with a more modern first name to add a little substance, or with an equally old-fashioned first name to seal the deal. So here are some of our favorite vintage middle name ideas.
blythe
This name has the energy of a major protagonist, even when used as an intermediate name. It’s a gender-neutral British name that means “happy” or “cheerful,” and its sound is light and bright.
serious
You’re probably used to seeing this boy’s name spelled “Ernest,” which was the 144th most popular male name in the United States in the 1910s, according to the Social Security Administration. According to the dictionary definition, the word serious is a great word that means “serious and ardent in intent, purpose, or effort” or “showing depth and sincerity of feeling.” For baby boys? Obsessed.
Faye
I’m biased because this was my grandmother’s middle name, but I think Faye is the perfect choice. It means “belief” or “loyalty,” and its one-syllable length pairs perfectly with so many first names.
Lenore
This happens to be a great literary middle name. “Lenore” is the name of a poem by Edgar Allen Poe and a character in his most famous work, “The Raven.” This name means “light” in Greek, and is both gorgeous and unusual (a winning combination in the world of baby names).
Other vintage middle names
- Atticus: “From Attica”, “The Rugged Coast”
- Claire: “bright”, “famous”, or “clear”
- Clarence: “clear”, “bright”
- Clyde: Derived from the river of the same name in Scotland, and also said to mean “purification”
- Conrad: “The Bold Advisor”
- Constance: “steadiness”
- Dean: “Supervising Officer” or “Tani”
- Dell: “shady valley” or “little valley”
- Edith: “Thrived through war.”
- Elias: “The Lord is my God”
- Eloise: “Famous Warrior” “Health”
- Estelle: “Star”
- Eugene: “Well born”
- Ezra: “The Helper” or “God is my helper.”
- Florence: “Thriving” or “Blooming”
- Glen: narrow forested valley
- Grace: “blessing” or “favor”
- Hank: “Ruler of the house”
- Hester: “Star”
- Ida: “Hardworking”
- Isla: “Be careful.”
- Jane: “God is merciful.”
- June: like the first summer month
- Josephine: “God may add.”
- Lyle: “island” or “from the island”
- Mae: Another feminized spelling of May
- Margaret: “Pearl”
- Maxine: “That’s great.”
- Merle: “Blackbird”
- Orson: “Baby Bear”
- Ramona: “Guardian” or “Advice”
- Ray: “Ray” or “King”
- Vernon: “alder”, “overgrown”
Do any of these old middle names exactly match your favorite name?: tktk: tktk
