I’m always talking about the 100 year rule, the rule that says that 100 years after a name is at its most popular, it will come back in vogue. Some of my favorite names are byproducts of this rule, modern favorites that have retained that old-timey feel such as August and Eleanor. Those names no longer have lots of namesakes, but still have appealing qualities, making them a wonderful choice for a modern child. After all, many people are after solid names that aren’t fleeting trends, but aren’t totally old and unused. Some people (such as me) really love to go even beyond names with a bit of a vintage twist and go for a fully antique vibe with names like Agnes and Clarence, but that’s another list. Today, I’m predicting names that will be revived in coming years based on the 100 year rule, not names that are already on their way up like Theodore and Alice, but truly buried treasures that haven’t charted for years.
Boys
In the early 1920s, the style for boys was a -win/-vin ending, and Will combos of every kind (cue Wilbur, Wilbert, Wilfred, Wilson, Wilburn, and Wilford). Today, the -son and -er endings are amongst the trends, and we love a good Ayden mashup (Kaiden, Zayden, Brayden, Hayden…), as well as the ending-in-o boy names like Milo and Hugo. Today, I paired modern day trends with popular names from the 1920s, and I came up with four names that I think are about due for a resurgence, as well as my commentary on why.
Basil- Whether you pronounce this herbal moniker BAY-zul or BAZ-ul, this 1920s favorite has a European charm and a surprising lack of popularity. Even in his heyday in the mid 1920s, Basil still remained a rather sparse choice, given to 281 babies at his peak. However, I doubt Basil will stay undercover for long, thanks to that British flair and attention-grabbing Z sound that could eventually replace the X as the “It” letter in boy names. Not only that, herbal names like Heather have fared quite well in the past, and Basil could definitely be the next big thing.
Willis- Of course, I couldn’t get halfway through the list without including one of the many Will combos that occupy 1920’s top 500 baby name list. With Hollis, Ellis, and Dallas appealing to modern day parents, why shouldn’t Willis? Parents have been searching for an alternative to the ever-popular Will for years, and I wonder if Willis could get rediscovered soon. Willis last appeared on the charts at #957 in 1993, but his peak was in 1922, meaning that he may be just a couple of years away from becoming mainstream again, and with the wave of surname names lately, he might get caught up in that trend, too.
Edmund- Edward has been bounding his way up the charts lately, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Edmund or Edwin soon followed him, especially given the fact that both have an offbeat classic feel, which often lends itself to becoming a modern classic feel, like Owen or Henry. However, the popularity of the nickname Addie for girls might hold parents back from giving a name with the intuitive nickname Eddie to their sons; although that may not become an issue, as Edwin is already at #332 as of 2018, the most recent SSA data. Edmund himself hasn’t ranked since he fell from the top 1000 in 1997, and peaked in 1920, making him right on time for a big comeback. He possesses that English literary ambiance, which has been a plus for parents of multiple decades, whether it be Emily or Alice that has benefited.
Roscoe- I’ve already discussed the latest boy name ending craze: the -os. Milo, Hugo, Otto, Theo… the list goes on and on. Roscoe is the only one of the 1920’s -o names that has gone unnoticed so far, and fits in with the ends in -o and the surname name trends. And yet, this name hasn’t even cracked the top 1000 since the 70s and peaked in exactly 1920. A name with so much potential that is right on time for a revival and fits into several of the latest trends should be getting much more use than Roscoe is at the moment, so I predict that Roscoe will be rediscovered after years of hiding in obscurity. However, Ross isn’t a very current nickname, which may be throwing parents off, as well as the potentially confusing spelling and its popularity for dogs.
Girls
In the early 1920s, the style for girls was an -ine ending, and lots of names containing the syllable ann, including Marian, Vivian, and Fannie. Today, the -er endings are amongst the trends, and we’re all over more traditionally masculine names for our little girls, as well as names ending in -ette like Violet and Juliette. Today, I paired modern day trends with popular names from the 1920s, and I came up with three names that I think are about due for a resurgence, as well as my commentary on why.
Augusta- August is one of my personal favorite vintage revival names, peaking in 2018, and his sister name Augusta just so happens to have peaked in 1920. That means that timing is nearly perfect for Augusta to show up again in the 2019 data that will soon be released. With a regal full form and cute and sweet diminutives, Augusta seems very versatile for a daughter today. My only worry with this name entering the top 1000 is that August will go completely over to the girls, as I really love it on a boy, especially the nickname Gus.
Martha- This Aramaic name meaning “lady” can be timid and soft or powerful and strong-willed. A biblical name that peaked in popularity in 1924, this sweet, vintage treasure may be leaving behind the “old lady” connotation for a delightful and youthful image. Both strong and delicate, Martha has lovely namesakes as well, including the First Lady Washington, Martha Graham, and Martha Stewart among the most notable. Although Martha has picked up in Europe, she has yet to really catch on in the US, but I don’t think that will be true for long.
Mildred- Some people hear Mildew. Others can’t get past the dread sound. However, Millie is becoming quite the high demand nickname, loved for her cute but established feel, and Mildred is certainly an offbeat way to get to this beloved short form. Mildred faded from the charts in 1985 and has been grouped with other forgotten names like Gertrude and Hortense. Despite that, this name meaning “gentle strength” is accompanied by nicknames Millie, Midge, and Red, and would work well on a modern child, although it might take a while for this name to become mainstream or even familiar because of the negative feelings many people have towards the name.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Which names do you think are ready for revival? Did I miss any?