When we hear some names, we immediately think that they're names that belong to a grandma. Some names, such as Ethel and Iris, will always make us think of adorable 90-year-old ladies, but there are other more old-fashioned names that would be perfect for a grandma and a new baby girl. They're too cute to leave in the past!
Like all trends, popular baby names are cyclical — but sometimes it takes a few generations for them to come back around, and that's exactly what happened in the case of some of these names. The upside? The fact that these names have been around so long means that we already know they're timeless, and if the trends keep going in the direction they're going, naming our baby Matilda isn't going to sound old-fashioned when she's sitting next to Etta and Florence in her kindergarten class!
Read on for some serious "grandma"-style baby name inspiration. Just because a name is a bit old-fashioned doesn't mean we shouldn't use it. These choices (and the nicknames that go with them) are all still so perfect.
FLORENCE
Several decades ago, the name Florence was much more popular than it is today (think Florence Henderson from The Brady Bunch), but it's time it makes a comeback. The name has a pretty significant meaning, too — it comes from a Latin word meaning "I flourish" or "I bloom."
EVELYN
The name Evelyn (and other names that start with "Eve") has become super popular these days, despite the fact that it was once considered to be old-fashioned. And since the meaning of the name is "wished for child," it's totally an appropriate pick for a baby girl.
ETTA
Looking for a simple, timeless name that's still adorable and original for a baby girl? That's a lot of qualifications for one baby name, but Etta, which was originally a shorter form of the name Henrietta and means "estate ruler," definitely fits the bill.
CECILIA
Cecilia might have once been considered a grandma name, but it's now starting to gain in the baby name charts (especially in Europe), which shows that it's about to become a lot more popular. It also comes with the potential of some seriously adorable nicknames, like Cici or Celia.
BETTY
It's been years since Betty's been a popular name, but we have a feeling it's about to explode — mostly because it's what Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds chose to name their third daughter and let Taylor Swift use it in the song. If those three can't team up to make a name popular, who can?
MAY
The name May has been around for a long time now, and as both a first and middle name, it's making a major comeback. Hilary Duff named her third child Mae, while Jessica Simpson used it as a middle name for her daughter Birdie. Even better if May happens to also be baby's birth month!
AMELIA
Amelia is a name that might have once been thought of as old-fashioned, but it's made a major comeback! The name, which comes from Latin and means "work," has steadily remained in the top 10 baby names for girls in the US for several years, and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.
CLARA
Clara is a name that was once a lot more popular than it is today (after all, it was the name of the main character in The Nutcracker). But it seems like more parents are choosing to name their baby girls Clara again in 2021. The name comes from Latin and means "illustrious."
MATILDA
Hoping for a baby girl who will grow up to be a genius bookworm who might also have magical powers? OK, the Roald Dahl book (and the amazing movie it inspired) might be fiction, but the name Matilda is absolutely adorable — and so is the nickname Tilly, FYI. Grandma who?
MILLICENT
Though the name Millicent might seem stuffy, it's actually a cute, quirky choice (along with the name Millie, which works as a nickname and stands on its own as baby's full name). Millicent has German and Old French roots, and the name has been around since the Middle Ages.
ROSALIE
Fellow lovers of old-fashioned names, do not sleep on Rosalie! This name is too cute, and it means "the flower of life." For those looking for a floral-themed name that's timeless instead of trendy, Rosalie might be the perfect choice, though it hasn't been wildly popular since the 1930s.
RUBY
Names inspired by colors are some of our favorites — especially when it comes to gemstone names, like Ruby. Coming from Latin and French, the name's meaning obviously comes from the precious red stone of the same name, and it's one that has never gone out of style.
ADA
The name Ada has been everywhere lately — and it became a little more popular after Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren, used it for their daughter. It's easy to see why: It's short, it's adorable, and it's easy for little ones to learn how to spell — long before they're grandmothers.
BERNADETTE
Even with stars like Bernadette Peters paving the way, this baby name is one that has never gotten the credit it deserves — even as a "grandma" name! Bernadette comes from the French boys' name "Bernard" and means "brave bear," which is actually adorable for a baby!
CORA
Cora is another name that remains timeless, even though it's been years since it was at the height of its popularity. Today, it's still in the top 10 and seems to be getting more and more popular with each passing year. The name comes from Greek, and may call back to the goddess Persephone.
HAZEL
Everyone's grandmother had a friend named Hazel — it's practically the law. But that doesn't mean the name itself is outdated! It's actually been rising in popularity over the last couple of decades, after all. The name, which is English, comes from the nuts of the same name that come from the hazelnut tree.
MARGARET
The name "Margaret" — has French, Greek, and Latin roots, and means "pearl" in Sanskrit — is a classic choice that has never been beholden to baby name trends the way some other names have been. Grandma Margaret might sound more appropriate, but nicknames like Maggie inject a little youth into this name while your baby is still little.
THEODORA
Theodora isn't a name you'll hear often these days, but that's part of what makes it a perfect choice. It's on the old-fashioned side, but in a good way — how cute would a baby Theodora be?! The name is the feminine form of Theodore, and means "the gift of God."
BEATRICE
The name Beatrice (and the adorable nickname Bea) is so beautiful that it deserves to make a comeback for the younger generation! After all, if it's good enough for Britain's Princess Beatrice, isn't it good enough for your baby, too?! The meaning is also cute — in Latin, it means "she who makes happy."
FRANCES
The female form of Frances is actually a pretty adorable name — and comes with the added bonus of the nickname "Frankie," which is simply too cute for a baby girl (and, for the record, not grandmotherly at all). Frances is a Latin name that means "free man" or "from France."
