Charlotte is the most popular vintage baby girl name from 1925 in America today. Meanwhile, for parents looking for ultra-rare historic baby names, century-old names such as Willie, Phyllis and Myrtle have almost disappeared entirely in the USA today.
Experts at Chicksx.com examined US Social Security Administration (SSA) data on the top 100 baby girl names in America in 1925 and compared them with newly released SSA data on baby girl names in 2025, to discover which of these century-old baby girl names are most and least popular today.
Top 10 most popular 100-year-old baby girl names in America today
1). Charlotte (13,400 baby girls)
Charlotte is the most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with 13,400 baby girls given the name in 2025 — more than any other vintage baby girl name on the list. Charlotte is the feminine French form of Charles and comes from Germanic origins meaning ‘free woman’. The elegant royal name was already fashionable in the 1920s thanks to its aristocratic European associations, and has surged again in recent years partly due to Princess Charlotte, daughter of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales.
2). Emma (12,754 baby girls)
Emma is the second most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with 12,754 baby girls given the name in 2025. Emma comes from Germanic origins meaning ‘universal’ or ‘whole’, helping give the classic name its broad and timeless appeal.
3). Evelyn (9,123 baby girls)
Evelyn is the third most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with 9,123 baby girls given the name in 2025. Evelyn is believed to derive from the Norman French name Aveline and is often associated with meanings such as ‘desired’ or ‘wished for child’.
4). Eleanor (7,649 baby girls)
Eleanor is fourth on the list of most popular 100-year-old baby girl names in the USA today, with 7,649 baby girls given the name in 2025. Eleanor likely derives from the Old French name Aliénor and is often associated with meanings such as ‘bright’ and ‘shining one’, fitting its historic royal image.
5). Violet (7,546 baby girls)
Violet is the fifth most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with 7,546 baby girls given the name in 2025. Derived from the purple flower of the same name, Violet is associated with beauty, modesty and nature-inspired elegance.
6). Elizabeth (6,760 baby girls)
Elizabeth is the sixth most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with 6,760 baby girls given the name in 2025. Elizabeth comes from Hebrew origins meaning “God is my oath” and has long been associated with royalty, most famously Queen Elizabeth II. Its regal history, biblical roots and timeless elegance have helped keep the classic name consistently popular across generations.
7). Hazel (6,318 baby girls)
Hazel is the seventh most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with 6,318 baby girls given the name in 2025. Derived from the hazel tree, the nature-inspired name is associated with wisdom, protection and earthy beauty, helping fuel its modern revival among parents seeking soft vintage names.
8). Ella (5,831 baby girls)
Ella is the eighth most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with 5,831 baby girls given the name in 2025. Ella has Germanic origins meaning “all” or “completely” and has remained popular thanks to its short, melodic sound and classic simplicity.
9). Grace (5,127 baby girls)
Grace is the ninth most popular 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with 5,127 baby girls given the name in 2025. Derived from the Latin ‘gratia’, meaning grace or goodness, the elegant classic name has strong religious and virtuous associations that have helped maintain its enduring appeal.
10). Josephine (4,126 baby girls)
Josephine rounds out the top ten most popular 100-year-old baby girl names in America today, with 4,126 baby girls given the name in 2025. Josephine is the feminine form of Joseph and comes from Hebrew origins meaning “God will increase”, giving the sophisticated vintage name both historical depth and timeless charm.
Top 10 rarest 100-year-old baby girl names in America today
1). Willie (0 baby girls)
Willie is the rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with zero baby girls given the name in 2025. Willie is traditionally considered a diminutive of Wilhelmina or Willa and has Germanic roots meaning “resolute protector” or “will-helmet”. Derived from the elements wil (“desire” or “will”) and helm (“helmet” or “protector”), the vintage name carries associations of strength and dependability. Once used as a charming, softer alternative to the more formal Wilhelmina, Willie was a familiar American girls’ name in the early 20th century but has now almost entirely disappeared from use.
2). Phyllis (7 baby girls)
Phyllis is the second rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with just seven baby girls given the name in 2025. Phyllis comes from Greek origins meaning ‘green bough’ or ‘foliage’, giving the rare vintage name a subtle connection to nature and renewal.
3). Myrtle (8 baby girls)
Myrtle is the third rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with eight baby girls given the name in 2025. Myrtle is derived from the flowering myrtle plant, which traditionally symbolises love, peace and prosperity.
4). Bessie (16 baby girls)
Bessie is the fourth rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with 16 baby girls given the name in 2025. Bessie is traditionally used as a diminutive of Elizabeth, which comes from Hebrew origins meaning “God is my oath”, giving the sweet vintage nickname a strong biblical and historic foundation.
5). Gertrude and Margie (17 baby girls)
Gertrude and Margie are tied as the fifth rarest 100-year-old baby girl names in the USA today, with 17 baby girls each given the names in 2025.
Gertrude comes from Germanic origins meaning “spear” and “strength”, giving the historic name powerful warrior-like roots.
Margie is often used as a diminutive of Margaret and ultimately derives from Greek origins meaning “pearl”.
6). Wanda (20 baby girls)
Wanda is the sixth rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with 20 baby girls given the name in 2025. Wanda is often linked to Slavic origins and has been associated with meanings such as “wanderer” or “of the Wend tribe”, giving the name a distinctive old-world feel.
7). Thelma (29 baby girls)
Thelma is the seventh rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with 29 baby girls given the name in 2025. Thelma is believed to have been popularised as a literary name and is often associated with meanings such as “will” or “volition”, giving it a quietly strong and determined quality.
8). Bertha and Jeanne (30 baby girls)
Bertha and Jeanne are tied as the eighth rarest 100-year-old baby girl names in America today, with 30 baby girls each given the names in 2025.
Bertha is a traditional Germanic name meaning “bright” or “famous”, and was once widely associated with strength and respectability in early 20th century America.
Jeanne is the French form of Jane and means “God is gracious”, giving the elegant vintage name both European sophistication and religious roots.
9). Ethel (34 baby girls)
Ethel is the ninth rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in the USA today, with 34 baby girls given the name in 2025. Derived from Old English origins meaning “noble”, Ethel was once considered a sophisticated and upper-class name during the late Victorian and early 20th century eras.
10). Bernice (35 baby girls)
Bernice is the tenth rarest 100-year-old baby girl name in America today, with 35 baby girls given the name in 2025. The name comes from Greek origins meaning “bringing victory” and was especially popular in the early 20th century before gradually falling out of fashion.
Al Alof, CEO of Chicksx.com, commented:
“Vintage baby names have a remarkable ability to feel both nostalgic and modern at the same time, which is why so many century-old names continue to resonate with American parents today. Names like Charlotte, Emma and Evelyn have stood the test of time because they carry a sense of elegance, familiarity and sophistication that never truly goes out of style.
Charlotte in particular has become one of the defining vintage names of this generation. Its royal associations, both historic and modern, give it a timeless prestige that many parents find appealing. Princess Charlotte has also helped introduce the name to a new generation of parents looking for names that feel classic, graceful and refined.
It is also fascinating to see how some once-common names have almost vanished from use entirely. While names such as Myrtle and Phyllis were staples of the 1920s, they are now exceptionally rare choices that could appeal to parents searching for something truly distinctive and uncommon. As modern baby naming trends become increasingly crowded with similar-sounding names, many parents are beginning to appreciate forgotten vintage names because they offer individuality, history and character.
Names like Myrtle and Phyllis carry a strong sense of old-world charm and could be perfect for families wanting a rare name that still has genuine historical roots and personality.”
Post courtesy https://chicksx.com/
Methodology: The statistical release on the top 100 baby girl names (1925) from The US Social Security Administration (SSA) was analysed and compared to the latest SSA statistical release on baby girl names (2025) to discover which of the top 100 baby girl names from 1925 were the most and least popular in 2025.
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