5 Old-Fashioned Boy Names Making A Comeback

Popular names come and go… and then sometimes they come back again. Some popular names from the 1910s are becoming popular in modern day, as parents are looking for new and unique names for their children. Just like vintage clothes come back in style, apparently so do names.

Looking at the data from the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) list of top names, we’ve found some names from the early 1900s that are popping up again on the most recent list of popular baby names (which uses data from 2010-2015). Here are some old-fashioned boy names that are making a comeback.

1. Henry

Henry was the 13th most popular name in the 1910s. It slipped down the list in the decades that followed (it was at 102 at the start of the 21st century) until it started creeping back up in the last few years, and it’s currently the 41st more popular boys name. Henry has German and English origins, per BabyNames, and means “ruler of the home.”

2. Leonard/Leonardo

From 1910-1920, Leonard was the 43rd most popular name for boys. Today, the Spanish/Portuguese/Italian language variation, Leonardo, is at number 129, up from 194 in the ’00s. Both Leonard and Leonardo use the increasingly popular nickname “Leo,” which is the Latin word for lion.

3. Isaac

Currently the 31st most popular boy’s name, Isaac was also popular at the start of the 20th century. It was on the most popular lists between 1900-1920, but then fell off the list completely until the 1980s when it came in at 153, and it’s been gaining steam ever since. Isaac is a Hebrew name that means “he will laugh” or “he will rejoice.”

4. Everett

Everett was the 90th most popular name in the first decade of the 20th century, and it’s recently made it back to the top 200 at number 198 within the last several years. The name is derived from the Old English Eoforheard meaning “brave as a wild boar.”

5. Theodore

Theodore, which has Greek origins and means “god given,” was the 38th most popular name for boys in the first decade of the 20th century. Its popularity fell in the decades that followed, until it fell out of the top 200 altogether in the 1980s. It’s now back in the top 200 most popular names, ranking at 167 in the years 2010-2015.

Check out 10 old-fashioned girl names that are making a comeback.