If you’re hunting for tried and true traditional baby girl names, you are in the right place! Name trends come and go across the generations, but some names are simply classic and timeless. If you’re looking for a solid yet beautiful name for your baby girl that she can grow old with, you can’t go wrong with one of the classics.
Lately, I’ve been into mapping out my family tree and I quickly noticed that there are certain names that crop up over and over because they are simply so timeless and stunning. These old-fashioned names are just as ageless today as they were years ago. They will stand your little girl in good staid and be a name she can be proud to wear. You can’t go wrong with a classic! I plucked each of these name straight from my own family tree…and I bet you just might have some of them in yours, too.
Traditional Baby Girl Names # 1: Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a biblical baby girl name of Hebrew origin. In the scriptures, Elizabeth was the mother of John the Baptist. This timeless name means consecrated to God or God is bountiful. There are SO many nicknames for this one! Beth, Betty, Bessie, Lizzie, Liz, Libby, Elli, Eliza, Lilibet…and probably more! This was by far the most used female name in my own personal family tree….and no wonder! It’s so versatile!
Traditional Baby Girl Names # 2: Sarah
Sarah is another popular Bible name, this time coming from the story of Abraham. Sarah means princess, a fitting name for the mother of the Jewish nation. In my family tree, I noticed that the nickname Sallie has been used historically for Sarah.
Traditional Baby Girl Names # 3: Mary
You can’t get much more classic than Mary! This name is another biblical name revered as the mother of our Lord Jesus. The meaning, however, means bitter, similar to the word Mara in the Naomi & Ruth story. Surprisingly, in history, children named Mary often went by the nickname Polly. I have no idea why! It is also common to pair this lovely name with other names such as Mary Ann, Mary Joy, or Mary Claire.
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Traditional Baby Girl Names # 4: Francis
This classic name is actually gender neutral, appearing on my family tree for both males and females. It literally means “from France” or “free”. Cute nicknames for little girls include Fran or Fannie.
Traditional Baby Girl Names # 5: Lily
You can’t get much sweeter than the name Lily. This is a derivative of the Latin word, lilium, for the lovely lily flower. It means purity or innocence. Throughout the generations, you also see this name as Lillian, Lilia, or Liliana.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #6: Lucy
Lucy is a classic name through and through! This adorable name means light and is the feminine version of the masculine name Lucius. It has traditionally been given to little baby girls born at dawn.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #7: Ruth
Ruth is another traditional biblical name, coming from the book of the Bible of the same name, Ruth. This ageless name aptly means friend or companion.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #8: Catherine
This old, well-tested name has proven the test of time, appearing in many spellings and variations over the years: Katherine, Cathryn, Katarina, and many more. Catherine means pure or clear. Nicknames can be Kate, Katie, Cathy, or Kat and also can be spelled a variety of ways.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #9: Alice
The name Alice comes from Old English or German origins and means noble or exalted. You don’t often hear nicknames for Alice, but you might try Ally and see if it fits!
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Traditional Baby Girl Names #10: Susanna
This classic name surprisingly means Lily. Susanna is also of biblical origins, with a Susanna appearing in the books of both Daniel and Luke. It is more common today to hear the shorter forms of Suzanne or Susan. Sweet nicknames could be Suzy, Zanne, or Ana.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #11: Isabella
This old name, or variations of it, has made a come-back in recent years. It is actually a Spanish variation itself of Elizabeth and has a similar meaning of God is my oath. In Spanish, bella also means beautiful. Izzy and Bella or Belle are all common nicknames for this traditional name.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #12: Margaret
Popular since the Middle Ages, this lovely, classic name simply means pearl. There are several nicknames for Margaret, but the most common is Maggie or Marge.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #13: Jane
This simple, traditional name is strong yet elegant and means God is gracious. This name has been around for centuries and is commonly nicknamed Janie.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #14: Emma
Emma is a timeless Old Germanic name meaning whole or universal. Parents sometimes use it as part of a longer name such as Emmaline or Emmalyn. A cute nickname is often Emmy.
Traditional Baby Girl Names #15: Helen
This strong yet feminine name has been around since the time of the Greeks. Helen of Troy, anyone? In mythology, Helen was the daughter of the Greek God, Zeus. It is another name that means shining light.
You Can’t Go Wrong with Traditional Baby Girl Names
You simply can’t go wrong with a simple, traditional old-fashioned name but if you’re on the fence, try these unusual, unique baby girl names snatched from history, too.
Just remember, with a classic name, your precious daughter will be able to peer into history and find an abundance of noble and strong feminine heroines that share her name. More than likely, she’ll even be able to find her beautiful name right in your own family tree, too! Now, that’s some roots.
Take a few minutes and peek into your own family tree. It’s easier now than ever to get started with free sites like FamilySearch!