Rare 1885 baby names mix place names, surnames, and what exactly explains this? names. It makes for a quirky list.

They’re the flipside of the Neglected Gems from the 1880s and 1890s. While the chart toppers of generations past may feel antique today, we remember and acknowledge them as given names. We all imagine that someone will bring back Ralph and Sallie – it’s just a question of when.

If you’re wondering what counted as a chart-topper in 1885? This post starts with the Top 100 most popular names from the year. A surprise or two mixes in with names we consider rock solid classics.

But how about the names that never caught on? Will they fade from our collective memory?

And is that a problem?

Maybe Capitola and Lugenia are best left to the past.

But other names could be exactly what twenty-first century parents are after – familiar, but seldom heard. Or just a little bit different than the names that everyone else is choosing today.

Not every name you’d expect to hear makes either list. Circa 1885, vintage favorites like Amelia, Evelyn, and Eleanor failed to rank in the Top 100. Some classic standards for boys, like Matthew and Nathan, are missing, too.

The next layer of popular baby names of the era might surprise, too. Names like Eunice and Clifford, Henrietta and Wallace, Percy and Lois ranked in the Top 200. Dorothy and Betty were gaining, but not yet in the Top Ten positions that they’d occupy by the 1920s.

Let’s look at all of the 1885 baby names, from the most popular to the more obscure.

TOP 100 GIRL NAMES from 1885

  1. Mary
  2. Anna
  3. Emma
  4. Elizabeth
  5. Margaret
  6. Minnie
  7. Clara
  8. Bertha
  9. Ida
  10. Annie
  11. Alice
  12. Florence
  13. Bessie
  14. Grace
  15. Ethel
  16. Nellie
  17. Martha
  18. Sarah
  19. Ella
  20. Mabel
  21. Laura
  22. Carrie
  23. Cora
  24. Maude
  25. Rose
  26. Pearl
  27. Lillian
  28. Helen
  29. Gertrude
  30. Edna
  31. Edith
  32. Julia
  33. Jennie
  34. Myrtle
  35. Mattie
  36. Hattie
  37. Lillie
  38. Eva
  39. Louise
  40. Jessie
  41. Lula
  42. Marie
  43. Ada
  44. Lena
  45. Catherine
  46. Frances
  47. Fannie
  48. Josephine
  49. Dora
  50. Katherine
  51. Maggie
  52. Lucy
  53. Blanche
  54. Agnes
  55. Elsie
  56. Nora
  57. Stella
  58. Rosa
  59. Effie
  60. Daisy
  61. May
  62. Mamie
  63. Mae
  64. Ellen
  65. Lizzie
  66. Nettie
  67. Nancy
  68. Alma
  69. Sadie
  70. Ruth
  71. Della
  72. Susie
  73. Sallie
  74. Flora
  75. Maud
  76. Addie
  77. Lydia
  78. Caroline
  79. Mollie
  80. Lottie
  81. Katie
  82. Irene
  83. Etta
  84. Georgia
  85. Lulu
  86. Olive
  87. Emily
  88. Viola
  89. Harriet
  90. Amanda
  91. Jane
  92. Esther
  93. Kathryn
  94. Charlotte
  95. Willie
  96. Beulah
  97. Kate
  98. Ollie
  99. Rebecca
  100. Susan

TOP 100 BOY NAMES from 1885

  1. John
  2. William
  3. James
  4. George
  5. Charles
  6. Frank
  7. Joseph
  8. Henry
  9. Robert
  10. Thomas
  11. Edward
  12. Harry
  13. Walter
  14. Fred
  15. Arthur
  16. Albert
  17. Clarence
  18. Samuel
  19. Louis
  20. Grover
  21. Ernest
  22. David
  23. Charlie
  24. Roy
  25. Joe
  26. Richard
  27. Will
  28. Oscar
  29. Willie
  30. Andrew
  31. Jesse
  32. Daniel
  33. Peter
  34. Carl
  35. Sam
  36. Earl
  37. Frederick
  38. Benjamin
  39. Alfred
  40. Elmer
  41. Howard
  42. Lewis
  43. Paul
  44. Ralph
  45. Herbert
  46. Jim
  47. Michael
  48. Tom
  49. Martin
  50. Lee
  51. Eugene
  52. Claude
  53. Jacob
  54. Ed
  55. Herman
  56. Francis
  57. Clyde
  58. Raymond
  59. Harvey
  60. Edgar
  61. Jack
  62. Ben
  63. Edwin
  64. Lawrence
  65. Charley
  66. Bert
  67. Chester
  68. Guy
  69. Otto
  70. Floyd
  71. Luther
  72. Oliver
  73. Hugh
  74. Ray
  75. Ira
  76. Homer
  77. Patrick
  78. Alexander
  79. Isaac
  80. Leonard
  81. Jessie
  82. Harold
  83. Leo
  84. Theodore
  85. Archie
  86. August
  87. Allen
  88. Sidney
  89. Philip
  90. Leroy
  91. Bernard
  92. Alex
  93. Stephen
  94. Horace
  95. Anthony
  96. Warren
  97. Julius
  98. Cleveland
  99. Leon
  100. Victor

RARE & STYLISH 1885 GIRL NAMES

ALBERTINE (ranked #696 in 1885)

We hear Madeline and Genevieve everywhere. Is Albertine so different? Rarer than Albert, it comes with great nickname potential and a sort of vintage-cool vibe.

CLOTILDE (ranked #613 in 1885)

Also spelled Clothilde, this Germanic name has been out of favor for years. But it’s a saint name, and a former Queen of the Franks. File it somewhere between Chloe and Matilda, and this name has potential.

DELPHIA (ranked #546 in 1885)

It sounds like Philadelphia, hold the Phil. But it refers to the city of Delphi, where Apollo’s oracle once stood. If we’re wild for Sophia, why not Delphia?

DULCIE (ranked #956 in 1885)

This name means sweet, from the Latin dulcis. It could be short for the equally rare Dulcinea, a literary invention from Cervantes. But I think Dulcie stands on its own, an alternative to Sadie or Maisie.

EXIE (ranked #638 in 1885)

We love the letter X, and names like Ellie, too. Exie sounds a little bit like a modern invention, but it’s waiting on this list of 1885 baby names for rediscovery.

LEDA (ranked #992 in 1885)

With Atlas, Orion, and Penelope so popular, you’d expect Leda to succeed. Not only does it come from Greek myth, but it shares sounds with Layla, Luna, and so many other popular L names for girls.

MAEBELLE (ranked #888 in 1885)

Equally vintage Mabel is catching on. Is Maebelle an elaborate spelling of the same? Or a Mae-Belle smoosh? Either way, it has potential.

NOVELLA (ranked #832 in 1885)

It sounds like a modern word name, a literally literary pick like Story or Fable. But it was probably borrowed from the Latin nova – new, possibly referring to spring.

ODESSA (ranked #535 in 1885)

A feminine form of an older name, belonging to that ancient wanderer Odysseus. If you love Tessa, but want something much less common, Odessa fits. A Texas city bears the name; it’s named for Odesa in the Ukraine.

SOPHRONIA (ranked #556 in 1885)

Sophia tops the charts, but Sophronia is nearly forgotten. The name means sensible; the seventh century Saint Sophronius is remembered for his wisdom. It’s elaborate and wearable.

TRESSA (ranked #573 in 1885)

A modern Cornish girls’ name meaning third, Tressa could also be a spin on Theresa. Or maybe it’s just another -ess name from the late nineteenth century. We were wild for Bessie and Jessie.

VICTORINE (ranked #838 in 1885)

There’s regal Victoria and word name Victory, but ‘how bout Victorine? A rare feminine form of Victor, it’s a tailored, elaborate choice for a daughter with a vintage vibe.

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BOY NAME FINDS from 1885

BENTON (ranked #610 in 1885)

Ben names are enjoying the spotlight recently, from Top Ten Benjamin to Hollywood-boosted Benedict. Benton peaked in the nineteenth century, but has recently returned to the US Top 1000, though it feels modern, rather than vintage, today.

DEMPSEY (ranked #858 in 1885)

A swaggering name, Dempsey means proud. Years after he left the ring, heavyweight champ Jack Dempsey leaves his mark on the name, too.

FIELDING (ranked #726 in 1885)

Henry Fielding makes it literary. But Fielding also fits with Parker, Wilder, and other outdoorsy surname names so popular right now.

HAMILTON (ranked #731 in 1885)

The Broadway blockbuster might inspire a few parents. And while Ham is a non-starter of a nickname, Milo might work.

HOLLIS (ranked #671 in 1885)

It refers to a grove of holly trees, and feels appropriate for a Christmas baby. It also fits right in with so many stylish boy names ending with s, from Miles to Brooks.

HOUSTON (ranked #533 in 1885)

Named for its founder, Sam Houston, the Texas city fits right in with so many place names we’ve used for children’s name in recent years. In fact, at #734 as of 2020, Houston might be on the verge of a comeback.

LAFE (ranked #623 in 1885)

A phonetic spelling of Scandi name Leif, Lafe rhymes with Rafe – though neither is particularly common in the US these days.

LEOPOLD (ranked #676 in 1885)

If Leo names rule, why not Leopold? It sounds like the name of a minor German prince, or, of course, one of The Producers. It’s unexpected and fun.

ORSON (ranked #910 in 1885)

More subtle than Fox or Bear, Orson is borrowed from the Latin ursus – bear. Orson Welles makes it familiar, but it’s quite rare for a child.

RANSOM (ranked #572 in 1885)

It rhymes with handsome, and it shares a deep, spiritual meaning. (Christ died as a ransom for the sins of the world.) If you love two-syllable, ends-with-n boy names, this is among the rarest of 1885 baby names.

ROME (ranked #687 in 1885)

The eternal city is as good a place name candidate as Camden or Boston, and far less expected. As brief as Kai and Jude, Rome remains much rarer than Roman – but it could work. And, like fellow place name Houston, Rome ranks in the US Top 1000 today.

SUMNER (ranked #758 in 1885)

Yes, it would almost certainly be mistaken for Summer. Maybe constantly. But that’s a plus, too, a summery surname name that feels familiar, but is quite rare.

Would you consider any of these 1885 baby names for a child today?

First published on March 18, 2016, this post was revised on April 1, 2020; November 8, 2021; and November 27, 2024.

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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28 Comments

  1. My grandmother had best friends who were sisters named Leda and Viva. I always loved their names so much!

  2. Just FYI, but Ransom is also the name of the hero of CS Lewisโ€™ Space Trilogy. Heโ€™s a philologist and actually has some reflections on his own name in the story.

  3. We live in Italy and Clotilde is a “not-too-common but not-too-uncommon” name. Pronounced Cloh-till-day, the girl is often called Tilde for short.

  4. We named my almost 10 year old daughter, Exie, after my grandmother, Exie. My daughter was due on my grandmother’s birthday… so it was fitting to name her after her….. a woman who I greatly adored. A beautiful, kind, smart, Christian woman born in 1918. She never knew my daughter, as she died 7 years prior to her birth. They would’ve loved each other. Her name was not short for anything and her paternal family was Irish.

  5. Interesting! I rarely ever see my sons name Ransom on any names list! His name has a special family meaning as it is my mothers maiden name. We always get compliments on his strong and unique name- though I’m sure people wouldn’t say anything negative to our faces!!! He is only 3.5 but he loves his name and thinks it’s so cool he shares a name with all of his great grand parents (his middle name is after my grandpa on my dads side)

  6. I would love to use Dulcie, it’s femine without being cloying and is quite sentimental here in Australia as many families have or had a Dulcie somewhere up the line.

  7. Albertine is actually the religious name of a young nun I know. Sr. Albertine is a Dominican Sister and not yet 30.

  8. My great-aunt’s name is Novella! I’m not sure of the source and she was born well after 1885. I’m into Sophronia and Clotilde on the girls’ side and many of the boys’ names esp Hollis and Dempsey.

  9. Re: Lafe-
    This was my grandfather’s name, not a respelling of Leif, but short for Lafayette. He was born in rural Oregon in 1914. (We’re not Scandinavian at all.)

    1. Oh, Fiona – you might be right! That makes nearly as much sense as Leif spelled phonetically. And Lafayette ranked in the 300s then … so another reason to think that might be the more logical explanation.