1926 girl names blend the best of vintage favorites and surprising finds.

We often talk about the 100 Year Rule. Give any name a century or so, and it will fresh again.

In reality, the picture is far more complicated. Many 1926 favorites are already back – Alice and Ruby, Eleanor and Josephine were big then, and they’re Top 100 favorites now.

Other names, though? Dimple, Waneta, and Hildred might be lost to time. It feels too early to say if former Top Ten Doris will make a comeback.

Still, if you’re looking for a vintage charmer that feels storied and perhaps a little surprising now, 1926 girl names are a good place to start.

First up, let’s look at the most popular choices from 100 years ago.

Table of Contents

TOP 100 GIRL NAMES FROM THE YEAR 1926

  1. Mary
  2. Dorothy
  3. Betty
  4. Helen
  5. Margaret
  6. Ruth
  7. Doris
  8. Virginia
  9. Mildred
  10. Frances
  11. Elizabeth
  12. Jean
  13. Evelyn
  14. Shirley
  15. Anna
  16. Barbara
  17. Alice
  18. Marie
  19. Lois
  20. Gloria
  21. Irene
  22. Marjorie
  23. Patricia
  24. Martha
  25. Rose
  26. Florence
  27. Louise
  28. Lillian
  29. Norma
  30. Ruby
  31. Catherine
  32. Eleanor
  33. Phyllis
  34. Annie
  35. Gladys
  36. Thelma
  37. Josephine
  38. Edna
  39. Pauline
  40. June
  41. Ethel
  42. Edith
  43. Lucille
  44. Joyce
  45. Bernice
  46. Grace
  47. Marion
  48. Hazel
  49. Dolores
  50. Rita
  51. Joan
  52. Juanita
  53. Lorraine
  54. Geraldine
  55. Ann
  56. Jane
  57. Nancy
  58. Beatrice
  59. Emma
  60. Audrey
  61. Clara
  62. Esther
  63. Sarah
  64. Theresa
  65. Marilyn
  66. Wanda
  67. Wilma
  68. Elaine
  69. Elsie
  70. Marian
  71. Gertrude
  72. Katherine
  73. Willie
  74. Beverly
  75. Julia
  76. Bertha
  77. Agnes
  78. Charlotte
  79. Eva
  80. Vivian
  81. Laura
  82. Ida
  83. Kathleen
  84. Vera
  85. Maxine
  86. Anne
  87. Kathryn
  88. Jeanne
  89. Bessie
  90. Donna
  91. Alma
  92. Eileen
  93. Jessie
  94. Violet
  95. Rosemary
  96. Pearl
  97. Viola
  98. Ella
  99. Lillie
  100. Ellen
soft focus baby girl in white dress; 1926 girl names
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Some of those Top 100 choices are slowly climbing up the popularity charts right now.

ANNIE (#34 in 1926; #182 as of 2025)

There’s always some form of enduring Ann- at the top of the popularity charts. It looks like Annie is set to surpass Anna, Ana, and Anne in the 2020s.

BEATRICE (#58 in 1926; #508 as of 2025)

This lovely, literary choice has been a quiet favorite for years, but now the numbers are starting to accelerate.

DOROTHY (#2 in 1926; #421 as of 2025)

Once a Golden Girl, now a kindergartener.

EDITH (#42 in 1926; #499 as of 2025)

Edith has never left the US Top 1000, but lately it’s been stuck in style limbo. But the strong sound, combined with sweet nickname Edie, could lift it up once more.

ELAINE (#68 in 1926; #305 as of 2025)

Elegant, French take on Helen used in the tales of King Arthur. Elaine is also a nickname powerhouse, shortening to Ellie or Lainey, both Top 50 names in their own right.

LOUISE (#26 in 1926; #516 as of 2025)

A classic choice, brief and complete, but also nickname rich.

MAXINE (#85 in 1926; #497 as of 2025)

After years of watching Max names rise for boys, sister Maxine is on the upswing.

PEARL (#96 in 1926; #777 as of 2025)

Ruby is a sparkling favorite. Pearl is another choice straight out of the jewelry box, with associations with all things coastal as a bonus.

RUTH (#6 in 1926; #173 as of 2025)

Strong, straightforward Old Testament name Ruth sounds capable. Nickname Ruthie is rising even faster.

ROSEMARY (#95 in 1926; #251 as of 2026)

A nature name and a combination of two classics. Cool contraction nickname Romy is rising even faster today.

OVERLOOKED 1926 GIRL NAMES

Plenty of mainstream favorites circa 1926 are overlooked, even forgotten, by 2026 standards.

ADELIA (#952 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Adelaide meets Amelia for this appealing Addie name.

BELVA (#536 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Italian surname Belvedere means “beautiful sight.” Belva is a feminine name derived from the same roots. It’s a little bit like Bella with a bonus V sound.

BOBBIE (#218 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Commonly used as a feminine form of Robert, Bobbie remains stuck in style limbo, even as Billie returns to the popularity charts.

CECILE (#344 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Cecilia is gaining in use, but sophisticated, quietly French Cecile is among the overlooked 1926 girl names.

FERN (#209 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

A nature name with a history similar to Hazel, Fern is seldom heard today.

LETA (#454 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

While lots of girls’ names end with this sound, Leta might come directly from the Latin leatus – glad. That makes Leta a cousin to Letitia, though with a sleeker appeal.

LUCINDA (#556 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Elaborate like Isabella, and a cousin to Top 100 Lucy and Lucia, too, it’s almost shocking that Lucinda remains outside of the current US Top 1000.

MINNIE (#111 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Sparky, high-energy Minnie is the name of a world-famous Mouse, yes. But it’s also a vintage choice with

PRUDENCE (#923 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

It’s a virtue name that hits a little like a fusty Pilgrim pick. But it’s also a dreamy Beatles song, putting Prudence – potentially – in the company of favorites like Lucy and Jude.

SOCORRO (#568 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Socorro sounds powerful, and it offers an appropriate meaning – relief. It’s a traditional Spanish name from a title associated with the Virgin Mary, but thanks to the O ending, sounds thoroughly modern, too.

TWILA (#515 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Pretty night sky name with a vintage vibe. Schitt’s Creek included a character named Twila, affectionately called “Twye” by Alexis.

VERONA (#901 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

Italy city name, made famous by Romeo and Julia. If Vienna ranks in the current US Top 1000, why not Verona?

VESTA (#561 in 1926; unranked as of 2025)

The Roman goddess of the hearth, the equivalent of the Greek Hestia, Vesta’s name has been overlooked even as parents have embraced goddess names like Aurora and Athena.

Do have any favorite 1926 girl names?

First published on December 15, 2025, this post was updated on September 22, 2026.

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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2 Comments

  1. My daughter is Edith! I deliberated when naming her about whether it was too old-lady, but I absolutely love it and am so happy we chose it. It’s perfect for her!

    Reply

  2. I know an elderly Adelia! She goes by ‘Dee’ almost exclusively. She’s savvy and sassy and a homebody who loves guests.

    Minnie is the name that got away. I planned to use her because of a great-great grandmother, but due to the irony of life, we used ‘Winnie’ instead. There’s still a twinge of regret there, but sometimes I can pretend it’s still an honor name.

    Have to admit, I don’t like the ‘fur’ sound in Fern. It’s not appealing in the name Jennifer either. Fleur gives me a similar vibe, too. They’re all beautiful names, but that sound is weird in my ear.

    Reply