Names to add to your shortlist
Agatha
A true antique with mystery-novel charm and plenty of personality.
2025 U.S.: 120 births · #1,703Peak: 1918 · 218 births
Amabel
A romantic medieval choice that feels gentler than Annabel.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 2019 · 12 births
Anthea
A graceful classical name with a botanical feel.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #10,179Peak: 1990 · 20 births
Eudora
A strong vintage name that sounds at home in a classic novel.
2025 U.S.: 25 births · #5,137Peak: 1923 · 71 births
Eulalie
Musical and antique, with an unmistakably uncommon sound.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 1926 · 26 births
Ione
A rare classical choice with a memorable three-syllable sound.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #7,265Peak: 1920 · 367 births
Isabeau
A medieval French form with romantic storybook energy.
2025 U.S.: 6 births · #13,866Peak: 2013 · 25 births
Lucasta
Literary and rare, with a dramatic three-syllable rhythm.
2025 U.S.: no published count
Maude
A compact antique with serious vintage character.
2025 U.S.: 46 births · #3,367Peak: 1888 · 1,396 births
Nerissa
Shakespearean and sea-like in sound, without feeling difficult.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #10,681Peak: 1979 · 73 births
Olwen
Welsh and legendary, with a gentle vintage sound.
2025 U.S.: no published countPeak: 1917 · 12 births
Sigrid
Strong, Scandinavian and crisp, with no frills.
2025 U.S.: 32 births · #4,445Peak: 2022 · 56 births
Solene
Polished and French in style, with a sunny sound.
2025 U.S.: 179 births · #1,257Peak: 2025 · 179 births
Tansy
A cheerful botanical name with vintage cottage-garden energy.
2025 U.S.: 15 births · #7,454Peak: 2025 · 15 births
Twyla
Dreamy and retro, with a distinctive rhythm.
2025 U.S.: 56 births · #2,995Peak: 1964 · 194 births
Una
Simple, ancient and quietly unusual.
2025 U.S.: 49 births · #3,245Peak: 1921 · 217 births
Veda
Compact and vintage, with a sleek modern look on the page.
2025 U.S.: 370 births · #739Peak: 2024 · 410 births
Vita
Short, vivid and energetic, with an international feel.
2025 U.S.: 32 births · #4,454Peak: 1921 · 84 births
Winifred
A substantial vintage name with the cheerful nicknames Winnie and Freddie.
2025 U.S.: 284 births · #923Peak: 1918 · 1,593 births
Zora
Strong, literary and concise, with a vibrant final sound.
2025 U.S.: 264 births · #969Peak: 2019 · 353 births
The data line uses the exact spelling shown. “No published 2025 count” can mean the spelling had zero births or fewer than five, because SSA does not publish counts below five.
Less popular can be a positive
A lower-profile name gives your child more chance of being the only person with that name in a class or workplace. It can also revive a family or cultural name that deserves another look.
Some names are rare because tastes changed
Agatha, Maude, Winifred and Eudora once fit more naturally into their eras. Their age can be exactly what makes them interesting now.
Popularity can move quickly
A name that feels forgotten can jump when a television character, musician or social trend brings it back. Current data gives you a better picture than memory alone.
Overlooked names can offer the best surprises
Once you stop treating the popularity chart as a quality ranking, many forgotten names become more interesting. Some are elegant, some quirky and some simply belong to a generation that is not fashionable right now. That distance from current trends can be exactly what makes them feel fresh.
Posy's pick
Veda
Compact and vintage, with a sleek modern look on the page.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Does unpopular mean people dislike the name?
No. Searchers often use “unpopular” to mean not popular. We treat it as low usage, not a judgment of quality.
Can an unpopular name become popular again?
Definitely. Vintage revivals happen regularly, and media exposure can accelerate them.
Where can I see names that recently dropped in rank?
Our falling-popularity page uses the latest SSA 2024-to-2025 rank changes.