Every few years, new baby names enter the US top 1,000 only to disappear off the baby name charts in the blink of an eye. But some baby names are so classic that they continue to win over the hearts of many. These are the baby names that we will be covering in this article. So, if you’re on the hunt for traditional baby names that never go out of style, you’ve come to the right place.
Some of the most traditional names for boys are Edward, James, Jonathan, and Robert. In fact, these names are so common that they can be found in virtually any country in the world. Despite having very different meanings, all of these names have been a part of the US top 1,000 for centuries.
As of 2024, James and Robert are two of the most popular boy names in America, with James taking the lead. James is the English version of the Hebrew name Jacob, which means “supplanter,” and Robert is a name of German origin meaning “bright frame.” The English name Edward and the Hebrew name Jonathan mean “wealthy guardian” and “gift of Jehovah,” respectively.
As for traditional baby girl names, it’s safe to say that few are more popular than Elizabeth, Catherine, Hannah, and Mary. All of these names belong to the US top 1,000, having maintained their popularity for many centuries.
Except for the Greek name Catherine, which means “pure,” all of the girl names mentioned above are of Hebrew origin. Elizabeth means “pledged to God.” Hannah means “grace.” And Mary means “drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved.”
For more traditional baby names, check out the list below.
Alexis
Meaning: Protector of Mankind
Origin: German, Greek
Gender: Girl
Amanda
Meaning: The one who is made for love and respect who are active and bright
Origin: Cyprus, Portuguese, Sinhala
Gender: Girl
Andrew
Meaning: A born warrior who is manly and brave
Origin: Ghana, Greek
Gender: Boy
Anthony
Meaning: Unique, priceless flower
Origin: Basque, Roman
Gender: Boy
Barbara
Meaning: Stranger, visitor, alien
Origin: Latin, Slovene
Gender: Girl
Betty
Meaning: Oath of God
Origin: German, Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Brenda
Meaning: A sharp weapon, a sword
Origin: Gaelic, German
Gender: Girl
Catherine
Meaning: Pure
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Charles
Meaning: Brave
Origin: Old German, Roman
Gender: Boy
Christopher
Meaning: Bearer of Jesus Christ
Origin: English, Greek
Gender: Boy
Daniel
Meaning: A Prophet
Origin: British, Chamorro, Dominican Republic
Gender: Boy
David
Meaning: A beloved friend
Origin: English, German, Hungarian
Gender: Boy
Donald
Meaning: A great chief who rules the world
Origin: Celtic, Gaelic, United States
Gender: Boy
Edward
Meaning: Wealthy guardian
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Elizabeth
Meaning: Pledged to God
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Emily
Meaning: Signifies a hard working, diligent and an industrious person
Origin: French, German, Irish, Italian
Gender: Girl
Frank
Meaning: A free person
Origin: German
Gender: Boy
George
Meaning: Farmer
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Hannah
Meaning: Grace
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Isabella
Meaning: God is perfection
Origin: French, Georgian, German
Gender: Girl
James
Meaning: Wealthy guardian
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Jennifer
Meaning: White
Origin: Welsh
Gender: Girl
Jessica
Meaning: God Beholds
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Jonathan
Meaning: Gift of Jehovah
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Karen
Meaning: Pure
Origin: Greek
Gender: Girl
Kimberly
Meaning: From the wood of the royal forest
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Laura
Meaning: Person crowned with laurels
Origin: French, German, Italian
Gender: Girl
Linda
Meaning: Beautiful woman
Origin: English, German, Italian
Gender: Girl
Lisa
Meaning: One who is devoted to God
Origin: French, German, Greek, Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Mary
Meaning: Drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Matthew
Meaning: A gift of God
Origin: Hebrew, Medieval English
Gender: Boy
Michael
Meaning: One of the seven archangels of the God
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Boy
Nancy
Meaning: A divine person, full of grace
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Nicholas
Meaning: The conqueror of the nation
Origin: Cyprus, Greek, Polish
Gender: Boy
Patricia
Meaning: Noble woman
Origin: Brazilian, French, Portuguese
Gender: Girl
Paul
Meaning: One who is humble and small
Origin: Belgian, German, Latin
Gender: Boy
Peter
Meaning: One who is a rock and a stone
Origin: Aramaic, Greek
Gender: Boy
Richard
Meaning: Powerful ruler
Origin: Germanic
Gender: Boy
Robert
Meaning: Bright frame
Origin: German
Gender: Boy
Rose
Meaning: A beautiful flower
Origin: English, French, Kenyan, Nigerian
Gender: Girl
Sarah
Meaning: Princess
Origin: Egyptian, French, German
Gender: Girl
Shirley
Meaning: Bright meadow
Origin: English
Gender: Girl
Steven
Meaning: Crown
Origin: Greek
Gender: Boy
Susan
Meaning: Kinship
Origin: Hebrew
Gender: Girl
Thomas
Meaning: Twin
Origin: Aramaic, Australian, Portuguese
Gender: Boy
Tyler
Meaning: The tile maker
Origin: Canadian, English
Gender: Boy
Vincent
Meaning: Conquering
Origin: Latin
Gender: Boy
Virginia
Meaning: A virgin
Origin: Romanian
Gender: Girl
William
Meaning: Will or desire to protect
Origin: Danish, Georgian
Gender: Boy
Zachary
Meaning: Yahweh has remembered
Origin: Aramaic
Gender: Boy
