Choosing a baby name is one of the most exciting, and sometimes overwhelming, parts of parenthood. Traditional names carry history, meaning, and a timeless charm that never goes out of style.
Whether you’re looking for something classic, rooted in faith, or inspired by nature, this list of 160 traditional baby names will help you find the perfect fit for your little one.
Let’s explore these beautiful names, their origins, and what they signify.
Classic & Timeless Names
These names have stood the test of time, remaining beloved across generations.
Boys:
- William – German origin, meaning “resolute protector.”
- James – Hebrew origin, meaning “supplanter.”
- Henry – German origin, meaning “ruler of the household.”
- Charles – German origin, meaning “free man.”
- George – Greek origin, meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker.”
- Thomas – Aramaic origin, meaning “twin.”
- Edward – English origin, meaning “wealthy guardian.”
- Benjamin – Hebrew origin, meaning “son of the right hand.”
- Samuel – Hebrew origin, meaning “name of God” or “God has heard.”
- Joseph – Hebrew origin, meaning “He will add.”
Girls:
- Elizabeth – Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my oath.”
- Margaret – Greek origin, meaning “pearl.”
- Catherine – Greek origin, meaning “pure.”
- Anne – Hebrew origin, meaning “grace.”
- Mary – Hebrew origin, meaning “bitter” or “beloved.”
- Charlotte – French origin, meaning “free man” or “petite.”
- Eleanor – Greek origin, meaning “light” or “shining one.”
- Victoria – Latin origin, meaning “victory.”
- Beatrice – Latin origin, meaning “she who brings happiness.”
- Alice – German origin, meaning “noble” or “truth.”
Biblical & Faith-Inspired Names
Names with spiritual significance often carry deep meaning and heritage.
Boys:
- David – Hebrew origin, meaning “beloved.”
- Daniel – Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my judge.”
- Michael – Hebrew origin, meaning “who is like God?”
- Matthew – Hebrew origin, meaning “gift of God.”
- John – Hebrew origin, meaning “God is gracious.”
- Luke – Greek origin, meaning “light-giving.”
- Andrew – Greek origin, meaning “manly” or “brave.”
- Nathan – Hebrew origin, meaning “He gave.”
- Elijah – Hebrew origin, meaning “Yahweh is my God.”
- Isaac – Hebrew origin, meaning “laughter.”
Girls:
- Sarah – Hebrew origin, meaning “princess.”
- Rebecca – Hebrew origin, meaning “to bind” or “captivating.”
- Hannah – Hebrew origin, meaning “grace” or “favor.”
- Esther – Persian origin, meaning “star.”
- Leah – Hebrew origin, meaning “weary” or “delicate.”
- Rachel – Hebrew origin, meaning “ewe” (symbolizing gentleness).
- Abigail – Hebrew origin, meaning “father’s joy.”
- Miriam – Hebrew origin, meaning “wished-for child.”
- Deborah – Hebrew origin, meaning “bee.”
- Ruth – Hebrew origin, meaning “companion” or “friend.”
Nature-Inspired Names
For parents who love the beauty of the natural world, these names evoke earth, sky, and life itself.
Boys:
- Asher – Hebrew origin, meaning “happy” or “blessed.”
- Jasper – Persian origin, meaning “treasurer” (also a gemstone).
- Rowan – Gaelic origin, meaning “little red-haired one” or from the rowan tree.
- Leo – Latin origin, meaning “lion.”
- Sage – Latin origin, meaning “wise” or referring to the herb.
- River – English origin, inspired by flowing water.
- Forrest – English origin, meaning “woodsman” or “forest.”
- Heath – English origin, meaning “heathland dweller.”
- Clay – English origin, meaning “mortal” or “earth.”
- Orion – Greek origin, named after the hunter constellation.
Girls:
- Ivy – English origin, named after the climbing plant.
- Rose – Latin origin, named after the flower (symbolizing love).
- Daisy – Old English origin, meaning “day’s eye” (a cheerful flower).
- Hazel – English origin, named after the hazelnut tree.
- Violet – Latin origin, named after the purple flower.
- Luna – Latin origin, meaning “moon.”
- Aurora – Latin origin, meaning “dawn” (also the Roman goddess of sunrise).
- Willow – English origin, named after the willow tree.
- Juniper – Latin origin, named after the evergreen shrub.
- Skye – Norse origin, meaning “cloud” or inspired by the Isle of Skye.
Royal & Noble Names
Names fit for kings, queens, and little princes and princesses.
Boys:
- Alexander – Greek origin, meaning “defender of men.”
- Arthur – Celtic origin, meaning “bear” or legendary king.
- Frederick – German origin, meaning “peaceful ruler.”
- Louis – German origin, meaning “famous warrior.”
- Philip – Greek origin, meaning “lover of horses.”
- Richard – German origin, meaning “brave ruler.”
- Albert – German origin, meaning “noble and bright.”
- Edmund – English origin, meaning “fortunate protector.”
- Harold – Scandinavian origin, meaning “army ruler.”
- Leopold – German origin, meaning “brave people.”
Girls:
- Alexandra – Greek origin, meaning “defender of mankind.”
- Isabella – Hebrew origin, meaning “pledged to God.”
- Sophia – Greek origin, meaning “wisdom.”
- Caroline – German origin, meaning “free woman.”
- Adelaide – German origin, meaning “noble natured.”
- Cecilia – Latin origin, meaning “blind” (also patron saint of music).
- Genevieve – French origin, meaning “tribe woman” or “white wave.”
- Matilda – German origin, meaning “mighty in battle.”
- Philippa – Greek origin, meaning “lover of horses.”
- Theodora – Greek origin, meaning “gift of God.”
Strong & Warrior-Inspired Names
For parents who want a name that exudes strength and resilience.
Boys:
- Ethan – Hebrew origin, meaning “strong” or “firm.”
- Gabriel – Hebrew origin, meaning “God is my strength.”
- Leon – Greek origin, meaning “lion.”
- Maximus – Latin origin, meaning “greatest.”
- Valentine – Latin origin, meaning “strong” or “healthy.”
- Griffin – Welsh origin, meaning “strong lord.”
- Conrad – German origin, meaning “brave counsel.”
- Magnus – Latin origin, meaning “great.”
- Everett – English origin, meaning “brave as a wild boar.”
- Oscar – Irish origin, meaning “friend of deer” or “champion warrior.”
Girls:
- Valerie – Latin origin, meaning “strength” or “health.”
- Brianna – Irish origin, meaning “strong” or “noble.”
- Audrey – English origin, meaning “noble strength.”
- Meredith – Welsh origin, meaning “great ruler.”
- Bernadette – German origin, meaning “brave as a bear.”
- Gertrude – German origin, meaning “spear of strength.”
- Louisa – German origin, meaning “renowned warrior.”
- Regina – Latin origin, meaning “queen.”
- Zelda – German origin, meaning “gray fighting maid.”
- Imogen – Celtic origin, meaning “maiden” or “innocent.”
Sweet & Gentle Names
Soft, melodic names that evoke warmth and tenderness.
Boys:
- Theodore – Greek origin, meaning “gift of God.”
- Oliver – Latin origin, meaning “olive tree.”
- Felix – Latin origin, meaning “happy” or “fortunate.”
- Julian – Latin origin, meaning “youthful” or “downy-bearded.”
- Sebastian – Greek origin, meaning “venerable” or “revered.”
- Emmett – German origin, meaning “universal” or “truth.”
- Jude – Latin origin, meaning “praised.”
- Silas – Latin origin, meaning “wood” or “forest.”
- Elliot – Hebrew origin, meaning “the Lord is my God.”
- Finn – Irish origin, meaning “fair” or “white.”
Girls:
- Amelia – German origin, meaning “work” or “industrious.”
- Clara – Latin origin, meaning “bright” or “clear.”
- Lillian – Latin origin, meaning “lily” (symbolizing purity).
- Eloise – French origin, meaning “healthy” or “wide.”
- Cora – Greek origin, meaning “maiden.”
- Lucy – Latin origin, meaning “light.”
- Nora – Irish origin, meaning “honor” or “light.”
- Maeve – Irish origin, meaning “intoxicating” or “she who rules.”
- Eva – Hebrew origin, meaning “life.”
- Ada – German origin, meaning “noble” or “happy.”
Vintage & Old-Fashioned Names
Charming names from bygone eras that are making a comeback.
Boys:
- Walter – German origin, meaning “ruler of the army.”
- Clarence – Latin origin, meaning “bright” or “clear.”
- Harvey – Breton origin, meaning “battle worthy.”
- Eugene – Greek origin, meaning “well-born.”
- Bernard – German origin, meaning “brave as a bear.”
- Cecil – Latin origin, meaning “blind.”
- Hugh – German origin, meaning “mind” or “intellect.”
- Clifford – English origin, meaning “ford by a cliff.”
- Milton – English origin, meaning “mill town.”
- Oswald – English origin, meaning “divine power.”
Girls:
- Agnes – Greek origin, meaning “pure” or “holy.”
- Edith – English origin, meaning “prosperous in war.”
- Dorothy – Greek origin, meaning “gift of God.”
- Florence – Latin origin, meaning “flourishing” or “prosperous.”
- Mabel – Latin origin, meaning “lovable.”
- Ethel – English origin, meaning “noble.”
- Gladys – Welsh origin, meaning “land” or “princess.”
- Myrtle – Greek origin, named after the evergreen shrub.
- Pearl – Latin origin, named after the gemstone.
- Winifred – Welsh origin, meaning “blessed peacemaking.”
Names with Literary & Mythological Roots
Inspired by legends, stories, and great works of literature.
Boys:
- Atticus – Latin origin, from To Kill a Mockingbird, meaning “from Attica.”
- Hugo – German origin, meaning “mind” or “intellect” (associated with Victor Hugo).
- Orson – Latin origin, meaning “bear cub” (from Orson Welles).
- Percival – French origin, meaning “pierce the vale” (Arthurian knight).
- Dorian – Greek origin, from The Picture of Dorian Gray, meaning “of the sea.”
- Achilles – Greek origin, legendary warrior from The Iliad.
- Odysseus – Greek origin, hero of The Odyssey, meaning “wrathful.”
- Lancelot – French origin, Arthurian knight, meaning “servant.”
- Edgar – English origin, associated with Edgar Allan Poe, meaning “wealthy spear.”
- Tristan – Celtic origin, meaning “sorrowful” or “noise” (from Arthurian legend).
Girls:
- Ophelia – Greek origin, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, meaning “help.”
- Juliet – Latin origin, from Romeo and Juliet, meaning “youthful.”
- Beatrix – Latin origin, meaning “voyager” (associated with Beatrix Potter).
- Cassandra – Greek origin, meaning “shining upon man” (a prophetess in mythology).
- Penelope – Greek origin, Odysseus’ wife, meaning “weaver.”
- Ariel – Hebrew origin, meaning “lion of God” (from Shakespeare’s The Tempest).
- Lorelei – German origin, a siren from folklore, meaning “alluring.”
- Daphne – Greek origin, a nymph turned into a laurel tree.
- Cordelia – Celtic origin, from King Lear, meaning “daughter of the sea.”
- Hermione – Greek origin, from mythology and Harry Potter, meaning “messenger.”
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re drawn to the strength of warrior names, the elegance of royal names, or the sweetness of vintage gems, traditional names offer a beautiful connection to history and meaning. Each name carries a story; what will your little one’s be?
Did any of these names stand out to you? Let us know in the comments which ones are your favorites!