63 Girl Names from the Early 20th Century

They evoke old photo albums, lace dresses, and grand history: girl names from the early 20th century are experiencing a new charm today. Amidst social upheaval, World War I, and evolving gender roles, a mix of classics and fresh, trendy names emerged. These 63 first names demonstrate how surprisingly beautiful the past can sound.

Many of these names radiate nostalgic charm and have become popular again due to retro trends. Our list features 63 girl names from this era that made their debut back then and continue to impress with their unique style today.

Adelheid

Adelheid is a name with Old High German roots, symbolizing nobility and refinement. Frequently found in royal households, this name exudes a majestic elegance. In the early 20th century, it was seen as a sign of stability and tradition.

Alice

Alice has its origins in Old High German and is common in many European languages. The name means "of noble form" and has a timeless charm, enhanced by stories like "Alice in Wonderland."

Anita

The name Anita is of ancient Hebrew origin and means "the favored one" or "God is gracious." This short form of Anna gained popularity in the 20th century due to its melody and simplicity.

Annemarie

Annemarie, a combination of Anna and Maria, unites the meanings "the favored one" and "the graceful one." This name symbolizes the connection between tradition and modernity and remains popular to this day.

Beatrice

Beatrice comes from Latin and means "the traveler." This name has been beloved in many cultures for centuries and conveys a certain cosmopolitan flair that was particularly appreciated in the 20th century.

Brigitte

Brigitte is an ancient Irish name meaning "the divine one." Often associated with Celtic myths, this name represented strength and feminine dignity in the early 20th century.

Carla

Carla is a name with Old German, Italian, and Spanish roots, meaning "the free one." This name was particularly valued in bourgeois circles and stands for independence and self-confidence.

Christa

Christa derives from the Greek "Christian" and carries a religious significance. In the 20th century, this name expressed personal faith and a return to Christian values.

Christine

Similar to Christa, Christine means "follower of Christ." This name blends classic influences with a touch of modernity that gained importance in the early 20th century.

Doris

Doris is an ancient Greek name meaning "woman of the Doric race." It conveys historical depth and a connection to classical myths and legends.

Elisabetha

Elisabetha comes from ancient Hebrew and means "God is abundance." This biblical name represents faith and abundance and was widespread in many European countries during the 20th century.

Elke

Elke has Old High German roots and means "the noble one." This name was often given in the early 20th century and symbolizes a connection to traditional values.

Elsbeth

The name Elsbeth comes from ancient Hebrew and means "my God is abundance." It is a variant of Elisabeth and was particularly popular in rural areas.

Esther

Esther originates from Akkadian and means "the star." In the Bible, Esther is a queen who saves her people, and this name symbolizes courage and wisdom.

Gisela

Gisela is Old High German and means "the young noblewoman." This name radiates elegance and grace and was especially popular in the 1920s.

Helena

Helena is ancient Greek and means "the shining one." Known from Greek mythology, this name represents beauty and radiance and was favored in the early 20th century.

Helga

Helga has Nordic roots and means "the holy one." With its powerful yet simple nature, this name found many followers in the 20th century.

Hermine

The name Hermine is Old High German and means "the warrior woman." In the early 20th century, Hermine was an expression of strength and fighting spirit.

Hilda

Hilda, also Old High German, means "the fighter." This name embodies bravery and was often given to girls to bestow strength upon them.

Ingeborg

Ingeborg is an Old Norse name meaning "the one under Ing's protection." This name combines protection and security and was particularly common in Scandinavian countries.

Irene

Irene comes from ancient Greek and means "the peaceful one." In the 20th century, this name was often given to express a desire for peace and harmony.

Irma

Irma is a name with ancient Germanic roots and means "the all-encompassing one." It stands for greatness and wholeness and was especially popular in Germany in the early 20th century.

Irmgard

Irmgard, also ancient Germanic, means "the all-encompassing protector." This name expressed strength and protection in the 20th century.

Josefina

Josefina is ancient Hebrew and means "God may add." This name has been a sign of hope and a desire for family and community.

Josefine

Josefine is the German variant of Josefina and shares the same meaning. The name was popular in many European countries during the 20th century.

Jutta

Jutta has ancient Hebrew roots and means "the woman from Jehud." This name represents tradition and heritage and had many followers in the 20th century.

Karin

Karin is an ancient Greek name meaning "the pure one." In the 20th century, this name was particularly common in Scandinavian countries.

Klara

Klara, Latin for "the bright one," was a popular name representing clarity and fame. In the early 20th century, Klara experienced a resurgence that continues to this day.

Lilly

Lilly is a name with Hebrew roots meaning "the lily." This delicate name was often loved in the 20th century for its elegance and simplicity.

Lina

Lina has Arabic and Greek roots and means "the little palm" or "the delicate one." The name was very popular in the early 20th century and stands for grace and beauty.

Liselotte

Liselotte combines ancient Hebrew and Old High German influences and means "God is abundance." This double name was a sign of tradition and modernity in the 20th century.

Lotti

Lotti is an Old High German diminutive meaning "the free one." In the early 20th century, this name was one of the popular short and concise girl names.

Louise

Louise has Old High German roots and means "the famous warrior." This name represents strength and influence and was widespread in the 20th century.

Lydia

Lydia is an ancient Greek name meaning "woman from Lydia." This name was often given in the 20th century and exudes ancient charm.

Magdalena

Magdalena is a biblical name meaning "the one from Magdala." In the 20th century, this name was particularly popular in Catholic regions.

Margaretha

Margaretha is of ancient Greek origin and means "the pearl." This noble name was an expression of beauty and elegance in the early 20th century.

Margot

Margot, also ancient Greek, shares the meaning "the pearl." This name was a sign of individuality and style in the 20th century.

Margrit

Margrit is another variant of Margaretha and also means "the pearl." This diminutive enjoyed great popularity in the 20th century.

Marianne

Marianne, a name with Egyptian and Aramaic roots, means "the resistant graceful one." It represents grace and resilience and was often given in the 20th century.

Marion

Marion means "the rebellious one" and has Egyptian and Aramaic roots. This name expressed strength and character in the 20th century.

Marlies

Marlies, an ancient Hebrew name, means "the beloved one." This name was very popular in the 20th century and conveys a romantic touch.

Marta

Marta is Aramaic and means "the mistress." It conveys authority and strength and was a popular name in the early 20th century.

Monika

Monika has Greek roots and means "the unique one." This name was widespread in the 20th century and stands for uniqueness and individuality.

Nelly

Nelly is a name with Old French roots meaning "the one from the Cornelier family." This name was popular in the early 20th century for its elegance and charm.

Pia

Pia is Latin and means "the pious one." In the 20th century, this name radiated virtue and faith and was widely used.

Renate

Renate, Latin for "the reborn one," was a sign of renewal and new beginnings in the 20th century. This name represented hope and fresh starts.

Rita

Rita is an ancient Greek name meaning "the pearl." In the 20th century, it was a popular and sought-after name that conveyed elegance and grace.

Rosemarie

The name Rosemarie combines ancient Hebrew and Latin influences and means "the rebellious rose." In the 20th century, this name stood for beauty and individuality.

Rosmarie

Rosmarie shares the origin with Rosemarie and means "the beloved rose." This name was particularly popular among nature lovers in the 20th century.

Sigrid

Sigrid has Nordic roots and means "the beautiful victory." This name radiates strength and elegance and was particularly common in Scandinavian countries in the 20th century.

Silvia

Silvia is Latin and means "the one from the forest." The name conveys a connection to nature and was very popular in the 20th century.

Sonja

Sonja is a name with Greek and Russian roots meaning "the wisdom." This name expressed intelligence and grace in the 20th century.

Susanna

Susanna, ancient Hebrew and Egyptian, means "the lily." This name was often given in the early 20th century and stands for tenderness and purity.

Susanne

Susanne is a variant of Susanna and shares the meaning "the lily." In the 20th century, this name expressed elegance and grace.

Sylvia

Sylvia, Latin for "the one from the forest," was popular in the 20th century and symbolizes a connection to nature and wildness.

Therese

Therese, ancient Greek, means "the resident of Thera." This name represented strength and independence in the 20th century and was particularly popular in Catholic regions.

Theresia

Theresia is a variant of Therese and shares the same meaning. The name was an expression of strength and autonomy.

Ursula

Ursula is Latin and means "the little bear." In the 20th century, this name was a sign of strength and protection.

Vera

Vera has Old Slavic and Latin roots and means "the believing one." This name symbolizes trust and truth and was very popular in the 20th century.

Verena

Verena is a Latin name meaning "the true one." This name was an expression of honesty and authenticity in the 20th century.

Waltraud

Waltraud has ancient Germanic roots and means "the strong ruler." In the 20th century, this name was a sign of authority and influence.

Wilma

Wilma is Old German and means "the determined protector." This name was a symbol of determination and protection in the 20th century.

Yvonne

Yvonne has ancient Germanic and Celtic roots and means "the yew." This name was a sign of strength and resilience in the 20th century.

These historical names offer a fascinating mix of tradition, history, and cultural heritage. It's exciting to see how they have evolved over the decades and are modern once again.