A society’s most popular baby names at any moment in time say a lot about the cultural landscape. More than just a reflection of personal taste, they’re often influenced by media, popular culture, and other shared influences. In 2026, we’re seeing a nostalgia for the past, with names from generations past now the norm for newborns.
Using data from the Social Security Administration’s popular baby name index, Spokeo broke down 10 baby names that are undergoing a “retro revival.” Below, you’ll learn the historical peak of each name, why it’s been repopularized, and where trends are expected to head.
Category 1: Elegant vintage
1. Eloise
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Eloise was last popular in the 1920s. At its previous peak, it reached #164 for girls. Over the next 80 years, it was largely forgotten. In the 2000s, however, it gained newfound traction and has skyrocketed since 2020.
Most people today are familiar with the name Eloise from Kay Thompson’s classic children’s books. Knowingly or not, it has influenced parents’ decisions. In 2022, it crossed into the top 100 names according to SSA data.
2. Maeve
Although Maeve has never been a top name in the United States, it has a vintage feel that can be traced to Irish lineages. Today, it’s become popular due to a character in the “The Witcher” series with a similar name, Meve.
Over the past decade, it has risen from #452 in 2015 to #75 in 2024.
3. Josephine
Josephine was a very popular girl’s name in the early 1900s. It peaked at #21 in 1916, according to the SSA. It had a steady trend in popularity until the 1950s, when it began a sharp decline, reaching #498 in 1987. Today, it is in the top 100 and is expected to rise to the top 50 within the next few years.
Category 2: Quirky retro
4. Marjorie
Marjorie is as vintage as it gets. It was a very popular name in 1922, peaking at #16 on the SSA’s list. Marjorie recently saw a spike in popularity, possibly due to Taylor Swift’s song “Marjorie,” released on her 2020 album “Evermore.”
5. Mabel
Mabel was most popular in 1902, ranking 24th among the most popular names, according to the SSA. It lost popularity over the rest of the 20th century, reaching #960 by 1963. It has since gained popularity and even broken into the top 300 in 2024. It’s predicted to rise into the top 200 in the coming years.
Mabel’s ascent can be attributed to the vintage revival. The name has a cozy feel to it that is more popular now. It was also popularized by the animated series “Gravity Falls.”
6. Rocky
For obvious reasons, Rocky became a popular boys’ name shortly after the “Rocky” films of the mid to late 1970s. However, it had previously peaked in the 1950s. It continued to decline after the 1980s, reaching a low of #998 in 2013.
However, in 2024, Rocky’s popularity jumped from #888 to #657. Today, it’s associated with a rugged, retro aesthetic that aligns with current baby naming trends.
Category 3: Timeless classics
7. Theodore
Theodore has always been a popular name, but its usage has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2024, it ranked fourth among popular boys’ names. This is a dramatic rise from a low of #314 in 1999. It’s always been a classic name, but the shortened version, Theo, has captured the hearts of many new parents.
8. Hazel
Hazel has quickly risen to the top of the female baby name charts. In 2024, it took #19, suggesting that it’s here to stay. Nameberry noted that this name has been widely popularized due to cultural influences. Julia Roberts named one of her twins Hazel in 2004, and the 2012 John Green bestselling novel “The Fault in Our Stars” featured a protagonist named Hazel.
9. Silas
The SSA only started tracking Silas recently. It was the 100th most popular name in 2020 and has continued to rise over the past few years, peaking at #81 in 2024. It may not have a strict “grandpa” feeling to it, but it definitely falls under a vintage revival theme — perhaps even a gothic revival.
10. Arthur
Arthur has a very similar feeling to Theodore’s. It is vintage, historic, and charming. It was extremely popular in the early 1900s and ranked 15th among popular boys’ names for many years. It dropped off in popularity in the late 20th century, but has recently experienced a resurgence. It’s grown from #388 in 2010 to #105 in 2024.
Parents continue to return to classic, vintage names
In modern times, parents have turned to vintage naming trends of the past century. As Yahoo Life noted, this may be because people are seeking nostalgia and turning to ancestry for inspiration.
Want to explore these trends further? Search any name to see how many people have it, how its popularity spans generations, and where it shows up most today.
While pop culture-inspired names like Marjorie may fall in popularity rather quickly, others like Theodore have proven that they are here to stay. What will the most popular baby names be in another 50 years? Only time will tell.
This story was produced by Spokeo and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.