Victorian Names for Girls

Welcome to the ultimate list of the 50 most popular Victorian Girl names. Each name has a short explanation of its meaning along with a cool fact about the name.

Many of these Victorian girl names are still popular today, and according to recent baby name trends, their popularity remains strong.

This list is perfect for:

• Parents seeking traditional and old-fashioned names for their baby girls

• People who want to change their name via deed poll to a more Victorian-sounding one

• People who want to find out which are the most popular Victorian names

Prevalent and Traditional Victorian Names for Girls

This list features the meanings of each name, highlighting their origins and significance. These old fashioned, old fashioned names are timeless classics that have endured through generations.

The following popular Victorian baby names are still prevalent in contemporary English-speaking societies:

Ada: A beautiful name for a newborn daughter, Ada was one of the top 200 most popular names in England and Wales in 1880. More specifically, it ranked in 11th place. Ada means "noble" and "gift".

Agnes: In ancient Greek, Agnes translates to “pure” and “virginal.” In Latin, the name pertains to “holy purity.” Agnes is often associated with a "pure woman" or "child". In 1880, Agnes was the fifth most frequently used name in England and Wales.

Alice: Another classical and elegant title, Alice ranked third in 1880. Alice is considered an old fashioned name and a timeless classic.

Annie: The name Annie’s meaning and origin go back to the Hebrew word for “gracious one”. Annie also means "gracious" and "gift". In 1880, it was the fifth most common name in England and Wales.

Beatrice: Beatrice is one of the popular Victorian names among royals and aristocratic families. Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, named one of their daughters Beatrice. Beatrice means "bringer of joy" and "gift".

Charlotte: The female form of ‘Charles’, Charlotte is the French feminine form of Charles. Charlotte ranked in 35th place in terms of prevalence during 1880.

Clara: The meaning, origin, and history of the name Clara are unique. It is a contemporary version of ‘Clarus’, a Late Latin title that refers to a “bright”, “clear”, and “famous” individual. Clara is associated with "light" and "shining light".

Edith: This classic yet modern name was among the top 10 titles in 1880 England and Wales. Edith means "riches" or "blessed gift".

Eliza: Eliza means “joyous” and "gift" in its original Hebrew form.

Elizabeth: Another royal title, the meaning of Elizabeth is “pledged to God”. Elizabeth has a biblical connection to Christ and also means "gift".

Ellen: Ellen was the 9th most popular name in 1880. Ellen means "light" or "shining light".

Emily: Meanwhile, Emily ranked in 10th place. Emily means "rival" or "industrious woman".

Ethel: Defined as “noble” and “righteous”. Ethel also means "noble" and "gift".

Florence: A royal name and the sixth most favored title across England and Wales in 1880. Florence means "flourishing" or "life".

Gertrude: Gertrude is of German origin and means "spear of strength," often associated with noble and honorable qualities.

Hannah: The first name Hannah is derived from ‘Channah’, a Hebrew word for “favor” or “grace”. Hannah is also associated with "gift".

Harriet: A great title for celebrating an aristocratic and noble baby girl, Harriet suggests that your daughter will be a “home ruler” and is associated with "woman" or "child".

Helen: An admired title among British royals and the public during the Victorian era. Helen is associated with "light", "shining light", and "sun ray".

Isabella: Isabella is an Italian and Spanish variant of ‘Elizabeth’, and it translates to “pledged to God” in Hebrew. Lady Isabella Macdonald is one of the most famous holders of this name in history. Isabella means "devoted to God" and "gift".

Lilian: Frequency and usage-wise, Lilian ranked in 33rd place in 1880. Lilian is associated with "life" and "flower".

Louisa: A royal title and one of the top 20 names in the Victorian era. Louisa means "famous warrior".

Margaret: Margaret is a baby name that goes back to Greek roots. It means “pearl” and is considered a timeless classic.

Marie/Mary: Defined as “bitter” in Hebrew, Marie/Mary is a particularly popular version of the same name among Christian parents due to its biblical connotations. Mary means "star of the sea" and is connected to Christ. During the last two decades of the 19th century, Mary was the number one name for newborn girls in both the UK and the US.

Olive/Olivia: Olive and Olivia are associated with the "olive tree," symbolizing peace and longevity.

Rose: Simply put, Rose pertains to the rose flower. Rose is also associated with "life", "gift", and "flower".

Contemporary Titles and Shortened Victorian Names for Girls

Many Victorian female nicknames went on to become first names, in their own right, over time. Emma, Ivey, Jenny, and Lilly are some noteworthy contemporary examples. Many Victorian names also have middle or shortened forms, which add to their charm and versatility.

Here are a few prominent modern-day titles that were originally shortened versions of longer names, often used as sweet and affectionate nicknames:

Clara: Initially, Clara was used as a nickname for girls called ‘Clarissa’, ‘Clarice’, ‘Claire’, and others.

Corie, Cory, Corry, Corrie: A shorter form of ‘Corrine’, ‘Cornella’, ‘Corrina’, ‘Corra’, ‘Coral’, ‘Coraline’, and ‘Corrissa’.

Emma: Another way of saying ‘Emily’ and ‘Lou’.

Eva: Derived from ‘Evelyn’, ‘Eve’, and ‘Evette’, Eva is a Victorian-era nickname with a biblical reference.

Flora/Flo/Florrie: Short for ‘Florence’.

Hallie: This contemporary and popular title was initially used as a nickname for Victorian names for girls that are no longer prevalent today. Examples include ‘Mahala’, ‘Mahella’, and ‘Mahaley’.

Hazel: A sobriquet for ‘Hazeltine’ and ‘Hazeltina’.

Ida: While this is a shorter form of ‘Idalie’, ‘Idalin’, ‘Idalu’, and ‘Idell’, Victorian families began to give their daughters the title ‘Ida’ as a first name in the 1880s. Over the decades, it became a prominent female name across the English-speaking world.

Ivey/Ivy: Girls who were called ‘Ivanilla’ were nicknamed ‘Ivey’ or ‘Ivy’

Jane: Short for ‘Virginia’, an originally-Latin word for “maiden”.

Jennie/Jenny: This was a sweet nickname for various titles, such as ‘Jennette’, ‘Jennet’, ‘Genevieve’, ‘Jane’, ‘Jennifer’, ‘Genna’, ‘Jenni’, and ‘Johanna’.

Jerrie/Jerry: A shortened version of ‘Jerusha’.

Jo/Josey/Josie/Fina: These are other forms of ‘Josephine/Josephin’ and ‘Josephina/Josefina’.

Lillie/Lilly: This sweet nickname pertains to the lily flower and is used as a nickname for ‘Lillian’, ‘Lilith’, ‘Lila’, ‘Lilyan’, and ‘Lila’.

Lucy: A briefer variant of ‘Lucella’, ‘Luciana’, ‘Lucile’, ‘Lucinda’, and other names that were common during Victorian times.

Maggie/Maggy: The short form for ‘Magdelina/Magdalena’, ‘Magda’, ‘Margaret’, ‘Margaretta’, ‘Magnolia’, and ‘Madeline’.

Nora: A nickname for ‘Elnora’, ‘Eleanor’, ‘Leonora’, and the Scottish first name of ‘Norman’.

Susie: Susie was given as a sweet nickname for girls who were called ‘Sue’, ‘Susan’, ‘Suzanne’, ‘Susannah’, and ‘Suzette’.

Biblical Victorian Names for Girls

Abilene: This unique and lovely title was mentioned in the book of Luke.

Adah: A particularly favored biblical name among Victorian-era nobles and royalty.

Anna: Saint Anna (spelled as ‘Saint Anne’ in English) was the Virgin Mary’s mother. In the New Testament, a prophetess who saw Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, was called Anna. The name Anna is often associated with grace and is sometimes interpreted as a 'gift' from God.

Felix: As a biblical title, Felix is defined as a “happy” and “prosperous” person. It is also the title of an Anglo-Saxon saint.

Jaala: The meaning of the name Jaala is “little goat who is ascending”.

Kerenhappuck, Kerenhappuch, Keren Happuch: These are three variations of the name that was given to one of Jacob’s daughters.

Martha: This biblical title was one of the 20 most common names in England and Wales during 1880.

Ruth: Ruth is a biblical figure and a royal Victorian name for girls.

Sarah: The name of a character in the Bible and the 6th most popular title in 1880.

Unique and Traditional Victorian Names for Girls

Alexandrina: Queen Victoria’s original name was ‘Alexandrina Victoria’. During the Victorian era, Victorians often chose unique and meaningful names for their daughters, hoping their child would embody grace and elegance.

Bexley: Bexley is an Old English name that translates to “woodland clearing” and is sometimes associated with vitality and life, making it a meaningful choice for your child.

Gertrude: Meaning “strength of spear”, Gertrude is a traditional name that was popular among Victorians and is often linked to strong women, symbolizing both resilience and the noble qualities of a woman.

At this point, you should have a brief shortlist of potential Latin names for your baby girl. Next, you may want to think about whether you want to give her a title that showcases modernity or one that retains the elegance and historical uniqueness of the Victorian era.