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20 Baby Names That Have Stood the Test of Time

Baby Names That Have Stood The Test Of Time - ParentsCanada

Want a baby name that won’t go out of style? These classic choices have ranked highly for more than 100 years (and we’re willing to bet they’ll stay that way for decades to come!).

1. Alexander (Alexander is an ancient Greek name—think Alexander the Great—and it’s still popular, ranking 23rd in the top names for 2020.)

2. Andrew (Andrew has old roots as the patron saint of Scotland.)

3. Alice (Alice became popular when Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published in 1865, and it’s been holding steady ever since.)

4. Amy (Little Women, which was published in the 1860s, inspired the first wave of Amys. Come to think of it, any of the monikers belonging to the March sisters have had staying power.)

5. Benjamin (Benjamin, which has Biblical roots, is consistently popular—ranking 19th this year.)

6. Caroline (This English name dates all the way back to the 1700s, thanks to George II’s wife, Queen Caroline.)

7. Charles (Charles has been the name of many European royals, including, of course, Prince Charles.)

8. Charlotte (Not far ahead of Caroline, Charlotte became popular when King George III married Charlotte Sophia.)

9. Elizabeth (This name comes from the Bible—Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist—but there’s an argument to be made that Elizabeth has a rich history in many countries and time periods, from authors and artists to the Queen of England.)

10. Grace (This name, which references the biblical concept of Grace, has been popular since the Puritan era.)

11. Henry (Henry is a regal name, stretching all the way from Henry VIII to modern-day Prince Harry, whose real name is Henry)

12. Jane (Jane dates all the way back to the Tudor times.)

13. Jacqueline (Jacqueline has been popular since the 1920s, but Jackie O really put it over the top in the 1960s.)

14. Joseph (Joseph is a Hebrew name and the patron saint of unborn children, but there have been many famous Joes and Josephs in the world to keep this one going strong.)

15. Katherine (Katherine has a very old history, from the name of royal women to a character in Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.)

16. Margaret (Margaret, a popular royal name, has been around since Medieval times.)

17. Rachel (An Old Testament name, Rachel is perennially popular.)

18. Rose (Rose has been popular since flower names were in vogue during the late 1800s.)

19. Thomas (Thomas, a classic Biblical name, was a top 10 name in the early 1900s, and remains popular today)

20. William (William, which became famous with William the Conqueror, has ranked highly in name choices for more than 400 years.)

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