Transcribers log #007 Baby Names of 1857 & 2026
Welcome to... My Darling Emma 1857
If you are NEW HERE be sure to read the beginning of the journey I am on transcribing my family's 19th century letter collection!
Recently someone very special to me shared that they were having a baby. It's such exciting news! And I'm really happy for them!
Now it’s got me thinking of the usual will it be a boy or a girl and what will they name their baby? AND THEN I started to think of the letter collection and all the times I read folks congratulating new parents on babies being born AND the times relatives wrote asking for name suggestions for their baby etc etc.
So just for fun, I wanted to drop a few quotes from the letters in my collection about naming babies in the 19th century. There's a lot of great "old" names there if anyone is looking for names.
Enjoy these baby fever quotes from 150 years ago! And if you're having a baby in 2026, congrats!
🐥🐥🐥
“Min[Minnie] sends her love and says kiss the baby for her & send her a lock of its hair and picture. I hope you dont think her extravagant. Emma what is its full name? Mary told me it was Jessie. Is it Jessie Wilson? I imagine so. Who does it look like you or Frank?”
-Julia Marie Muse 1879
They named the baby Jessie Garrison Jackson
“Have you named the baby yet? Minnie says tell you to call it Alonya. But I think one of my favorites is either lulu, Lillian, Ursula, Regina, Madge or Maude. Certainly one of them will suit you. Carrie likes Beulah very much not sure I spelt it right. You must’nt be so hard to please now, wait till you have about a dozen to name then you will have to study up a few of your own.”
-Julia Marie Muse 1881
They name the baby Lula Everett Jackson
“I wish Jessie and Lulu were here, the darlings, we would have some fun. What have you named the baby? I guess this [one] will be Beulah.”
-Julia Marie Muse 1883
They named the baby Ruth Childs Jackson
“How is my little namesake? Do you really call her Julia? And is it for me? I am going to consider it so, no matter if she has a dozen Aunt Julias. The little darling, how I would love to see her and all my other little loves. It will soon be time for Hopewell Meeting again. Will you be there?”
-Julia Marie Muse 1886
They named the baby Julia Muse Childs
“Rachael Ann is not very stout at this time. She has got another boy - he was born the 11th day of June and we have'nt given him no name further than Peter Hornwhipple.”
-George Washington Chapman 1860
They named the baby Ezra Truman Chapman
We have not quite named her yet, but think strongly of calling her Jessie for her first name and we'll wait until we hear from some of you for the second or middle name, if we ever do which from past experience, we think kinda doubtful. We have not had a letter from VA for now two months, except Emma's.
-Thomas Warren Childs 1868
“I think that Jessie is a beautiful name. We all like the name for the babe. Aunt Sue and all think its pretty.”
-Nellie Keeler 1868
They named the baby Jessie Susan Childs
“I was surprised to hear of the boy of sister Sues. I hope they are getting along nicely, think the name is a pretty one.”
-Emma Louise Junkin 1873
They named the baby Caroll Childs Clevenger
“We were very glad to hear from Thomas and Sallie. How do you like the babys name. Please let us hear from you soon.”
-S. M. Pidgeon [Sarah Marshall Chandlee] 1865
They named the baby Helen Rachel Childs
"Our new baby was born Aug 4 he is a fine big boy and worthy of my fine name. We have thought of a good many but have not decided on any one yet. I wrote to Sister a few days ago and forgot to tell her to send me a name. I want you and her both to send the prettiest and best name you can think of. I will mention some few names that are on consideration now. Burr Childs, Harold Ridgely Childs, Arthur Wilkinson Childs, Edmond Griffin Childs, Layon Lewis Childs, Desmond Childs. We have thought of some others such as president, vice president, professor, Dr, Esq etc. etc. Now you, Sis, Nellie, Mother and Becky send us a name."
-Thomas Warren Childs 1872
They named the baby Raymond Burr Childs
"I suppose Jessie will be very proud of the little babe when it gets older & have something to play with besides cats and such. I can not think of any name yet to send you, I know you would want something fancy."
-Mary Elizabeth Davis 1881
The "fancy" name would end up being Lula Everett Jackson
“He is going to school with a boy by the name of Sam Sims. He calls him “Ham Hims.””
-Laura Rutherford 1869
☺ Top 50 names for girls in 1880s ☺
( I check marked the names that are in my letter collection )
Mary ✔
Anna ✔
Emma ✔
Elizabeth ✔
Margret ✔
Minnie ✔
Ida ✔
Bertha ✔
Clara
Alice ✔
Annie
Florence ✔
Bessie ✔
Grace✔
Ethel ✔
Sarah ✔
Ella
Martha ✔
Nellie ✔
Mabel ✔
Laura ✔
Carrie ✔
Cora
Helen
Maude
Lillian
Gertrude
Rose
Edna
Pearl
Edith
Gennie ✔
Hattie ✔
Mattie ✔
Eva ✔
Julia ✔
Myrtle
Louise ✔
Lillie
Frances
Catherine
Lula ✔
Lena
Marie ✔
Ada
Josephine ✔
Fannie ✔
Lucy ✔
Dora
Noah
Liam
Oliver
Elijah
Mateo
Levi
Lucas
Ezra
Asher
Elias
Luca
Leo
James ✔
Hudson
Henry
Sebastian
Theodore
Theo
Samuel ✔
Grayson
Waylon
Benjamin ✔
Mohammed
Michael
Daniel
Mason
Jack
Gabriel
Maverick
Josiah
Ethan
William ✔
Cooper
Isaiah ✔
Wyatt
Julian
Carter
Santiago
Alexander
David
Owen
Weston
Luke
Ezekiel
Roman
Jackson
Matthew
John ✔
Kai
Atlas
☺ Top baby girl names of 2026 ☺
according to babycenter.com
Olivia
Amelia
Sophia
Elena
Charlotte
Isabella
Emma ✔
Aurora
Ellie
Mia
Lilly
Evelyn
Sofia
Violet
Ava
Luna
Aria
Hazel
Harper
Willow
Nova
Ella
Layla
Eleanor
Scarlett
Ivy
Gianna
Penelope
Elizabeth ✔
Isla
Chloe
Elena
Nora
Lainey
Valentina
Camila
Lucy
Delilah
Avery
Riley
Iris
Mila
Paisley
Leilani
Zoe
Naomi
Emilia
Grace
Ayla
Amara
It would have been such an interesting time.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It’s been a huge history lesson for me reading all these old letters. I’m learning a great deal and now sharing it with others. Hope you’re following along!
ReplyDelete