20 older baby names that are trending again

The name Alice has been popping up again recently for girls. Its height of popularity was well over 100 years ago when it even gave life to one of the most famous animated movies of all time, Alice in Wonderland. The name isn’t nearly as popular as it was back then, but it’s more popular now than it has been for 70 years. 

August was quite popular around the same time as Alice, but its popularity took a huge dive throughout the 1900s. When the 2010s came around, the name, as well as other variations like Augusta, Augustus, and Augustine, all increased in popularity. 

The name Daphne was in its heyday in the 1960s. People naming their children couldn’t get enough of it. The name has never left the zeitgeist entirely, but it has become more popular in the past 10 years than it ever was before. 

Benedict hit peak popularity in the 1910s. The name has been associated with historical figures for centuries, but it might have some of its resurgence thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch, the wildly popular British actor who's played famous characters like Sherlock Holmes and the Grinch. 

It seems that every American has someone named Hazel in their ancestry. And that's because it was incredibly popular in the late 1800s. It steadily waned in popularity over the next 50 years, and starting in 2000, it picked up steam, now finding itself at the top of baby name lists again. 

The name Amelia is taking flight again. After many decades of steadily being fairly unpopular, many parents are finding it to be a beautiful name for a baby girl. Some are opting for the variation Amelie, too. 

Iris was extremely popular during the early 1900s, but its popularity waned throughout the latter half of the century. Since the mid-2010s, the name has been more popular than ever. Some names die out, but this floral moniker might stay in style forever. 

Jude was never super popular in the early 1900s, but it gained lots of traction starting in the 1990s. It might feel like the only Judes in existence are either Boomers or divorced from Sienna Miller, but most of them are actually pretty young. 

Surprisingly, when I Love Lucy was at the height of its popularity, the name Lucy was on a major downward trend. Statistically, the series didn't inspire more people to give their daughter the name. But over half a century later, the name is being used again frequently. 

Jasper is more popular now than ever. It hit a major spike in the 2010s, and we can't help but think that Jasper from Twilight has something to do with that. It could be a coincidence, but the timing certainly aligns. 

Matilda is finding its way back into the zeitgeist. After the iconic Danny DeVito film adaptation of the Roald Dahl story in the late '90s was released, the name slowly but surely started gaining popularity again. The story has been adapted to other media, and its circulation, combined with the trend of using older names again, has resulted in lots of baby Matildas. 

Oscar isn't just the name of a green grouch living in a trash can. It's also the name of lots and lots of babies as of late. The name still isn't nearly as popular as in the late 1800s, but it's made an impressive showing in recent years after experiencing a downturn.

Nora was hugely popular in the late 1800s, and the name is just as popular now as it was then. Whether spelled Nora or Norah, the best of all of them will always be the inimitable Nora Ephron, the unparalleled queen of classic rom-coms. 

Quentin is losing some steam in its popularity, but it's still being given to many babies. The name peaked in the 1910s, and about 100 years later, it hit another one. Despite so many Quentins, the one that first comes to mind when hearing the name is likely Quentin Tarantino. 

The name Estelle is crawling back into popularity, too. It’s hard to say why. There aren’t many famous people or characters with the name. It could simply be a result of parents wanting to follow the trend of using older names again and this one is a little less popular than the others on the rise again. 

Sebastian was never that popular of a name until the 1980s. But in the past decade, it's been given to several newborns. Sebastian Stan, the crab from The Little Mermaid, and the brother in She’s the Man are among the most famous people and characters with the name. 

Like Sebastian, Scarlett is a name more generally associated with older people despite not being very popular until the 2000s. Perhaps parents didn't want to name their child after the fever. Now, though, icons like Scarlett O'Hara and Scarlett Johansson are thought of when hearing the name, making it much more appealing.

Theodore is a strong name that will never truly go out of style, but it's hit another peak in recent years after about a century of it being used less often. It's a family name for many and the name of a beloved president for others. 

You may have met lots of new Violets in recent years, too. The name is incredibly popular right now, hitting a major peak after picking up steam again in the early 2000s. It's a beautiful name, but it'll always bring to mind the line from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, "Violet, you're turning violet!"

Wesley is an interesting name that has had several peaks. It was quite popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, hitting an even higher peak in the 1980s and a higher peak in the 2010s. It seems that this name will always be relevant.