The Victorian era was so named because Queen Victoria ruled from 1837-1901.
Surprisingly Victoria isn't on the lists of most popular Victorian female names. The name Victoria, meaning "conqueror" in Latin, was popular in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Some Victorian baby names seem like old fashioned names today. Many have made a come back recently including Victorian-era names such as Elsie, Ivy and Arthur. Some classics such as George, Joseph and William have never left the charts. Interestingly it's the male names which have had consistent popularity compared to the female names. The chart topping baby names for girls in the 1800s, such as Mary, Florence and Doris, have all dipped in popularity, some not making it back into the top 100 again.
Choosing a name for your new bundle of joy can feel like a never-ending task. If you're on the hunt for baby names that will stand the test of time, rather than something too edgy or cool, then take a look at our list of 109 perfect baby names from the Victorian era.
If it's traditional, old English names that you seem to favour, check out this list of baby girl names or these baby boy names for more inspiration to add to your shortlist.
Joseph(Hebrew Origin), meaning "God will increase". Baby boy name Joseph hasn't left the charts.
James(Hebrew Origin), meaning "supplanter". James has remained popular since the Victorian era.
Sarah(Hebrew Origin), meaning "princess".
George(Greek Origin), meaning "farmer". George has been consistently popular.
Horace(Latin Origin), meaning "man of time".
John(Hebrew Origin), meaning "God is gracious".
David(Hebrew Origin), meaning "beloved".
Alexandra(Greek Origin), meaning "defender of the people". It's considered that every Royal family had a baby named Alexandra.
Frederick(English Origin), meaning "peaceful ruler".
Agnes(Greek Origin), meaning "pure".
Clara(Latin Origin), meaning "Illustrious".
Mabel(English Origin), meaning "loveable".
Samuel(Hebrew Origin), meaning "his name is God". Samuel was on the lists of popular Victorian male names until the 40s and made a come back in the 70s.
Sidney(English Origin), meaning "wide meadow".
Nancy(English Origin), meaning "grace".
Emma(Latin Origin), meaning "universal".
Charlotte(French Origin), meaning "free". Charlotte was well used in the late 1800s and reappeared in the 70s.
Edith(English Origin), meaning "rich war".
Ralph(English Origin), meaning "wold counsel".
Frank(English Origin), meaning "from France, free".
Louisa(English Origin), meaning "famous warrior". Victorian writer Louisa May Alcott is best known for her book Little Women.
William(English Origin), meaning "with gilded helmet". William has remained extremely popular throughout time.
Harold(Scandinavian Origin), meaning "army ruler".
Isabella(Italian Origin), meaning "God is my oath". Isabella has been popular again since the 00s.
Rosanna, Origin: Combination of Rose and Anna ~ View Detail
Alexander(Greek Origin), meaning "defender of the people". Alexander Graham Bell was born in the Victorian era and is known for inventing the telephone.
Winifred(English Origin), meaning "peace friend".
Walter(English Origin), meaning "army ruler".
Josepha, Meaning: Jehovah increases Origin: Feminine variation of Joseph ~ View Detail
Arthur(Welsh Origin), meaning "bear". Arthur has been rising in popularity again over the last decade.
Blanche(French Origin), meaning "white".
Alexandrina, Meaning: defending men Origin: Greek, variation of Alexandra,
Hugh(Germanic Origin), meaning "bright in mind and spirit".
Mark(Latin Origin), meaning "warlike".
Anne(Hebrew Origin), meaning "gracious, merciful".
Adelia(Germanic Origin), meaning "noble". Adelia was the name of an opera by Donizetti which premiered in 1841.
Rose(English Origin), meaning "rose".
Ivy(English Origin), meaning "climbing vine plant". Victorian baby names like Ivy found popularity again in the 00s.
Martha(Hebrew Origin), meaning "lady". This name has been seeing popularity again since the 00s.
Ada(Germanic Origin), meaning "noble, happy". Daughter of Lord Byron, Ada Lovelace (1815-182), The Countess of Lovelace, is known as one of the first computer programmers.
Eliza(Greek Origin), meaning "God is my oath".
Leonard(English Origin), meaning "brave as a lion".
Hannah(Hebrew Origin), meaning "grace". Hannah has been popular since the 90s.
Amelia(Latin Origin), meaning "work". This has been one of the top baby names for a girl in the last decade.
Ellen(Greek Origin), meaning "light".
Charles(English Origin), meaning "free man". Dickens might be the most famous Charles from the Victorian era. He had 10 children!
Tryphena, Meaning: softness, delicacy Origin: Greek
Betsy(English Origin), meaning "God is my oath".
Jane(English Origin), meaning "God is gracious".
Ethel(English Origin), meaning "noble".
Alice(English Origin), meaning "from nobility". Probably most known as Alice in Wonderland, written in 1865 by Lewis Carroll. It has been popular again since the 90s.
Elizabeth(Hebrew Origin), meaning "God is my oath". The name Elizabeth has remained popular throughout time.
Selina(English Origin), meaning "moon".
Matilda(English Origin), meaning "battle strength". Matilda has been popular in the last decade.
Caroline(Latin Origin), meaning "free, beautiful woman".
Dorothy(Greek Origin), meaning "gift of God".
Eleanor(Hebrew Origin), meaning "God is my light".
Isaac(Hebrew Origin), meaning "he will laugh". Some 19th-century names like Isaac have become popular again since the 90s.
Thomasina, Origin: English, feminine variation of Thomas
Edwin(English Origin), meaning "prosperous friend".
Emily(English Origin), meaning "to strive or excel". Emily has been popular again since the 90s.
Beryl(English Origin), meaning "semi-precious stone". This name for a baby girl first became popular in the Victorian era.
Richard(English Origin), meaning "brave ruler".
Stephen(Greek Origin), meaning "crown".
Maria(Latin Origin), meaning "of the sea". This baby name has remained fairly popular throughout time.
Catherine(Greek Origin), meaning "pure".
Henry(Germanic Origin), meaning "ruler of the home". Henry has seen its popularity rising again since the 90s.
Lydia(Greek Origin), meaning "from Lydia, Greece".
Stanley(English Origin), meaning "from the stony field".
Doris(Greek Origin), meaning "sea". Doris was one of the most used names in the last 1800s.
Priscilla(Latin Origin), meaning "ancient".
Edmund(English Origin), meaning "rich protector".
Robert(English Origin), meaning "bright flame". Sir Robert Peel was Prime Minister from 1841-1846 and known for reforming the police.
Alfred(English Origin), meaning "elf ruler".
Margery, Meaning: pearl Origin: Medieval variation of Margaret
Michael(Hebrew Origin), meaning "who is like God".
Adelaide(Germanic Origin), meaning "of noble kin".
Esther(Persian Origin), meaning "star".
Tom(Greek Origin), meaning "short form of Thomas".
Bertha(Germanic Origin), meaning "bright".
Alfreda, Meaning: elf power, Origin: English
Percy(French Origin), meaning "pierces the valley". For some reason, Percy hasn't been popular since the Victorian era.
Edward(English Origin), meaning "wealthy guardian".
Margaret(English Origin), meaning "pearl".
Gwenllian, Origin: Welsh
Hetty, Meaning: estate ruler Origin: Diminutive of Henrietta, English
Sophia(Greek Origin), meaning "wisdom". This name for a baby girl has become popular again in the last decade.
Harry(English Origin), meaning "army ruler". Harry has seen its popularity rising again since the 90s.
Wilfred(English Origin), meaning "will, peace".
Grace(Latin Origin), meaning "charm".
Franziska, Origin: Latin
Clementine(Latin Origin), meaning "gentle, merciful".
Edgar(English Origin), meaning "rich spear".
Matthew(English Origin), meaning "gift of God".
Agatha(Greek Origin), meaning "virtuous, good".
Rosamond, Meaning: horse protection Origin: German
Christiana, Meaning: follower of Christ Origin: Feminine variation of Christian
Hannah(Hebrew Origin), meaning "grace".
Lilian(Latin Origin), meaning "lily".
Benjamin(Hebrew Origin), meaning "son of my right hand". Benjamin rose in popularity again in the 70s.
Rosina, Origin: Italian
Alma(Latin Origin), meaning "nourishing".
Francis(Latin Origin), meaning "from France, free".
Reginald(English Origin), meaning "advise, rule".
Violet(Latin Origin), meaning "purple".
Cyril(Greek Origin), meaning "lordly".
Melita, Meaning: honey Origin: Greek
Daniel(Hebrew Origin), meaning "God is my judge". This name has been well liked throughout time.
Thomas(Greek Origin), meaning "a twin". Thomas has been popular throughout recent history.
Mary(Hebrew Origin), meaning "of the sea". Possibly the most popular Victorian names for girls.
Lucy(English Origin), meaning "light". Lucy has seen consistent popularity since the 70s.
Fanny, Meaning: free man Origin: Diminutive of Frances
Elsie(Scottish Origin), a form of Elizabeth. Victorian women's names like Elsie have become more popular in the last decade.
Herbert(English Origin), meaning "army bright".
Ernest(English Origin), meaning "earnest".
Annis, Meaning: pure, virginal Origin: Variation of Agnes
Marie(Hebrew Origin), meaning "beloved".
Marie(French Origin), meaning "of the sea". This Victorian baby name is most known as Marie Curie, the Nobel Prize winning scientist.
Harriet(English Origin), meaning "home ruler". This Victorian name has seen popularity rise again since the 90s.
Andrew(Greek Origin), meaning "manly".
Albert(English Origin), meaning "noble and bright". Perhaps most know as Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.
Frances(Latin Origin), meaning "from France, free".
Fanny(American Origin), meaning "free". This name hasn't made the lists of popular names since the Victorian era.
Florence(Latin Origin), meaning "prosperous, flowering". Florence is one of those beautiful Victorian names which has made a come back over the last decade.
Julia(Latin Origin), meaning "youthful".
