Retro Baby Name Ideas: Most Popular First World War Inspired Names For Boys And Girls

Parents-to-be looking for a retro baby name will find plenty of inspiration in this list inspired by the First World War.

The National Archives researched baby name trends during the First World War (1914-1919) and found that during that period 1,634 babies in England and Wales were given war-related first names.

Surprisingly the majority (75%) of those babies were named after battles, rather than war heroes, with 901 newborns named Verdun after one of the longest and bloodiest battles (21 February – 18 December 1916) of the war.

Jessamy Carlson, archivist and First World War programme manager, said: "The data is fascinating and gives new insight into the battles that resonated with mothers on the Home Front.

Verdun was the most popular war-related baby name during the First World War

"It was a surprise to learn that the battles rather than the heroes or names relating to the end of the war were the most popular," Carlson continued.

"It was even more of a surprise to learn that Verdun was the most popular battle name given that it was a French/German battle with no British Troops directly involved."

Top Seven Battle-Related Baby Names in 1914-1919:
Verdun (901 babies)
Ypres (71)
Mons (58)
Arras (42)
Dardanelles (35)
Loos (30)
Somme (15)

Feminine versions of several of the 'battle names' were also registered. These included: Verdunia, Sommeria, Arrasina, Monsalene and Dardanella.

The data analysis also revealed 202 newborns were named after First World War leaders and heroes between 1914 and 1919 - with 166 babies named Kitchener, 25 named Cavell and 11 called Haig.

A further 203 babies were given names relating to the end of the war with a surge in popularity for names such as Peace, Poppy, Victory and Armistice from November 1918.

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Retro Baby Names Making A Comeback In 2016

Aurelia(01 of08)

Aurelia is the female form of the Roman classic Aurelius and was (unsurprisingly) most popular during the Roman Empire. The beautiful name is pronounced “Aw-REEL-ya” and means “the golden one.” According to Nameberry, Aurelia was one of the fastest-rising baby names in 2013 and in the following year, it broke the U.S. top 1,000 list to sit at number 832. (credit:Blend Images - Mike Kemp via Getty Images)

Emmett(02 of08)

While the name Emmett is on rise for both genders in 2016, it’s actually starting to gain more popularity among girls. Emma and Emily have always been longtime favourites among parents, Emmett is a rare alternative with a fresh sound. While the name does seem masculine, Nameberry points out that some parents have added an “e” to the end to give the moniker a more feminine look and feel.The name originally peaked in popularity in the 1880s, but has gained a lot of attention in recent years. In 2014, Emmett was number 156 for boys, likely due to the craze of the “Twilight” series which featured a character with the same name. (credit:Thomas Northcut via Getty Images)

Ruby(03 of08)

The name Ruby is very much a part of pop culture, which is likely why it’s experiencing a boost in popularity. Not only is the name found in music, such as the Rolling Stones’ song “Ruby Tuesday,” but also in film characters, such as Ruby (Renée Zellweger) in “Cold Mountain.” Ruby was highly popular between 1900 and 1936. During that time, the name was consistently in the top 50 list for girls. In 2013, Ruby finally cracked back into the top 100 list and the following year, sat at number 90. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)

Felix(04 of08)

The name Felix can be dated back to the Bible, but the moniker didn’t hit its peak in popularity until 1910. Although the moniker has fallen off the charts since then, it’s quickly making a comeback thanks to its “x” ending, which gives it its cool factor. Felix, which means “happy and fortunate,” was number 267 for boys in 2014. (credit:Camille Tokerud via Getty Images)

June(05 of08)

June is one of those names that seem more popular than it really is. In the 1920s, this moniker was incredibly common, but its popularity has died down quite a bit since then. June only cracked the top 1,000 again in 2008 and in 2014, it was number 317 for girls. Today, the moniker is gaining popularity among boys as well, since it is a variation of the Latin name Junius, meaning “born in June.” (credit:Peter Dazeley via Getty Images)

August(06 of08)

Surprisingly, August was one of the top 100 U.S. baby names in the 1800s. Today, it’s gaining popularity among boys and girls because it’s unique without being too over-the-top. In 2014, the moniker sat at number 242 on the top U.S. baby name list for boys. Additionally, many celebrities such as Charlize Theron, Garth Brooks and Mariska Hargitay have kids with the name August, which only adds to the moniker’s recent popularity. (credit:Noah Clayton via Getty Images)

Hazel(07 of08)

This trendy, old school name is making a comeback thanks to celebrities and pop culture. Back in 2004, Julia Roberts named one of her twins Hazel and in 2014, Emily Blunt and John Krasinski chose the same name for their daughter. The moniker also gained even more traction in 2014 after the YA novel “The Fault in Our Stars” was turned into a movie, since Hazel is the name of the book’s heroine. Hazel was highly popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Although it began to dip in the charts starting in the 1950s and onwards, the rise of nature names has also added to its sudden boost in popularity. (credit:Camille Tokerud via Getty Images)

Ava(08 of08)

Ava is a prime example of how retro baby names can make a successful comeback. Believe it or not, Ava is an ancient name. The moniker was actually first popularized back in 845 (yes, you read that right!) by St. Ava, a woman who was cured of blindness and became a nun. Since then, the moniker’s popularity has tapered off, only to begin rising again in the late '90s. In the past few years, Ava has managed to remain on the top 10 baby name list for girls. (credit:sot via Getty Images)

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