We hear different names each day without even stopping to find out their meaning. A name holds more than just a reference to a person’s existence. Here’s a comprehensive list of names from the Victorian era with their meanings for you, in case you are looking at good names for babies.
William and Charlotte are two of the most popular names of the Victorian era, and continue to remain so even today.
The Victorian age, named after Queen Victoria, came around the 1890s. The baby names given and used by authors of that era became the Victorian era names. These are considered to be classic and traditional in nature. Today, many years later, they have a certain history and a grand association to them. Some of these names are used even today as baby names. For instance, the youngest heir of the English throne is named Prince George, which is a very Victorian name too. However, there are certain names that are slowly beginning to disappear totally. Myrtle, Chastity, Eldon, and so on are names we hardly hear of.
The other reason to know these names is while creating characters who belong to that era. For those of you who intend to venture into the realm of writing a period story, knowing not just Victorian names, but their meanings too will come in handy. Here’s a list of Victorian era names and their meanings for your reference.
Girls
Alphabate | Name | Meaning |
A | Agnes | Holy, pure, chaste |
Alice | Noble, sweet | |
Amelia | To survive, industrious | |
Arabella | Lovely, elegant, beautiful | |
Almira | Princess, truthful | |
Amy | Beloved | |
Augusta | Majestic, grand | |
Annie | Grace, prayer | |
B | Beatrice | Voyager, traveler, bringer of joy |
Blanche | White, fair | |
Betsy | Oath of God, God is satisfaction | |
Bertha | Bright one | |
C | Charlotte | Free-spirited |
Claire | Illustrious, bright, clear | |
Chastity | Chaste | |
Constance | Steadfast | |
Cordelia | Heart, daughter of the sea | |
Cynthia | from Mount Cynthus | |
D | Daisy | The days eye |
Della | Bright, noble | |
Doris | Gift | |
Dorothy | Gods gift | |
E | Edith | Riches, blessed, joyous |
Elizabeth | My God is abundance | |
Ella | Beautiful fairy | |
Eloise | Warrior | |
Elsie | My God is a vow | |
Edna | Rich in friendship | |
Esther | Star, secret, hidden | |
Esmeralda | Emerald | |
Ethel | Righteous, noble | |
Emmeline | Hardworking | |
Eugenie | Nobility, well-born | |
Eva | Full of life | |
F | Fanny | Free |
Flora | Flower | |
Freda | Tranquil leader | |
Fidelia | Faithful | |
G | Genevieve | White wave |
Georgina | Farmer, tiller, worker of the soil | |
Gertrude | Strength | |
Grace | Charm, love | |
H | Hannah | Grace of God |
Harriet | Ruler | |
Harp | Harp player | |
Helena | Shining light | |
Henrietta | Home or House Ruler | |
Hilda | Fighter | |
Hazel | Like the hazel tree | |
Hester | Star | |
I | Ida | Hardworking |
Isabel | Devoted to God | |
Iris | Personification of a rainbow | |
Ivy | Evergreen | |
J | Jemima | Little dove |
Josephine | God will increase | |
Julia | Youthful | |
Jenny | Fair, yielding | |
K | Kate | Pure |
Kathleen | Pure | |
L | Lenora | Shining light |
Leola | Lioness | |
Louisa | Renowned warrior | |
Lillian | Innocence, purity | |
Lorraine | To be made famous in a battle | |
Lydia | Beloved, beauty | |
M | Margaret | Pearl |
Mary | Star of the sea | |
Matilda | Powerful battler | |
Mercy | Compassion, forgiveness | |
Marjorie | Pearl | |
Myrtle | Joy | |
N | Nora | Honor |
Nellie | Light | |
O | Opal | Jewel |
Ophelia | Helper | |
P | Phoebe | Shining, brilliance |
Priscilla | Ancient, archaic | |
Philomena | Lover of the moon | |
Prudence | Good judgment | |
R | Rebecca | Captivating |
Rowena | White | |
Ruby | Red | |
Ruth | Friend | |
S | Sally | Princess |
Sarah | Princess | |
Sophia | Wisdom | |
Sophronia | Prudent, judicious mind | |
Stella | Star | |
Sylvia | Determined | |
Susannah | Lily | |
Seraphina | Ardent | |
T | Tabitha | Gazelle |
Theodosia | Given by God, supreme gift | |
Teresa | Reaper | |
Theodora | Gift of God | |
U | Ursula | Name of a Saint |
V | Victoria | Conqueror |
Violet | Flower | |
Vivian | Full of life | |
Virginia | Maiden, virgin |
Boys
Alphabate | Name | Meaning |
A | Albert | Noble, bright |
Alfred | Name of a king, supernaturally wise | |
Aaron | Mountain of strength | |
Abel | Breath | |
Abraham | Father of a multitude | |
Ambrose | Immortal | |
Asa | Healer | |
Arthur | Name of a king | |
Aubrey | Ruler the elves | |
Augustine | Majestic, grand, magnificent | |
Amos | To carry | |
Andrew | A strong man | |
Arnold | Strong as an eagle | |
Alonzo | Ready for a fight | |
B | Barnabas | Son of the prophet, or of consolation |
Bartholomew | Son of a farmer | |
Boaz | Swiftness | |
Bennett | Little blessed one | |
Benjamin | Son of the right hand | |
Benedict | Blessed | |
Bertram | Bright, wise | |
Byron | Name of poet | |
C | Caleb | Devotion |
Cornelius | Clear, bright | |
Charles | Manly | |
Christopher | The one with Christ inside | |
Clarence | Clear, bright | |
Clement | Merciful, mild, good | |
Cyril | Lord, master | |
Columbus | Dove | |
D | Daniel | God is my judge |
David | Beloved | |
Douglas | Black stream | |
Dante | Enduring | |
Duncan | Dark skinned fighter | |
Donald | World leader, proud chief | |
E | Eben | Stone of help |
Edson | Son of Edward, son of the fortunate warrior | |
Edward | Wealthy guard, guardian of prosperity | |
Eldridge | Battle counselor, old and powerful ruler | |
Erasmus | To love, beloved, desired | |
Ezra | Helper | |
Eldon | The elder | |
Ernest | Serious, determined | |
Edmund | Prosperous protector, the one who protects wealth | |
Elijah | Lord is my God | |
Eugene | Well-born | |
Edwin | Valued | |
F | Felix | Happy, fortunate, lucky |
Fletcher | Arrow maker | |
Franklin | Free | |
Frank | A free man | |
Frederick | Peaceful ruler | |
Fergus | Courageous man | |
G | Gabriel | God is my strength |
Garrett | Powerful with the spear | |
George | Tiller of soil, a farmer | |
Gideon | Powerful warrior | |
Grady | Renowned | |
Geoffrey | Peace | |
Gerald | Spear strength | |
Gilbert | Oath | |
H | Harold | War chief |
Heath | Heathland dweller | |
Henry | Ruler of home, a royal name | |
Harvey | Warrior, soldier | |
Horace | Timekeeper | |
Hugh | Intelligent | |
I | Isaac | Laughing one, name of a scientist |
Isaiah | The salvation of the Lord | |
Ivan | Gift from God | |
Ivor | Archer’s bow | |
J | Jacob | Holder of the heel |
James | One who supplants | |
Jasper | Jewel, keeper of the treasure | |
Jonathan | God’s gift | |
Judah | One who praises God | |
Justice | One who upholds moral fairness | |
Julian | Youthful | |
Julius | Youthful | |
K | Kenneth | Handsome, good-looking |
Keith | One who dwells in the woods | |
L | Lawrence | Man from Laurentum |
Leonard | Brave as a lion, lion-hearted | |
Leopold | Brave, bold | |
Leslie | From the gray fortress, joy | |
Lionel | Little lion | |
Llewellyn | Resembling a lion | |
Luther | Famous in war | |
Lloyd | Gray | |
Luke | Light | |
Louis | Famous warrior | |
M | Malcolm | Servant of Saint Columba |
Maxwell | From the great well | |
Miles | Servant, merciful | |
Montague | From the peaked mountain | |
Maurice | Dark-skinned | |
Miller | Grinder of grain | |
Matthew | Gift of God | |
Michael | The one like God | |
N | Neville | From the new town |
Nigel | Black, dark | |
Nelson | Son of Neil | |
Nathaniel | Gift of God | |
O | Oliver | Affectionate |
Obediah | Serves God | |
Owen | Young fighter | |
Oscar | Divine spear | |
P | Paul | Small, little |
Patrick | Noble | |
Peter | Rock | |
Percival | Destroyer | |
Philip | Lover of horses | |
Phineas | Oracle | |
R | Reginald | Powerful ruler |
Ralph | Strong | |
Reuben | The one who sees the son | |
Randolph | Mythological wolf with great courage | |
Robert | Bright, shining, famed | |
Richard | Powerful ruler | |
Rufus | Red-haired | |
Raymond | Wise protector | |
S | Samuel | God heard |
Stephen | Crown, victorious | |
Silas | Wood, forest | |
Stanley | One who lives by the stony grove | |
T | Theodore | Divine gift |
Timothy | Honoring God | |
Thomas | Twin | |
Titus | Defender | |
Thaddeus | Praise, valiant, wise | |
Tobias | God is good | |
U | Ulysses | Wrathful |
Uriah | Lord is light | |
V | Vernon | Flourishing |
Victor | Champion | |
Vincent | Conqueror | |
Valentine | Name of a Saint | |
W | William | Desire |
Wyatt | Brave | |
Warren | Protector, loyal, defender | |
Wilfred | Peaceful, resolute | |
Wallace | Stranger | |
Walter | Strong fighter | |
Z | Zacharias | God remembers |
Zebediah | God has given |
So, these were some of the most popular names given to children during the Victorian era. Some of these names are used even today. These lovely vintage names celebrate deeper meanings, a greater history, and serve as an inspiration to the name bearer for the rest of their lives. So, use them with a sincere thought!