Top 30 Vintage One-Syllable Girl Names with Timeless Meanings and Origins

Looking for a timeless and elegant name for your little girl? Vintage one-syllable girl names offer the perfect blend of simplicity and charm. These traditional names often carry history and deep meanings that have stood the test of time. 

Let’s explore 30 beautiful one-syllable vintage names for girls that are sure to inspire. From names like Mae and Grace to nature-inspired names like Fern and Wren, each pick has a unique story and will work at every stage of your little girl’s life. 

Every name on this list honors tradition and celebrates the timeless nature of vintage names.

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: “Month of May” or “Pearl” 

Mae – pronounced ‘MAY’ – is an English name that means ‘month of May’ or ‘pearl’. It’s a very traditional name that’s becoming more popular again in the US.

  • Origin:  Latin  
  • Meaning: “Born in June” or “Youthful”

June is a wonderful choice for a little girl born in the month of June. The name has Latin roots and means ‘youthful’. It’s a great vintage pick for a little girl!

  • Origin: Latin
  • Meaning: “Rose flower”  

Rose is a vintage one-syllable girl name that’s sure to stand the test of time. It refers to the beautiful flower. 

a little girl in a rose garden
  • Origin: Latin 
  • Meaning: “Grace, elegance” or “Favor”  

Grace is a timeless girls’ name that has Latin origins. It means ‘elegance’, a wonderful meaning for a brand new baby girl in the family!

  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: “Companion” or “Friend” 

Ruth is an uncommon vintage name that has Hebrew roots. It means ‘companion’ or ‘friend’. 

  • Origin:  Latin  
  • Meaning: “Precious gem” 

Pearl refers to the precious gem – perfect for a precious baby girl! It has Latin origins and is a timeless choice. 

  • Origin:  English 
  • Meaning: “Bright, shining one”

Nell is another uncommon vintage name with one-syllable. It has English roots and means ‘bright’ or ‘shining one’. It’s often used as a shortened form of Eleanor or Helen, but it’s also a name that stands on its own!

Read Next: 30 Baby Names That Mean ‘Light’: Illuminating Choices for Your Little One

a toddler girl in warm golden sunlight surrounded by tall grass and colorful butterflies
  • Origin:  Hebrew/Scottish
  • Meaning: “God is gracious”  

Jean’s a very uncommon name for little girls in the US. It’s a vintage name with one-syllable that has both Hebrew and Scottish origins. It means ‘God is gracious’, so it’s a great choice for religious families. It can be used as a shortened form of ‘Jeanie’ or ‘Jeanette’. 

  • Origin: Italian 
  • Meaning: Air or melody

   Origin: Hebrew  

   Meaning: “Grace” or “Favor”  

Anne is a classic name for girls that means ‘grace’ or ‘favor’. It has Hebrew origins.

Read Next: A journey through time: 30 Timeless Vintage Baby Names and Their Rich Histories

  • Origin: French
  • Meaning: “White” or “Fair” 

Blanche is a very rare name for girls in the US – at least in modern times! It’s a name with French roots that means ‘white’ or ‘fair’.

  • Origin: Latin 
  • Meaning: “Flower” (short form of Florence)

Flo is a shortened form of Florence, though it stands as a name on its own! It has Latin origins and means ‘flower’, so it’s a great nature-inspired name, too.

a toddler girl wearing a floral headband surrounded by flowers
  • Origin: Hebrew
  • Meaning: “Oath of God” 

Bess is a Hebrew name that means ‘Oath of God’. 

  • Origin: Latin  
  • Meaning: “Clear” or “Bright”

Claire has Latin roots and means ‘clear’ or ‘bright’. 

  • Origin: Hebrew 
  • Meaning: “God is gracious”

Joan is another Hebrew vintage name on the list. It means ‘God is gracious’.

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: “Fairy” or “Faith” 

Faye – or Fay – is a super cute name for girls with an even cuter meaning: ‘fairy’! It has English origins. 

A fairy girl is sitting on a trunk tree in a forest
  • Origin:  Hebrew
  • Meaning: “Life” or “Living”  

Eve is a timeless name for girls that works at all stages of life. It has Hebrew roots and means ‘life’ or ‘living’ – a wonderful meaning for a brand new little girl! 

  • Origin:  Welsh  
  • Meaning: “White” or “Blessed” 

Gwen is a name for girls with Welsh origins. It means ‘white’ or ‘blessed’. 

  • Origin: Greek 
  • Meaning: “Harvester” (short form of Theresa) 

Tess is a great choice if you’re looking for a vintage name for girls with one-syllable. It has Greek origins and means ‘harvester’. It can be a name in its own right or used as the short form of Tessa or Theresa. 

  • Origin:  Hebrew
  • Meaning: “Oath of God”

Beth is a cute name for girls that means ‘oath of God’. It has Hebrew origins and is often used as the short form of Elizabeth or Bethany. 

  • Origin: Old English 
  • Meaning: “Happy” or “Carefree”

Blythe is a vintage girls’ name that has Old English roots. It has a wonderful meaning: ‘happy’ and ‘carefree’. 

Here are 10 more vintage one-syllable girl names, complete with origins and meanings:

  • Origin: Latin 
  • Meaning: “Happiness” or “Delight”

Joy is a happy name that means just that: ‘happiness’! It’s a Latin name that’s a beautiful choice for baby girls. 

  • Origin:  Old English  
  • Meaning: “Fern plant”  

Fern is a nature-inspired vintage name for little girls. It has Old English origins and is a great choice for nature-loving families.

a newborn baby sleeping in a basket among flowers
  • Origin:  Old English 
  • Meaning: “Daybreak” or “Sunrise” 

Dawn is a beautiful name for little girls. It means ‘daybreak’ and signifies new beginnings. It has Old English origins.

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: “Guardian”

Greer is a very uncommon name in the US for little girls. It has Scottish origins and means ‘guardian’. 

  • Origin: Greek 
  • Meaning: “Gift of God” (short form of Dorothy) 

Dot is a super cute vintage name for little girls. It has Greek origins and means ‘Gift of God’. It can be used as the shortened form of Dorothy or Dotty.

  • Origin: Irish
  • Meaning: “Warrior”

Sloane is another very uncommon name for little girls. It has Irish origins and means ‘warrior’ – a wonderful and powerful meaning to pass on to a baby girl!

  • Origin: Latin 
  • Meaning: “Bringer of happiness” (short form of Beatrice)

Bea is often used as a shortened form of Beatrice. It has Latin roots and means ‘bringer of happiness’.

laughing-girl-on-a-bike
  • Origin: Welsh
  • Meaning: “Hill” 

Bryn is a vintage name for girls that has Welsh origins. It’s a very unusual name for girls that’s sure to stand out! 

  • Origin: Latin  
  • Meaning: “Courageous” or “Prudent” (short form of Prudence) 

Prue has Latin origins and means ‘courageous’. It can be used as the shortened form of Prudence. 

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: “Small bird” 

Wren – pronounced ‘REN’ – has English origins and is inspired by nature. It means ‘small bird’. 

a girl with small birds

Final thoughts

Vintage one-syllable girl names offer a beautiful blend of simplicity, elegance, and charm to last a lifetime. Each name on this list has a rich history and meaning, making them perfect choices for parents seeking a name that honors tradition. 

These 30 one-syllable vintage names for girls are sure to suit your little one at every stage of her life. Traditional names will continue to stand the test of time, celebrating the beauty of the past, but very much in the present!

From our families to yours.

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