Wyoming-born singer Ian Munsick is on a mission to bring back vintage names and make them cool again, Laramie Live reports.
Inspired by a mix of nostalgia and the unique identity older names can provide, Munsick is encouraging new parents to look to names of the past rather than relying on today’s trendy choices. Echoing former President Donald Trump’s well-known phrase, Munsick’s campaign calls to “Make Old Names Great Again,” urging parents to consider names that have fallen out of fashion for their newborns.
In a recent video, Munsick listed dozens of classic names he believes deserve a comeback, including Gertrude, Helen, Dorothy, Harriet, and Ruth. He emphasized that “pregnant parents, you have a responsibility” to consider these names and reclaim the heritage and history they represent. Munsick’s choice of names spans decades, evoking a sense of timelessness and nostalgia. The effort has sparked both discussion and curiosity about how names reflect generational shifts.
A viewer who watched the video was inspired to look at Munsick’s list and found that, while they knew people with many of these vintage names, few of them were under the age of 20. This trend isn’t unique to Munsick’s list; vintage names have been steadily disappearing from birth certificates in recent years, even as other unconventional names become popular.
The list Munsick shared included names such as Agatha, Blanch, Carmela, Beatrus, and Mildred. While a few of these names, like Penelope and Ruth, have made limited comebacks, many others are rarely seen on today’s rosters. In contrast, modern parents often gravitate toward trendy, unconventional names like Allegra, Odette, Amorette, and even whimsical choices like Apple, Moon, and Ocean.
Names evolve with each generation, and 2024 is no exception. According to Baby Center, the most popular baby names of the year show a steady rise in names that became trendy in recent years. For girls, Ellie broke into the top 10 for the first time, while Evelyn dropped to 11th. For boys, Asher has re-entered the top 10, while Luca has fallen out. Meanwhile, some names debuted in the top 100 for the first time this year, including Walker, Bennett, Adriel, Ember, and Oakley. One notable exit is Sarah, which, after more than 60 years in the top 100, has finally slipped off the list.
While newer names continue to rise, Munsick hopes that a few classic names could soon make their own resurgence. His campaign taps into a broader conversation about names as cultural markers that carry stories, connections, and even hints of ancestry.
