335+ Colonial Names from the 1700s

Replaced Patsy as the midcentury's popular, peppy babysitter.

A bit too elephantine for a modern child.

An old-timey nickname for Derrick that has since been forgotten.

The Early Americans invented names too, sometimes variations of classical or biblical favorites. This one appears in Colonial rosters; the Aur beginning is Latin and means "gold."

Azuba is a form of Azubah, the Old Testament wife of Caleb. The name was used among early African-Americans.

In the Plymouth Colony of the seventeenth century, Thankful was the third most popular of the abstract word names. It disappeared after 1700 and has virtually no chance of returning.

Prince of the tribe of Zebulon in the Exodus, everyone will misunderstand this as Elias, with a stuffed nose.

Hatty is an old school nickname for Harriet, itself an old-fashioned choice. The more usual spelling historically is Hattie, with was given to more than 750 baby girls last year in the US, three times as many as were named Harriet. Hatty, by contrast, was used for fewer than five babies -- quite a contrast!

This Puritan virtue name is unstylish, but sympathetic and appealing, in these largely uncomfortable times.

A vintage addition to the Riley/Miley/Wiley/Kylie brigade.

Ancient nickname that sounds cuter than its modern alternatives -- but be aware that in the days of the horse and buggy, it was most often used for the horse.

Donia is a name with many possible origins. Besides a short female form of Donald, it may also be a form of the Italian Donna meaning lady, a variation on the Arabic Donya meaning world, or a Celtic name of the Don family, which all have meanings related to dark or darkness.

Relief was a name used by the Puritans in reference to the relief of Christ. Leafy was the common nickname.

Also written as Philemon, this New Testament character was a recipient of Paul's epistles.

An old-school nickname for a rare biblical gem. Hetty is a more favorable option.