With so many babies in our household Mike and I have talked about a lot of names over the years. We don’t share our children’s names on social media. However, I can tell you that we lean towards more classic sounding names that aren’t super trendy. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite classic baby names from one of my favorite books–Gone With the Wind.
classic baby names from a classic novel
girl names
Scarlett
Scarlett is definitely one of my favorite girl names. I have always wanted to add it to our list of girl names, but sadly it’s always been too popular for our liking. It was #61 on the SSA name list the year we had our first daughter and it’s currently sitting at #20. Scarlett’s character in the book might not always be the most likeable, but when push comes to shove she’s a strong woman who tries her best to figure out how to help her family and help herself.
Melanie
This simple and classic choice reached it’s popularity peak in the 1970’s. Since then has ranked in the 80-130 range. I love that her character in the book and movie is more complex than you would originally think, and you realize that despite her being ill, she’s a lot stronger than you would think.
Belle
Considering the profession her character holds in Gone with the Wind you probably wouldn’t want to admit that you named your child after Belle Watling. However, she is ultimately a good person who is loyal to those she admires. Although its longer version, Isabelle, is pretty popular right now, the short and sweet Belle only ranks #1000.
Carreen
Aww, Carreen, what’s not to love about her character? She loves her family, loves her home, and knows how to work hard. I love her optimistic attitude despite the hardships she’s dealt. It’s also a uncommon spelling you’re unlikely to come across. The downside is people may struggle with the pronunciation.
Emmy
True, Emmy Slattery is a minor character and is not the most likeable. However, with a cute and classic name like Emmy how could you go wrong? It’s currently ranked #539 so for those of you looking for a classic that hasn’t turned super trendy, this could be it.
boy names
Beau
As far as classic baby names go, Beau ranks right up there. I think Beau is a beautiful, classic name choice for a boy. The name really speaks for itself since it literally means “beautiful or handsome”. At #187 it might be time for a comeback. Just ignore the fact that the birth of his character makes his mother even more ill..
Rhett
Oh Rhett Butler, what are we going to do with you? Probably best known for his, “frankly my dear, I don’t give a…” line from the movie, his character is actually much more complex than just a philandering rogue who is up to no good. Rhett is actually an English name that means “council or advice”. So if you’re hoping for you little one to be a wise, old soul, Rhett could be a great choice.
Ashley
Honestly, I have never known quite what to make of Ashley’s character. Do we like him or not? Is he truly a good guy or not? Knowing that Ashley originated as a boy’s name it has always been one of my favorites for a boy. Currently it’s only ranked #958 for boys and #172 for girls in popularity, so I think it’s about time for the trend to shift again.
Kennedy
Technically this is the last name of a character in the movie, but it’s still a great choice. You just can’t help but feel sorry for Frank and his lot in life. I also love that the name is Irish in origin, we’re big fans of those names in our household. Kennedy is another classic name choice that is more trendy right now for girls than it is for boys (#70 and #996, respectively).
Brent
Oh Brent, you and your brother Stuart were so naïve that we just can’t help but love you. I think that Brent is a classic and strong name choice for the little man in your life. It was most common in the 1970’s and it’s about time it made a comeback too.