Defining Vintage Names

I am interested in old-fashioned or vintage names. However, it’s not clear how popular a name has to be to date to its era. I’m thinking a name must rank within the top 100 or 200.

How do you define a vintage name? How popular do you think a name has to be to date to its era?

First, I think “vintage” is often used as such a broad term. For me, it’s a name that was popular about 90-120 years ago. And, yes, I’d agree with you that it has to feel pretty tied to that era, meaning it was actually popular or was worn by a famous person, character, etc.

I also like how Elea describes it in her list on British Baby Names:
Vintage Names - British Baby Names

(A few on this list are more British-vintage and don’t feel particularly vintage to Americans – e.g., Hermione, April, Vanessa – those last two in particular are definitely more 1980s than vintage in the US. But, overall, I think she makes a good list!)