Why you should give your baby a classic baby name

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Written by Michelle Maffei

What's old is new, and baby names are no exception when it comes to classic baby names. For both girls and boys alike, classic baby names have been flooding top baby names charts for the last few years, with baby boy names like Alexander, William, Sophia, and Olivia leading the pack on the Social Security Administration's most popular baby names records. Find out why you should give your baby a classic baby name.

Names that stand the test of time
Classic names are baby names for boys and baby names for girls that were popular both in the past and now. Names like Andrew, Benjamin, Anna, and Charlotte. "I gave my daughters Emily and Hannah classic names because I wanted them to be able to grow into adulthood with names that were not trendy," shares Lisa Gundersen, Rockville Centre, New York, Polka Dot Pound Cake.

Want more proof that classic baby names are here to stay? Check out Popular Baby Name Trends for 2010 and baby name predictions for 2011

Classic baby names with nicknames
When giving your bundle of joy a classic baby name, it may seem like a big moniker for your little one to wear. Some parents love classic names, but opt for labels that offer nicknames for their baby's childhood years, like Anthony -- which can be shortened to Tony, and Elizabeth -- which can be Beth or Liz.

"We didn't want the name we chose to play an role in defining our child's personality," says Sean Folkson, White Plains, New York. "So, while we call him Benny, as he gets older, he may choose to go with Ben, Benjamin, even Benji, whatever fits."

Find the perfect shortened moniker with popular nicknames for traditional names

Classic baby names from your family tree
The appeal of classic baby names for many parents comes from their roots, honoring the names of family members from their very own family tree. Names like Charles, Daniel, Evelyn, and Emma are not only baby name chart toppers of late, but made the top 100 just 100 years ago, too!

"Our second daughter was named Amelia Jeanne, b/c both were family names," reveals Laura Beck, Austin, Texas, stripedshirt.com. "Family names, and preserving, carrying forward history were important to us."

Do your roots reach England? Then take a peek at these classic English baby names

Popular baby boy names that are classic names
For boys, many classic names are still as popular today, like Michael, David, Jack, and Samuel, as they were a century ago. Although you may run into a child or two with the same name, choosing a popular baby name that everyone's familiar with has it's benefits, too. "I gave him a classic name so he would...not be made fun of with rhymes, and yet it was a strong name," says Karen Binette, Boynton Beach , Florida, Feelthehugs.com.

Find the top 50 classic baby boy

Cute classic baby girl names
Some names are classics because they are undeniably adorable -- which they have held strong as a classic baby name for girls. Cute names like Ella, Eva, Lucy, and Stella have been around for years and will probably still hold their rank amongst popular baby names 100 years from now, because cuteness never goes out of style.

"We named our baby Lydia because we wanted a name that was uncommon but that everybody knows and can spell," shares Laurence Shatkin, PhD, Titusville, New Jersey. And, Jennifer Keller of Wichita, Kansas agrees. "My husband and I loved the name[Elizabeth], it wasn't very popular at the time down around 200, and it would be easy for her to learn to spell."

See the top 50 classic baby girl names