Baby Girl Names that Honor American Heroes & Icons

When looking for a baby name, history is always a fun spot to begin name searching!

Timeless names never go out of style and our heritage is filled with some lovely classic names.  Below are 10 ladies who are in our great American history. They took up their place in history whether small, magnificent, influential or as you’ll see in one story, unknown.

Sybil
In April of 1777 a young lady took her place in American history. During the Revolutionary War a large British force arrived in Connecticut and began marching close to Danbury. The British were burning and pillaging homes and properties as they searched for supplies. Brave 16-year-old Sybil Ludington, daughter of Col. Henry Ludington, carried the message of alert throughout a 40 mile ride. She alerted men of the invasion and they were able to prepare because of her ride through the night.

Frances
Frances Jane Crosby was a blind, American hymn writer. She wrote over 8,000 hymns in her lifetime! Among those is the ever loved “Blessed Assurance” that remains a favorite in churches across the United States to this day.

Mamie
Mamie Eisenhower was a remarkable and striking First Lady. She was known for her signature look (short bangs) and her brilliant blue eyes. Her clothes and jewelry are said to always have coordinated. Beyond her sweet beauty and elegant attire, she adored her husband and loved making a home for him. The White House responsibilities didn’t daunt her, and it’s said her pleasure in hosting endeared her to all who visited during Eisenhower’s presidency.

Katharine
“America the Beautiful”, was penned by Katharine Lee Bates after she spent a summer in Colorado. Katharine was born in Massachusetts in 1859. She will forever be remembered as the one who gave us this inspiring, patriotic song!

Phoebe
At only 15 years old, native Ohio girl Phoebe, would outshoot a well-known marksman. She won that first contest against the famous marksman, went on to court and eventually marry him and together they performed all over the country for decades. Her sport led her to worldwide fame and a life of extensive traveling. However, she found time to volunteer during 2 wars, raising money for the troops as well as teach them marksmanship. She was born Phoebe Ann Moses, but you may know her by her stage name, Annie Oakley.

Abilene
Abilene Rockwell is known as the ‘youngest daughter of the Revolution’. She was born in 1841 to one Revolutionary War patriot, Jeremiah Rockwell and his third wife, Abilene Stearns Rockwell. Her father, who served in numerous places during the war including Bunker Hill, was 87 years old at the time of her birth, thus making Abilene the youngest daughter born to a Revolutionary War veteran.

Jane
American author Jane G. Austin, was a descendant from Mayflower pilgrims and she was very proud of her family history. Her most famous work, Standish and Standish, is loosely based on one of her own ancestors. Jane is responsible for much of what we know today about the first Thanksgiving. Her book was recommended reading in schools until the twentieth century.

Sarah
American poet and author, Sarah Josepha Hale, is whom we owe the celebration of Thanksgiving Day to! For years Sarah petitioned leaders to have a national day honoring that first Thanksgiving. She would spend a large portion of her life pursuing this endeavor. In the end it was a letter she sent to President Abraham Lincoln with this request that would get it done!

Margaret
Paris, year 1900, artist Margaret Ives Abbott would enter a golf tournament with 9 other women. She would easily win and later joke about how the other women (who showed up in high heels) were not properly dressed for the event. Margaret went on living her life, never knowing that she was the first female American Olympic medalist and that she had won gold! Sometime after her death Margaret’s children were found and notified of their mother’s achievement.

Helen
Helen Steiner Rice was an American poet, especially of spiritual verses. In her early 20’s Helen was in marketing and a public speaker for the advantages of electric lighting. What a jump to her latter career in poetry! She was quite an interesting woman; her poetry is still loved by Americans to this day.

Sources: pilgrimhall.org, firstladies.org, wallbuilders.com, centerofthewest.org, mindrumfamilyhistory.com, janegaustin.com, womengolfersmuseum.com, helensteinerrice.com, “Stories of the Hymns” by Rawson & Tonioli