These 6 Baby Names From Little House On The Prairie Are Worth Bringing Back

Expecting a little bundle of joy soon? Look no further than the American frontier — and, more specifically, "The Little House on the Prairie" — for baby name inspiration. There are two television series based on the books by the real-life Laura Ingalls Wilder, and each is full of classic names that we still use today, like Charles, Caroline, Mary, and Laura. But other characters have old-fashioned names that deserve a comeback for the next generation.

Baby names tend to follow the 100-year-rule, after all, where names come in and out of fashion every century, so it's well past time for some of these names to return. "Little House" is full of vintage names that follow modern trends, making them perfect for this year. Some of them are based on characters we love, while others are based on villains — and many have special meanings. Here are six "Little House on the Prairie" names for boys and girls that we hope to see become popular once again.

Carrie Ingalls is Ma and Pa's third-born daughter, named after her mother, Caroline. The name Carrie hasn't been on the U.S. Social Security Administration's top 1,000 baby name list since 2007, where it ranked 995th. But it's time for this sweet little sis name to return, as the nicknames-for-names trend is still popular.

Laura Ingalls became Laura Ingalls Wilder after marrying the handsome Almanzo Wilder. Their last name makes for an old-school, Western first name, just like Walker. Wilder, which ranked 431st on the U.S. SSA baby name list from 2025, means "wild," "untamed," and "uncontrolled," and would be perfect for a rambunctious little boy.

Mother of the formidable Nellie Oleson, Harriet was quite the character on "Little House on the Prairie." Sure, she was a bit bossy and stuck-up, but we all have our flaws! The name means "estate ruler," and we think it should get a higher spot on the SSA's list than 991^st place, where it ranked in 2019 before falling off completely.

Pa finally got a son when he and Ma adopted Albert in "Little House on the Prairie." Albert is a historically royal name, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert ruling Britain in the 1800s, just before the events of "Little House" took place. Albert, which ranks 614^th on the U.S. SSA's baby name list, means "noble" and "bright," and would be great for your baby boy.

Lacey sounds like a soft, delicate name, but in the 2026 version of "Little House on the Prairie," it's the name of Lacey Aubert, a widow who owns a bar and cardroom. She has a strong, no-nonsense personality and courageous spirit that is inspiring. Lacey ranked 738^th on the U.S. SSA's baby name list in 2025 but is due for a return.

Jemma James has the prettiest house and clothes in the 2026 version of "Little House on the Prairie." Although she has some villainous tendencies, her name deserves redemption. After all, Jemma means "precious stone," and feels fresher than names like Jewel or Gem. As of 2025, Jemma ranked 866^th on the U.S. SSA's baby name list, but it's so lovely, it will no doubt rise again.