The comeback name has a specific emotional trick. It has to be old enough to escape parent-age awkwardness, but not so old that it feels sealed in a museum. When it works, the name stops sounding dated and starts sounding sturdy.
Old names with new momentum
Latest recorded counts versus historic peaks in the local SSA dataset.
These are not all the same kind of comeback. Henry barely disappeared. Eleanor and Hazel made the full loop from antique to fashionable. Theodore feels like a new peak. Arthur and Josephine are still quieter, which may be exactly why they appeal to parents who want familiar but not saturated.
The rule of thumb: a comeback name needs distance. Names from the parent generation often feel too close. Names from the grandparent or great-grandparent generation can feel newly available.
Browse more on the Comebacks page, or inspect Hazel, Eleanor, Theodore, Arthur, and Josephine.