Old Fashioned Boy Names
Old-fashioned boy names have a quiet confidence. They’ve survived world wars, dust bowls and a few generations of being called “too stuffy” — and now they’re back on birth announcements across the country. Here are 100+ old-fashioned boy names, each with its meaning and origin, grouped from dapper gentlemen’s names to rugged frontier picks and rare vintage finds.
Some, like Theodore and Henry, are already popular again; others, like Clement and Thaddeus, are still waiting to be rediscovered. See also our old names hub, old man names and classic boy names.
Dapper old-fashioned boy names
Names with a pressed-suit, pocket-watch feel. Many ranked in the US top 100 in the early 1900s.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Theodore | “Gift of God” | Greek |
| Arthur | Possibly “bear” | Celtic |
| Henry | “Ruler of the home” | Germanic |
| Walter | “Ruler of the army” | Germanic |
| Edward | “Wealthy guardian” | Old English |
| Frederick | “Peaceful ruler” | Germanic |
| Albert | “Noble and bright” | Germanic |
| Charles | “Free man” | Germanic |
| Louis | “Famous warrior” | Germanic via French |
| Harold | “Army ruler” | Old English |
| Raymond | “Wise protector” | Germanic |
| Leonard | “Brave as a lion” | Germanic |
| Francis | “Frenchman” | Latin |
| Howard | Possibly “high guardian” | English surname |
| Russell | “Little red one” | French |
| Ernest | “Serious, resolute” | Germanic |
Rugged frontier and cowboy names
Sturdy names that sound like they rode in on horseback. For more, see Wild West names and country boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Silas | From Silvanus, “of the forest” | Latin |
| Wyatt | “Brave in war” | Old English |
| Jesse | “Gift” | Hebrew |
| Virgil | Roman family name; the poet | Latin |
| Clyde | From the River Clyde | Scottish |
| Wiley | “Willow meadow” | English |
| Cyrus | “Sun” or “throne” | Persian |
| Earl | “Nobleman, warrior” | Old English |
| Harlan | “Army land” | English |
| Luther | “Army of the people” | Germanic |
| Jed | Short for Jedediah, “beloved of the Lord” | Hebrew |
| Orville | From a French place name | French |
| Emmett | “Universal, whole” | Germanic |
| Clay | “One who works with clay” | English |
Old-fashioned nickname names
In the early 1900s many nicknames stood on their own as given names. They feel friendly and spirited now.
| Name | Short for | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Gus | Augustus, Angus | “Great” |
| Hank | Henry | “Ruler of the home” |
| Ned | Edward | “Wealthy guardian” |
| Alfie | Alfred | “Elf counsel” |
| Archie | Archibald | “Genuinely bold” |
| Bert | Albert, Herbert | “Bright” |
| Eddie | Edward, Edwin | “Wealthy guardian” |
| Fritz | Friedrich | “Peaceful ruler” |
| Jack | John | “God is gracious” |
| Ollie | Oliver | “Olive tree” |
| Rudy | Rudolph | “Famous wolf” |
| Sal | Salvatore | “Savior” |
| Teddy | Theodore, Edward | “Gift of God” |
| Frankie | Francis, Franklin | “Free man” / “Frenchman” |
| Charlie | Charles | “Free man” |
| Mack | Names beginning Mac- | Gaelic, “son of” |
Old biblical boy names
Popular with the Puritans and in 19th-century America. Find more on our biblical boy names page.
| Name | Meaning | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Amos | “Carried by God” | Book of Amos |
| Ezekiel | “God strengthens” | Book of Ezekiel |
| Abner | “Father of light” | 1 Samuel 14 |
| Asa | “Healer” | 1 Kings 15 |
| Enoch | “Dedicated” | Genesis 5 |
| Gideon | “Hewer, feller” | Judges 6 |
| Hiram | “Exalted brother” | 1 Kings 5 |
| Isaiah | “God is salvation” | Book of Isaiah |
| Jonah | “Dove” | Book of Jonah |
| Moses | Possibly “drawn out” | Exodus 2 |
| Obadiah | “Servant of God” | Book of Obadiah |
| Reuben | “Behold, a son” | Genesis 29 |
| Thaddeus | Possibly “heart” or “courageous” | Matthew 10 |
| Zebedee | “Gift of God” | Matthew 4 |
| Jeremiah | “God will exalt” | Book of Jeremiah |
Victorian and Edwardian boy names
Grand, multi-syllable names from 19th-century England. See our Victorian names for more.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Augustus | “Great, venerable” | Latin |
| Alistair | Scottish form of Alexander, “defender” | Scottish Gaelic |
| Bartholomew | “Son of Talmai” | Aramaic |
| Cornelius | Possibly “horn” | Latin |
| Horatio | From the Roman clan Horatius | Latin |
| Mortimer | “Still water” | Old French |
| Percival | Knight of the Round Table | Old French |
| Reginald | “Counsel power” | Germanic |
| Algernon | “With a mustache” | Norman French |
| Cecil | “Blind” (from the Roman Caecilius) | Latin |
| Lionel | “Little lion” | French |
| Ambrose | “Immortal” | Greek |
| Rupert | “Bright fame” | Germanic |
| Edmund | “Wealthy protector” | Old English |
Rare old-fashioned boy names
Vintage names that haven’t caught the revival wave yet — for parents who want old and unusual. See also rare boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Clement | “Merciful, gentle” | Latin |
| Rufus | “Red-haired” | Latin |
| Linus | “Flax” | Greek |
| Alvin | “Elf friend” | Old English |
| Basil | “Royal, kingly” | Greek |
| Cyril | “Lordly” | Greek |
| Elmer | “Noble, famous” | Old English |
| Fletcher | “Arrow maker” | Old French |
| Homer | Possibly “hostage” or “pledge” | Greek |
| Lyle | “From the island” | French |
| Merritt | “Boundary gate” | English |
| Ogden | “Oak valley” | Old English |
| Seymour | From Saint-Maur in France | Norman |
| Wendell | “Wanderer” | Germanic |
| Ignatius | Possibly “fiery” | Latin |
| Booker | “Maker of books” | English |
Short, strong vintage names
One- and two-syllable old names that feel punchy today. Browse short boy names for modern options too.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Otis | “Wealth, fortune” | Germanic |
| Felix | “Lucky” | Latin |
| Hugo | “Mind, intellect” | Germanic |
| Abe | Short for Abraham, “father of many” | Hebrew |
| Ira | “Watchful” | Hebrew |
| Carl | “Free man” | Germanic |
| Roy | “Red” (Gaelic) or “king” (French) | Gaelic / French |
| Ray | Short for Raymond, “wise protector” | Germanic |
| Floyd | Anglicized Lloyd, “gray” | Welsh |
| Lloyd | “Gray” | Welsh |
| Guy | “Guide” or “wood” | French |
| Wilbur | Possibly “bright will” or “wild boar” | English |
How to pick an old-fashioned boy name
- Decide how vintage you want to go. Theodore and Henry are old but now very popular; Cornelius or Ogden are truly rare.
- Find the modern nickname. Augustus becomes Gus, Ezekiel becomes Zeke, Alistair becomes Ali — a sleek short form keeps a formal name from feeling heavy.
- Check the initials. Formal vintage names often pair with family surnames; make sure the monogram doesn’t spell something awkward.
- Pair with a modern middle name. An old first name balances beautifully with a crisp modern middle — see boy middle names.
- Look at your family tree. A great-grandfather’s name gives an old-fashioned choice built-in meaning.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular old-fashioned boy names today?
Theodore, Henry, Jack, Oliver, Arthur, Silas, August, Walter and Everett are vintage names that have climbed back up the US baby-name charts.
What is a rare old-fashioned boy name?
Clement, Rufus, Ogden, Cyril, Mortimer and Ignatius are old names that are still uncommon today.
What were popular boy names in the early 1900s?
SSA data for the 1900s decade shows John, William, James, George, Charles, Robert, Joseph, Frank, Edward and Thomas at the top.
What’s a good old-fashioned boy name with a cool nickname?
Augustus (Gus), Theodore (Teddy or Theo), Ezekiel (Zeke), Archibald (Archie) and Alfred (Alfie) are all excellent choices.