Old Man Names
Some names come with a cardigan, a pocket comb and a strong opinion about the thermostat. Herbert, Earl, Clarence, Elmer and Mortimer were everyday baby names at the turn of the twentieth century, and because so few boys have received them since, they now sound unmistakably like somebody’s grandpa. That also makes them ripe for a comeback — Arthur, Theodore, Walter and Otis are proof.
Here are more than 100 old man names with their meanings and the era they were most popular in the US, grouped from the truly vintage to the mid-century grandpa names of the 1930s–50s. Want the gentler, stylish side of the same trend? Try old-fashioned boy names or classic boy names. For their wives and sisters, see old lady names.
Quintessential old man names
The names that say “grandpa” before you even meet him. Most were top-100 boys’ names around 1900–1920.
| Name | Meaning | Peak era (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Herbert | Bright army | 1890s–1910s |
| Harold | Army ruler | 1910s–1920s |
| Earl | Nobleman, warrior | 1900s–1920s |
| Clarence | From Clare (a Suffolk town); a royal dukedom | 1890s–1910s |
| Elmer | Noble, famous | 1890s–1900s |
| Chester | Fortress, camp | 1900s–1910s |
| Floyd | Gray-haired (from Welsh Lloyd) | 1910s–1920s |
| Mortimer | Still water, dead sea (Norman place name) | 1890s |
| Norman | Northman | 1910s–1920s |
| Herman | Army man, warrior | 1890s–1900s |
| Vernon | Alder grove | 1910s–1920s |
| Lloyd | Gray-haired | 1910s–1920s |
| Milton | Mill town | 1910s–1920s |
| Wilbur | Possibly “bright will” or “wild boar” | 1900s–1910s |
| Irving | Green river | 1910s |
| Mervin | Sea hill (from Welsh Merfyn) | 1920s |
| Lester | From Leicester, England | 1900s–1920s |
| Virgil | Staff bearer; the Roman poet | 1900s–1910s |
| Cecil | Blind (from Roman Caecilius) | 1900s |
| Homer | Hostage, or “one who sees”; the Greek poet | 1880s–1900s |
Mid-century grandpa names
If your grandpa was born between the 1930s and 1950s, there’s a good chance his name is here. These haven’t come back yet, so they read as distinctly “boomer.”
| Name | Meaning | Peak era (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Gary | Spear | 1950s |
| Larry | From Laurentum, laurel (short for Lawrence) | 1940s–1950s |
| Ronald | Ruler’s counselor | 1930s–1940s |
| Donald | World ruler | 1930s |
| Kenneth | Handsome, born of fire | 1940s |
| Dennis | Follower of Dionysus | 1940s–1950s |
| Gerald | Rule of the spear | 1930s–1940s |
| Wayne | Wagon maker | 1940s |
| Dale | Valley | 1930s–1940s |
| Roger | Famous spear | 1940s |
| Carl | Free man | 1920s–1930s |
| Frank | Free; Frenchman | 1900s–1920s |
| Glenn | Valley | 1930s–1940s |
| Jerry | Holy name (from Jerome) or “rule of the spear” | 1940s |
| Duane | Dark, swarthy | 1940s–1950s |
| Leroy | The king | 1920s–1930s |
| Marvin | Sea hill | 1930s–1940s |
| Russell | Little red one | 1920s–1940s |
| Eugene | Well-born | 1920s–1930s |
| Lyle | From the island | 1920s |
Old man names that are cool again
Just like Hazel and Mabel for girls, these grandpa names skipped a couple of generations and came roaring back. See our popular boy names to spot them in today’s charts.
| Name | Meaning | Peak era (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur | Possibly “bear” (Celtic) | 1880s–1910s |
| Theodore | Gift of God | 1880s–1910s |
| Walter | Army ruler | 1890s–1920s |
| Otis | Wealth, fortune | 1880s–1900s |
| Henry | Home ruler | 1880s–1910s |
| August | Great, venerable | 1880s |
| Silas | Of the forest | 1880s |
| Louis | Famous warrior | 1890s–1920s |
| Frederick | Peaceful ruler | 1880s–1910s |
| Albert | Noble and bright | 1880s–1910s |
| Oscar | Deer lover, or “God’s spear” | 1880s–1900s |
| Ezra | Help | 1880s |
| Hugo | Mind, spirit | 1880s |
| Leonard | Lion strength | 1910s–1920s |
| Stanley | Stony clearing | 1910s–1920s |
| Raymond | Wise protector | 1910s–1930s |
| Alfred | Elf counsel | 1880s–1900s |
| Francis | Free man, Frenchman | 1910s |
| Edwin | Rich friend | 1880s–1910s |
| Emmett | Whole, universal | 1880s |
Old-school nickname names
Men of the early 1900s were rarely called by their full names. These nicknames are now popular as given names in their own right.
| Name | Meaning | Peak era (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Gus | Great (from Augustus) | 1880s–1900s |
| Hank | Home ruler (from Henry) | 1920s–1930s |
| Bud | Brother, buddy | 1910s–1920s |
| Abe | Father of many (from Abraham) | 1880s |
| Ernie | Serious, resolute (from Ernest) | 1910s–1920s |
| Sal | Savior (from Salvatore) | 1920s–1930s |
| Lou | Famous warrior (from Louis) | 1920s |
| Moe | Drawn out of the water (from Moses) | 1910s–1920s |
| Sid | From St. Denis (from Sidney) | 1910s |
| Mack | Son of (Scottish Mac-) | 1900s |
| Ike | Laughter (from Isaac) | 1880s–1900s |
| Butch | Butcher; tough-guy nickname | 1930s–1940s |
| Smitty | From Smith, a metalworker | 1920s–1940s |
| Hal | Army ruler (from Harold or Henry) | 1900s–1920s |
| Sonny | Son; affectionate nickname | 1920s–1930s |
Biblical and Puritan old man names
Scripture names that were common among farmers, preachers and pioneers — and now sound like an old-timer with a long beard. See biblical boy names and Puritan names.
| Name | Meaning | Peak era (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel | God strengthens (Book of Ezekiel) | 1800s |
| Obadiah | Servant of the Lord (Book of Obadiah) | 1800s |
| Amos | Carried by God (Book of Amos) | 1880s |
| Enoch | Dedicated (Genesis 5) | 1880s |
| Jedediah | Beloved of the Lord (2 Samuel 12:25) | 1800s |
| Josiah | God supports (2 Kings 22) | 1880s |
| Thaddeus | Heart, courageous (Mark 3:18) | 1880s |
| Mordecai | Servant of Marduk (Book of Esther) | 1800s |
| Elias | The Lord is my God (Greek form of Elijah) | 1880s |
| Hezekiah | God strengthens (2 Kings 18) | 1800s |
| Cornelius | Horn (Acts 10) | 1880s–1900s |
| Elijah | My God is Yahweh (1 Kings 17) | 1880s |
Grand, formal old man names
Stuffy, three-piece-suit names with an air of the old country club. Great for literary characters, pets or a bold baby name. More in rich last names.
| Name | Meaning | Peak era (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Reginald | Counsel power | 1900s–1920s |
| Percival | Pierce the valley; knight of the Round Table | 1880s |
| Bertram | Bright raven | 1880s–1900s |
| Ambrose | Immortal | 1880s |
| Cyril | Lordly | 1900s–1920s |
| Horace | Timekeeper (possibly); the Roman poet | 1880s |
| Leopold | Brave people | 1880s–1900s |
| Montgomery | Gumarich’s mountain | 1900s |
| Ignatius | Fiery | 1880s–1900s |
| Rupert | Bright fame (from Robert) | 1880s |
| Augustus | Great, venerable | 1880s |
| Clement | Merciful, gentle | 1880s–1900s |
| Thurston | Thor’s stone | 1900s |
| Winston | Joy stone, wine’s town | 1940s |
Old man names for pets
A pug named Harold or a tabby named Walter is funny precisely because it’s dignified. Find more in funny dog names and boy cat names.
| Name | Best for |
|---|---|
| Murray | Bassets and other droopy-faced dogs |
| Doug | Chunky, cheerful dogs |
| Norbert | Serious-looking cats |
| Bernard | Big, gentle giant breeds |
| Morty | Anxious little dogs |
| Clive | Tortoises and senior cats |
| Marv | Laid-back cats who nap all day |
| Barry | Shaggy mutts |
| Vince | Streetwise tomcats |
How to choose an old man name that works today
- Look for the 100-year window. Names from around 1900–1925 (Arthur, Walter, Otis) feel vintage-cool now; names from the 1940s–50s (Gary, Larry, Dennis) still feel dated.
- Try the nickname route. Augustus gives Gus, Theodore gives Teddy or Theo, Frederick gives Freddie. A formal name with a friendly nickname is the best of both worlds.
- Honor a relative. Great-grandpa’s name makes a meaningful middle name — see boy middle names for inspiration.
- Balance with a modern surname or middle. Herbert Jax or Walter Reed sounds deliberate rather than old-fashioned.
- Check the playground test. Earl and Elmer still get teased; Otis and August have already crossed over. Say it at a little league game in your head.
Frequently asked questions
What are some classic old man names?
Herbert, Harold, Earl, Clarence, Elmer, Chester, Floyd, Mortimer, Herman and Wilbur are classic examples — all common around 1900 and rare today.
Which old man names are coming back?
Arthur, Theodore, Walter, Otis, Henry, August, Silas, Oscar and Ezra were popular around 1900 and are back in style with today’s parents.
What are common grandpa names from the 1940s and 1950s?
Gary, Larry, Ronald, Donald, Kenneth, Dennis, Gerald, Roger and Wayne were among the most common boys’ names in those decades.
Why do old man names sound old?
A name sounds old when most people who have it are elderly. Names that peaked around 1900–1950 and then dropped sharply are the ones that feel most like “grandpa” today.
What are funny old man names for dogs?
Harold, Walter, Clive, Bernard, Murray, Norbert and Stanley are popular picks — they sound hilarious and dignified on a pug, basset hound or bulldog.