Popular Vintage Boy Names
Opt for a classic name with a modern vibe. Not all vintage boy names sound stuffy and outdated; in fact, many are still popular today! Many trendy baby names have actually been around for generations, so you don’t have to worry about them going out of style. Here are some popular options: Andrew (Greek for “manly, strong”) Benjamin (Hebrew for “son of the right hand; son of the south”) Caleb (Hebrew for “whole heart; dog”) Dalton (English for “from the valley town”) Dominic (Latin for “belonging to the Lord”) Elliot (Hebrew and English for “the Lord is my God”) Harry (German for “home ruler”) Henry (German for “estate ruler”) James (English for “supplanter”) Levi (Hebrew for “joined, attached”) Lucas (Latin for “man from Lucania”) Miles (Latin for “soldier”) Noah (Hebrew for “rest, repose”) Oliver (German and Latin for “elf army; ancestor’s relic; olive tree”) Robert (German for “bright fame”) Theodore (Greek for “gift of God”) Warner (German for “army guard, protection”) Warren (French for “park keeper”) William (German for “resolute protector”) Xavier (Basque for “new house”)
Cute Vintage Boy Names
Choose a name that’s as adorable as your baby boy. Boy names don’t have to sound tough and rugged to be masculine. There are a ton of classic names that are cute for a baby while still sounding mature enough to age with your son as he grows. Here are some examples: Alden (English for “old friend”) Ballard (English and French for “bald-headed”) Beauregard (French for “beautiful view”) Calvin (Latin for “bald, hairless”) Casper (Persian for “treasure bearer”) Cullen (Irish for “holly tree”) Dwight (Greek for “heavenly”) Ellis (Welsh for “benevolent”) Emilio (Latin for “to strive, excel”) Emmett (German for “whole, universal”) Ethan (Hebrew for “strong, firm”) Ezra (Hebrew for “help”) Felix (Latin for “happy, fortunate”) Harvey (French for “battle worthy) Herbert (German for “bright army”) Louis (French for “renowned warrior”) Luke (Latin and Greek for “from Lucania; bringer of light”) Nelson (Gaelic for “son of Neil; son of Nell”) Ralph/Ralphie (Norse and English for “wolf counsel”) Shiloh (Hebrew for “tranquil”)
Timeless Vintage Boy Names
Opt for a timeless name if you don’t care for trends. Trendy names tend to fall out of favor within a decade or so and often end up feeling dated when they once felt fresh. If this is something you want to avoid, consider choosing a timeless name that’s been around for generations. Here are some examples: Alexander (Greek for “defending men”) Desmond (Irish for “of South Munster”) Douglas (Scottish for “dark stream”) Edward (English for “wealthy guardian”) Edwin (English for “rich friend”) Elijah (Hebrew for “Yahweh is God”) Evan (Welsh for “God is gracious”) Frederick (German for “peaceful ruler”) Gabriel (Hebrew for “God is my strength”) Gregory (Greek for “watchful, vigilant”) Isaac (Hebrew for “laughter”) Joshua (Hebrew for “the Lord is my salvation”) Julian (Latin for “youthful”) Lloyd (Welsh for “gray-haired”) Nathaniel (Hebrew for “gift of God”) Owen (Welsh for “young warrior; well-born”) Philip (Greek for “fond of horses”) Quentin (Latin for “fifth”) Samuel (Hebrew for “told by God”) Spencer (English for “house steward”)
Strong Vintage Boy Names
Pick a name that’s powerful and masculine. Many vintage boy names have meanings that convey a man’s strength, power, and wealth. If you want your child to grow up to be confident and independent, give them a head start by choosing a strong name. Here are some examples: Augustus (Latin for “great, magnificent”) Chester (English and Latin for “fortress; camp of soldiers”) Clifton (English for “town by a cliff”) Donald (Scottish for “world ruler”) Ferdinand (German for “bold voyager”) Hawthorne (English for “thorn bush”) Leonard (German for “brave lion”) Leopold (German for “brave people”) Lionel (French for “little lion”) Martin (Latin for “warlike”) Orson (Latin for “bear cub”) Oswald (British for “divine power”) Peter (Greek for “rock”) Randall (Norse for “wolf shield”) Raymond (German for “wise protector”) Reginald (Latin and German for “ruling with power”) Silas (Aramaic and Latin for “of the forest; prayed for”) Valor (Latin for “strength, courage”) Vincent (Latin for “to conquer”) Walter (German for “army ruler”)
Rare & Forgotten Vintage Boy Names
Stand out with an uncommon vintage name. While many vintage boys’ names are still popular today, some have fallen out of favor or been forgotten almost entirely. Be unique and choose a name you don’t hear very often, like one of these: Amadeus (Latin for “loved by God”) Amias (Latin for “loved”) Balthazar (Hebrew and Arabic for “Baal protect the king”) Bertram (German for “bright raven”) Elias (Greek for “Yahweh is God”) Enoch (Hebrew for “dedicated, trained”) Ephraim (Hebrew for “fruitful, fertile”) Errol (Latin and British for “wanderer”) Forsyth (Scottish for “man of peace”) Godfrey (German and French for “God’s peace”) Henrik (German for “ruler of the home”) Hobart (German and English for “bright or shining intellect”) Isaiah (Hebrew for “salvation of the Lord”) Leif (Norse for “descendant”) Lysander (Greek for “liberator”) Orville (English and French for “golden city”) Oswin (English for “God’s friend”) Pascal (French for “Easter-related”) Sylvester (Latin for “of the forest”) Tobias (Greek and Hebrew for “God is good”)
Short Vintage Boy Names
Pick a name that’s short and sweet. Short names are popular because they’re cute and generally easy to say and spell. They also work well to create balance if you plan on using a longer middle name. Here are some of our favorites: Abel (Hebrew for “breath”) Amos (Hebrew for “to carry; borne by God”) Asa (Hebrew “doctor, healer”) Cecil (Latin for “blind”) Clive (British for “cliff”) Dale (English for “valley”) Dean (English for “valley”) Eli (Hebrew for “ascended, uplifted”) Ford (English for “shallow place where water can be crossed”) Grant (English for “large, tall”) Heath (English for “heathland dweller”) Hugh (British for “mild, soul, thought, or heart”) Kit (Greek for “bearing Christ; pure”) Lance (English and French for “land, spear”) Leo (Latin for “lion”) Milo (Latin and German for “soldier, merciful”) Noel (French for “Christmas”) Rex (Latin for “king”) Rufus (Latin for “red-haired”) Wells (English for “spring”)
Elegant Vintage Boy Names
Choose a name with an air of sophistication. Vintage names often evoke feelings of elegance and wealth and, in many cases, are associated with old money. Help your child grow into a gentleman by choosing a name that’s dignified and classy. Here are some examples: Albert (German for “noble, bright”) Augustine (Latin for “great, venerable”) Benedict (Latin for “blessed”) Bennett (Latin for “blessed, well-spoken”) Casimir (Slavic for “proclaimer of peace”) Clifford (English and German for “ford by the cliff”) Conrad (German for “brave counsel”) Eugene (French and Greek for “well-born, noble”) Gideon (Hebrew for “hewer; having a stump for a hand”) Humphrey (German for “peaceful warrior”) Jonah (Hebrew for “dove”) Lawrence (Latin for “from Laurentum; laurel-crowned”) Lorenzo (Latin, Italian, and Spanish for “from Laurentum; laurelled”) Malcolm (Scottish for “devotee of St. Columba”) Percival (French and Welsh for “pierce the valley”) Randolph (English and Norse for “wolf shield”) Roland (German for “famous throughout the land”) Simon (Hebrew for “he has heard”) Victor (Latin for “champion”) Virgil (Latin for “flourishing, vigorous”)
Vintage Boy Names Inspired by Nature
Get inspiration from the natural world. Lots of vintage names are inspired by nature, including plants, trees, animals, and bodies of water. If you’re in need of inspiration, take a look outside and research names that are related to your favorite natural elements. Here are some examples: Barrett (German for “bear strength”) Beckett (English and Irish for “bee hive; bee cottage; little brook”) Bradford (English for “broad ford”) Callum (Scottish for “dove”) Cedar (English for “cedar tree”) Connor (Irish for “lover of hounds”) Dylan (Welsh for “son of the sea”) Forrest (English for “dweller near the woods”) Gordon (Scottish for “great hill”) Grover (English for “from the grove of trees”) Murphy (Irish for “sea warrior”) Nash (English for “by the ash tree”) Peregrine (Latin for “traveler, pilgrim; a type of bird”) Reed (English and Scottish for “red-haired; a type of grass”) Rhodes (Greek for “where roses grow”) River (English for “flowing body of water”) Ronan (Irish for “little seal”) Roscoe (Norse for “deer forest”) Samson (Hebrew for “sun”) Wade (English for “at the river crossing”)
Literary Vintage Boy Names
Pay homage to your favorite writer or novel. If you’re having trouble finding the right vintage boy name for you, turn to classic literature for some inspiration. Choose a name inspired by your favorite author or a character from one of your favorite books. Here are some examples: Arthur (Celtic for “bear,” after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) Atticus (Greek for “from Attica,” after Atticus from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee) Auden (English for “old friend,” after W. H. Auden) Bram (Hebrew and Dutch for “father of multitudes,” after Bram Stoker) Byron (English for “barn for cows,” after Lord Byron) Charles (German for “free man,” after Charles Dickens) Dorian (Greek for “of Doris,” after The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde) Edgar (English for “wealthy spear,” after Edgar Allan Poe) Edmund (English for “wealthy protector,” after Edmund from The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis) Ernest (German for “serious,” after Ernest Hemingway) Fitzgerald (Irish and French for “son of Gerald,” after F. Scott Fitzgerald) Heathcliff (English for “heath near a cliff,” after Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë) Herman (German for “army man,” after Herman Melville) Hugo (German and Spanish for “mind, intellect,” after Victor Hugo) Irving (Scottish for “green river,” after Washington Irving) John (Hebrew for “God is gracious,” after John Steinbeck) Milton (English for “mill town; middle settlement,” after John Milton) Oscar (Irish for “friend of deer,” after Oscar Wilde Sebastian (Latin and Greek for “venerable,” after the character from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night) Thomas (Aramaic for “twin,” after Thomas Pynchon)
Whimsical Vintage Boy Names
Consider a playful, dreamy name. If you long for the nostalgic feelings of childhood, choose a boy’s name that sounds like it’s straight out of your favorite fairytale or classic childhood novel. Here are some of our favorite whimsical options: Alfie (English for “wise counselor”) Ansel (German for “God-protected”) Archie (German and English for “truly brave”) Fletcher (English for “arrow-maker”) Frankie (English for “free man”) Georgie (English for “farmer”) Griffin (Welsh for “strong lord”) Leander (Greek for “lion man”) Louie (French for “renowned warrior”) Magnus (Latin for “great, mighty”) Malachi (Hebrew for “my messenger”) Monty (French for “mountain”) Ozias (Greek and Hebrew for “my strength is God”) Ozzy (English for “divine spear”) Percy (French for “pierces the valley”) Remy (French and Latin for “oarsman”) Rowan (Irish and Scottish for “little redhead”) Sonny (English for “son”) Teddy (English for “gift of God”) Wendel (German for “wanderer, traveler”)
Sweet Vintage Boy Names
Pick a name that’s soft and kind. Traditional male gender roles may emphasize being tough and strong, but it’s important to teach your child to be gentle and kind, as well. Consider a name that either has a gentle meaning or simply sounds sweet. Here are some examples: Alfred (English for “wise counsel; elf counsel”) Archer (English for “bowman”) Cedric (English for “kindly, loved”) Clarence (Latin for “bright, clear”) Claude (French for “strong-willed; lame”) Curtis (French and British for “courteous, polite”) Elmer (English for “noble, famous”) Emory (British for “home strength”) Florian (Latin for “flourishing, blooming”) Gilbert (German for “bright pledge”) Graham (Scottish for “gravelly homestead”) Jack (English for “God is gracious”) Klaus (German for “victory of the people”) Maxwell (Scottish for “great stream”) Morris (Latin for “moor; one from Mauritania”) Otis (German for “wealthy”) Otto (German for “wealth, prosperity”) Presley (English for “priest’s meadow”) Wesley (English for “western meadow”) Winslow (English for “friend’s hill”)
Rustic Vintage Boy Names
Opt for a rustic name if you want a down-to-earth vibe. Rustic names are inspired by life in the countryside, and they often sound earthy and simple. If you prefer a quiet life in a rural area, here are some great names to choose from: Billy (British and German for “resolute protector”) Blake (British for “black, dark”) Bo (Norse for “to live, dwell; handsome”) Boone (French for “blessing”) Brooks (English for “lives near a stream”) Clark (English and Scottish for “clerk, scribe, or scholar”) Clay (British for “clay settlement; clay worker”) Clyde (Scottish for “from the River Clyde; one who washes”) Dane (British for “from Denmark”) Davis (Welsh for “son of David”) Earl (British and German for “warrior king”) Grady (Irish for “noble; renowned”) Holden (British for “deep valley”) Huck (British and German for “riverbend; sweet berry”) Jimmy (Hebrew for “he who supplants”) Jude (Hebrew for “praised”) Junior (Latin for “the younger one”) Russell (French for “little red”) Sawyer (English for “woodcutter; one who saws”) Wyatt (English for “brave in battle”)
Cool Vintage Boy Names
Pick a classic name that has a bit of an edge. Not all vintage boy names are “grandpa” names. In fact, many even sound so modern that you’d be surprised about how long they’ve been around. Here are some of our favorite cool and edgy vintage names: Alaric (German for “all-powerful ruler”) Ambrose (Greek for “immortal, divine”) Arlo (Spanish and British for “barberry tree; between two hills”) Ashby (English for “ash tree farm”) Asher (Hebrew for “fortunate, blessed”) Atlas (Greek for “bearer of the heavens”) Basil (Greek for “royal, kingly”) Caspian (English for “white; Caspian Sea”) Cassian (Latin for “empty, hollow”) Cyrus (Persian and Greek for “sun, lord”) Everett (German for “brave as a wild boar”) Finn (Irish for “fair or white”) Jasper (Persian for “bringer of treasure”) Leon (Greek for “lion”) Lucian (Latin for “light”) Oberon (German for “royal bear”) Ramsey (British for “wild garlic island”) Rhys (Welsh for “passion, enthusiasm”) Roman (Latin for “citizen of Rome”) Royce (English for “son of Roy; son of the king”)
Gender-Neutral Vintage Names
Select a name that works for any gender. While many vintage names are traditionally masculine or traditionally feminine, there are still several that are gender-neutral. These are a great option if you want to raise your child without gender roles or if you’re choosing a new name for yourself. Adrian (Latin and Greek for “from Hadria; rich”) August (German for “great, magnificent”) Blair (Scottish for “plain, battlefield”) Carey (Irish for “dark, black”) Carmine (Italian for “song, crimson”) Darcy (French and Irish for “from Arcy; descendant of the dark one”) Francis (Latin for “Frenchman, free man”) Harley (English for “hare’s meadow”) Hollis (British for “dweller at the holly trees”) Ira (Hebrew for “watchful, vigilant”) Jean (French for “God is gracious”) Laurie (Latin for “laurel or sweet bay tree”) Lesley (Scottish for “garden of holly”) Marion (French for “star of the sea; bitterness; wished for child”) Micah (Hebrew for “who resembles God”) Morgan (Welsh for “sea-born, sea-song, or sea-circle”) Robin (English for “red-breasted bird; bright fame”) Sage (Latin for “wise”) Tristan (Celtic for “sad, melancholy”) Wren (British for “small brown songbird”)
How to Choose a Vintage Boy Name
Consider the name’s meaning. Researching the meanings of different names can help you choose one that matches your child’s personality or the personality you hope they grow into. Even if you don’t care much about what the name means, this is a great way to learn more about it and its origins!
Research the name’s origins. If you have a strong connection to your heritage, consider choosing a name that originated in that country or region. This can be a great way to strengthen your child’s (or your own) bond with your ancestry. If you want to choose a name from outside your heritage, make sure you won’t accidentally commit cultural appropriation by doing so.
Pay tribute to a family member. Because vintage names have been around for generations, there’s a good chance one of your older relatives has one. If you’re particularly close with a certain male relative (like a grandfather), make him feel special by naming your child after him.
Say the name out loud. Some names may look good on paper, but don’t sound the way you imagined when you actually say them out loud. Try saying the name with your chosen middle name and last name to make sure everything flows well together. This is also a great way to see if the name is too difficult to pronounce or isn’t said the way it’s spelled.
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