This post contains affiliate links.
Originally Published Aug 26, 2021 ・ Updated Mar 21, 2024
Searching for the best vintage boy names for your little babe? I’m a professional baby names writer and *these* are the best old fashioned boy names that you didn’t realize were cool again.
I’d say they are – and it’s because of this growing trend that I’ve compiled my absolute favorite vintage boy names (old fashioned ones) that are just too sweet to miss! A few years ago, when my husband and I began our hunt for the perfect baby name, I was naming off a number of baby boy names from our shortlist to my aunt.
She followed up with the polite appreciation and encouragement, and then suggested Henry. Henry? 
I didn’t think twice about it – it seemed so traditional and old-fashioned. But then, a funny thing happened. I kept thinking about the name Henry. I loved how classic it was. It gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. It made me think of going for ice cream with my grandpa on a hot summer night. It wasn’t fickle. It was established. Ageless. It felt trustworthy and true. I loved it. And so began my interest in the new trend of vintage boy names for babies… 
The Best Vintage Boy Names with Meanings
From scouring thousands of the earliest baby name records from the early 1900s, to hand-picking our favorites from the most recent baby name trends and baby name data available from the Social Security Administration in the US – these are the very best picks for an old fashioned name in 2023. Let’s dive in –
Modern Vintage Boy Names
These timeless baby boy names are names that have been well-loved for decades, and have most recently made a comeback. Climbing the baby name charts in the most recent years, these cute vintage names are increasing in popularity quickly, and will likely become more popular in the next few years. If you’re looking for modern names with an old-fashioned feel, this next set up baby names might just be the perfect choice. Milo
- Origin: German, Latin, Greek
- Meaning: soldier, or merciful
- Popularity: #127
Emery
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: industrious
- Popularity: #764 (#89 for girls)
Van
- Origin: British
- Meaning: marshland or marsh
- Popularity: #873
Otto
- Origin: German
- Meaning: wealth, prosperity
- Popularity: #336
Harold
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: army ruler
- Popularity: #962
Louis
- Origin: famous warrior
- Meaning: French
- Popularity: #251
Emmanuel Arthur
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: as strong as a bear; a hero
- Popularity: #155
Francisco Ellis
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: the Lord is my God
- Popularity: #321
Roman Soren Wilson
- Origin: Scottish, English
- Meaning: desire
- Popularity: #714
Cal Otis
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: wealth
- Popularity: #647
Heath Mack
- Origin: Latin, Gaelic
- Meaning: greatest (a derivative of Maximillian)
- Popularity: #470
Lawrence
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: bright one, shining one
- Popularity: #578
Warren Andy Forrest
- Origin: English
- Meaning: of the woods
- Popularity: #414
Emmanuel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God with us
- Popularity: #191
Harry
- Origin: German
- Meaning: home ruler
- Popularity: #722
Rory
Vintage Boy Names with Nicknames
Love the idea of classic names that will work well into adulthood, but that come with a super cute nickname for their earlier years? Here are my top picks: George
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: farmer
- Nicknames: Georgie, G
- Popularity: #134
Ellsworth
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Eli’s estate, or from the farm or homestead
- Nicknames: Eli, Ellzy
- Popularity: > 1000
Grady
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: noble
- Nicknames: Gray
- Popularity: #428
Charles
- Origin: English
- Meaning: free man
- Nicknames: Charlie, Chip
- Popularity: #50
Roscoe
- Origin: Germanic, Old Norse
- Meaning: deer wood
- Nicknames: Rocky, Rozzy, Roz, Ros, Rossy
- Popularity: > 1000
Wilmer
- Origin: German
- Meaning: desire
- Meaning: Will, Willy
- Popularity: > 1000
Grover
- Origin: English
- Meaning: lives near a grove of trees
- Nicknames:Groves, G , Rover
- Popularity: > 100
Remington Albert
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: noble
- Popularity: #564
- Nicknames: Albie
Broderick Samson Alfred
- Origin: English
- Meaning: one who counsels the elves
- Popularity: #900
- Nicknames: Alfie, Freddie
Gordon
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: great hill
- Popularity: #925
- Nicknames: Gordie
Clifford
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: fjord by the cliff
- Popularity: > 1000
- Nicknames: Cliff
Agustin – Auggie, Gus Franklin
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a free man
- Popularity: #395
- Nicknames: Frankie, Frank
Woodrow
- Origin: English
- Meaning: row of houses by the woods
- Popularity: > 1000
- Nicknames: Woody
Samuel
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God has heard
- Popularity: #23
- Nicknames: Sammy, Sam, Samson
Fletcher
- Origin: French, English, Scottish, Irish
- Meaning: arrowsmith
- Popularity: #655
- Nicknames: Fletch
Walter
- Origin: German
- Meaning: ruler of the army
- Popularity: #271
- Nicknames: Walt, Mickey
Theodore
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: a gift from God
- Popularity: #10
- Nicknames: Theo, Teddy
Graham
- Origin: English
- Meaning: gravel homestead of grey home
- Popularity: #161
- Nicknames: Graham cracker, cookie
Vance
- Origin: British
- Meaning: marshland
- Popularity: #943
- Nicknames: Van man
August
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: to increase
- Popularity: #121
- Nicknames: Auggie, Gus
Frank
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Frenchman or free man
- Popularity: #444
- Nicknames: Frankie, Franklin
Leonard
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: lion
- Popularity: #649
- Nicknames: Leo
Sebastian Francis
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: brave
- Popularity: #466
- Nicknames: Frankie, Franklin
Augustus – Gus, Auggie Harrison
- Origin: English
- Meaning: the son of Harry
- Popularity: #120
- Nicknames: Harry
Bernard
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: brave
- Popularity: > 1000
- Nicknames: Bernie, Bear
Benjamin – Ben, Benny Ollie Teddy
Popular Vintage Boy Names
Next up, vintage baby boy names that have stood the test of time. These baby names have topped the charts for decades – they’re popular boy names that you are already familiar with, and that we simply love. Benjamin Russell Elias
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: the Lord is my God
- Popularity: #48
Gabriel Bennett Jack
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Popularity: #11
Julian Leo
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: resembling a lion
- Popularity: #31
Miles
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: soldier
- Popularity: #54
Theo Robert
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: bright fame
- Popularity: #79
Ford Peter
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: stone
- Popularity: #215
Everett
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: brave
- Popularity: #82
Oliver Ezra
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: helper
- Popularity: #37
William
- Origin: German
- Meaning: with gilded helmet
- Popularity: #6
Henry
- Origin: German
- Meaning: ruler of the home
- Popularity: #9
James
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: supplanter
- Popularity: #5
Joseph
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: God will give
- Popularity: #28
Thomas
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: twin
- Popularity: #46
Alexander
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: defender of men
- Popularity: #13
Alfie
- Origin: English
- Meaning: short for Alfred; one who counsels the elves
- Popularity: > 1000
Charlie
- Origin: English/German
- Meaning: short for Charles; one who is manly and strong, a free man
- Popularity: #189 (#127 for girls)
Bentley Edward
- Origin: English
- Meaning: wealth or fortune
- Popularity: #217
Emmett
- Origin: German
- Meaning: desire
- Popularity: #103
Ethan Archie
- Origin: brave, genuine
- Meaning: Scottish, English
- Popularity: > 1000
Fred
- Origin: German
- Meaning: peaceful ruler
- Popularity: > 1000
Johnnie
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: God is gracious
- Popularity: > 1000
Nolan
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: noble, famous
- Popularity: #60
Unique Vintage Boy Names
For mamas looking for a more unique name, these old fashioned baby names are a great choice. These names are filed in the uncommon name category – in terms of popularity, they all fall outside of the ranks of the top 100 most popular baby boy names, but they’re still within the top 1000. Clancy
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: red-haired warrior
- Popularity: > 1000
Raleigh Dale Byron
- Origin: English
- Meaning: one who works with cattle
- Popularity: #751
Coy
- Origin: British
- Meaning: quiet, calm or clever
- Popularity: > 1000
Dean Rex Jasper Julius
- Origin: Roman, Greek
- Meaning: youthful, or downy-bearded
- Popularity: #319
Kenneth Percy
- Origin: origin
- Meaning: short for Percival; meaning one who pierces the valley
- Popularity: > 1000
Marshall
- Origin: English
- Meaning: one who loves horses
- Popularity: #379
Wilford Lewis Roy
- Origin: French
- Meaning: king
- Popularity: #551
Rudy
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: famous wolf
- Popularity: #819
Thatcher
- Origin: English
- Meaning: roof maker
- Popularity: #831
Wilford Harvey
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: battle worthy
- Popularity: #420
Oscar
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: spear of the gods
- Popularity: #226
Leland
- Origin: English
- Meaning: meadow land
- Popularity: > 1000
Rare Vintage Baby Boy Names
Next, vintage baby names that are totally rare – these baby names fall outside of the top 1000 baby name lists done by the Social Security Administration, but these old-timey names are still totally wearable. Harding
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: hard working person
- Popularity: > 1000
Fritz
- Origin: German
- Meaning: peaceful ruler
- Popularity: > 1000
Emerson Esau Alton
- Origin: British
- Meaning: old town
- Popularity: > 1000
Lowell
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: young wolf
- Popularity: > 1000
Stanton Burton Hartley
- Origin: British
- Meaning: deer meadow
- Popularity: > 1000
Kenneth
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: handsome
- Popularity: #258
Rudy Cliff Garland
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: land of the spear
- Popularity: > 1000
Odin
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: frenzied; a reference from Norse mythology
- Popularity: #327
Ellsworth Garnett Quincy Elmore
- Origin: English
- Meaning: moore with elm trees
- Popularity: > 1000
Cover
- Origin: English, French
- Meaning: a resident of the Cove region in Suffolk (UK), or to cover
- Popularity: > 1000
Hatfield
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from the town of Hertfordshire, Essex, Worcestershire or Yorkshire (UK)
- Popularity: > 1000
Lewis
- Origin: English
- Meaning: renowned warrior
- Popularity: #487
Arden
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: great forest
- Popularity: > 1000
Jasper
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: bringer of treasure
- Popularity: #128
Leland Thatcher
- Origin: English
- Meaning: roof maker
- Popularity: #831
Rex
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: king
- Popularity: #696
Luther
- Origin: German
- Meaning: soldier of the people
- Popularity: > 1000
Coleman Burton
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: fort settlement, or a name referring to someone from northern England
- Popularity: > 1000
Linwood Dell Warner Linwood
- Origin: British
- Meaning: linden tree valley
- Popularity: > 1000
Warner
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: army guard
- Popularity: > 1000
Carson Elwood Sullivan Wilford
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: willow ford
- Popularity: > 1000
Hartley Arley Barton Hollis
- Origin: English
- Meaning: the holly tree
- Popularity: > 1000
Woodson
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from Woodsome, a town in England
- Popularity: > 1000
Elwood
- Origin: British
- Meaning: elder tree forest
Rupert
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: bright fame
- Popularity: > 1000
Bryant Casper Coy Oswald
- Origin: English
- Meaning: the power of God, also the name of a modern font
- Popularity: > 1000
Orest
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: of the mountains
- Popularity: > 1000
Park Elridge 
Vintage Last Names as First Names
On to my very favorite style of vintage baby boy names – last names as first names. These old-fashioned boy names are names that we would commonly see as last names, but they’re used as first names. Considering a last name as a first name is one of my favorite tricks for finding a really great, unique name for your baby boy. Meyer Hayes
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: from the stockade
- Popularity: #229
Young Meyer Sanford
- Origin: English
- Meaning: sandy ford
- Popularity: > 1000
Jennings
- Origin: English
- Meaning: diminutive of John, meaning “little” John
- Popularity: > 1000
Webster Roderick Doyle
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: dark foreigner
- Popularity: > 1000
Jones Foster
- Origin: English
- Meaning: one who keeps the forest
- Popularity: > 1000
Mckinley Fitzgerald Anderson
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: son of Ander
- Popularity: #328
Callahan Smith Henderson Dempsey
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: proud
- Popularity: > 1000
If you like this style too, check out my full list of last names as first names.
Vintage Virtue Names & Word Names
This next group of vintage baby boy names is a super interesting one – I’ve combined both virtue names and word names. Virtue names are given names that are also a virtue – basically, a positive quality that someone could have. A word name is just as it sounds – they’re typically either verbs or nouns, used as a name.
- Pleasant
- Love
- Bird
- Worth
- Loyal
- King
- Royal
Noble
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: aristocratic
- Popularity: > 1000
Earnest
- Origin: German
- Meaning: diligent, truthful
- Popularity: > 1000
Biblical Vintage Boy Names
This next set of old fashioned baby names are from the Bible: Levi
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: joined
- Popularity: #12
Silas
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: wood, forest
- Popularity: #91
Amos
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: carried by God
- Popularity: #603
Gideon Ephraim Esau Moses
Old Man Names
Lastly, though these old fashioned boy names have a historical significance or famous namesakes, they’re a bit on the fringe in 2023. Not yet back in style, these old man names are total classics – but who’s to say they won’t have their time to shine again? Floyd
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: grey or grey-haired
- Popularity: > 1000
Herbert
- Origin: Germanic
- Meaning: illustrious warrior, or famous warrior
- Popularity: > 1000
Lionel Hugh
- Origin: British
- Meaning: intellect
- Popularity: #746
Weldon
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from the hill near a spring
- Popularity: > 1000
Howard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: brave heart
- Popularity: #940
Clement
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: merciful
- Popularity: > 1000
Wallace
- Origin: Scottish, French
- Meaning: Welshman
- Popularity: #897
Willis
- Origin: English
- Meaning: resolute protector
Randall
- Origin: Germanic, Old Norse
- Meaning: wolf shield
- Popularity: > 1000
Lloyd
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: grey
- Popularity: > 1000
Clyde
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: warm, friendly
- Popularity: #733
Earl
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: nobleman, warrior or prince
- Popularity: > 1000
Herman
- Origin: German
- Meaning: soldier
- Popularity: > 1000
Clarence
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: one who lives near the River Clare or bright and clear
- Popularity: > 1000
Douglas Willie
- Origin: German
- Meaning: short for William; meaning the determined protector
- Popularity: > 1000
Ira
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: watchful one
- Popularity: #810
Stanley
- Origin: English
- Meaning: stony meadow
- Popularity: #791
Eldon Wilfred
- Origin: English
- Meaning: one who wishes for peace
- Popularity: > 1000
Maynard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: brave, strong
- Popularity: > 1000
Leroy
- Origin: French
- Meaning: the king
- Popularity: #905
Clifton
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: town by the cliff
- Popularity: > 1000
Donald
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: world ruler
- Popularity: #592
Melford
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: from the ford by the hill
- Popularity: > 1000
Rolland
- Origin: French
- Meaning: renowned in the land
- Popularity: > 1000
Perkin
- Origin: English
- Meaning: rock
- Popularity: > 1000
Ronald Cleo 
Terrence
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: smooth
- Popularity: > 1000
Ralph
- Origin: English
- Meaning: wolf counsel
- Popularity: > 1000
Orville
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: gold town
- Popularity: > 1000
Reuben
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: behold, a son
- Popularity: #883
Wendell
- Origin: German
- Meaning: wanderer, traveler
- Popularity: > 1000
Morris
- Origin: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh
- Meaning: dark-skinned
- Popularity: #11
Emil Lester
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: someone from the English county town of Leicestershire
- Popularity: > 1000
Oren
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: light and fair, or pine tree
- Popularity: > 1000
Cecil Willard
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: strong desire
- Popularity: > 1000
Milton
- Origin: British
- Meaning: mill town
- Popularity: > 1000
Leon
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: lion
- Popularity: > 1000
Ansel
- Origin: French
- Meaning: one who follows nobility; protection from God
- Popularity: > 1000
Grover
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from the grove of trees
- Popularity: > 1000
Bruno
- Origin: German
- Meaning: brown
- Popularity: #664
Wilmer
- Origin: German origin
- Meaning: desire
- Popularity: > 1000
Gus Chester
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a fortress, camp
- Popularity: > 1000
Boyd 
Vintage Boy Names – TL;DR
And there we have it. A collection of the most sweet, truly vintage boy names.
Did any of these names stir up a warm, fuzzy memory for you? Are you any closer to finding the name that makes your heart go pitter patter? 🧸 25+ Forgotten Baby Boy Names (Why Isn’t Anyone Using These?!) 
