Are old-timey, vintage boy names making a comeback in the world of baby names?
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!
About a year ago, when my husband and I began our hunt for the perfect baby name, I was naming off a number of baby boys 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.
Related: 65+ Precious Middle Names for Noah That’ll Melt Your Heart
The Best Vintage Boy Names with Meanings
After scouring 1,000+ baby names, here are the best old-fashioned boys names that I just can’t stop thinking about.
As always, my top picks are marked with a heart.
Here are my absolute favourite vintage boy names:
George
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: farmer
Wilmer
- Origin: German
- Meaning: desire
Charles ❤️
- Origin: English
- Meaning: free man
Grover
- Origin: English
- Meaning: lives near a grove of trees
Frank
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Frenchman or free man
Woodrow
- Origin: English
- Meaning: row of houses by the woods
Henry ❤️
- Origin: German
- Meaning:ruler of the home
Walter
- Origin: German
- Meaning: ruler of the army
Clarence
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: one who lives near the River Clare or bright and clear
Lewis
- Origin: English
- Meaning: renowned warrior
Bruno
- Origin: German
- Meaning: brown
Peter
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: stone
Ernest
- Origin: German
- Meaning: serious
Lloyd
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: grey
Howard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: brave heart
Stanley
- Origin: English
- Meaning: stony meadow
Herman
- Origin: German
- Meaning: soldier
Luther
- Origin: German
- Meaning: soldier of the people
Ellis
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: the Lord is my God
Joseph
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: he will add
Ira
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: watchful one
Odin
- Origin: Old Norse
- Meaning: frenzied; a reference from Norse mythology
Dale
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from the valley
Franklin
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a free man
Willie
- Origin: German
- Meaning: short for William; meaning the determined protector
Alfred
- Origin: English
- Meaning: one who counsels the elves
Woodson
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from Woodsome, a town in England
Grover
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from the grove of trees
Charlie
- Origin: English/German
- Meaning: short for Charles; one who is manly and strong, a free man
Harrison
- Origin: English
- Meaning: the son of Harry
Weldon
- Origin: English
- Meaning: from the hill near a spring
Ansel
- Origin: French
- Meaning: one who follows nobility; protection from God
Hayes
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: from the stockade
Thatcher
- Origin: English
- Meaning: roof maker
Alfie
- Origin: English
- Meaning: short for Alfred; one who counsels the elves
Theodore
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: a gift from God
Leo
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: resembling a lion
Wilfred
- Origin: English
- Meaning: one who wishes for peace
Oswald
- Origin: English
- Meaning: the power of God
Arthur
- Origin: Celtic
- Meaning: as strong as a bear; a hero
Clancy
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: red-haired warrior
James
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: supplanter
Otto
- Origin: German
- Meaning: wealth, prosperity
Chester
- Origin: English
- Meaning: a fortress, camp
William
- Origin: German
- Meaning: with gilded helmet
Earnest
- Origin: English
- Meaning: diligent, truthful
Percy
- Origin: origin
- Meaning: short for Percival; meaning one who pierces the valley
Julius
- Origin: Roman
- Meaning: downy-bearded
Franklin
- Origin: English
- Meaning: free landholder
Maynard
- Origin: German
- Meaning: brave, strong
Gordon
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: great hill
Orville
- Origin: Old French
- Meaning: gold town
Terrence
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: smooth
Melford
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: from the ford by the hill
Roy
- Origin: French
- Meaning: king
Earl
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: nobleman, warrior or prince
Lester
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: someone from the English county town of Leicestershire
More Vintage Boy Names
- Ralph
- Edgar
- Melvin
- Kenneth
- Herbert
- Eugene
- Francis
- Thomas
- Alexander
- Fred
- Wilson
- Donald
- James
- Clyde
- Perkin
- Robert
- Jack ❤️
- Samuel
- John
- Rolland
- Harry
- Floyd
- Harold
- Albert
- Bernard
- Julius
- Leroy
- Hugh
- Clifford
- Leonard
- Johnnie
- Hartley
- Jasper
- Wallace ❤️
- Normand
- Arnold
- Harvey
- Marshall
- Buster
- Cover
- Wilbur
- Archie
- Godfrey
- Milton
- Hatfield
- Leon
- Arden
- Burton
- Everett ❤️
- Willis
- Gus
- Otis
- Gilbert
- Willard
- Elmer
- Lowell
- Cornelius
- Emmett ❤️
- Jasper
- Reuben
- Marvin
- Wiley ❤️
- Rex
- Morris
- Cecil
- Wallace
- Hubert
- Ronald
- Lawrence
- Edwin
- Wilmer
- Clement
- Bernard
- Ezra
- Archibald
- Lionel
- Joseph
- Edward
- Elmer
- Francis
- Oscar
- Russell
- Clyde
- Mack
- Milton
- Melvin
- Sidney
- Ira
- Willard
- Wallace
- Rufus
- Mckinley
- Daniel
- Sylvester
- Amos
- Emil
- Rudy
- Gus
- Douglas
- Cornelius
- Ollie
- Claud
- Clifton
- Roscoe ❤️
- Grady
- Myron
- Fletcher
- Emanuel
- Basil
- Garland
- Noble
- Dudley
- Elmore
- Cleo
- Jennings
- Wendell
- Elsworth ❤️
- Fritz
- Otis ❤️
- Oren
- Odin
- Dempsey
- Jack
- Dean
- August
- Miles ❤️
- Graham
Vintage Boy Names – TL;DR
And there we have it. A collection of the most sweet, truly vintage names for boys that you can actually use. 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?
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