185+ *Totally Dapper* Vintage Boy Names With Meaning (2022)

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.

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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