Top Old-Fashioned Boy Names and Meanings

Thinking about old-fashioned boy names for your little guy? You'll be happy to know there are plenty of options! Our list of the top old-fashioned baby boy names features 125 of the finest vintage boy names, along with unique, cute, and rare names that still hold that timeless charm. We've even added some timeless French and Spanish monikers to give you as many choices as possible.

Popular Old-Fashioned Boy Names

Old-fashioned baby boy names aren’t always popular, but many are rising in the ranks. You can give your boy a classic boy name while keeping up with the trends. The following are the most popular old-fashioned boy names in the United States in 2020.

1. Noah. Coming from ancient Hebrew, Noah means “rest” and “repose. ” In the Bible story, Noah was the famous builder of the ark that helped all animal species survive the Great Flood. It's a traditional boy name that has remained popular.

2. Oliver. You can find the name Oliver in numerous languages across Europe, making it an internationally recognizable name. It originates from the Germanic and Old Norse languages and means “olive tree. ” Oliver is a classic boy name that, although at its peak in the Middle Ages, is still going strong in the United States.

3. Elijah. Another Hebrew and biblical name, Elijah means “my God is Yahweh. ” In the Bible, Elijah was a prophet and miracle worker. It's a traditional boy name that's still loved today.

4. Benjamin. Because of the name's popularity, you might not think that Benjamin falls into the category of old-fashioned baby boy names. It happens to be an ancient Hebrew name from the Bible meaning “son of the south” or “son of the right hand.” Among the well-known bearers is Benjamin Franklin, a statesman, inventor, philosopher, and scientist. Benjamin is a classic boy name with a rich history.

5. Lucas. The name Lucas comes from the name Luke, which means “from Lucania,” a region in southern Italy. It’s another name you’ll find throughout European culture and also appears in the Bible. According to tradition, Luke traveled with the apostle Paul and wrote one of the four gospels.

6. Henry. From the Germanic name Heimirich, Henry means “home ruler. ” No wonder many kings bore the name Henry! The French introduced the English to the name from their version, Henri. You can give your boy the nickname Harry. This is a true classic boy name.

7. Alexander. Latinized from the name Alexandros in Greek, Alexander means “defending men.” It’s one of those fun old-fashioned boy names with a unique origin story. In Greek mythology, Alexander shares the same name as the hero Paris. He’s known for being fair in his judgment, fighting in the Trojan War, and shooting Achilles in his heel.

8. Ethan. Ethan is a Hebrew name meaning “solid,” “enduring,” and “firm.” It became popular in the United States (known then as the United Colonies) thanks to the revolutionary Ethan Allen. After the famous Battle of Lexington and Concord, he founded the Green Mountain Boys and secured the American Continental Army’s first win of the Revolutionary War.

9. Jackson. You can probably guess what this name means! Jackson straightforwardly means “son of Jack,” and it started as a surname. Jack is a short form of John, which means “gracious. There are plenty of famous Jacks, like the fairy-tale hero from Jack and the Beanstalk, authors Jack London and Jack Kerouac, and even President Andrew Jackson.

10. Levi. This name has been soaring in the popularity charts and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It means “joined” and “attached” in Hebrew and refers to the son of Jacob and Leah in the Bible.

11. Sebastian. From the Latin Sebastianus, Sebastian meant “from Sebaste,” which was a town in Asia Minor, present-day Turkey. In Greek, it means “venerable. ” Saint Sebastian was a martyred Roman soldier from the third century. You’ll find this name in numerous European languages.

12. Jack. Much like Jackson above, Jack is a form of John, meaning “to be gracious.” Although Jackson was slightly more popular in 2020, Jack has been a staple among old-fashioned boy names for many years. It peaked in popularity in the 1920s and started making the rounds again in the early 2000s.

13. Owen. As an Anglicized version of the Welsh name Owain, Owen is an excellent contender for traditional boy names as it means “youth. ” Many believe it has ties to the name Eugene, while others connect it to the Irish and Scottish name Eoin, which is a Gaelic name for John.

14. Theodore. If you’re looking for a title with great options for nicknames, you might consider Theodore, which can be Theo, Teddy, or Ted. It means “gift of god” and comes from the Greek name Theodoros. President Theodore Roosevelt is a famous bearer of the name, as are numerous saints, monks, popes, and Russian czars.

15. Samuel. Another name perfect for shortened titles (think Sam or Sammy), Samuel is Hebrew and means either “God has heard” or “name of God. ” In the Bible, Samuel was a ruling judge, but you might also think of the Irish writer Samuel Beckett or the American writer Samuel Clemens, a. k. a. Mark Twain.

16. Wyatt. Falling into both categories of popular and cute old-fashioned boy names, Wyatt comes from a medieval last name derived from the Old English word Wigheard . Together, these names mean “brave” or “hardy” and “battle. ” As a first name, Wyatt peaked in the United States in 2017.

17. Asher. Asher is another Hebrew name, one that means “happy” and “blessed. ” In the Old Testament, Asher was the son of Jacob and Zilpah.

18. Julian. From the Roman name Iulianus, Julian comes from the name Julius, as in Julius Caesar. In Greek, the name means “downy bearded” but also refers to the Roman god Jupiter. Julie and Julia are feminine forms of the name; either would make a great duo with Julian for twin baby names.

19. Leo. You may think Leo comes from Leonardo, but it actually derives from the name Leon, which means “lion” in Latin. Leo has been a very popular name through the centuries, with popes, bishops, emperors, and kings all sharing the name. Leo is also one of the Zodiac signs and the name of the Russian author Leo Tolstoy.

20. Gabriel. Although you’ll find Gabriel in nearly every European language, it wasn’t popular in English-speaking countries until the late twentieth century. It’s a Hebrew name meaning “God is my strong man” and is most notably associated with the archangel and messenger of God in the Bible.

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Cute Old-Fashioned Boy Names

Although some vintage boy names can sound stuffy, many can turn out to be cute or sweet baby names. Below you’ll find some options for gentle and cute old-fashioned boy names .

1. Ansel. Ansel comes from the Germanic name Anselm, which means “God” and “protection. ” One of the most famous bearers of the name is the photographer Ansel Adams, but a popular eleventh-century saint born in Italy also bore the name.

2. Archie. Short for Archibald, Archie became popular in the United States with the famous comic series, which debuted in the 1940s. Archibald is Germanic and means “genuine” and “bold. ” Although not commonly used since the late 1980s, the name is resurfacing.

3. Atlas. As one of the most historic old-fashioned boy names, Atlas comes from ancient Greek mythology. Atlas was a Titan who was punished by Zeus and forced to support the entire heavens on his shoulders. His name means “enduring” or “to endure.”

4. Brooks. From the English last name Brook, which literally means to live “by a brook,” Brooks started climbing the popularity charts in the early 2010s and has yet to slow down. Although it’s a unisex name, Brook without the “s,” or spelled Brooke, is more commonly used for girls.

5. Caleb. Related to the Hebrew word kelev , Caleb means “dog. ” However, some believe it’s a combination of the two words kal and lev , which mean “whole” and “heart. ” The latter meanings alone make this a favorite among cute old-fashioned boy names!

Short Old-Fashioned Boy Names

When picking a name, there’s a lot to consider, especially its length. Short names work well for classic boy names and go nicely with longer or more popular middle names.

1. Amis. As a medieval name, Amis comes from the French name Amice, which means “friend. ” Neither has truly bounced back from its popularity in the Middle Ages, so it’s certainly a rare vintage boy name.

2. Beau. Meaning “beautiful” in French, Beau is a unisex name that came into popularity in the twentieth century. It’s famously the name of Ashley and Melanie’s son in Gone With the Wind. Although boys and girls share this name in England, Wales, and the Netherlands, it’s more commonly given to a boy in the United States and is one of the most popular old-fashioned boy names that start with B.

3. Eli. As Eli is one of the more popular short, old-fashioned boy names, you may think that it is related to Elijah, but it’s actually a name on its own. It means “ascension” in Hebrew, with one famous bearer being Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin.

Unique Vintage Boy Names

Although old-fashioned titles can overlap with unique boy names, there are still some that are more unusual than others. Try one of these names if you’re looking for truly different, unique, and uncommon vintage boy names.

1. Alf. Although mostly used as the shortened version of Alfred, Alf has ties to the Old Norse language and means “elf” or “elf counsel. ” It can also be shorthand for Adolf, which means “noble,” or as a variation of the nickname Alfie.

2. Ambrose. With Latin and Greek origins, Ambrose means “immortal.” It was a popular name in Christian Europe, thanks to theologian and bishop Saint Ambrose.

3. Aurelius. An ancient Roman name, Aurelius comes from the Latin word aureus, which means “golden” and “gilded.” Many early saints shared this name, as did a second-century Roman emperor.

The Bottom Line

With so many old-fashioned boy names out there, it can be a challenge to narrow down your choices. We hope this list helped, but you can also use our Baby Name Generator to zero in on your specific interests. To make searching easier, you can sort by filters, like letters or themes.

Or, pick up more suggestions for traditional boy names , such as how to name your baby after a family member; sort by letter, such as boy names that start with A; or explore the top 1,000 baby boy names.