180 Old-fashioned Baby Boy Names

Vintage names have a timeless charm that appeals to everyone. Are you looking for some amazing vintage boy names?

Look no further, and you are at the right place! The following names are classics derived from various cultures around the world.

Old-fashioned names are better than those prevailing today. It is so because these names are unique and meaningful.

These names are better than unusual and derived popular names.

If you want a vintage yet classic name for your baby boy, read this blog till the end.

The lists have been categorized to make it easy to find the perfect name!

Let us begin.

Cultural Influence on Old-Fashioned Names

Different cultures have different ways of naming their young ones.

In some cultures, it is considered auspicious to name the newborn after someone in the family.

In some other cultures, it is considered a bad omen to name the newborn after someone dead. 

These naming systems are peculiar, and they share some common elements. 

Your name, therefore, is a part of your identity and helps people recognize which ethnic group you belong to. 

Let us examine the below-mentioned cultures and their naming systems. 

European Influence

Many old-fashioned boy names have European roots. In England, traditional names often came from biblical figures, saints, or royalty. Examples include Henry, Edward, and George.

Some cultures, like Italy and Greece, favored names of Catholic saints. That’s why names like Anthony, Nicholas, and Christopher have stood the test of time.

French culture gave us classic names like Louis and Charles. Irish surnames used as first names, such as Connor and Brady, also remain popular.

Scandinavian countries have their own set of time-honored names. Examples include Bjorn, Leif, and Niels. Many European boy names carry a sense of prestige and history.

Asian Influence

Asian cultures have rich naming traditions that vary by country and region. In some cases, the meaning of the name holds great significance.

Chinese names often reference elements of nature, like Cheng (river) or Jian (healthy and strong). Sometimes names reflect desired traits, such as Wen (cultured) or Zhi (wise).

In Japanese culture, names can be influenced by factors like birth order or gender. First sons might have names reflecting their family’s social status. Nature-inspired names are also common.

Indian names may be tied to religion, including Hindu deities. Arjun and Krishna are examples. Names with spiritual meanings, like Bodhi (enlightenment), also appear.

Asian boy names, both traditional and modern, often have deep cultural roots. The name meanings are carefully chosen to shape the child’s identity.

African Influence

Naming in African culture is like a celebration.  The celebration usually takes place within a week after the birth of a new member of the family. 

In the ceremony, an elderly will whisper the name in the ear of the newborn first. It is believed that the newborn should be the first one to know its name.

Then the name is announced to everyone.

Popular Old-Fashioned Names

• Abelard – Meaning “noble strength,” of German origin.
• Archibald – Meaning “genuine and bold,” of German origin.
• Atticus – Meaning “man of Attica,” of Greek origin.
• Bartholomew – Meaning “son of Talmai,” of Aramaic origin.
• Benedict – Meaning “blessed,” of Latin origin.
• Bertram – Meaning “bright raven,” of German origin.
• Caius – Meaning “rejoice,” of Latin origin.
• Clarence – Meaning “bright, clear,” of Latin origin.
• Cornelius – Meaning “horn,” of Latin origin.
• Edmund – Meaning “wealthy protector,” of English origin.
• Enoch – Meaning “dedicated, disciplined,” of Hebrew origin.
• Ephraim – Meaning “fruitful,” of Hebrew origin.
• Fabian – Meaning “bean grower,” of Latin origin.
• Felix – Meaning “fortunate, happy,” of Latin origin.
• Finnian – Meaning “fair, white,” of Irish origin.
• Gilbert – Meaning “bright pledge,” of German origin.
• Gideon – Meaning “mighty warrior,” of Hebrew origin.
• Grover – Meaning “grove of trees,” of English origin.
• Harold – Meaning “leader of an army,” of Old English origin.
• Horace – Meaning “timekeeper,” of Latin origin.
• Ignatius – Meaning “fiery,” of Latin origin.
• Jasper – Meaning “treasurer,” of Persian origin.
• Julian – Meaning “youthful,” of Latin origin.
• Leopold – Meaning “bold people,” of German origin.
• Linus – Meaning “flaxen-haired,” of Greek origin.
• Malachi – Meaning “messenger of God,” of Hebrew origin.
• Morris – Meaning “dark-skinned,” of Latin origin.
• Napoleon – Meaning “lion of Naples,” of Italian origin.
• Orville – Meaning “gold town,” of French origin.
• Percival – Meaning “pierces the valley,” of Old French origin.
• Phineas – Meaning “oracle,” of Hebrew origin.
• Quentin – Meaning “fifth,” of Latin origin.
• Reginald – Meaning “counsel power,” of Old German origin.
• Rupert – Meaning “bright fame,” of German origin.
• Silas – Meaning “wooded,” of Greek origin.
• Solomon – Meaning “peace,” of Hebrew origin.
• Thaddeus – Meaning “courageous heart,” of Aramaic origin.
• Tobias – Meaning “God is good,” of Hebrew origin.
• Ulric – Meaning “wolf ruler,” of Old English origin.
• Ulysses – Meaning “wounded in the thigh,” of Greek origin.
• Valentine – Meaning “strong, healthy,” of Latin origin.
• Victor – Meaning “conqueror,” of Latin origin.
• Wallace – Meaning “foreigner, stranger,” of Scottish origin.
• Wendell – Meaning “traveler,” of German origin.
• Wilbur – Meaning “bright will,” of Old English origin.
• Winston – Meaning “joyful stone,” of Old English origin.
• Xavier – Meaning “bright, splendid,” of Basque origin.
• Yves – Meaning “yew,” of French origin.
• Zachariah – Meaning “the Lord remembers,” of Hebrew origin.
• Zebulon – Meaning “dwelling,” of Hebrew origin.
• Ambrose – Meaning “immortal,” of Greek origin.
• Clement – Meaning “gentle, merciful,” of Latin origin.
• Erasmus – Meaning “beloved, desired,” of Greek origin.
• Ferdinand – Meaning “bold voyager,” of German origin.
• Horatio – Meaning “keeper of time,” of Latin origin.
• Lazarus – Meaning “God has helped,” of Hebrew origin.
• Percival – Meaning “pierces the valley,” of Old French origin.
• Roderick – Meaning “famous ruler,” of Old German origin.
• Wilfred – Meaning “desiring peace,” of Old English origin.
• Zacharias – Meaning “the Lord remembers,” of Hebrew origin. 

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  Uncommon Old-Fashioned Names

• Algernon – Meaning “whiskered,” of French origin.
• Amadeus – Meaning “love of God,” of Latin origin.
• Ambrose – Meaning “immortal,” of Greek origin.
• Anselm – Meaning “God’s helmet,” of German origin.
• Archibald – Meaning “genuine and bold,” of German origin.
• Barnabas – Meaning “son of consolation,” of Aramaic origin.
• Bartholomew – Meaning “son of Talmai,” of Aramaic origin.
• Beauregard – Meaning “beautiful gaze,” of French origin.
• Belvedere – Meaning “beautiful view,” of Italian origin.
• Caius – Meaning “rejoice,” of Latin origin.
• Casimir – Meaning “proclaimer of peace,” of Slavic origin.
• Cornelius – Meaning “horn,” of Latin origin.
• Enoch – Meaning “dedicated, disciplined,” of Hebrew origin.
• Ezekiel – Meaning “God strengthens,” is of Hebrew origin.
• Florian – Meaning “flowering,” of Latin origin.
• Godfrey – Meaning “God’s peace,” of Germanic origin.
• Horatio – Meaning “keeper of time,” of Latin origin.
• Ignatius – Meaning “fiery,” of Latin origin.
• Isidore – Meaning “gift of Isis,” of Greek origin.
• Jabez – Meaning “sorrow,” of Hebrew origin.
• Jedediah – Meaning “beloved of God,” of Hebrew origin.
• Lysander – Meaning “freer of men,” of Greek origin.
• Malachai – Meaning “messenger of God,” of Hebrew origin.
• Melchior – Meaning “king of light,” of Persian origin.
• Mordecai – Meaning “servant of Marduk,” of Persian origin.
• Octavius – Meaning “eighth,” of Latin origin.
• Orson – Meaning “bear cub,” of Old French origin.
• Osric – Meaning “divine ruler,” of Old English origin.
• Ptolemy – Meaning “warlike,” of Greek origin.
• Quillon – Meaning “god of the sky,” of Latin origin.
• Ragnar – Meaning “warrior,” of Old Norse origin.
• Roderick – Meaning “famous ruler,” of Old German origin.
• Thaddeus – Meaning “courageous heart,” of Aramaic origin.
• Theophilus – Meaning “lover of God,” of Greek origin.
• Tiberius – Meaning “of the Tiber (river),” of Latin origin.
• Uriah – Meaning “God is my light,” is of Hebrew origin.
• Valerian – Meaning “strong, healthy,” of Latin origin.
• Virgil – Meaning “flourishing,” of Latin origin.
• Walden – Meaning “wooded valley,” of Old English origin.
• Xerxes – Meaning uncertain, of Persian origin.
• Zephyrus – Meaning “west wind,” of Greek origin.
• Thelonius – Meaning uncertain, possibly of Greek origin.
• Phineas – Meaning “oracle,” of Hebrew origin.
• Malachi – Meaning “messenger of God,” of Hebrew origin.
• Ignatius – Meaning “fiery,” of Latin origin.
• Llewellyn – Meaning “lion-like,” of Welsh origin.
• Leander – Meaning “lion-man,” of Greek origin.
• Hieronymus – Meaning “holy name,” of Greek origin.
• Cornelius – Meaning “horn,” of Latin origin.
• Octavius – Meaning “eighth,” of Latin origin.
• Roderick – Meaning “famous ruler,” of Old German origin.
• Thaddeus – Meaning “courageous heart,” of Aramaic origin.
• Melchior – Meaning “king of light,” of Persian origin.
• Isidore – Meaning “gift of Isis,” of Greek origin.
• Jedediah – Meaning “beloved of God,” of Hebrew origin.
• Orson – Meaning “bear cub,” of Old French origin.
• Belvedere – Meaning “beautiful view,” of Italian origin.
• Virgil – Meaning “flourishing,” of Latin origin.
• Casimir – Meaning “proclaimer of peace,” of Slavic origin.
• Walden – Meaning “wooded valley,” of Old English origin.

Old-Fashioned Names with Unique Meanings

• Alaric – Meaning “ruler of all,” of Germanic origin.
• Aldous – Meaning “old and wise,” of Old English origin.
• Alpheus – Meaning “changing,” of Greek origin.
• Amias – Meaning “loved,” of Latin origin.
• Augustinian – Meaning “venerable,” of Latin origin.
• Bartholomew – Meaning “son of Talmai,” of Aramaic origin.
• Blaise – Meaning “lisping,” of Latin origin.
• Caledon – Meaning “hard as a rock,” of Scottish origin.
• Caspian – Meaning “from the Caspian Sea,” of Latin origin.
• Cecil – Meaning “blind,” of Latin origin.
• Cedric – Meaning “bounty,” of Old English origin.
• Corbinian – Meaning “raven,” of Latin origin.
• Dashiell – Meaning “page,” of French origin.
• Ebenezer – Meaning “stone of help,” of Hebrew origin.
• Elwood – Meaning “elder tree forest,” of Old English origin.
• Eustace – Meaning “fruitful,” of Greek origin.
• Ferris – Meaning “rock,” of Irish origin.
• Florian – Meaning “flowering,” of Latin origin.
• Godric – Meaning “God’s power,” of Old English origin.
• Hiram – Meaning “exalted brother,” of Hebrew origin.
• Inigo – Meaning “fiery,” of Spanish origin.
• Isambard – Meaning “iron bear,” of Old German origin.
• Jethro – Meaning “excellence,” of Hebrew origin.
• Josiah – Meaning “the Lord supports,” of Hebrew origin.
• Judicael – Meaning “generous leader,” of Breton origin.
• Kaelan – Meaning “mighty warrior,” of Irish origin.
• Leopold – Meaning “bold people,” of German origin.
• Lysander – Meaning “freer of men,” of Greek origin.
• Malachy – Meaning “angel,” of Irish origin.
• Marcellus – Meaning “young warrior,” of Latin origin.
• Maximilian – Meaning “greatest,” of Latin origin.
• Mortimer – Meaning “still water,” of Old French origin.
• Oberon – Meaning “noble bear,” of Old German origin.
• Orson – Meaning “bear cub,” of Old French origin.
• Osric – Meaning “divine ruler,” of Old English origin.
• Piers – Meaning “rock,” of Old Greek origin.
• Prospero – Meaning “fortunate,” of Latin origin.
• Quintus – Meaning “fifth,” of Latin origin.
• Radcliff – Meaning “red cliff,” of Old English origin.
• Remus – Meaning “swift,” of Latin origin.
• Roscoe – Meaning “deer forest,” of Old Norse origin.
• Rufus – Meaning “red-haired,” of Latin origin.
• Simeon – Meaning “hearing,” of Hebrew origin.
• Theron – Meaning “hunter,” of Greek origin.
• Titus – Meaning “honorable,” of Latin origin.
• Ulysses – Meaning “wounded in the thigh,” of Greek origin.
• Urban – Meaning “city dweller,” of Latin origin.
• Valerian – Meaning “strong, healthy,” of Latin origin.
• Wilbur – Meaning “bright will,” of Old English origin.
• Xerxes – Meaning uncertain, of Persian origin.
• Yorick – Meaning “farmer,” of Old German origin.
• Zephyrus – Meaning “west wind,” of Greek origin.
• Ambrose – Meaning “immortal,” of Greek origin.
• Demetrius – Meaning “follower of Demeter,” of Greek origin.
• Gideon – Meaning “mighty warrior,” of Hebrew origin.
• Horatio – Meaning “keeper of time,” of Latin origin.
• Leander – Meaning “lion-man,” of Greek origin.
• Marmaduke – Meaning “follower of Saint Maedoc,” of Irish origin.
• Oberon – Meaning “noble bear,” of Old German origin.
• Thaddeus – Meaning “courageous heart,” of Aramaic origin.

Wrapping Up

Old-fashioned baby boy names offer a wide range of options with rich histories and cultural influences.

Whether you prefer names with European roots, Asian origins, or African traditions, there are plenty of classic choices to consider.

These time-honored names often carry a sense of prestige, tradition, and meaning.

They may reflect desired traits, elements of nature, or religious figures.

Some names have been passed down through generations, while others have stood the test of time in their respective cultures.

When choosing an old-fashioned name for your baby boy, it’s important to consider the cultural significance and meaning behind the name.

Your child’s name will be a part of their identity and may shape how others perceive them.