Overview
Classic boy names are timeless. They’re elegant and pose their own sense of grandeur. Modern names are cool and chic, but there’s something noble about old-fashioned names.
If you’re looking for ageless baby boy names, you’ve come to the right place. We have old man names that are still popular today, gentleman names for the fine man your little one is going to be, and more older names with beautiful meanings to choose from.
What Features Make A Name ‘Old-Fashioned’?
There isn’t a specific criterion for considering baby names as ‘old-fashioned’ or ‘old-timey.’ However, names from several generations or centuries ago, such as biblical, mythical, ancient Greek, and Old English boy names, likely fit the bill.
Even modern-sounding names like ‘Jason’ (ancient Greek name) and ‘Charles’ (German boy name) actually come from ancient times.
Also, ‘John’ and ‘James’ are among the most popular boy names in modern times, but they’re biblical boy names that can be traced back to 2,000+ years ago.
Why Choose An Old Man Name For Your Baby?
Classic boy names are timeless favorites that can help you honor a loved one, such as your baby’s grandparents (or yours), your favorite historical character, or anyone you admire.
It’s not just for sentimental reasons. Many of these ‘old man’ names are also recognized as the most popular names (see list below), according to data from real US birth records shared by the SSA (Social Security Administration) on their website. (1)
So, despite their ‘old’ status, they also remain favorites in modern times.
What Are Some Popular Old Man Names?
Here are old man names that are still topping the charts of 1000 trending boy names. This is from the SSA list for 2022. (1)
Note: The SSA is yet to release its list of popular baby names for 2023 or 2024.
Aaron
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Exalted,” “lofty,” “high mountain,” “strong,” or “mountain of strength”
- Pronunciation: “AY-ROHN”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #71
- Namesakes: American Aaron Edward Eckhart and singer and rapper Aaron Charles Carter
- Variants: Arron, Ayron, Aeron, and Aharon
Abraham
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: 3 syllable boy name that means “father of nations” or “father of multitudes”
- Pronunciation: “AYB-RA-HAM”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #204
- Namesakes: Historical name after former US President Abraham Lincoln
- Biblical boy name after the patriarch of the Israelites (through his second son Isaac) and the Arab nations (through firstborn Ishmael and his other sons)
- Variants: Abram, Abramowicz, Avram, and Avraham
Albert
- Origin: Old English and German name for boys
- Meaning: “Bright,” “famous,” or “noble”
- Pronunciation: “AL-BERT”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #614
- Namesakes: German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein
- Also after American screenwriter, director, and actor Albert Brooks
- Variants: Alberto (Italian and Spanish boy name), Elbert, Adalbert, and Adelbert
Alfred
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Wise counselor” or an elf boy name that means “elf counsel” or “elf ruler”
- Pronunciation: “AL-FRED”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #848
- Namesakes: Historical figure after Alfred the Great ( king of the Anglo-Saxons)
- Also after English film director, screenwriter, and producer Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock KBE
- Variants: Alfie, Fred, and Alfredo (Spanish and Italian boy name)
Alistair
- Origin: Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “Defender of the people” or “man’s defender”
- Pronunciation: “AL-IS-TAYR”
- Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #928
- Namesakes: British triathlete and Olympic gold medalist Alistair Brownlee and Scottish field hockey goalkeeper Alistair McGregor
- Variants: Alasdair, Alastair, Aleister, Alister, and Alexander
Alonzo
- Origin: Spanish boy name
- Meaning: “Noble” or “ battle-ready”
- Pronunciation: “AL-LOHN-ZOH”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #470
- Namesakes: American DJ Alonzo Williams and a spiritual name after the 16th-century Spanish Jesuit missionary and linguist Alonzo de Barcena
- Variants: Allonzo and Alonso
Amos
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Burden,” “load,” “carried by God,” “born of God,” or “to carry”
- Pronunciation: “AY-MOS”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #629
- Namesakes: Biblical boy name after the Prophet Amos in the Old Testament
- Also after American inventor Amos Dolbear and singer-songwriter Amos Lee
- Variants: Amoss, Amus, Aymos, Aymoss, and Amoka (Hawaiian boy name)
Arthur
- Origin: Old English and Celtic boy name
- Meaning: “Strong as a bear” or “noble and courageous”
- Pronunciation: “AR-THUR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #140
- Namesakes: Powerful boy name after King Arthur (of the Celtic mythology character in “King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table”)
- Variants: Artur, Arturek (Polish name), and Arturo
Augustus
- Origin: Latin and Slavic boy name
- Meaning: “Great” or “magnificent”
- Pronunciation: “UH-GUHS-TUHS”
- Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #467
- Namesakes: American former football player Augustus Parrish and English journalist and author Augustus Mayhew from the 1800s
- Variants: August and Agosto (Hispanic and Mexican boy name)
Benjamin
- Origin: Hebrew and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Son of my right hand” or “right-hand man’s son”
- Pronunciation: “BEN-JUH-MEEN”
- Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #9
- Namesakes: Historical name after Benjamin Franklin (among America’s founding fathers) and American documentary filmmaker Benjamin Nolot
- Also a biblical boy name after Israel patriarch Jacob’s youngest son
- Variants: Beniamino (Italian name) and Benyamin; favorite nicknames include “Ben,” “Benj,” “Benny,” and “Benji”
Bradley
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: Country boy name that means “broad meadow” or “broad clearing”
- Pronunciation: “BRAD-LEE”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #344
- Namesakes: English actor Bradley James and American actor and filmmaker Bradley Charles Cooper
- Variants: Bradlee, Bradli, and Bradly
Calvin
- Origin: English and French boy name
- Meaning: “Little bald one” or “hairless”
- Pronunciation: “KAHL-VIN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #148
- Namesakes: Scottish singer and electro musician Calvin Harris and American thoroughbred horse jockey Calvin Borel
- Variants: Callvinn, Calvyn, Callvin, and Kalvin
Carter
- Origin: Middle and Old English unisex name
- Meaning: Occupational name that means “one who transports goods with a cart or wagon” or “cart driver”
- Pronunciation: “KAR-TUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #47 (boys)
- Namesakes: Canadian ice hockey goaltender Carter Hart and American TV personality and model Carter Oosterhouse
- Also a last name (such as for British archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter, credited for discovering the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb)
- Variants: Cartere, Carrter, Cartier, and Karter
Charles
- Origin: French, German, and Old English baby name
- Meaning: 1 syllable boy name that means “free man”
- Pronunciation: “CHARLS”
- Length: 7 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #50
- Namesakes: Royal name after King Charles of England and English novelist Charles John Huffam Dickens
- Variants: Carl, Karl (German boy name), Carlo (Italian), Charlie, Karel (Norwegian name), Kârale (Greenlandic), and Kaarel (Estonian)
Christian
- Origin: English, Latin, and Greek gender-neutral name
- Meaning: “Christ’s follower”
- Pronunciation: “KRIS-CHAN”
- Length: 9 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English actor Christian Bale (full name Christian Charles Philip Bale) and American producer and actor Christian Michael Leonard Slater
- Variants: Karsten (Norwegian name), Kristian, Kristiano, and Cristiano (Italian and Portuguese)
Christopher
- Origin: Greek and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “One who is a Christ-bearer,” “a Christian,” or “he who holds Christ in his heart”
- Pronunciation: “KRIS-TA-FER”
- Length: 11 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #56
- Namesakes: Spiritual name after Saint Christopher (a saint of Catholics and Orthodox Christians)
- Also a celebrity name after American actor Christopher Walken and British-American film director and producer Christopher Nolan
- Variants: Christóforos (Greek name), Kristoffer, and Kristopher; favorite nicknames can include “Chris”
Clark
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Clerk,” “scholar,” “scribe,” “cleric,” or “secretary”
- Pronunciation: “KLARK”
- Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #427
- Namesakes: English singer Clark Datchler and American basketball player, analyst, and broadcaster Clark Kellogg
- Also a tough boy name after the fictional character Clark Kent (Superman’s secret identity)
- Variants: Clarke and Klark
Clayton
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Town with good clay,” “settler on clay soil,” or “place with good clay”
- Pronunciation: “KLAY-TUHN”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #286
- Namesakes: Western boy name after American actor Clayton Moore (he portrayed the main character in the “Lone Ranger” TV series)
- Variants: Klayton and Claytton
Clyde
- Origin: Scottish boy name
- Meaning: Short boy name that means “warm and friendly,” “the keeper of the keys,” or “Clyde River”
- Pronunciation: “KLAID”
- Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #688
- Namesakes: American writer Clyde Adolf Bruckman and former professional basketball player Clyde Austin Drexler
- Variants: Klyde, Clydde, and Clydell
Colter
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: Southern boy name that means “colt herder,” “one who looks after horses,” or “one who herds colts”
- Pronunciation: “KOL-TUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #430
- Namesakes: Also a middle name for boys (e.g., American baseball pitcher Randall Colter Bean
- Variants: Coulter and Kolter
Conrad
- Origin: German boy name
- Meaning: “Brave ruler” or “brave counsel”
- Pronunciation: “KON-RAD”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #574
- Namesakes: American scrabble player Conrad Bassett-Bouchard and mountaineer Conrad Anker
- Variants: Konrad, Coonrad, Kunrad, and Koendert (Dutch)
Curtis
- Origin: English, American, and French name for boys
- Meaning: “Courteous” or “polite”
- Pronunciation: “KUHR-TIS”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #825
- Namesakes: American actor and singer Curtis Armstrong and film director and screenwriter Curtis Lee Hanson
- Variants: Cortis, Cortes, and Curtyss
Cyrus
- Origin: Persian boy name
- Meaning: “One who bestows care” or name that means “sun”
- Pronunciation: “SIE-RUHS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #326
- Namesakes: Celebrity kid Cyrus Michael Christopher Dancy (son of English actor Hugh Dancy and American actress Claire Danes)
- Variants: Kyros and Kyrus
David
- Origin: Old English, Latin, Italian, and Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: Also a pet name for a loved one that means “beloved” or “dearly loved”
- Pronunciation: “DAY-VID”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #31
- Namesakes: Mexican singer-songwriter David Cavazos and American-Mexican boxer David Benavidez
- Also a biblical name after King David, one of Israel’s most famous and powerful kings
- Variants: Daveed, Davide, Davey, and Daweed
Desmond
- Origin: Gaelic and Irish boy name
- Meaning: “One from South Munster, Ireland”
- Pronunciation: “DES-MOND”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #363
- Namesakes: Barbadian cricketer Desmond Leo Haynes and American NFL football player Desmond Lamont Bishop
- Variants: Dezmond
Donovan
- Origin: Irish name for boys
- Meaning: Prince name that means “dark prince” or “brown-haired chieftain”
- Pronunciation: “DAHN-UH-VN”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #446
- Namesakes: American film director, producer, and cartoon creator Donovan Cook and Jamaican soccer player Donovan Ricketts
- Variants: Donavan, Donatus, Donovahn, Danavan, Donoven, and Donevahn
Emmet
- Origin: Old English, German, and Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Universal,” “whole,” “industrious,” or a name that means “strong”
- Pronunciation: “EM-MET”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Cute boy name after the Master Builder and construction worker in “The LEGO Movie” Emmet Joseph Brickowski
- Variants: Emmett, Emmitt, and Emet
Eugene
- Origin: Greek and French boy name
- Meaning: Cool boy name that means “noble and wellborn”
- Pronunciation: “YOO-JEEN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #934
- Namesakes: English conductor and composer Eugene Aynsley Goossens and American magician and author Eugene Burger
- Also a Disney name after the thief and Disney princess Rapunzel’s love interest in the animated movie “Tangled” (he was first introduced as Flynn Rider)
- Variants: Eugenio (Italian and Spanish), Eugen, and Eugenius
Everett
- Origin: Old English and German boy name
- Meaning: “The strength and courage of a wild boar,” “brave and strong bear,” or “brave as a wild boar”
- Pronunciation: “EH-VR-UHT”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #81
- Namesakes: American conductor and violinist Everett Lee and jazz guitarist Everett Barksdale
- Variants: Everet and Everitt
Ezekiel
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: Strong boy name that means “God will strengthen” or “God’s strength”
- Pronunciation: “EE-ZEE-KEE-UHL”
- Length: 7 letters, 4 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #49
- Namesakes: English engraver Ezekiel Abraham Ezekiel (yes – his first name and last name are Ezekiel) and American football player Zeke Moreno
- Also a biblical boy name after a prophet in the Old Testament
- Variants: Ezekkiel, Ezequiel, and Esequiel
Felix
- Origin: Latin and English boy name
- Meaning: “Lucky,” “happy,” or “successful”
- Pronunciation: “FEE-LIKS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #192
- Namesakes: Swedish professional racing driver Felix Rosenqvist and American singer and musician Felix Hanemann
- Variants: Felyx
Francis
- Origin: Old English and Latin boy name
- Meaning: “Free man” or “Frenchman”
- Pronunciation: “FRAN-SIS”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #462
- Namesakes: American musician Francis Valentino and actor Francis Cordero Capra
- Also a royal name after several kings of the ancient kingdoms of Brittany and France
- Variants: Francys, Franscis, Franciskus (Norwegian name), and Fransis (Thai name)
- Also spelled “Frances” as a girl name
Frederick
- Origin: German and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Peaceful ruler”
- Pronunciation: “freh-dr-uhk”
- Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #474
- Namesakes: English novelist Frederick Forsyth and American country music singer-songwriter Frederick Dierks Bentley
- Variants: Friedrich, Frédéric, and Fredrick
- Favorite nicknames include “Freddie” and “Fred”
Gideon
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Feller or hewer (one who cuts down),” “a great destroyer,” “having a stump for a hand,” or “great warrior”
- Pronunciation: “GID-EE-UHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #333
- Namesakes: Warrior name after the biblical military leader who led 300 Israelites to battle a great army of Midianites
- Also after Ghanaian footballer Gideon Acquah and English actor and jazz musician Gideon Emery
- Variants: Gidieon, Guideon, and Giddeon
Graham
- Origin: Old English and Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “Gray home” or “gravelly homestead”
- Pronunciation: “GRAY-UHM”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #155
- Namesakes: British writer and filmmaker Graham Bendel and Irish comedian Graham Norton (full name Graham William Walker)
- Variants: Grayhme, Grahame, Grahym, and Graeme
Harold
- Origin: Old English and Scandinavian boy name
- Meaning: “Ruler of an army,” “army commander,” or “army leader”
- Pronunciation: “HER-UHLD”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #925
- Namesakes: American poet Harold Norse and actor, comedian, and stunt performer Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr.
- Variants: Harald, Haroldo (Spanish), Hereweald (Old English name), and Haraldur (Icelandic)
Henry
- Origin: Old English, German, and French boy name
- Meaning: “House ruler” or “home ruler”
- Pronunciation: “HEN-REE”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #7
- Namesakes: Canadian singer, musician, and actor Henry Lau and British actor Henry Cavill
- Variants: Henrik, Heinrich, and Haimirich
Joseph
- Origin: Old English and Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “God will multiply” or “God will give”
- Pronunciation: “JOH-SEF”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #30
- Namesakes: American actor Joseph Leonard Gordon-Levitt and British physicist Sir Joseph John Thomson (a Nobel Laureate in Physics)
- Also a biblical boy name after Jacob’s favorite son
- Variants: Giuseppe (Italian), Josef, Jozef (Dutch), Youssef (Arabic boy name), Jose, Iosif (Russian boy name), and a Latinized variation of Yasaf
Lewis
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Renowned fighter” or “famous warrior”
- Pronunciation: “LOO-IS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #489
- Namesakes: British singer-songwriter Lewis Watson and American football player Lewis Kidd
- Variants: Ludvig (Scandinavian) and Ludwig (German)
Lincoln
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Home by the pond,” “lake,” “pool colony,” or “one from the lake settlement”
- Pronunciation: “LING-KUHN”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #54
- Namesakes: Australian rugby player Lincoln Withers and British-American computer scientist Lincoln Wallen
- Variants: Linkon, Lincon, and Linken
Lucian
- Origin: Latin boy name
- Meaning: Name that means “light”
- Pronunciation: “LOO-SHUHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #545
- Namesakes: Romanian philosopher and poet Lucian Blaga and a spiritual name after St. Lucian of Antioch (a Christian martyr, saint, and theologian)
- Variants: Lucien, Luciano, and Lucius
Marcus
- Origin: Latin and Roman boy name
- Meaning: “Hammer,” “polite,” and “shining”
- Pronunciation: “MAR-KUHS”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #237
- Namesakes: American bassist and clarinetist Marcus Miller and British film director Marcus Dillistone
- Variants: Markus, Marc, Mark, and Marck
Matthew
- Origin: Hebrew and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Gift of God”
- Pronunciation: “MATH-YOO”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #39
- Namesakes: American racewalker Matthew Forgues and Australian medley and freestyle swimmer Matthew Dunn
- Also a biblical name after one of Jesus’ 12 disciples (known as Matthew the Apostle)
- Variants: Mattiyahu (Hebrew), Mathaios (Greek), and Mat
Oliver
- Origin: English, Old Norse, French, Latin, and German boy name
- Meaning: Occupational name that means “one who plants olive trees” or “olive tree” (a nature name)
- Pronunciation: “ol-eeh-ver”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #3
- Namesakes: German musician Oliver “Ollie” Riedel and British model and actor Oliver Mansour Jackson-Cohen
- Variants: Olivier, Oliviero, and Olívio
Roman
- Origin: Latin boy name
- Meaning: “One from Rome”
- Pronunciation: “ROW-MUHN”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #68
- Namesakes: American radio journalist and producer Roman Mars and Estonian long-distance runner Roman Fosti
- Variants: Romano, Romanus, and Romain
Walter
- Origin: German and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Commander of the army,” “army ruler,” or “ruler of the army”
- Pronunciation: “WAL-TUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #269
- Namesakes: Academy Award-winning American actor Walter Brennan and American professional football Walter Jerry Payton
- Variants: Waltari, Walthari, Waltar, and Walther
Favorite & Top Picks For Old Man Names
Adonis
- Origin: Greek boy name
- Meaning: “Handsome,” “lord,” “master,” or “desirable”
- Pronunciation: “AH-DO-NIHS”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #224
- Namesakes: Haitian-Canadian professional boxer Adonis Stevenson and American football player Adonis Alexander
- Variants: Adonais, Adonias (Hebrew), Athenios (Greek name), and Adoni
Allen
- Origin: Irish and Gaelic boy name
- Meaning: “Little rock,” handsome,” or “harmony”
- Pronunciation: “AL-LEN”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #562
- Namesakes: American tennis player and coach Allen Fox and Canadian ice hockey player Allen Pedersen
- Variants: Allan, Alain, Allain, Alan, and Alun (Welsh)
Caleb
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Devotion to God,” “faithful,” “bold,” “brave,” “wholehearted,” or “devoted”
- Pronunciation: “KAY-LUHB”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #52
- Namesakes: New Zealander film and television actor Caleb Ross and American actor Caleb McLaughlin
- Also a biblical name after Caleb, one of the brave spies Moses sent to the land of Canaan (the Israelites’ “promised land”)
- Variants: Khalev, Chaleb, and Kaleb
Colin
- Origin: Old English, Greek, Gaelic, and Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “People of victory,” “young creature,” or a boy dog name that means “puppy”
- Pronunciation: “KO-LIN”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #293
- Namesakes: Irish actor Colin James Farrell and English actor-producer Colin Andrew Firth CBE
- Variants: Collin and Collinn
Dean
- Origin: Greek and English boy name
- Meaning: Earthy name that means “valley,” “dignitary,” or “monk”
- Pronunciation: “deen”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #163
- Namesakes: American macroeconomist Dean Baker and actor Dean Cain
- Variants: Deen and Dane
Garrett
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: Warrior name that means “spear strength,” “brave spearman,” or “rules by the spear”
- Pronunciation: “GA-RET”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #463
- Namesakes: American drummer Garrett Hammond and actor, dancer, and singer Garrett Clayton
- Variants: Garrod (French), Garratt (Irish), Garret, and Jarratt (English)
Hector
- Origin: Old English, Greek, French, Scottish, and Spanish boy name
- Meaning: “Holding fast,” “steadfast,” or “restrain”
- Pronunciation: “HEK-TUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #354
- Namesakes: Cuban-Australian mixed martial artist Hector Lombard and French composer Hector Berlioz
- Variants: Can also be spelled as “Hektor”
Manuel
- Origin: Spanish boy name
- Meaning: Hispanic name that means “God is with us”
- Pronunciation: “MAHN-WEL”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #315
- Namesakes: Mexican professional wrestler Manuel Alfonso Andrade Oropeza and fashion designer Manuel Cuevas
- Variants: A short form of the Hebrew boy name “Emanuel” and “Emmanuel”
Oscar
- Origin: Old English, Spanish, Irish, and Gaelic boy name
- Meaning: “Loving friend” or a mystical boy name that means “spear of the gods”
- Pronunciation: “AHS-KUHR”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #201
- Namesakes: Colombian cyclist Óscar Álvarez and Mexican professional boxer Óscar Valdez
- Variants: Osgar (Scottish Gaelic), Oskar, and Ásgeirr (Old Norse)
Theodore
- Origin: Old English, Greek, and Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Gift of God”
- Pronunciation: “THEE-OH-DOR”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #10
- Namesakes: Powerful name after the 26th US President Theodore Roosevelt
- Also a spiritual name after Byzantine warrior and martyr Saint Theodore Stratelates (from the 300s)
- Variants: Theodorus (Latin), Theo, Teodor (Czech), and Theodoor (Dutch)
- Favorite nicknames include “Teddy” and “Ted”
What Are Some Gentleman Names?
These old-fashioned boy names just ooze of gentlemanly vibe when you hear them.
Albus
- Origin: Latin boy name
- Meaning: Rare boy name that means “white”
- Pronunciation: “AL-BUHS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Magical name popularized by a Harry Potter character, Professor Albus Dumbledore
- Variants: Albos and Albbus
Basil
- Origin: Greek, English, and Arabic nonbinary name
- Meaning: “Brave and fearless,” “royal,” “valiant,” “chivalrous,” “kingly,” or “intrepid”
- Also a spice and plant name
- Pronunciation: “BAH-ZUHL”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Indian actor and director Basil Joseph and American illustrator Basil Gogos
- Variants: Bassil, Bassel, Basyl, Basile, and Basilio
Bernard
- Origin: Old English, German, and French boy name
- Meaning: “Strong as a bear” (a name that means “strong”)
- Pronunciation: “BUHR-NARD”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: French alpine skier Bernard Orcel and American writer Bernard Malamud
- Variants: Bernardo, Bernardino, and Bernhard; favorite nicknames include “Bernie” or “Bern”
Clarence
- Origin: Latin and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Bright,” “clear,” or “River Clare dwellers”
- Pronunciation: “KLAE-RUHNS”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American historian and activist Clarence Albert Bacote and American music executive and film producer Clarence Avant (considered the “Godfather of Black Music”)
- Variants: Clarrence, Clarrance, Klarance, and Klarenz
Clifford
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “The steep edge of a ford,” “a ford by a cliff,” or “one who lives by the ford on the cliff”
- Clifford is an English name that’s also being used as a last name
- Pronunciation: “KLI-FUHRD”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American artist Clifford Ross and English journalist and author Clifford Longley
- Variants: Clyfforth, Cliford, and Clyfford; nicknames include “Cliff” and “Clive”
Dale
- Origin: Old English unisex name
- Meaning: 1 syllable boy name that means “valley”
- Pronunciation: “DAYL”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American commercial artist and designer Dale Berry and Canadian soccer player Dale Mitchell
- Variants: Dayle
Ebenezer
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Stone of help”
- Pronunciation: “EB-UH-NEE-ZUHR”
- Length: 8 letters, 4 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English poet Ebenezer Jones (from the 1800s) and Indian-American visual artist Ebenezer Sunder Singh
- Variants: Ebeneezer
Edbert
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Wealthy”
- Pronunciation: “ED-BUHRT”
- Length: 6 letters, 6 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Historical name after King Edbert, the ruler of the Northumbrians in Anglo-Saxon England
- Variants: Edberrt, Edbertt, Eadbert, and Eadbehrt
Edric
- Origin: Old English and Anglo-Saxon boy name
- Meaning: “Rich and powerful” or “prosperous ruler”
- Pronunciation: “ED-RIK”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: After the fictional character Edric in the sci-fi novel “Dune Messiah” by Frank Herbert
- Variants: Eldric, Eadric, Edrik, and Eddric
Fenton
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: Earthy name that means “fen or marsh town” or “settlement on the marsh”
- Pronunciation: “FEN-TUHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Poetic name after American poet, essayist, short story author, editor, and educator Fenton Johnson and blues musician Fenton Robinson
- Variants: Fentoun, Fentown, Fentoune, and Fentun
Floyd
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Gray-haired” or “gray”
- Pronunciation: “FLOYD”
- Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American country musician Floyd Tillman and five-division boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Variants: Floyde and Floid
Homer
- Origin: Greek boy name
- Meaning: “Pledge,” “security,” or “hostage”
- Homer is also used as a last name
- Pronunciation: “HO-MUHR”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Canadian-born British photographer Homer Sykes and American football player and coach Homer Rice
- Variants: Homero and Homere
Horace
- Origin: Latin and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Man of time” or “time keeper”
- Pronunciation: “HAWR-UHS”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Jamaican reggae singer Horace Andy and American former NBA player Horace Jenkins
- Variants: Horatius (Latin name)
Howard
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Army guard,” “high defender,” “chief guardian,” “braveheart,” or “high guardian”
- Pronunciation: “HOW-URD”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #1,000+
- Namesakes: American fine art photographer Howard Schatz and British novelist and journalist Howard Jacobson
- Variants: Hereward and Howward
Hubert
- Origin: Old English and German boy name
- Meaning: “Eager,” “intelligent,” “bright or shining intellect,” “right,” “enthusiastic,” or “confident”
- Pronunciation: “HYOO-BURT”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: French comics creator Hubert Boulard and American philosopher Hubert Dreyfus
- Variants: Hubertus, Hughbert, Huberto (Spanish), Hobart, Hubbert, and Hubrecht (Dutch)
Jarrett
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: “Spear warrior”
- Pronunciation: “JER-ET”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American baseball player Jarrett Hoffpauir and Canadian ice hockey player Jarrett Burton
- Variants: Garett, Garret, Jarett, Jarret, and Jerrett
Jarvis
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Servant spear” or “spearman”
- Jarvis is used as a first and last name
- Pronunciation: “JAR-VIS”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American basketball players Jarvis Hayes and Jarvis Varnado
- Variants: Jervoise, Jervis, Jarrvis, Jerrvis, and Gervis
Leopold
- Origin: German boy name
- Meaning: “The bold man” or “brave people”
- Pronunciation: “LEE-UH-POLD”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American sculptor Leopold Scholz and violinist and chemist Leopold Godowsky Jr.
- Variants: Leopoldo
Luther
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: “People’s army” or “soldier of the people”
- Pronunciation: “LOO-THER”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American singer and songwriter Luther Vandross and football player Luther Robinson
- Also a middle name for boys (e.g., after the historical figure and American Baptist minister, political philosopher, and activist Martin Luther King Jr.)
- Variants: Leuther, Lueder, Luter, Luther, and Lutter
Ralph
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Wise counsel,” “wolf counsel,” or a strong boy name that means “wolf”
- Pronunciation: “rahlf”
- Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English actor and writer Ralph Brown and American basketball player and clergyman Ralph Drollinger
- Variants: Raife, Raul (Spanish), and Raif
Best Baby Boy Names That Mean “Old”
Alden
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Old friend” or “wise protector”
- Pronunciation: “awl-duhn”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American football player and coach Alden Knipe and author Alden Carter
- Variants: Elden and Aldden
Aldis
- Origin: Old English unisex name
- Meaning: “Old one,” “from the old house,” or “elder”
- Pronunciation: “aal-dis”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Latvian-American Olympic medalist and volleyball player Aldis Bērziņš and American film and TV actor Aldis Hodge
- Variants: Alddis and Alldis
Aldwin
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Wise counselor” or “old friend”
- Pronunciation: “ahld-win”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: None
- Variants: Aldwinn, Aldwyn, and Alddwin
Eldred
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Old counsel” or “venerable“
- Pronunciation: “el-drid”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Sierra Leonean academic and literary critic Eldred Durosimi Jones and American actor Eldred Gregory Peck
- Variants: Aldred and Elddred
Nereus
- Origin: Ancient Greek boy name
- Meaning: “Old man of the sea,” “father of the sea nymphs,” a name that means “water,” or “sea god”
- Pronunciation: “neh-reh-oos”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Greek god of the sea and the father of the sea nymphs
- Variants: Nerreus
Tulsa
- Origin: Creek – Native American unisex name
- Meaning: “Old town” or “basil plant” (nature name)
- Pronunciation: “tuhl-suh”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Also a place name after the city of Tulsa in Oklahoma, USA
- Variants: Tullsa, Tullsah, and Tulssa
Charming Classic Boy Names
Ambrose
- Origin: Greek and Latin boy name
- Meaning: Mystical name that means “immortal” and “food and drink of the gods”
- Pronunciation: “am-brohz”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #720
- Namesakes: Nigerian-American jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and American author Ambrose Bierce
- Variants: Ambross, Ambrosio, Ambrosia, Ambrogia, and Ambrosios
Bennett
- Origin: Latin and English boy name
- Meaning: “Blessed little one”
- Pronunciation: “BEN-NET”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #83
- Namesakes: American film director Bennett Miller and actor Bennett Joseph Savage
- Variants: Bennet, Beneto, and Benedict
Devon
- Origin: Old English and Irish boy name
- Meaning: “Deep valley dwellers” or “defender”
- Pronunciation: “dev-uhn”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #837
- Namesakes: American athlete Devon Allen and English actor Devon Carlo Anderson
- Also a place name after a historic county in South West England
- Variants: Devin
Jasper
- Origin: Hebrew and English boy name
- Meaning: “Bearer of treasures” or “treasurer”
- Pronunciation: “jas-pr”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #130
- Namesakes: American comedian Jasper Redd and painter, sculptor, and printmaker Jasper Johns
- Variants: Caspar or Gaspar (known as one of the three wise men, Magi, or kings who brought gifts to the baby Jesus in the biblical story)
Vintage & Old-Fashioned Boy Names
Carlisle
- Origin: Old English gender-neutral name
- Meaning: “One from the walled city or protected tower”
- Pronunciation: “KAHR-LIEL”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000
- Namesakes: Canadian cryptographer and computer security researcher Carlisle Adams and Barbadian former cricketer Carlisle Best
- Variants: Carleill, Carlyle, and Carlysle
Earl
- Origin: Old English, North American, and German boy name
- Meaning: A title for royalty that means “prince” (prince name) or “nobleman”; can also mean “warrior”
- Earl is a one-syllable German name that refers to a British nobleman who ranks above a viscount and below a marquess
- Pronunciation: “UHRL”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American actor Earl Boen and bandleader and jazz pianist Earl Kenneth Hines
- Variants: Erle, Erol, Erroll, and Errol
Fergus
- Origin: Gaelic and Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “Manliness” or “manly strength”
- Pronunciation: “FER-GUHS”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Australian businessman and aviation pioneer Fergus McMaster and Irish composer Fergus Johnston
- Variants: Fergus is also used as last names, Ferguson and Fergusson
Gaston
- Origin: French boy name
- Meaning: “Stranger,” “guest,” or “the foreigner”
- Pronunciation: “GAS-TON”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Argentine film director Gastón Solnicki and Belgian Olympic champion fencer Gaston Salmon
- Also a Disney name after the fictional character Gaston, who’s in love with the Disney Princess “Belle” in the animated film “Beauty and the Beast”
- Variants: Gastone, Gasston, and Gastton
Spencer
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Keeper,” dispenser,” “steward,” or “dispenser of provisions”
- Spencer is a unisex name, although not as popular as a baby girl name
- Pronunciation: “spen-sr”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #338
- Namesakes: American actor and musician Spencer Breslin and model and artist Spencer Elden
- Variants: Spenser and Spence
Handsome Archetypal Boy Names
Alfonso
- Origin: Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish boy name
- Meaning: “Noble and ready” or “ready for battle”
- Pronunciation: “AL-FON-SO”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #918
- Namesakes: American football player Alfonso Smith and Mexican Nobel Peace Prize winner Alfonso García Robles
- Also the name of several kings (e.g., Alfonso XII, full name Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo, a king of Spain)
- Variants: Alfons, Alfonse, and Alphonse
Herman
- Origin: German boy name
- Meaning: “Soldier” or “warrior”
- Pronunciation: “HUHR-MUHN”
- Length: letters, syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Guam-born American mixed martial artist Herman Terrado and Danish painter Herman Vedel
- Also a spiritual name after bishops and saints (e.g., Herman van Horne, bishop of Utrecht, a city in The Netherlands)
- Variants: Armand, Armando, Ermanno, and Hermann
Rupert
- Origin: Old High German boy name
- Meaning: “Bright fame”
- Pronunciation: “roo-pert”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English studio potter Rupert Spira and “Harry Potter” star Rupert Grint
- Variants: Ruprecht and Robert
Cool & Hip Old Timey Boy Names
Bayard
- Origin: French boy name
- Meaning: “Auburn-haired” or “red-brown hair”
- Pronunciation: “bay-ard”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American screenwriter, film director, and producer Bayard Veiller and film director Bayard Johnson
- Variants: Baiyard, Bayyard, Baeyard, and Baird
Lester
- Origin: Old English and Latin boy name
- Meaning: “One from Leicester, England”
- Lester is a place name and a last name for people from Leicester, England.
- Pronunciation: “LES-TUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Guatemalan professional boxer Lester Martínez and American football player Lester Cotton
- Variants: Lezter, Lestter, and Lesterr
Norman
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Northerner,” “man from the north,” or “Norseman”
- Pronunciation: “NOR-MUHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American writer Norman Mailer and painter Norman Rockwell
- Variants: Normann, Normanby, Normand, and Norrman
Old-Fashioned Hollywood & Celebrity Boy Names
Adam
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “From the Earth,” “son of the red Earth,” “the first man,” or “Earth’s son”
- Pronunciation: “AY-DUHM”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #97
- Namesakes: American musician Adam Noah Levine and actor and comedian Adam Richard Sandler
- Also a biblical boy name given by God to the first human He created
- Variants: Addam, Adamus, and Adamo
Bruno
- Origin: Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, ancient Germanic, and Slavic boy name
- Meaning: Hispanic boy name that means “brown one” or “brown” (color name)
- Pronunciation: “BROO-NOH”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #618
- Namesakes: American singer, songwriter, and music producer Bruno Mars (Puerto Rican and Filipino descent) and Brazilian football midfielder Bruno Guimarães
- Variants: Braun (German) and Brawn
Clint
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Fenced settlement”
- Pronunciation: “KLINT”
- Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American author, actor, spoken word performer, and model Clint Catalyst and Australian archer Clint Freeman
- Variants: Clinton
Franklin
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: “Free landholder” or “freeman”
- Pronunciation: “FRANK-LIN”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Powerful boy name after former US Presidents Franklin Pierce (14th) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd)
- Also after British radio personality Franklin Engelmann and American singer Franklin Delano Williams
- Variants: Francklyn, Franklyn, Francklin, and Frankie
Johnnie
- Origin: English and Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “God is gracious”
- Pronunciation: “JON-EE”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American recording artist and songwriter Johnnie Harrison Taylor and attorney Johnnie Lee Cochran Jr.
- Variants: John, Joni, Johnny, and Jonnie
Kirk
- Origin: Old Norse, German, and Scandinavian boy name
- Meaning: Short boy name that means “church”
- Kirk is also used as a last name for someone who lives near a church.
- Pronunciation: “kurk”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Canadian ice hockey player Kirk Maltby and American musician and Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett
- Variants: Kyrk, Kirke, and Kerk
Sylvester
- Origin: Roman and Latin boy name
- Meaning: “Of the forest or woods” or “wild”
- Pronunciation: “sil-vest-uhr”
- Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American actor Sylvester Stallone and professional wrestler Sylvester Terkay
- Variants: Silvester
Old English Boy Names
Byron
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: Southern boy name that means “at the byres (cowshed),” “at the barn,” or “place by the cowsheds”
- Pronunciation: “BY-ROHN”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #892
- Namesakes: American composer Byron Adams and football player Byron Bailey
- Variants: Byrron, Biron, Bironn, Byronn, and Beyron
Edwin
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Prosperous friend,” “rich in friendship,” or “wealthy friend”
- Pronunciation: “ED-WIN”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #358
- Namesakes: Historical name after King Edwin of Northumbria (an early medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom), who became a Christian saint
- Also after American soul music singer Edwin Starr and inventor Edwin Howard Armstrong
- Variants: Edwyn, Eddwin, and Eadwine
Harlan
- Origin: British and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Dweller by the boundary wood,” “a rocky land,” “rocky road,” or “army land”
- Pronunciation: “HAHR-LUHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #725
- Namesakes: American actor and vaudeville performer Harlan Briggs and writer Harlan Ellison
- Also after the fictional character Harlan Thrombey in “Knives Out”
- Variants: Harland, Harlen, and Harlyn (unisex)
What Is A Very Old Person’s Name?
Here are some vintage names you can consider for your son’s first name or middle name:
Acton
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “One from the oak tree settlement” or “town in the oak trees”
- Pronunciation: “AK-TUHN”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Fictional character Acton in the book series “The Sword of Shannara”
- Acton is a namesake derived from the settlement of Axton in the country of Kent, England
- Variants: Akton, Actton, Ackton, and Accton
Alston
- Origin: Anglo-Saxon and Old English boy name
- Meaning: Western boy name that means “from the noble’s town,” “noblemen’s village,” “noble one’s settlement,” “old stone,” or a magical name that means “elf stone”
- Pronunciation: “aal-stn”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American mathematician Alston Scott Householder and Sri Lankan singer, songwriter, and record producer Alston Koch
- Variants: Alstone and Allston
Angus
- Origin: English and Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “One choice” or “one strength”
- Pronunciation: “ang-guhs”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Scottish actor Angus Macfadyen and English actor, musician, and comedian Gordon Angus Deayton
- Variants: Aonghus and Óengus (Celtic boy name)
Ansel
- Origin: Old French and German boy name
- Meaning: “With divine protection,” “follower of a nobleman,” or “God is my protector”
- Pronunciation: “AN-SUHL”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American thoroughbred horse racing trainer Ansel Williamson and actor and musician Ansel Elgort
- Variants: Anseel, Anssel, Annsel, and Anselm (German name)
Archibald
- Origin: Old English, Old German, and Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “Bold and genuine,” “strong,” and “brave”
- Pronunciation: “AHR-CHI-BAWLD”
- Length: 9 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American modernist writer Archibald MacLeish
- Also a fictional character after Archibald Craven in the novel “The Secret Garden”
- Variants: Archibaldo (Spanish boy name), Archivaldo, Arquibaldo (Portuguese), Archie, and Archimboldo (Italian boy name)
Casper
- Origin: Dutch, German, Persian, and Scandinavian
- Meaning: “Bringer of treasure”
- Pronunciation: “KAHS-PUR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Casper the friendly ghost may be the most popular Casper to date (adorable ghost name)
- Variants: Caspar, Gaspar, Kaspar, and Kasper
Cassian
- Origin: Latin, Welsh, and Irish boy name
- Meaning: “Curly-headed,” “son of Cassius,” or “hollow”
- Pronunciation: “kas-eeh-uhn”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #933
- Namesakes: British film producer Cassian Elwes and the fictional character Cassian Andor in the “Star Wars” franchise film “Rogue One”
- Variants: Kassian and Casian
Cecil
- Origin: Old English, Old Welsh, and Latin unisex name
- Meaning: “Blind to one’s own beauty,” “sixth,” or “blind”
- Pronunciation: “SES-IL”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American jazz bassist Cecil McBee and record producer and singer-songwriter Cecil Womack
- Variants: Ceccil, Cecile, Cecilio, and Cecily
Chadwick
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: “Town of Chad,” “town of Ceadda,” “village of Chad,” “from the warrior’s town,” or “dairy farm”
- Pronunciation: “CHAD-WIK”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Aruban baseball player Chadwick Tromp and the late American actor and “Black Panther” movie star Chadwick Boseman
- Chadwick is also used as a last name (e.g., American Romantic composer George Whitefield Chadwick and English actor and director Justin Chadwick)
- Variants: Chaddwick
Darnell
- Origin: Old English and French unisex name
- Meaning: “Hidden nook” or “darnel plant grower”
- Pronunciation: “DAHR-NEL”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American soccer player Darnell King and Canadian ice hockey player Darnell Nurse
- Variants: Darnall, Darnel, and Dartnell
Delbert
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: “Noble and bright”
- Delbert is an uncommon and rare boy name
- Pronunciation: “DEL-BERT”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American television and film director Delbert Mann and archaeologist Delbert Leroy True
- Variants: Dalbert and Dellbert
Demetri
- Origin: Greek boy name
- Meaning: “Follower of Demeter (the Greek goddess of harvest)” and “tribute to the goddess of the grain”
- Pronunciation: “DAH-ME-TREE”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: French professional footballer Dimitri Payet and celebrity kid Dimitri Kutcher (son of American actress Mila Kunis and actor-film producer Ashton Kutcher)
- Variants: Dmitri, Dmitri, Dmitriy, and Dmitry
Elbert
- Origin: German boy name
- Meaning: “Bright” and “famous”
- Pronunciation: “EL-BERT”
- Length: letters, syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American landscape architect and city planner Elbert Peets and football cornerback Elbert Foules
- Variants: Albert and Ailbert
Ellery
- Origin: Old English gender-neutral name
- Meaning: “From the alder tree,” “joyful,” “cheerful,” or “happy”
- Pronunciation: “EL-UH-REE”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Also a middle name for boys (e.g., American transcendental poet William Ellery Channing and solar astronomer George Ellery Hale)
- Variants: Elrey, Ellerry, Elarey, and Ellary
Gautier
- Origin: French boy name
- Meaning: “Army ruler” or “commander of the army”
- Pronunciation: “GOOT-CHI-UH”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Poetic name after the 13th-century French poet Gautier le Leu
- Also a place name after the municipal district of Gautier in the Dominican Republic
- Variants: Gauthier
Hadwin
- Origin: Old English, French, Swiss, and British boy name
- Meaning: “Friend in war,” “comrade,” “war friend,” or “strong friend”
- Pronunciation: “HAD-WIN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Also a last name (e.g., Canadian professional golfer Adam Hadwin)
- Variants: Haddwin, Hadwinn, Heddwyn, Hedwyn, and Hedwynn
Hiram
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Exalted brother” or “high-born”
- Pronunciation: “HIE-RUHM”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English engineer and inventor Hiram Codd (from the 1800s) and American football player Hiram Eugene
- Variants: Hirram and Hyram
Hollis
- Origin: British nonbinary name
- Meaning: “Holly tree,” “dweller at the holly trees,” or “by the holly bushes”
- Pronunciation: “HAHL-IS”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American experimental filmmaker Hollis Frampton and neuroscientist Hollis Cline
- Also a middle name for boys( e.g., professional basketball player Hollis Thompson, real name Keith Hollis Thompson II)
- Variants: Holles, Holleis, Hollys, and Hollyes
Jiminy
- Origin: Hebrew and English boy name
- Meaning: “One who replaces something or someone” or “of Gemini (a constellation)”
- Pronunciation: “JI-MI-NI”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Disney boy name after Jiminy Cricket, an adorable character in the animated film “Pinocchio” (an adaptation of the classic book “The Adventures of Pinocchio”)
- Variants: Jim
Linus
- Origin: Greek name for boys
- Meaning: “Flax colored,” “flax,” or “pale colored”
- Pronunciation: “LIE-NUHS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Swedish footballer Linus Tornblad and American musical artist Linus Dotson (Linus of Hollywood)
- Variants: Linnus and Lynus
Mortimer
- Origin: French boy name
- Meaning: “Dead sea” (a name that means “death”) or “still sea”
- Pronunciation: “MAWR-TIH-MUHR”
- Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American classical music composer Mortimer Wilson and English cricketer Mortimer Tollemache
- Mortimer is a namesake from Mortemer in Seine-Maritime, France
- Variants: Mortemer
Rufus
- Origin: Latin boy name
- Meaning: “Red-haired one” (a name that means “red”)
- Pronunciation: “RUH-FUHS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Canadian-American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and American Cajun fiddler Rufus Thibodeaux
- Variants: Ruffus and Rufino
Sheldon
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: Earthy name that means “steep valley,” “from the shelter of the hill,” or “town in the valley”
- Pronunciation: “SHEL-DUHN”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Canadian hockey player Sheldon Kennedy and American football player Sheldon Richardson
- Variants: Shelddon, Shelldon, Sheldin, and Shieldon
Sherman
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: Occupational name that means “cloth cutter” or “shearer of woolen garments”
- Pronunciation: “SHUHR-MAN”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American writer, poet, comedian, and filmmaker Sherman Alexie and Native American painter Sherman Chaddlestone
- Also a Western boy name after the American outlaw turned lawman Sherman McMaster (from the 1800s)
- Variants: Sharman, Shaerman, Shearman, and Shirman
Wilfred
- Origin: German and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “One who desires peace”
- Pronunciation: “WIL-FRED”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English Bishop Wilfred Wood (the Church of England’s first black bishop) and Puerto Rican boxer Wilfred Benítez
- Variants: Wilfrid, Wilfredo, Wilfried, and Wilfrith
What Are Some Older Names?
Here are some retro names you can consider for your little man:
Aldrich
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Old and wise” or “ruler”
- Pronunciation: “awl-drich”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American film director Aldrich Robert Burgess; also a place name after some cities or towns in the US (e.g., Aldrich, Minnesota)
- Variants: Aldritch, Aldridge, and Aldrych
Barney
- Origin: Slavic and English boy name
- Meaning: “Son of comfort” or a powerful boy name that means “strong as a bear”
- Pronunciation: “BAR-NEE”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American jazz guitarist Barney Kessel and Hall-of-Fame basketball player Barney Sedran
- Variants: Barnee, Barny, and Barnie; also a nickname for “Barnaby,” “Bernard,” and similar names
Baxter
- Origin: Old English unisex name
- Meaning: Occupational name that means “baker”
- Baxter was originally a girl name but had eventually become a gender-neutral name
- Pronunciation: “BAKS-TUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American cowboy and poet Baxter Black and English Indie musician and pop singer Baxter Dury
- Variants: Bakstere, Bakster, Baxstar, and Baxstair
Baylen
- Origin: Old French boy name
- Meaning: Masculine name that means “auburn-haired one”
- Pronunciation: “BAY-LAHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000++
- Namesakes: American YouTuber Baylen Levine
- Variants: Baylin
Bertram
- Origin: German and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Bright raven” or “bright and famous”
- Pronunciation: “BER-TRUHM”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Spiritual name after the Anglo-Saxon saint Beorhthelm of Stafford (also called St. Bertram) and 6th-century bishop of Bordeaux Bertram
- Variants: Beorhthelm, Bartram, and Bertrand
Booker
- Origin: British boy name
- Meaning: “Binder,” “someone concerned with books,” or “scribe”
- Pronunciation: “BOO-KUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American professional wrestler Booker T (full name Booker T. Huffman Jr) and songwriter, arranger, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist Booker T. Jones
- Variants: Booker and Bookyr
Chester
- Origin: Latin and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Camp,” “walled town,” “camp of soldiers,” or “fortress,=”
- Pronunciation: “CHES-TUHR”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: African-American filmmaker Chester Novell Turner and American singer, songwriter, and Linkin Park’s lead vocalist Chester Bennington
- Variants: Chesster
Cornelius
- Origin: Latin boy name
- Meaning: “Horn”
- Pronunciation: “KOHR-NEE-LEE-UHS”
- Length: 9 letters, 4 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: African-American high jump athlete Cornelius Johnson and English engineer and inventor Cornelius Whitehouse
- Also the name of several saints and popes (e.g., Saint Cornelius of Pereyaslavl)
- Variants: Cornel, Cornelious, and Cornell
Cyril
- Origin: Old English and Greek boy name
- Meaning: “Masterful” and “lordly”
- Pronunciation: “SEE-RIHL”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American-Japanese magician Cyril Takayama and American football player Cyril Grayson
- Also a religious name after several popes and saints (e.g., Pope Cyril III of Alexandria and St. Cyril of Turaw)
- Variants: Kyril, Ciril, Kyrill, Cyrill, Kirill, and Kirillos
Dallben
- Origin: Welsh boy name
- Meaning: “Blind chief”
- Pronunciation: “DAHL-BEN”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Mystical name after wise old enchanter Dallben in “The Chronicles of Prydain” novel series
- Variants: Dalben and Dalbben
Darcy
- Origin: Gaelic and Irish unisex name
- Meaning: “Dark-haired one” or “descendant of the dark one”
- Pronunciation: “DAR-SEE”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Australian rugby league player Darcy Lussick and Canadian ice hockey defenceman Darcy Dallas
- Variants: Darcel, Darcey, Darci, and Darcie
Dewey
- Origin: Welsh and American boy name
- Meaning: “Beloved” (also a pet name for boys)
- Pronunciation: “DYOO-EE”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American professional boxer Dewey Bozella and kickboxer and boxer Dewey Cooper
- Variants: Also a variation of the biblical boy name “David”
Dillard
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Proud”
- Pronunciation: “DIL-LARHD”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American Appalachian Folk singer Dillard Chandler and industrial and consulting engineer Dillard Eugene Bird
- Also a middle name for boys (e.g., American professional basketball player James Dillard Crocker)
- Variants: Dilard, Dillards, and Dillardt
Draco
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: Mythical name that means “dragon”
- Pronunciation: “DRAY-KO”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Puerto Rican songwriter, singer, and “Menudo” boy band member Draco Rosa and “Harry Potter” character Draco Malfoy
- Variants: Drake, Drago, and Dragho
Elroy
- Origin: French boy name
- Meaning: Cool boy name that means “king”
- Pronunciation: “EL-ROY”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American comedy and television writer Elroy Schwartz and South African long-distance runner Elroy Gelant
- Variants: Delroy, Leroy, and Leeroy
Ernest
- Origin: German and Old English boy name
- Meaning: Tough boy name that means “determined,” “serious,” “resolute,” or “earnest”
- Pronunciation: “UHR-NEST”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American composer Ernest Gold and American Indian autoethnographer Ernest Spybuck
- Variants: Ernst (German), Ernesto (Italian name), and Ernnest
Germaine
- Origin: French unisex name
- Meaning: “One from Germany” or “brother”
- Pronunciation: “JUR-MAYN”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Inuk – Greenlandic printmaker, painter, and drawer Germaine Arnaktauyok and Germaine Pratt
- Variants: Germain and Jermaine
Gilbert
- Origin: Old English, German, and Norman French boy name
- Meaning: “Bright pledge,” “bright promise,” or “shining pledge”
- Pronunciation: “GIL-BURT”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American painter Gilbert Charles Stuart and mixed martial artist Gilbert Melendez
- Variants: Gilbert, Gilberte, Gillbert, Gilberto, Gilebert, and Guilbert
Irving
- Origin: Irish and Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “Green river” (a name that means “water”) or “sea friend”
- Irving was originally a last name
- Pronunciation: “EER-VING”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American matte painter and screenwriter Irving Block and Russian-born American songwriter Irving Berlin
- Variants: Irvine, Erving, and Earving
Jethro
- Origin: Ancient Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Abundance,” “excellence,” “eminent,” or “overflowing”
- Pronunciation: “JETH-ROH”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American football player Jethro Pugh and the fictional character Jethro in “OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes”
- Also a biblical boy name after the Midianite priest and Moses’ father-in-law
- Variants: Jetro, Jeithro, and Jethroe
Lonnie
- Origin: American, Latin, and German gender-neutral name
- Meaning: “Noble” or “ready for battle”
- Pronunciation: “LAHN-EE”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American blues and jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist Lonnie Johnson and Canadian football player Lonnie Dennis
- Variants: Lonnell and Lonny
Lowell
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: Badass boy name that means “young wolf” and “little wolf”
- Lowell was originally an English last name
- Pronunciation: “LOW-EHL”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Canadian former NASCAR Cup Series driver Lowell Cowell and soccer player Lowell Wright
- Variants: Lowel, Lowle, and Lowwel
Manfred
- Origin: German boy name
- Meaning: “Man of peace”
- Manfred is also used as a last name in Germany, although rare
- Pronunciation: “MAN-FRED”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Austrian table tennis player Manfred Feher and German racing driver Manfred Winkelhock
- Variants: Manfredo and Manfreid
Marlow
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “From the hillside lake” or “driftwood”
- Pronunciation: “MAR-LOH”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Place name after some cities or towns in the US and UK (e.g., Marlow in Buckinghamshire, UK)
- Also a last name, such as American realist painter Ken Marlow
- Variants: Marlowe
Roscoe
- Origin: Norse and English boy name
- Meaning: Nature name that means “deer forest” or “one from the deer forest”
- Pronunciation: “ROS-KOH”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American actor Roscoe Born and bass guitarist and record producer Roscoe Beck
- Variants: Roskoe, Rosco, Roscow, and Ruscoe
Saul
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Prayed for” or “asked for”
- Pronunciation: “SOWL”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #510
- Namesakes: American film producer and Fantasy Records owner Saul Zaentz and German-born Canadian actor and director Saul Rubinek
- Variants: Shaul, Saulo, Sauli (Finnish), Saoul, and Sha’ul
Sirius
- Origin: Greek boy name
- Meaning: “Burning star” or “the brightest star in the night sky”
- Pronunciation: “SEE-REE-UHS”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Boy space name after Sirius, a start that is a part of the Canis Major constellation
- Also a mythical name after the god who personifies the star Sirius in Greek mythology
- Variants: Syrus
Truman
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Loyal one” or “faithful man”
- Pronunciation: “TROO-MUHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American writer Truman J. Nelson and football player and coach Truman F. Wilbanks
- Variants: Trumann
Turstin
- Origin: Old Norse and Norwegian boy name
- Meaning: “Thor’s stone”
- Pronunciation: “TURS-TIN”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Historical figures Turstin (the Count of Avranchin) and Norman conqueror Turstin FitzRolf
- Variants: Thorsten, Torsten, Thurston, and Turston
Willard
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Strong desire,” “brave,” or “resolute”
- Pronunciation: “WIL-LURD”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American rapper and actor Willard Carroll Smith II (best known by his stage name Will Smith) and art critic and author Willard Huntington Wright (he uses the pen name S. S. Van Dine)
- Variants: Willard, Wilard, Wielard, and Willardby; favorite nicknames can include “Will” and “Willie”
More Classic & Vintage Names (Honorable Mentions)
Old-Timey Names From A To E
Abel
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Breath” or “vapor”
- Pronunciation: “AY-BEL”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #215
- Namesakes: Mexican-American singer Abel Talamantez and Polish film score composer Abel Korzeniowski
- Variants: Abbel
Brett
- Origin: Middle English, Celtic, and French unisex name
- Meaning: “Briton (people who inhabited Great Britain)” or “one who came from Britain”
- Pronunciation: “BRET”
- Length: 5 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American football player Brett Boyko and English writer and director Brett Barnett
- Variants: Bret and Bhrett
Bruce
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: “The willow lands,” “thick brush,” or “thicket”
- Pronunciation: “BROOS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #563
- Namesakes: American actor, director, producer, writer, and author Bruce Campbell and Canadian artist and actor Bruce Horak
- Variants: None
Cedric
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: “Kindly,” “gift of splendor,” or “loved”
- Pronunciation: “SED-RIK”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #958
- Namesakes: American baseball player Cedric Mullins and actor and comedian Cedric Kyles or “Cedric the Entertainer”
- Variants: Cedrick, Zedric, and Sedrick
Darwin
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Dear friend” or “beloved friend”
- Pronunciation: “DAHR-WIN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #987
- Namesakes: Uruguayan footballer Darwin Torres and American basketball coach and former player Darwin Cook
- Also a last name, such as after English naturalist and writer Charles Darwin
- Variants: Derwin, Derwynn, Darwen, and Darvin
Douglas
- Origin: Old English, Scottish, Gaelic, and Irish name for boys
- Meaning: Also a black boy name that means “dark water” (a name that means “water”) or “dark stream”
- Pronunciation: “DOOG-LUHS”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #828
- Namesakes: American author Douglas A. Hicks and British flying ace Douglas Bader
- Variants: Dúghlas, Dougie, and Duggie
Edgar
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: Warrior name that means “prosperous spear,” “fortunate and powerful,” or “spearman”
- Pronunciation: “ED-GUHR”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #418
- Namesakes: English filmmaker Edgar Howard Wright and American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Variants: Eadgar
Ephraim
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Fertile,” “fruitful,” or “productive”
- Pronunciation: “EF-RAH-EEM”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English singer-songwriter Ephraim Lewis and American football player Ephraim Salaam
- Variants: Efraim
Ermias
- Origin: Ethiopian – African boy name
- Meaning: “God will rise”
- Pronunciation: “UHR-MEE-UHS”
- Length: letters, syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #893
- Namesakes: American rapper, entrepreneur, and activist Ermias Joseph Asghedom (professional name Nipsey Hussle)
- Variants: Errmias and Ermmias
Old-Timey Names From F To P
Fletcher
- Origin: English, Irish, and Scottish boy name
- Meaning: “Arrow maker”
- Pronunciation: “FLET-CHUR”
- Length: 8 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #677
- Namesakes: New Zealander rugby union player Fletcher Smith and American landscape architect Fletcher Steele
- Variants: Fleccher, Flescher, and Fleischer
Gordon
- Origin: Old English, Scottish, and Gaelic boy name
- Meaning: “Great hill,” “fort,” “spacious,” “from the marshes,” or “large defense walls”
- Pronunciation: “GOHR-DUHN”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #968
- Namesakes: Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot and Scottish celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay
- Variants: Gordie and Gòrdan
Grady
- Origin: Gaelic and Irish unisex name
- Meaning: “Noble and illustrious one,” “renowned,” or “noble and patrician”
- Pronunciation: “GRAY-DEE”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #405
- Namesakes: American author Grady Hendrix and musician Grady Thomas
- Variants: Graidi, Graidee, and Gradee
Hugh
- Origin: Old German, Old French, and English boy name
- Meaning: “Mind,” “soul,” “intellect,” or “bright in mind and spirit”
- Pronunciation: “hyoog”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #811
- Namesakes: Australian actor Hugh Jackman (full name Hugh Michael Jackman) and American actor Hugh Dane
- Variants: Huig, Hugo, and Hughes
Ira
- Origin: Hebrew unisex name
- Meaning: “Full-grown,” “watchful,” or a nature name that means “wind”
- Pronunciation: “IE-RUH”
- Length: 3 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #844
- Namesakes: American chemist and college sports coach Ira Pierce and actor Ira Angustain
- Variants: Irrah, Irra, and Irah
Jeffery
- Origin: English and German boy name
- Meaning: “God‘s peace”
- Pronunciation: “JEF-REE”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American football player and sprinter Jeffery Demps and Swedish basketball player Jeffery Taylor
- Variants: Jeffrey and Geoffrey
Kent
- Origin: Ancient Celtic and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Bright white,” “border,” “coast,” “coastal land,“ bordering of a circle,” “edge,” “high land,” or “chief”
- Kent is a place name in the southeast region of England, known as the “Garden of England” for its lush countryside.
- Pronunciation: “KENT”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American former Major League Baseball player Kent Hrbek and conductor Kent Nagano
- Variants: Kenny and Ken
Larry
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: Cute boy name that means “one from Laurentum (a Roman city in Italy)”
- Pronunciation: “LAH-REE”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #889
- Namesakes: American actor and singer Larry Hovis and science fiction author Larry Niven
- Variants: Lawrence
Moses
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Savior” or “drawn from the water”
- Pronunciation: “MO-SUHS”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #517
- Namesakes: African American architect Moses McKissack III and Galician-born Jewish playwright Moses Hurvitz
- Variants: Moises and Moishe (Yiddish boy name)
Nelson
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Son of a champion,” “son of Nell,” or “Neil’s son”
- Pronunciation: “NEL-SON”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #797
- Namesakes: British singer Nelson Keene and African Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former South African president Nelson Mandela
- Variants: Neilson, Nilson, and Neilsson
Otis
- Origin: English, German, and Greek boy name
- Meaning: “Son of Ode,” “wealthy,” or “rich”
- Pronunciation: “OH-TIS”
- Length: 4 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #613
- Namesakes: American inventor Otis Tufts and R&B and soul singer Otis Clay
- Variants: Ottis
Percival
- Origin: French and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Pierce the vale,” “pierces the valley,” or “pierce valley”
- Pronunciation: “PAHR-SI-VAHL”
- Length: 8 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: English international table tennis player Percival Bromfield and American astronomer Percival Lowell
- Percival is a name of French origin and was the name of one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table
- Variants: Parsifal, Parzival, and Perceval; favorite nicknames can include “Percy”
Old-Timey Names From Q To Z
Quiller
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Someone who wrote with a quill pen” (occupational name)
- Pronunciation: “kwill-er”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Mystical name after the fictional character Quiller, hero of the “Quiller” series by English author and novelist Elleston Trevor
- Variants: Quiler
Roland
- Origin: Old German and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Famous or renowned throughout the land” or “king’s adviser”
- Pronunciation: “ROW-LAND”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #608
- Namesakes: American house music DJ, producer, and songwriter Roland Clark and French archaeologist Roland Étienne
- Variants: Rowland, Roldán, and Rolando
Solomon
- Origin: Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Peace” or “peaceful one”
- Pronunciation: “SAA-LUH-MUHN”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #440
- Namesakes: Kenyan long-distance runner Solomon Busendich and Western boy name after American banker and rancher Solomon Luna
- Also a biblical boy name after Israel’s King Solomon, known for his wisdom
- Variants: Salomon, Sulayman, and Suleiman
Stanley
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Lives by the stony grove,” “one from the stony field,” or “from the rocky meadow”
- Pronunciation: “STAN-LEE”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #778
- Namesakes: American film director and writer Stanley Sheff and football player Stanley Berryhill
- Variants: Stanleigh and Stanly
Tate
- Origin: Old English, Norse, and Scandinavian boy name
- Meaning: “Cheerful”
- Pronunciation: “tayt”
- Length: 4 letters, 1 syllable
- Popularity/Rank: #234
- Namesakes: American basketball player Tate Armstrong and stock car racer Tate Fogleman
- Variants: None
Udolf
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Wealthy wolf” or “rich wolf”
- Pronunciation: “yoo-dolf”
- Length: 5 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: None
- Variants: Udolff and Uddolf
Varden
- Origin: Old French and Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Green knoll” or “the green hill” (earthy name)
- Pronunciation: “vahr-duhn”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: None
- Variants: Vardden
Vernon
- Origin: English boy name
- Meaning: Nature name that means “alder tree,” “From the alder tree,” “place of alders,” or “alder tree grove”
- Pronunciation: “vur-nuhn”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American football quarterback Vernon Adams and film, stage, and TV actor Vernon Weddle
- Variants: Verrnon and Vernard
Wilbur
- Origin: Middle English and Old German boy name
- Meaning: “Wild boar,” “resolute,” or brilliant”
- Pronunciation: “WIL-BUHR”
- Length: 6 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: South African novelist Wilbur Smith and American aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright (together with brother Orville Wright, he invented the first successful airplane)
- Variants: Willbur, Wilburr, and Wilbert
Xavier
- Origin: Basque – Southwestern European, Old English, Spanish, and Arabic boy name
- Meaning: “New house” or “one who is bright or splendid”
- Pronunciation: “zay-vee-yer”
- Length: 6 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #100
- Namesakes: Peruvian poet Xavier Abril and American football player Xavier Beitia
- Variants: Zavier and Xavvier
Yardley
- Origin: Old English boy name
- Meaning: “Fenced meadow”
- Pronunciation: “yard-lee”
- Length: 7 letters, 2 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: American patent attorney Yardley Chittick and gospel musician and recording artist Yardley Griffin
- Also a middle name for boys (e.g., American illustrator and painter Charles Yardley Turner)
- Variants: Yardlee
Zachary
- Origin: Old English and Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “The Lord has remembered”
- Pronunciation: “zak-uh-ree”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: #166
- Namesakes: American ice hockey player Zachary Aston-Reese and actor Zachary Abel
- Variants: Zakaria, Zekariah, Zacharias, Zakariya, and Zakariyya
Zebulon
- Origin: Ancient Hebrew boy name
- Meaning: “Gift,” “dwelling of honor,” or “to dwell”
- Pronunciation: “zeh-byuh-laan”
- Length: 7 letters, 3 syllables
- Popularity/Rank: 1,000+
- Namesakes: Historical figure after American Confederate colonel Zebulon Vance (from the 1800s) and a biblical boy name after one of Jacob’s 12 sons
- Also a Western boy name after the main character Zebulon “Zeb” Macahan in the movie “How The West Was Won”
- Variants: Zebulun
FAQs For Old Man Names
What’s The Oldest Boy Name?
“Adam” can be considered the oldest boy name because it’s the first name mentioned in the Bible (as the first man created by God).
What Are Considered As Grumpy Old Man Names?
These names might be considered ‘grumpy’ (or ‘ugly’ names) by some people due to their association with crabby old men portrayed in films and stories, but they can also be adorable names for your little one:
- Carl (German boy name) – After the short-tempered (but lovable) old man in “Up”
- Eustace (Greek boy name) – After another prickly old character in “Courage the Cowardly Dog”
Other Baby Names To Consider
- Biblical girl names
- Girl dog names
- Arabic boy names
- Rare boy names
- OId English names for men
- Arabic girl names
- Country boy names
- Fantasy girl names
- Girl cat names
- Girl space names
- Classic boy names
References:
(1)
https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/popularnames.cgi
