Every tiny totter and clumsy step your little hero will soon take is a step toward a new life! And any time you prop him up you help him make his wildest dreams come true!
But what are those things you can do to make your child happy? Maybe showering him with fancy toys at Christmas, planning a trip to the magical kingdom of Disney, or enrolling him in a prestigious school will do the trick… But hold on a second! All those are fantastic, but a little down the road; for now, why not start small by giving your cutie a unique name of sheer beauty?
Check our list of the top vintage baby boy names and their meanings - all cherished and loved by parents across the globe!
Let’s dig deep into history and explore our ancestral stupendous heritage!
Every name is a storyteller, a colorful brushstroke of magic to history’s vast canvas - and now every step you’ll take will be the springboard to bring your boy closer to happiness and, maybe, the stepping stone to stand out from the masses!
In this article:
So, take that joyful leap and discover the top 292 vintage baby boy names!
Vintage boy names:
Aaron: "High mountain" or "Exalted"
Abel: "Breath" or "Vanity"
Abraham: "Father of many"
Adam: "Of the Earth"
Adrian: "From Adria"
Albert: "Noble and bright"
Alden: "Wise friend" or "Old Friend"
Alexander: "Defender of men"
Alfred: "Elf counsel" or "Wise Counsel"
Aloysius: This name is of Latin roots - the Latinized form of Aloys, a Provencal form of Louis, meaning "renowned warrior."
Alvin: "Noble friend" or "Friend of the Elves"
Ambrose: Immortal one - It comes from the Greek word "ambrosios," which refers to the nectar the gods drank to achieve immortality.
Amos: "Carried by God"
Andrew: "Manly" or "brave"
Anthony: "Priceless" or "Praiseworthy"
Archibald: "Genuine" and "Bold"
Arnold: "Eagle power"
Arthur: "Noble; bear"
August: "Exalted; revered"
Augustus: "Magnificent"
Barnabas: "Son of consolation" or "Son of Encouragement"
Barnaby: "Son of consolation"
Bartholomew: "Son of the furrow"
Bartolomeo: "Son of Talmai"
Basil: "Royal; brave"
Benedict: "Blessed"
Benjamin: "Son of the right hand"
Bernard: "Brave as a bear"
Bertram: "Bright raven"
Blaise: "To Lisp" or "stutter"
Boniface: "Good Fate" or "Good Destiny"
Boris: "Fight" or "short battle"
Bradford: "Broad ford"
Brent: "High place"
Brian: "Noble" or "High"
Bruce: From the brushwood thicket
Byron: "At the byres" or "barn"
Calvin: "Litte bald one"
Cassius: "Hollow"
Cedric: "Kindly, Loved"
Charles: "Free man"
Chester: "Fortress" or "camp"
Clarence: Bright or One who lives near the River Clare
Claude: "Lame, limp"
Clement: "Gentle, merciful"
Clifford: "Ford near the cliff"
Clive: "Cliff"
Conrad: "Bold counsel"
Constance: "Steadfast"
Cornelius: "Horn"
Crispin: "Curly-haired"
Cuthbert: "Bright fame"
Cyril: "Masterful; lord"
Cyrus: "Sun"
Dalton: "Town in the valley"
Daniel: "God is my judge"
Darius: "Rich; kingly" or "Upholder of the good"
David: "Beloved"
Dennis: "Follower of Dionysius"
Desmond: "From South Munster"
Dexter: "Skillful; right-handed"
Dimitri: "Earth-lover" or "Dedicated to Demeter"
Dominic: "Of the Lord" or "Belonging to God"
Donald: "World ruler"
Douglas: "Dark stream"
Dunstan: "Dark stone"
Edgar: "Rich spear"
Edmund: "Wealthy protector"
Edward: "Wealthy guard"
Edwin: "Wealthy friend"
Eli: "Height" or "Ascent"
Elias: "Jehovah is God"
Elijah: "My God is Yahweh"
Elliot: "Jehovah is God"
Elmer: "Noble; famous"
Emmett: "Universal; truth"
Emory: "Brave; powerful"
Ephraim: "Fruitful"
Ernest: "Serious; resolute"
Eugene: "Well-born; noble"
Everett: "Wild boar herd"
Ezra: "Helper"
Faustino: "Lucky"
Felix: "Fortunate; happy"
Ferdinand: "Bold voyager" or "Journey-ready"
Fergus: "Man of force" or "Man of vigor"
Fitzgerald: "Son of Gerald"
Fitzroy: "Son of the king"
Florentino: "Blooming"
Francis: "Free man"
Frank: "Free man"
Frederick: "Peaceful ruler"
Gabriel: "God is my strength"
Gareth: "Gentle"
Garrett: "Spear strength"
Gerald: "Spear ruler"
Gilbert: "Bright pledge"
Giovanni: "God is gracious"
Godfrey: "Peace of God"
Godric: "God ruler"
Gordon: "Spacious fort"
Graham: "From the gray home"
Gregory: "Watchful; alert"
Grover: "Grove of trees"
Gustav: "Staff of the gods"
Guy: "Warrior."
Hadrian: "From Adria"
Harlan: "From the hare's land"
Harley: "Hare's meadow"
Harold: "Army ruler"
Harrison: "Son of Harry"
Harry: "Army ruler"
Harvey: "Battle worthy"
Hayes: "Hedge or wooded area"
Heath: "Wasteland; heather-covered"
Hector: "Steadfast"
Henry: "Estate ruler"
Herbert: "Bright army"
Herman: "Army man"
Horace: "Timekeeper"
Horatio: "Timekeeper"
Howard: "High guardian"
Hubert: "Bright heart"
Hugh: "Mind; intellect"
Humphrey: "Peaceful warrior"
Ian: "God is gracious"
Ignatius: "Fiery"
Irving: "Green river; sea friend"
Isaac: "Laughter"
Isaiah: "Salvation of the Lord"
Isidore: "Gift of Isis"
Ivan: "God is gracious"
Jack: "God is gracious"
Jacob: "Supplanter"
James: "Supplanter"
Jasper: "Treasurer"
Jeffrey: "Divine peace"
Jeremiah: "God will uplift"
Jermaine: "Brother"
Jerome: "Sacred name"
Jesse: "Gift"
Joel: "Yahweh is God"
John: "God is gracious"
Jonah: "Dove"
Jonathan: "God has given"
Joseph: "God will increase"
Julian: "Youthful"
Justin: "Just; righteous"
Keith: "Windy place"
Kenneth: "Handsome"
Kent: "Coastal land"
Kirk: "Church"
Lance: "Land"
Lancelot: "Land"
Lawrence: "From Laurentum"
Lemuel: "Devoted to God"
Leo: "Lion"
Leonard: "Lion strength"
Leopold: "Brave people"
Leroy: "The king"
Leslie: "Garden of holly"
Lester: "From the legions camp"
Levi: "Joined; attached"
Lewis: "Famous warrior"
Lionel: "Young lion"
Llewellyn: "Like a lion"
Lloyd: "Gray"
Louis: "Renowned warrior"
Lowell: "Little wolf"
Lucas: "From Lucania or Shining, Bright"
Ludovic: "Famous warrior"
Luke: "From Lucania or Shining, Bright"
Luther: "Soldier of the people"
Lyndon: "Linden tree hill"
Malcolm: "Disciple of Saint Columba"
Manfred: "Man of peace"
Marcus: "Warlike"
Marshall: "Horse servant"
Martin: "Warlike"
Maurice: "Dark-skinned"
Maximilian: "Greatest"
Maxwell: "Great stream"
Melvin: "Gentle lord"
Merrill: "Famous"
Michael: "Who is like God?"
Miles: "Soldier"
Milton: "Mill town"
Morgan: "Sea circle"
Morris: "Dark-skinned"
Moses: "Delivered from the water"
Murray: "Settlement by the sea"
Napoleon: "Children of the Mist, New City or From Naples"
Nathan: "He gave or Gift of God"
Nathaniel: "Gift of God"
Neal: "Champion"
Nehemiah: "Comforted by the Lord"
Nelson: "Son of Neil"
Neville: "New village"
Nicodemus: "Victory of the people"
Nigel: "Dark night"
Noel: "Born on Christmas"
Norman: "Northerner"
Oberon: "Noble; bearlike"
Octavius: "Eighth"
Oliver: "Olive tree"
Orville: "Gold town"
Osborn: "Divine bear"
Oscar: "Divine strength"
Oswald: "God's power"
Otis: "Wealth"
Owen: "Young warrior"
Parker: "Park keeper"
Pascal: "Born on Passover"
Patrick: "Nobleman"
Paul: "Small"
Percy: "Pierces the valley"
Peregrine: "Traveler"
Peter: "Stone, Rock"
Philip: "Horse lover"
Phineas: "Oracle"
Pierce: "Rock"
Piers: "Rock"
Quentin: "Fifth"
Quincy: "Estate of the fifth son"
Ralph: "Wolf counsel"
Randall: "Wolf's shield"
Raphael: "God has healed"
Raymond: "Wise protector"
Raynor: "Counsel; army"
Reginald: "King"
Regis: "King"
Reuben: "Behold, a son"
Rex: "King"
Reynold: "King's advisor"
Richard: "Brave ruler"
Robert: "Bright fame"
Roderick: "Famous power"
Roger: "Famous warrior"
Roland: "Famous throughout the land"
Roy: "Red"
Rudolph: "Famous wolf"
Rufus: "Red-haired"
Russell: "Little red"
Samuel: "God has heard"
Sebastian: "Venerable"
Seth: "Appointed"
Sidney: "Wide island"
Silas: "Forest; woods"
Simeon: "He hears"
Simon: "He has heard"
Solomon: "Peace"
Spencer: "Dispenser of provisions"
Stanley: "Stony meadow"
Stephen: "Crown"
Stuart: "Steward"
Sylvester: "Wooded; wild"
Terrence: "Smooth"
Thaddeus: "Praise"
Theobald: "Bold people"
Theodore: "God's gift"
Thomas: "Twin"
Timothy: "Honoring God"
Titus: "Title of honor"
Tobias: "God is good"
Tristan: "Tumult; outcry"
Troy: "Foot soldier"
Ulysses: "Wrathful"
Uriah: "God is my light"
Valentine: "Strong; healthy"
Vance: "Thresher"
Vergil: "Flourishing"
Victor: "Conqueror or Victorious"
Vincent: "Conquering or Victorious"
Virgil: "Staff bearer"
Wallace: "Foreigner"
Walter: "Army ruler"
Warren: "Guard"
Wayne: "Wagon driver"
Wendell: "Wanderer"
Wilbur: "Resolute; brilliant"
Wilfred: "Desires peace"
William: "Resolute protector"
Willis: "Resolute protector"
Wilson: "Son of Will"
Winston: "Joyful stone"
Woodrow: "Row of houses by the wood"
Wyatt: "Little warrior"
Xavier: "Bright; splendid or New House"
Zachariah: "The Lord remembers"
Zane: "God is gracious"
Zebedee: "My gift"
Zedekiah: "The Lord is righteous"
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some old-time names for boys?
Old-fashioned boy names have recently seen a resurgence, and you’ll be most gratified by our list of 40 vintage boy names that truly boast classic charm!
Take a look at our old-time names for boys:
Vintage names for boys:
Albert - "Noble and bright"
Arthur - "Bear" or "noble"
Alfred - "Elf counsel" or "wise counselor"
Archibald - "Genuine" and "bold"
Benjamin - "Son of the right hand"
Bernard - "Strong as a bear"
Cecil - "Blind" or "from the Latin 'Caecilius'"
Clifford - "Cliff-side ford"
Clarence - "From the place of the Clarents." It might also relate to the Latin "clarus", meaning "clear" or "famous".
Chester - "Fortress" or "walled town"
Donald - "World ruler" or "great chief"
Edgar - "Wealthy spear"
Edmund - "Wealthy protector"
Ernest - "Serious" or "resolute"
Frederick - "Peaceful ruler"
George - "Farmer" or "earthworker"
Harold - "Army leader" or "power"
Henry - "House ruler" or "estate ruler"
Howard - "High guardian" or "heart brave"
Irving - "Green river."
Jasper - "Bringer of treasure"
Lawrence - "From Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel"
Leonard - "Brave as a lion"
Louis - "Famous warrior"
Maxwell - "Great stream"
Mortimer - "Dead sea" or "Dead Pond"
Nelson - "Son of Neil"
Orville - "Golden town"
Oscar - "Friend of deer" or "God's spear"
Percival - "Pierces the valley"
Raymond - "Protecting hands" or "wise protector"
Reginald - "Counsel power"
Rufus - "Red-haired"
Stanley - "Stony meadow"
Seymour - "From St. Maur"
Theodore - "Gift of God"
Victor - "Conqueror"
Walter - "Army ruler"
Wilbur - "Resolute" or "Wild Boar"
Winston - "Joy stone" or "friendly town"
What are hot vintage boy names?
Here is our assemblage of some vintage male names. Some of them are currently trending, while others have left a fierce mark on parents worldwide:
Vintage male names:
Atticus: Ancient Roman name that means "man of Attica."
Ezra: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "help."
Jude: Diminutive form of Judah or Judas, meaning "praise."
Oliver: Means "olive tree."
Silas: Of Latin origin, meaning "woods, forest."
Theodore: Greek origin, meaning "gift of God."
Sebastian: Means "venerable" or "revered."
Oscar: Of Irish origin, meaning "friend of deer" or "God's spear."
Henry: Meaning "estate ruler."
Milo: Of German origin, meaning "merciful," "mild," or "peaceful."
Elliott: Means "Jehovah is God" or "my God is Yahweh."
Felix: Latin origin, meaning "lucky" or "successful."
Archie: Originally a short form of Archibald, meaning "genuine and bold."
Leo: Latin origin, meaning "lion."
Jasper: Means "bringer of treasure."
Caleb: Hebrew origin, meaning "devotion to God" or "faithful, loyal."
Hugo: Germanic origin, meaning "mind, intellect."
Arthur: Celtic origin, meaning "bear" or "noble."
Maxwell: Scottish origin, meaning "great stream."
Otis: Germanic origin, meaning "wealth."
What is the rarest guy's name?
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), here are some names, that in the last few years, have been scarcely used:
Rare vintage male names:
Zephyrus: The ancient Greek god of the west wind.
Quintino: Of Latin origin, meaning "fifth."
Ozias: "Salvation."
Lysander: Of Ancient Greek origin, meaning "liberator."
Jorvik: Possibly related to the ancient name for the city of York in the UK.
Inigo: Of Basque origin, possibly a variant of Ignatius, meaning "fiery."
Heliodoro: Of Greek origin, meaning "gift of the sun."
Fenno: Of Finnish origin, relating to Finland or the Fenno-Ugric languages. It’s a demonym for people from Finland.
Endymion: In Greek mythology, Endymion was a handsome shepherd or hunter, who was loved by the moon goddess Selene.
Calixto: Variant of Callistus, meaning "most beautiful."
What were the early 1700s boy names?
During the 18th century, a plethora of traditional and biblical names had been riding on a wave of popularity across Europe - many of them were golden standards and considerably popular in England.
Here are some vintage names for boys reflecting the unbridled religiosity of the 1700s - especially in England:
John: A consistently popular name, of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is gracious."
William: Of Germanic origin, meaning "will helmet" or "resolute protector."
James: Hebrew origin, meaning "supplanter."
George: Of Greek origin, meaning "farmer."
Thomas: Aramaic in origin, meaning "twin."
Robert: Germanic origin, meaning "bright fame."
Joseph: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "he will add."
Henry: Germanic in origin, meaning "estate ruler."
Edward: Meaning "wealthy guard."
Richard: Meaning "brave ruler."
Samuel: Hebrew origin, meaning "asked of God" or "heard by God."
Charles: Germanic origin, meaning "free man."
Benjamin: Hebrew origin, meaning "son of the right hand."
Daniel: Meaning "God is my judge."
Matthew: Of Hebrew origin, meaning "gift of the Lord."
David: Meaning "beloved."
Francis: Latin origin, meaning "Frenchman" or "free man."
Paul: Of Latin origin, meaning "small" or "humble."
Peter: Greek origin, meaning "rock."
Frederick: Germanic origin, meaning "peaceful ruler."
Final thoughts
Choose a beautiful vintage boy name, close your eyes, and make a wish: the rest is history. Your little boy will stand out, stealing the spotlight like the charismatic Winston or the genius Albert!
Whatever your taste, make sure you don’t miss out on our list of the most popular vintage baby names and their meanings or the best vintage girl names list to find out what’s in store for your baby!
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