If you’re having trouble finding an old man name for your son that isn’t already insanely popular, you're not alone.
“There actually are fewer boys names to choose from,” Laura Wattenberg, creator of Namerology, tells TODAY.com. “If you look back at any given period, it’s going to be John, William and James. Boys names didn’t come in and out of fashion in the same way that girls names did.”
The Social Security Administration confirms Wattenberg's sentiment. The top names for boys in the early 20th century include: John, William, James, George, Robert and Richard.
But parents set on reviving a vintage name should take heart — there are still plenty of interesting old-fashioned boy names to choose from that feel fresh and modern.
“Names today are all about sound,” Wattenberg explains. “It’s a very smooth, light and vowel-driven sound. That’s why you see so many Amelias and Olivias and so few Gertrudes and Mildreds.”
In 2021, the name Mac rose in popularity 260 spots and Harold, Carol and Arthur all secured top-100 ranking.
Wattenberg, author of the “Baby Name Wizard," notes that some parents aren't opposed to big groups of voiced consonants, such as in Mildred.
“Those heavier names stand out more today,” she says. “For instance, Conrad will stand out in a sea of names rhyming with Aiden.”
Wattenberg recommends looking for names that are tied to a historical figure, such as Woodrow, after former President Woodrow Wilson, who served from 1913 to 1921.
She also recommends researching your own family tree for unexpected gems.
75 Old Man Names For Baby Boys
Whether you are inspired by old-fashioned names for boys or simply want to revive a vintage name, here are 75 old man names to consider for your new son:
- Albert
- Alvin
- Amos
- Archibald
- Archie
- Arthur
- Barney
- Beau
- Bertram
- Buck
- Calvin
- Cecil
- Chester
- Clifford
- Clyde
- Conrad
- Cyril
- Cyrus
- Desmond
- Duane
- Dwight
- Edmund
- Edwin
- Ernest
- Franklin
- Frederick
- Gerald
- Gideon
- Gilbert
- Gus
- Grady
- Hardy
- Harlan
- Harold
- Harris
- Herschel
- Jules
- Lionel
- Lloyd
- Luther
- Mack
- Marshall
- Martin
- Melvin
- Milton
- Ned
- Orson
- Orville
- Otis
- Oscar
- Otto
- Palmer
- Percy
- Prescott
- Quincy
- Ralph
- Roland
- Roy
- Rudy
- Rupert
- Rutherford
- Silas
- Stanley
- Stanton
- Sylvester
- Theodore
- Thomas
- Vernon
- Wallace
- Walton
- Ward
- Warren
- Wilbur
- Winfield
- Woodrow
Related video:
