Old man names: best old-fashioned boy names for newborns
50 cool, retro names for your baby son
If you’re searching for a classic name for your baby son, consider choosing a stereotypical old man name which will stand the test of time. Check back through your family tree and give a nod to your ancestors by picking an old fashioned boy name that belonged to a beloved great-grandfather or cool uncle, or choose one of the popular names below. Here are 50 of our favourite common old man names.
1 ALBERT
Origin and meaning: Of German origin meaning ‘noble, bright.’
Famous namesakes: Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein and British actor Albert Finney. Albert is also a popular Royal name.
2 AMOS
Origin and meaning: This name is of Hebrew origin, meaning ‘carried by God.’
Famous namesakes: Amos 'n' Andy was a popular show back in the 1950s and 60s. There are also characters named Amos in novels by English authors George Eliot and Thomas Hardy
3 ARTHUR
Origin and meaning: A name of Celtic origin meaning ‘bear’.
Famous namesakes: Arthur was the head knight at the round table, and there have been many other distinguished Arthurs including writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, playwright Arthur Miller and tennis great Arthur Ashe.
4 BARNEY
Origin and meaning: This sweet name means ‘son of comfort.’
Famous namesakes: American actor Barney Martin and jazz guitarist Barney Kessel.
5 BERNARD
Origin and meaning: Of German origin, meaning ‘strong as a bear’.
Famous namesakes: St Bernard, playwright George Bernard Shaw, and presidential nominee Bernie Sanders.
6 CHARLES
Origin and meaning: Charles is of French and German origin meaning ‘free man.’
Famous namesakes: Actor Charlie Chaplin, Charlie Sheen, jazz musician Charles Mingus, and many Royal kings.
7 CHESTER
Origin and meaning: A name of Latin origin meaning ‘fortress, walled town.’
Famous namesakes: Actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have a son named Chester.
8 CLARENCE
Origin and meaning: Of Latin origin meaning ‘bright.’
Famous namesakes: Dutch footballer Clarence Seedorf, Robert Clarence Irwin, otherwise known as Bob, the late Steve Irwin’s son.
9 CLIFFORD
Origin and meaning: An English name simply meaning ‘ford by the cliff.’
Famous namesakes: British pop singer Cliff Richard, musician Cliff Burton from Metallica.
10 CLYDE
Origin and meaning: A Scottish name from the name of the river Clyde.
Famous namesakes: Infamous outlaw couple Bonnie and Clyde. Actors Catherine Keener and Dermot Mulroney have a son named Clyde.
11 DESMOND
Origin and meaning: An Irish name meaning ‘from South Munster’.
Famous namesakes: Reggae singer Desmond Dekker, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Bishop Desmond Tutu.
12 EARL
Origin and meaning: A popular English name meaning ‘warrior’ or ‘nobleman.’
Famous namesakes: American actor James Earl Jones and British/Australian actor Earl Cave, son of musician Nick Cave and model Susie Bick.
13 EARNEST
Origin and meaning: This name is of English origin meaning ‘serious, resolute’.
Famous namesakes: Novelist Ernest Hemingway. The Importance of Being Earnest is a play by Oscar Wilde.
14 EDGAR
Origin and meaning: An English name meaning ‘wealthy spearman’.
Famous namesakes: Author and poet Edgar Allan Poe, Kind Edgar of Scotland.
15 EDMUND
Origin and meaning: Of English origin meaning ‘fortunate protector’.
Famous namesakes: New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and English astronomer Edmund Halley, after whom the comet was named.
16 EDWARD
Origin and meaning: This name is of English origin and means ‘wealthy guardian’.
Famous namesakes: Actors Edward Norton and Edward Furlong and British Royal Prince Edward. Edward Cullen is the main male character in the Twilight series.
17 EDWIN
Origin and meaning: Another English name, meaning ‘wealthy friend’.
Famous namesakes: Astronaut Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin.
18 ELMER
Origin and meaning: Of English origin meaning ‘noble and renowned’.
Famous namesakes: Playwright Elmer Rice and composer Elmer Bernstein.
19 EMMETT
Origin and meaning: A German name meaning ‘powerful’.
Famous namesakes: Irish actor Emmett Scanlan. Also Emmett Till, an American teenager whose murder helped spark the American Civil Rights Movement.
20 EUGENE
Origin and meaning: Of Greek origin meaning ‘wellborn, noble’.
Famous namesakes: Playwright Eugene O'Neill, also lead singer of rock band Kiss, Gene Simmons.
21 FELIX
Origin and meaning: A sweet name of Latin origin meaning ‘happy, fortunate’.
Famous namesakes: Cartoon character Felix the cat. Actress Elizabeth Banks named her son Felix.
22 FINLEY
Origin and meaning: A Celtic name meaning ‘fair-haired hero.’
Famous namesakes: Reggae musician Finley Quaye. Actor Chris O’Donnell also called his son Finley.
23 FRANK
Origin and meaning: Of German origin meaning ‘Frenchman or free man’.
Famous namesakes: American singer Frank Sinatra and musician Frank Zappa.
24 FREDERICK
Origin and meaning: Of German origin meaning ‘peaceful ruler’.
Famous namesakes: Actor and dancer Fred Astaire and English novelist Frederick Forsyth. Frederick is also a popular royal name.
25 GEORGE
Origin and meaning: Despite being a popular name for royalty, this humble name is of Greek origin and means ‘farmer’.
Famous namesakes: Beatles guitarist George Harrison, composer George Gershwin and Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw. George is also the name of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first son.
26 GUS
Origin and meaning: Derived from the Latin name Augustus, meaning majestic.
Famous namesakes: American skier Gus Kenworthy, film director Gus Van Sant.
27 HARVEY
Origin and meaning: A name of French origin meaning ‘battle worthy’.
Famous namesakes: American actor Harvey Keitel, politician and activist Harvey Milk.
28 HENRY
Origin and meaning: Of German origin meaning ‘estate ruler’.
Famous namesakes: Prince Henry (Harry), US author Henry David Thoreau, English sculptor Henry Moore.
29 HERMAN
Origin and meaning: Of German origin meaning ‘soldier, warrior’.
Famous namesakes: US novelist Herman Melville. Swiss poet and novelist Herman Hesse.
30 HORACE
Origin and meaning: Of Latin origin meaning ‘timekeeper’.
Famous namesakes: American composer Horace Bing and English historian Horace Walpole.
31 JULIUS
Origin and meaning: Of Latin origin meaning ‘youthful, downy-bearded’.
Famous namesakes: Roman dictator Julius Caesar, basketball player Julius Thomas.
32 LAWRENCE
Origin and meaning: Of Latin origin meaning ‘from Laurentium’.
Famous namesakes: Actor Laurence Olivier.
33 LOUIS
Origin and meaning: A name of French origin meaning ‘renowned warrior’.
Famous namesakes: American jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, Louis Bullock, son of American actress Sandra Bullock.
34 MAX
Origin and meaning:
Famous namesakes: Swedish actor Max von Sydow, Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen. Singer Christina Aguilera named her son Max Liron.
35 MILTON
Origin and meaning: Of English origin meaning ‘settlement with a mill’.
Famous namesakes: English poet John Milton. Milton ‘Mitt’ Romney, US football player.
36 MORTIMER
Origin and meaning: Of European origin meaning ‘Dead Sea’.
Famous namesakes: English artist Mortimer Menpes. Mortimer was also the original name of Disney’s Micky Mouse.
37 MURRAY
Origin and meaning: Of Scottish origin meaning ‘settlement by the sea’.
Famous namesakes: Wiggles member Murray Cook, US actor Bill Murray and tennis champ Andy Murray.
38 OLIVER
Origin and meaning: Of Latin origin meaning ‘olive tree’.
Famous namesakes: American film director Oliver Stone. Jamie Oliver, celebrity chef.
39 OSCAR
Origin and meaning: An Irish name meaning ‘friend of deer’ or ‘spear of God’.
Famous namesakes: Playwright Oscar Wilde, American actor Oscar Isaac.
40 OTIS
Origin and meaning: Of German origin meaning ‘wealthy’.
Famous namesakes: American soul singer Otis Redding. Otis Frey, son of The Eagles’ Glenn Frey.
41 PERCY
Origin and meaning: A French surname from place name Perci-en-Auge.
Famous namesakes: Composer Percy French and American singer Percy Sledge.
42 RALPH
Origin and meaning: Of English origin meaning ‘Wolf Counsel’.
Famous namesakes: American actor Ralph Macchio, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and author Ralph Waldo Emerson.
43 RAYMOND
Origin and meaning: A boy's name of German origin meaning ‘wise-protector’.
Famous namesakes: American short story author Raymond Carver, actor Ray Romano.
44 SIDNEY
Origin and meaning: Of French and English origin meaning ‘Saint Denis’.
Famous namesakes: American actor Sidney Poitier, Australian painter Sidney Nolan.
45 STANLEY
Origin and meaning: Of English origin meaning ‘near the stony clearing’.
Famous namesakes: American film director Stanley Kubrick, actor Stanley Tucci.
46 THEODORE
Origin and meaning: A boy's name of Greek origin meaning ‘gift of God’.
Famous namesakes: US President Theodore Roosevelt. American writer Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr Seuss).
47 WALLACE
Origin and meaning: Of Scottish, English origin meaning ‘foreigner, stranger’.
Famous namesakes: William Wallace, leader during Scottish wars of Independence.
48 WALTER
Origin and meaning: A name of German origin meaning ‘army ruler’.
Famous namesakes: US journalist Walter Cronkite and actor Walter Matthau.
49 WILBUR
Origin and meaning: Of German origin meaning ‘resolute, brilliant’.
Famous namesakes: American aviator Wilbur Wright.
50 WILLIS
Origin and meaning: A diminutive of William, meaning ‘resolute protection’.
Famous namesakes: American basketball player Willis Reed Jr.
Nicola Conville has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 20 years across a wide range of print and online publications. Her areas of expertise are parenting, health and travel. She has two children; Lucy, age eight, and Nathan, age five.
