Long Old-Fashioned Names for Boys

Looking for a long old-fashioned name for a baby boy? You've found the right list!

1. Abraham. Abraham gives you a biblical heavy-hitter, with presidential cred to boot.
2. Aloysius. This big, bold saint's name has never been hugely popular in the U.S., but it did see a little uptick in use about a century ago.
3. Alphonse. A geriatric name destined to bite the dust, or a revival-worthy gem of a name with a bit of French flair? We're not sure.
4. Ambrose. Saint Ambrose was a theologian and bishop of Milan in the 4th-century. 18th-century author Ambrose Bierce lends the name some literary style.
5. Barnabas. A ponderous boys' name that isn't popular at the moment.
6. Benedict. An alternative to the super popular Benjamin, Benedict boasts strong saintly and papal credentials.
7. Bernard. Bernard has saintly bona fides, a powerful meaning ("strong, brave bear"), and genuine old-school charm. It's certainly not easy to find a name that combines all those qualities!
8. Casimir. A lofty old-fashioned name of Slavic origin.
9. Chester. Chester seems like the perfect blend of place name appeal and old-school charm.
10. Clarence. A funky, clunky graybeard of a name.
11. Clement. The name of several saints and more than a dozen popes, this sepia-toned boy name might hold appeal for Catholic families looking for a retro name.
12. Delbert. Once a perfectly reasonable choice for a son, Delbert is now on the verge of extinction.
13. Douglas. A mid-century name through-and-through.
14. Earnest. It would take a very brave parent to opt for this fossil of a name in the modern world.
15. Ellsworth. Originally a British surname, this retro boys' name gives off a vibe of posh sophistication.
16. Ferdinand. Weighing in at nine letters, this elaborate saint's name might pair well with a short and punchy last name.
17. Forrest. (or Forest). As nature names go, they don't come much earthier than this. Both Forrest and the somewhat less common Forest peaked in popularity in the 1920s.
18. Franklin. A handsome name with a strong patriotic vibe.
19. Freddie. (or Freddy). Back in the 1940s and 50s, when this nickname-y name was at its peak, parents favored the -ie spelling; today, Freddy with a Y seems to be the preferred version for baby boys.
20. Frederick. A long, dignified boy's name with deep roots, a powerful meaning ("peaceful ruler"), and a strong royal past, having been borne by numerous European kings and other royals throughout history.
21. Garland. This old floral boy name has been out to pasture for a while now. Will it ever come back? No one knows.
22. Gilbert. There have been saints, actors, film directors, NBA players, and fictional characters all sharing the name Gilbert. Talk about a name with cultural cred!
23. Harland. All the vintage charm of Harlan, with the very surnamey -land ending.
24. Herbert. A popular choice for a son a hundred years ago, Herbert today feels out-of-step and off-key.
25. Herschel. A dusty appellation with an astronomy reference via William Herschel, one of the greatest astronomers of the 18th century. Today mostly associated with a hipster backpack brand.
26. Hershel. A variation of Herschel.
27. Isadore. Isadore, along with its many spelling variations, was still occasionally heard in first half of the 20th century but has since fallen into baby name oblivion. Is this ancient name of Greek origin ever going to make a comeback? Only time will tell.
28. Isidore. A variation of Isadore.
29. Laurence. A variation of Lawrence (see below).
30. Lawrence. A mid-century hit that's waiting for some audacious parents to propel it back to cool status.
31. Leonard. An old animal-inspired name that peaked in popularity in the 1920s. Today's parents seem to prefer the short form Leo.
32. Maurice. An ancient saint's name oozing old-school French charm, Maurice hit its apex in the 1920s.
33. Maynard. A place name, a surname, and a somewhat unusual retro name that peaked in the 1920s.
34. Merrill. Stylish but not overused surname-derived baby name in the first half of the 20th century, Merrill perhaps feels a bit too tied to the investment management company in modern-day America.
35. Merritt. Originally a male-leaning unisex name, Merritt today seems to trend towards the femine side of the ledger.
36. Millard. A surname, a place name, and a fusty given name that doesn't seem to have much of a baby name future.
37. Norbert. Norbert may have been a stylish choice a century ago, but in today's baby naming climate, this old, Germanic saint's name would be considered something of a high-wire act.
38. Orville. Perhaps a little too evocative of the popcorn brand today, Orville was bang on trend in the 1910s. Orville Wright, an aviation pioneer and one of the most famous bearers of the name, was born in 1871.
39. Randall. A standard-issue grandpa name, Randall would be tough to pull off as a baby name.
40. Randolph. With its heavy and clumsy feel, we expect this consonant-heavy appellation to remain on the endangered names' list.
41. Raphael. A sophisticated, currently-underused appellation with deep roots.
42. Raymond. Dripping with vintage charm, this biblical pick with the built-in nickname Ray is completely yours for the taking.
43. Richard. This saint name had a long run of popularity in the 20th century. Today, it's still used but isn't very popular—perfect if you want your son to stand out among all the Liams and Noahs!
44. Rudolph. This old name of German origin has been in hibernation for a while now, and we don't see it catching on anytime soon.
45. Sanford. A place name, a surname, and a somewhat formal-sounding retro baby name.
46. Seymour. A stylish choice in the Roaring Twenties.
47. Sigmund. A heavy, old-fashioned name of Germanic origin, most famously borne by the founding father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud.
48. Solomon. Solomon is related to the Hebrew word shalom ("peace"), making it a possibility for families who like baby names with beautiful meanings.
49. Stanley. Likely too mid-century for the average baby namer, but might work for the intrepid baby namer. Its most noted bearer: late filmmaker Stanley Kubrick.
50. Sylvester. The association with the Latin word 'Silva'—meaning 'forest'—makes this old-school name a possibility for parents seeking an old-fashioned baby name with a not-so-obvious nature tie.
51. Talmadge. A surname, a place name, and a dusty, oldfangled given name that has seen better days.
52. Theodore. In its full form, this dashing and dapper presidential name still has a kind of vintage feel, even though it has made a huge comeback in the 21st century. Added attraction: the cute nickname Theo.
53. Thurman. More often used as a surname, Thurman showed some panache as a first name in the early decades of the 20th century but never enough to make the Top 100.
54. Timothy. A traditional biblical name that also counts as a nature name (think timothy grass).
55. Valentine. This old-school name serves as both a first and last name. Saint Valentine and the day named after him cement the romantic image of this name.
56. Wallace. Loaded with old-school charm, this one hearkens to the early part of the 20th century.
57. Wendell. In the first half of the 20th century, Wendell was a solid choice for a baby boy. Fast forward to today, and you rarely hear Wendell called on the playground.
58. Wilbert. An oldfangled name that few modern parents have had the chutzpah to use. Take that as a challenge!
59. Wilburn. A surname, a place name, and dusty, musty first name from yesteryear that isn't likely to make a comeback any time soon.
60. Wilford. Wilford has been locked away in the attic for a while now. When are we ready to welcome him back into the fold?
61. Wilfred. Likely a derivative of the Germanic elements wil ("will") and fried ("peace"), or Old English wil and frið, Wilfred carries a powerful meaning.
62. Willard. Probably a derivative of the Germanic Willhardt, composed of the elements wil ("will") and hardt ("hardy", "strong", "brave"), Willard would be an apt moniker for a strong-willed boy.
63. Winfield. Another under-the-radar throwback name with place name cred.
64. Winfred. A dated moniker with the Germanic element fried ("peace") hidden in it.
65. Woodrow. A stately, old-fashioned given name and surname with presidential cred via Woodrow Wilson.