This list covers 38 old fashioned boy names, running alphabetically from “Calvin” to “Cyrus.” Each one carries a vintage, timeworn feel, often tracing back to Latin, Old English, Germanic, or biblical roots. Parents, writers, and genealogy enthusiasts use lists like this to find names with real history behind them, whether for a new baby, a character in a story, or a family tree.
Old fashioned boy names are given names that were common generations ago and still carry a sense of tradition and dignity today. Many started as surnames, occupational titles, or place names before becoming first names, like “Chandler” for a candle maker or “Clifton” for a settlement by a cliff. Others honor historical figures, such as “Cassius,” revived in the 19th century for its bold Roman sound.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Meaning, and Description.
Name: the old fashioned boy name itself, listed in alphabetical order so you can browse or search for a specific one quickly.
Origin: the language or culture the name came from, such as Latin, Old English, or Germanic, showing you its historical roots.
Meaning: the literal translation or original sense of the name, giving you insight into what it represented to earlier generations.
Description: background on how and when the name was used, including notable figures or trends that made it popular in its era.
Old fashioned boy names
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Calvin | Latin | Bald |
| Carl | Germanic | Free man |
| Carlton | Old English | Settlement of free men |
| Casper | Persian | Treasurer |
| Cassius | Latin | Vain, empty |
| Cato | Latin | Wise, sharp |
| Cecil | Latin | Blind |
| Cedric | Old English | Bounty, kind-hearted |
| Chandler | Old French | Candle maker |
| Chauncey | Old English/French | Chancellor |
| Chester | Old English | Fortress, walled town |
| Christian | Greek/Latin | Follower of Christ |
| Cicero | Latin | Chickpea |
| Claiborne | Old French | Clover, clearing |
| Clarence | Latin | Bright, clear, famous |
| Clark | Middle English | Cleric, scholar |
| Claude | Latin | Lame |
| Clayton | Old English | Settlement near clay |
| Clement | Latin | Merciful, mild |
| Cletus | Greek | Illustrious, summoned |
| Clifford | Old English | Ford near a cliff |
| Clifton | Old English | Settlement by a cliff |
| Clovis | Germanic | Famous warrior |
| Clyde | Scottish | From the River Clyde |
| Colby | Old Norse | Dark, coal town |
| Cole | Old English | Charcoal, dark |
| Collin | Gaelic/Old French | Young cub, victory of the people |
| Conrad | Germanic | Brave counsel |
| Constantine | Latin | Steadfast, constant |
| Cornelius | Latin | Horn |
| Cornell | Old French | Little horn |
| Cosmo | Greek | Order, harmony, beauty |
| Craig | Scottish Gaelic | Rock, crag |
| Crawford | Old English | Ford where crows gather |
| Curtis | Old French | Courteous |
| Cuthbert | Old English | Famous, bright |
| Cyril | Greek | Lordly, masterful |
| Cyrus | Persian | Sun, throne |
Descriptions
Calvin
A vintage name popularized by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, once common in the early 1900s and still carrying a dignified, old-fashioned charm.
Carl
A classic name meaning “free man,” widely used through the early-to-mid 20th century as a shortened form of Charles or Carlos.
Carlton
An English surname-turned-first-name that saw popularity in the early 20th century, evoking a refined, gentlemanly feel.
Casper
An old-fashioned name of Persian origin, traditionally linked to one of the Three Wise Men, giving it a timeless, storybook quality.
Cassius
An ancient Roman family name revived in the 19th century, known for its bold, classical sound.
Cato
A short, strong Roman name tied to the famous statesman Cato the Elder, favored in earlier centuries for its noble associations.
Cecil
A dignified English name derived from a Roman clan name, very fashionable among the British upper class in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Cedric
A name invented by Sir Walter Scott for a novel character, later gaining old-world charm through literature and film.
Chandler
Originally an occupational surname for someone who made or sold candles, later used as a distinguished first name.
Chauncey
A quaint, aristocratic-sounding name common in colonial and 19th-century America, tied to the title of “chancellor.”
Chester
A sturdy English place-name turned given name, very popular in the early 1900s and evoking small-town Americana.
Christian
A timeless devotional name used for centuries across Europe, retaining an old-fashioned dignity even today.
Cicero
Borrowed from the great Roman orator, this name carries scholarly and classical prestige from antiquity.
Claiborne
A genteel Southern American surname-name, historically used among old aristocratic families.
Clarence
A grand English name linked to the Duke of Clarence, extremely popular among gentlemen in the Victorian era.
Clark
Once an occupational surname for a clerk or scholar, it became a distinguished first name in the early 20th century.
Claude
A refined French name derived from the Roman family name Claudius, fashionable in Europe and America in past generations.
Clayton
An earthy English place-name that transitioned into a respectable old-fashioned first name.
Clement
A gentle-sounding name tied to several early popes and saints, common among religious families of earlier eras.
Cletus
An early Christian name referencing an ancient pope, later a familiar old-fashioned rural American name.
Clifford
A classic English place-name turned given name, very popular through the early 20th century.
Clifton
Another dignified English place-name, used steadily as a first name in past generations.
Clovis
An ancient Frankish royal name, historically distinguished and carrying deep old-world roots.
Clyde
Taken from Scotland’s famous river, this name was widely popular in the American South in earlier decades.
Colby
A rugged English place-name with Norse roots, occasionally used as an old-fashioned given name.
Cole
A short, sturdy name with roots as both a surname and nickname for Nicholas, used for generations.
Collin
A traditional variant of Colin, gently old-fashioned and once common across English-speaking countries.
Conrad
A strong Germanic name meaning “bold advisor,” historically favored among European nobility.
Constantine
A grand imperial Roman name tied to Emperor Constantine the Great, evoking timeless strength and history.
Cornelius
An old Roman family name popular among Dutch and American families in past centuries, known for its dignified sound.
Cornell
A refined variant of Cornelius, used as both a surname and a distinguished first name historically.
Cosmo
An elegant Italian and Greek-rooted name historically associated with the Medici family of Renaissance Florence.
Craig
A rugged Scottish name meaning “rock,” steadily used through the mid-20th century.
Crawford
An old English surname repurposed as a distinguished given name in earlier generations.
Curtis
A chivalrous-sounding name meaning “courteous,” common through the early-to-mid 1900s.
Cuthbert
A quaint Anglo-Saxon name tied to a beloved English saint, now considered charmingly old-fashioned.
Cyril
A dignified name borne by several early saints and scholars, once common in Christian and European families.
Cyrus
A grand ancient Persian name tied to Cyrus the Great, historically popular in earlier American generations.