This list covers 10 old fashioned boy names, running alphabetically from “Quentin” to “Quintrell.” Most of these names trace back to Latin, French, Irish, or Old Norse roots, and many were once family surnames before parents began using them as first names. They work well for parents who want a name with history and character, and they also show up often in genealogy research, naming guides, and stories set in earlier eras.

Old fashioned boy names are given names that were common generations ago and carry a vintage, classic feel today. Many of them, like “Quentin” and “Quintus,” share the Latin root for “fifth,” a nod to the old custom of naming a family’s fifth son. Others, such as “Quinlan” and “Quillan,” come from Irish surnames and bring a rustic, storybook charm to the list.

Below you’ll find the table with the name, origin, meaning, and description for each entry.

Name: the specific old fashioned boy name featured in this entry, spelled the way it traditionally appears in records and naming guides.

Origin: the language or culture the name comes from, such as Latin, Irish, or Old Norse, giving you a sense of its background.

Meaning: the literal or traditional meaning behind the name, helpful if you want a name that carries a specific message.

Description: a short explanation of the name’s history and how it was traditionally used, so you can see why it might suit a child today.

Old fashioned boy names

NameOriginMeaning
QuentinLatin“Fifth”
QuincyFrench/English“Estate of the fifth son”
QuintusLatin“Fifth”
QuintinLatin“Fifth”
QuillanIrish“Cub” or “little wolf”
QuinlanIrish“Strong” or “shapely”
QuimbyOld Norse“Woman’s estate”
QuennellOld French“Little oak”
QuirinusLatin“Spear” or related to the Roman god Quirinus
QuintrellEnglishDerived from “Quentin,” meaning “fifth”

Descriptions

Quentin
A distinguished old-fashioned name from the Latin “Quintus,” historically given to a fifth-born son and popular in France before crossing into English use.
Quincy
Originally a French place name and surname, Quincy became a stately old-fashioned first name, notably borne by U.S. President John Quincy Adams.
Quintus
An ancient Roman given name traditionally used for a family’s fifth son, later revived occasionally as a classical-sounding first name.
Quintin
A variant spelling of Quentin, this old-fashioned name carries the same Latin root meaning “fifth” and was common in medieval Europe.
Quillan
An old Irish name derived from a surname, evoking a rustic, storybook charm associated with vintage naming traditions.
Quinlan
Derived from the Irish surname O Caoinnleain, Quinlan has an old-world Gaelic feel and was traditionally used as a family name before becoming a given name.
Quimby
An antique English surname of Norse origin, once used as a dignified old-fashioned first name in earlier centuries.
Quennell
A rare, old-fashioned English name derived from a Norman surname, evoking sturdiness and heritage.
Quirinus
An ancient Roman name tied to one of Rome’s early deities, occasionally used historically for boys with classical leanings.
Quintrell
An old English surname-turned-given-name variant of Quentin, carrying the same vintage Latin heritage.
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