This list covers 36 old fashioned boy names, running alphabetically from “Edward” to “Elston.” These names share a distinct vintage character, drawing from Old English roots, biblical tradition, and Victorian-era favorites. They work well for parents who want a name with history and weight, and for writers or genealogists looking for authentic period names.

Old fashioned boy names are given names that were common in earlier generations but have since fallen out of everyday use, often carrying royal, religious, or literary roots. Many, like “Ernest,” owe their popularity to a specific cultural moment, in that case Oscar Wilde’s famous play. Others, like “Edmund” and “Edward,” were carried by generations of English kings, giving them a lasting sense of dignity.

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

Name: the specific old fashioned boy name, listed alphabetically so you can browse or search for one that fits.

Origin: the language or culture the name comes from, helping you understand its historical roots and background.

Meaning: the literal translation of the name, useful if you want a name that carries a specific message or quality.

Description: a short overview of the name’s history and character, giving you context for why it might suit a child today.

Old fashioned boy names

NameOriginMeaning
EdwardOld English“wealthy guardian”
EdgarOld English“wealthy spear”
EdwinOld English“wealthy friend”
EdmundOld English“wealthy protector”
ErnestOld English/Germanic“serious, resolute”
ElmerOld English“noble, famous”
ElwoodOld English“old forest”
EliasHebrew“the Lord is my God”
EzraHebrew“help”
ElbertOld English/Germanic“noble, bright”
EmmettOld English“industrious, universal”
EnochHebrew“dedicated, trained”
EugeneGreek“well-born, noble”
EverettOld English“brave as a wild boar”
ErwinOld English/Germanic“friend of the sea/boar”
EltonOld English“old town”
EllisWelsh/Hebrew“benevolent, kind”
ElroyOld French/Spanish“king”
EarlOld English“nobleman, warrior”
EmeryGermanic“brave, powerful”
EliHebrew“ascended, high”
EmilLatin“rival, eager”
EllsworthOld English“nobleman’s estate”
ElishaHebrew“God is salvation”
ElmoItalian/Greek“protector”
EzekielHebrew“God will strengthen”
EdisonOld English“son of Edward”
EdmondFrench/Old English“wealthy protector”
EphraimHebrew“fruitful”
ElihuHebrew“He is my God”
ElleryEnglish“joyful, elder-tree”
ElbridgeOld English“old bridge”
EbenezerHebrew“stone of help”
EgbertOld English“bright sword”
EldenOld English“old friend, sacred valley”
ElstonOld English“noble one’s town”

Descriptions

Edward
A royal English name borne by eight kings, Edward has stayed in steady use for over a thousand years and feels both dignified and timeless.
Edgar
Popular in Anglo-Saxon England and revived in the Victorian era, Edgar carries a literary flair thanks to Edgar Allan Poe.
Edwin
A gentle, old-fashioned name popular in the 19th century, Edwin belonged to an early English king and has a warm, approachable sound.
Edmund
Edmund was the name of English kings and saints, giving it a noble, storybook quality favored by Victorian parents.
Ernest
Made famous by Oscar Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Ernest was hugely popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Elmer
A rustic American favorite of the early 20th century, Elmer evokes small-town charm and old-fashioned simplicity.
Elwood
A quaint, countryside-sounding name popular in the early 1900s, often linked to the classic film “Harvey.”
Elias
A biblical name (the Greek form of Elijah) that was common among earlier generations and remains a gentle classic.
Ezra
A biblical scribe’s name that was widespread among Puritan and early American families.
Elbert
A variant of Albert, Elbert was a respectable, old-fashioned choice in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Emmett
Originally a surname, Emmett became a warm, old-timey first name popular in the early 1900s.
Enoch
A biblical patriarch’s name, Enoch had a modest but steady presence among earlier generations.
Eugene
A dignified name popular from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, often shortened to “Gene.”
Everett
Originally a surname, Everett had old-fashioned charm and has recently made a comeback.
Erwin
A steady, no-frills name common in the early 20th century, especially among German-American families.
Elton
A humble place-name-turned-first-name that had modest popularity in earlier decades.
Ellis
A softer alternative to Elias, Ellis was a common surname-name in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Elroy
A vintage name with a regal meaning, Elroy had a brief heyday in the early 1900s.
Earl
Taken directly from the British title of nobility, Earl was a common given name among earlier American generations.
Emery
An old surname-derived name that was modestly used for boys throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Eli
A short biblical name that was common among earlier generations and has aged gracefully.
Emil
A dignified European classic that saw use among English-speaking families in earlier decades.
Ellsworth
A grand-sounding surname name that enjoyed modest use as a first name in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Elisha
A biblical prophet’s name that was fairly common among earlier American families.
Elmo
An old saint’s name that had a small wave of popularity before becoming better known through pop culture.
Ezekiel
A weighty biblical prophet’s name long used among traditional and religious families.
Edison
Originally a patronymic surname, Edison carries old-fashioned inventive charm, evoking Thomas Edison.
Edmond
A French spelling variant of Edmund, used steadily among English-speaking families for generations.
Ephraim
A biblical name common among Puritan and early American settlers, giving it a distinctly old-fashioned feel.
Elihu
A lesser-known biblical name used sparingly but consistently by earlier generations.
Ellery
A vintage unisex-leaning name that was occasionally given to boys in earlier centuries.
Elbridge
A colonial-era American name, most notably borne by founding-era statesman Elbridge Gerry.
Ebenezer
A strongly old-fashioned biblical name, familiar today largely through Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge.
Egbert
An early English royal name revived modestly in the Victorian era for its antique charm.
Elden
A rare vintage name with a soft, earthy sound popular in small numbers in the early 20th century.
Elston
A surname-turned-first-name with an old-money, old-fashioned air.
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