This list covers 12 old fashioned boy names, running from “Percival” to “Prosper.” Each one carries a distinct sense of heritage, drawing from French, Greek, English, Hebrew, and Latin roots. Parents looking for a name with old-world charm and lasting character will find plenty to consider here.
Old fashioned boy names are given names that were common generations ago and have since taken on a vintage, timeless quality. Many trace back to biblical figures, medieval knights, or English surnames turned first names. Percival, for instance, comes from Arthurian legend, where he was a Knight of the Round Table on a quest for the Holy Grail.
Below you’ll find the table with each name, its origin, meaning, and description.
Name: the old fashioned boy name itself, presented in its traditional or most familiar spelling for easy reference.
Origin: the language or culture the name comes from, showing you its historical and geographic roots.
Meaning: the literal translation or sense behind the name, giving you insight into what it originally represented.
Description: background on the name’s history, notable bearers, or cultural associations, helping you understand why it endures today.
Old fashioned boy names
| Name | Origin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Percival | French | “Pierce the valley” |
| Percy | French | Diminutive of Percival |
| Peter | Greek | “Rock” or “stone” |
| Philip | Greek | “Lover of horses” |
| Phillip | Greek | “Lover of horses” |
| Phineas | Hebrew | “Oracle” or “mouth of brass” |
| Pierce | English | “Son of Piers” |
| Pierre | French | “Rock” |
| Porter | English/French | “Gatekeeper” |
| Prescott | English | “Priest’s cottage” |
| Preston | English | “Priest’s town” |
| Prosper | Latin | “Fortunate” or “successful” |