This list includes 44 Old man names that start with M, from “Magnus” to “Myron”. Many are classic, historically attested names from European, Biblical, and regional traditions. They are useful for writers, genealogists, parents, and curious readers looking for traditional male names.
Old man names that start with M are male given names beginning with M, often associated with older generations. For example, “Magnus” was used by medieval Scandinavian rulers, and “Myron” comes from ancient Greek meaning “myrrh”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, and Meaning.
Name: The given name itself, shown so you can scan options and pick a form that fits your character or family history.
Origin: The language or country of origin, helping you understand cultural background and set appropriate historical context.
Meaning: A brief definition of the name, so you can choose names with the right connotation or symbolic tone.
Old man names that start with M
| Name | Origin | Meaning | Peak era |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael | Hebrew | Who is like God? | 1950s–1970s |
| Martin | Latin | Of Mars (war god) | 1930s–1960s |
| Maurice | French | Dark-skinned; Moor | 1910s–1940s |
| Morris | English/Hebrew | Dark-skinned/Moses variant | 1900s–1940s |
| Milton | English | Mill town | 1900s–1940s |
| Melvin | English | Counsel protector | 1910s–1950s |
| Marvin | Welsh/English | Sea hill or friend | 1910s–1950s |
| Mervin | Welsh | Famous friend | 1910s–1940s |
| Mervyn | Welsh | Famous friend | 1910s–1940s |
| Mortimer | Norman/French | Dead sea (old French roots) | 1890s–1930s |
| Morton | English | Town by the moor | 1900s–1940s |
| Montgomery | Norman/French | Gumarich’s mountain | 1900s–1940s |
| Montague | Old French | Pointed hill or rough-featured | 1880s–1930s |
| Manuel | Spanish/Hebrew | God is with us | 1940s–1970s |
| Myron | Greek | Myrrh; fragrant oil | 1900s–1940s |
| Moses | Hebrew | Drawn out of water | 1900s–1930s |
| Miles | Latin/English | Soldier | 1910s–1940s |
| Myles | English | Soldier (variant) | 1910s–1940s |
| Malcolm | Scottish | Follower of Columba | 1920s–1950s |
| Malachi | Hebrew | My messenger | 1900s–1940s |
| Mariano | Spanish/Italian | Related to Marius | 1920s–1950s |
| Mario | Italian | Male; of Mars | 1930s–1950s |
| Marco | Italian/Spanish | Of Mars | 1930s–1960s |
| Marcus | Latin | Of Mars | 1910s–1940s |
| Marius | Latin | Male; of Mars | 1900s–1940s |
| Miguel | Spanish | Who is like God? | 1940s–1970s |
| Merle | English/French | Blackbird | 1910s–1940s |
| Magnus | Latin/Scandinavian | Great | 1900s–1940s |
| Mordecai | Hebrew | Servant of Marduk | 1900s–1940s |
| Murray | Scottish | From Moray | 1920s–1950s |
| Maxwell | Scottish | Great stream | 1900s–1940s |
| Manfred | German | Man of peace | 1910s–1940s |
| Moritz | German | Variant of Maurice | 1890s–1930s |
| Monty | English | Short for Montgomery | 1910s–1950s |
| Morley | English | Moor clearing | 1900s–1940s |
| Mauro | Italian | Dark-skinned; Moor | 1920s–1950s |
| Mauricio | Spanish/Portuguese | Dark-skinned; Moor | 1920s–1950s |
| Matthias | Greek/Hebrew | Gift of God | 1900s–1940s |
| Monte | Spanish/Italian | Mountain; hill | 1930s–1950s |
| Mehmet | Turkish | Praised; variant of Muhammad | 1920s–1950s |
| Mustafa | Arabic | The chosen one | 1940s–1970s |
| Menachem | Hebrew | Comforter | 1900s–1940s |
| Meir | Hebrew | One who shines | 1900s–1940s |
| Meyer | Yiddish/German | Light; humble servant (variant) | 1900s–1940s |
Descriptions
Michael
Perennial biblical name; extremely common mid-20th century so many older men bear it. Variants: Mike, Miguel, Michel.
Martin
Classic English and European name once very popular; feels traditional due to steady historical use and older famous bearers.
Maurice
Elegant, old-fashioned French/English name; peaked early 20th century and now reads as genteel, older-generation choice.
Morris
Common in Anglo and Jewish communities in early 20th century; now seen as vintage or “old man” name.
Milton
Literary and place-derived name with strong early 20th-century usage; conjures older gentlemen and mid-century figures.
Melvin
Quaint, sturdy name that peaked mid-century; strongly associated with men born in 1910–1950s.
Marvin
Once-popular, now dated; evokes mid-century men and vintage pop-culture figures.
Mervin
Older Anglo name, less common now; sounds distinctly mid-century or earlier to many modern ears.
Mervyn
Variant spelling with aristocratic feel; historically male and associated with older generations.
Mortimer
Aristocratic, old-world name; rare today and strongly evokes early 20th-century gentlemen or Victorian characters.
Morton
Place-name given historically; now considered traditional and somewhat old-fashioned.
Montgomery
Surnamed origin but long used as a given name; evokes military, aristocratic, and older men (often shortened to Monty).
Montague
Literary, aristocratic name with Shakespearean ties; feels antique and upper-class.
Manuel
Very common in Hispanic communities among older men; traditional Spanish form of Emmanuel.
Myron
Old-fashioned Greek name that was once modestly popular; now seen as vintage and masculine.
Moses
Ancient biblical name; common among earlier generations, especially in Jewish and Christian communities.
Miles
Classic Anglo name with centuries of use; older men often bear this solid, respected name.
Myles
Variant spelling of Miles; traditional and associated with older generations in some families.
Malcolm
Scottish classic that peaked mid-century; carries a dignified, elder-statesman vibe.
Malachi
Biblical but uncommon today; historically used in religious families, giving it an older feel.
Mariano
Traditional Hispanic/Italian name that was more common mid-century; reads as classic and mature.
Mario
Popular among Italian and immigrant communities in mid-20th century; now often seen as a vintage name.
Marco
Classic Mediterranean form of Mark/Marcus; common among older men in many countries.
Marcus
Ancient Roman name revived in later centuries; steady early 20th-century use makes it feel traditional.
Marius
Roman classical name used in Europe; now uncommon and associated with older or historical figures.
Miguel
Spanish form of Michael; very common among older Hispanic men, giving it a classic, generational feel.
Merle
Once-used for men (and sometimes women), Merle feels vintage and is associated with early–mid 20th-century men.
Magnus
Strong Nordic/Latin name with historic use; sounds traditional and elder-statesmanly in English contexts.
Mordecai
Biblical/Hebraic name common in earlier Jewish communities; today reads as distinctly old-fashioned.
Murray
Solid Scottish/Irish surname-turned-given-name with strong mid-century usage; often read as older-generation.
Maxwell
Originally a surname, long used as a male given name; feels classic and somewhat formal.
Manfred
Germanic name that was common in early 20th-century Europe; now feels antique and strong.
Moritz
German form of Maurice; historically popular in German-speaking areas, now old-fashioned.
Monty
Often a diminutive of Montgomery but also given independently; highly associated with mid-century men.
Morley
Surname-turned-given name used historically; sounds distinctly traditional and a bit dated.
Mauro
Italian form related to Maurice; common among older Italian men and immigrant families.
Mauricio
Spanish/Portuguese variant of Maurice with mid-century popularity in Hispanic communities.
Matthias
Biblical form less common today; historically used in Europe and reads as classical and mature.
Monte
Shortened given name (and sometimes nickname); evoked mid-century men, especially in English-speaking contexts.
Mehmet
Turkish form of Muhammad widely used in Turkey among older generations; classic in that cultural context.
Mustafa
Traditional Arabic name common among older Muslim men; carries a dignified, traditional resonance.
Menachem
Traditional Jewish name with historic use; now reads as classic and associated with elders.
Meir
Common in Jewish communities earlier in the 20th century; feels traditional and elder-associated.
Meyer
Yiddish/European given name used historically; often appears in older immigrant generations.