Colonial Names for Boys
Many of the baby names that were widely used during colonial times have fallen out of favor for long enough now to sound fresh and even cool again. If you like historic baby names but want to move beyond the Victorian and biblical choices we've heard so much of in recent years, consider these names culled from Revolutionary War rolls and eighteenth-century town histories. The only caveat: The choices are much wider and more appealing for boys than for girls.
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Abiel
Abiel is a biblical name that was used by Puritans, sounds rather fusty today. Read More
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Abijah
Abijah is a truly unusual, truly unisex, truly appealing biblical name. There were several male Abijahs in the Bible, one of them, known as Abijah of Judah, was the fourth king of the House of Davi... Read More
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Abimael
Colonial Americans used many Biblical names forgotten by modern baby namers; this is an Old Testament descendant of Shem. If Moses and Noah can come back, why not Abimael and brethren? Read More
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Abner
This neglected Biblical name--it was the name of the commander of Saul's army and appears twice in the New Testament--is ready to flee Dogpatch. It was regularly used in the nineteenth century, but... Read More
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Abraham
Abraham was the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and is considered the founding father of the Jewish people. He was originally named Abram, until, according to Genesis, he was told "No longer ... Read More
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Absalom
Absalom, because of its biblical and literary associations, just might appeal to the daring namegiver. In the Old Testament, Absalom was the handsome, favored but rebellious son of King David. In... Read More
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Adonijah
Adonijah was one of King David's sons in the Old Testament; this name (the accent is on the "ni" syllable) is waiting to be rediscovered. Read More
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Alden
A less than stylish surname name, but it might make a more distinctive alternative to such widely used but similar names as Aidan and Holden. Read More
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Amias
Amias or Amyas is an obscure name with an attractive sound and feel and a lovely meaning. Though it might sound like a Biblical name, it is not, but is a surname that may be related to Amadeus or ... Read More
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Amiel
Certain confusion with Emil. Read More
You might also like these lists:
- Offbeat Baby Names Includes: Amos, Horatio, Jethro, Linus, Phineas, Rufus
- Steampunk Baby Names Includes: Bartholomew, Cyrus, Jeremiah
- Scottish Baby Names Includes: Archibald
- Boy Baby Names That Mean Wise Includes: Alden
- Designer Baby Names Includes: Levi
- Patriotic Baby Names Includes: Abraham
- Ancient Names for Boys Includes: Cyrus, Horatio, Lazarus, Philo, Rufus
- Winter Baby Names Includes: Rufus
- Creative Baby Names Includes: Homer
- If You Like Ethan, You Might Love... Includes: Elijah
About Us
Author experts Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz revolutionized baby naming.
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