Old man names are a perennially popular category among parents. There’s something so adorable about the juxtaposition of a fresh-faced baby boy and a vintage—perhaps even slightly dusty—baby name.
The names that qualify as old man names are always changing. As these names rise in popularity, they begin to be shed their old man images and come to been associated with the younger generation. Henry, Jake, and Max were considered old man names not so long ago, but now conjure up images of little boys.
Names like Elliot, Theodore, Gus, and Oscar are moving out of old man territory. At one point, hipster parents may have chosen them for their vintage quirk, but they are starting to feel fresh and youthful again. Parents trying to stay ahead of the curve with old man names have had to move on to older, stodgier names.
These are the new old man names. At the moment they might seem too crusty to bestow on a newborn baby, but in a few years’ time we could see an influx of baby Franks, Humphreys and Seymours.
New Old Man Names
What do you think? Will this next generation of old man names come back into style anytime soon? And which ones?
Sophie Kihm
Sophie Kihm has been writing for Nameberry since 2015. She has contributed stories on the top 2020s names, Gen Z names, and cottagecore baby names. Sophie is Nameberry’s resident Name Guru to the Stars, where she suggests names for celebrity babies. She also manages the Nameberry Instagram and Pinterest.
Sophie Kihm's articles on names have run on People, Today, The Huffington Post, and more. She has been quoted as a name expert by The Washington Post, People, The Huffington Post, and more. You can follow her personally on Instagram or Pinterest, or contact her at sophie@nameberry.com. Sophie lives in Chicago.