Old-Fashioned Boy Names

An English family name used a few generations ago as an Anglicization of Moses, but hardly heard since th 1950s.

Somehow more modern and likable than Morris or Doris.

This name was consistently in the boys' Top 200 until WW2. It's a name with so many dimensions to it: the hyper-masculine meaning, the surname-as-firstname trendiness, and the softer sound and connotation since homophone Carol was favoured in the 1940s and '50s for daughters. We think it's time for a resurgence of Carrolls amongst the boys.

There have been many great Willies (Mays, Nelson, Wonka), but a boy with this name could never ever go to England. Most people will also assume it is short for the more traditional William, which might be the best avenue for achieving this nickname.

Found as a first name primarily in baseball books giving the stats on the late New York Yankee Thurman Munson.

Wilbert is one of the new old grandpa names marching -- shuffling? -- back into style, taking the place of names like Gus and Max which now sound totally baby-friendly. Wilbert and cousin Wilbur could take a little longer.

Rocking out on the porch with buddies Hubert, Norbert, and Osbert.