Old-Fashioned Cat Names

An old-fashioned nickname in the Bud/Buzz/Biff mold; this one's kind of belligerent. Michelle Hicks and Jonny Lee Miller moved outside the box when they used it for their son--given the safer middle name of Timothy.

Archie, Albie, and Alfie are coming back into style, so naturally, we think Alvie could be next. Alternate spelling Alvy was used by Woody Allen for his character in Annie Hall.

One of the few Lu- names that you've probably never heard of, Lulie could prove a good alternative for Luna, Lucy, and Lula.

Earl is a title name - brought to England by the vikings - that's out of fashion right now, unlike King and Duke. Its peak popularity was in the 1920s, which gives it a dusty great-grandpa feel, but there are also younger Earls in pop culture, like the reformed criminal in "My Name is Earl".

The jazziest nickname for Charles.

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

A Leave It to Beaver/old comic-strip name, vacationing for years with the Griswolds in WallyWorld, but now back as WALL-E?

Obie has multiple origins, functioning as both a standalone name and a nickname. It emerged as a traditional diminutive for names like Obadiah, a Hebrew biblical name meaning 'servant of God.' It's also used as a nickname for names beginning with 'O' such as Oscar, Osborne, or Oswald. In some cases, Obie derives from the German surname 'Obie,' which likely originated as an occupational name or location-based surname. The name has maintained consistent but low-level usage in English-speaking countries throughout the 20th century. Obie gained some cultural recognition through figures like American football player Obie Trotter and through the Obie Awards in theater. The name's short, straightforward phonetic structure gives it a friendly, approachable quality. Its versatility as both a formal name and nickname has contributed to its endurance, though it has never been among the most popular masculine names in recorded statistics.

Prime pert-teenager name in midcentury TV shows, replaced by Maggie.

So far out it's almost ready to be let back in.

An old-fashioned nickname that hasn't been heard in ages--Cute and unusual, but lacking the legs to stand on its own. Maybe save it for your kitten.