Cool names for boys come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. There are some evergreen classic boys' names that never go out of style: think traditional mainstays of the US (and UK, NZ, and Australian) Top 100 boy names, like James, William, and Joseph. Other cool boys' names — like thick black-rimmed spectacles and heavy oxfords — are so out they're in. These are the clunky, old-school vintage boys' names that are starting to feel fresh, funky, and a little bit daring, but still rooted in tradition.

A few of these geek chic names for boys are now heading into the mainstream, like Arthur, Hugo, and Franklin, which all rank in the US Top 500 baby names for boys. Others, like Alfred, Harvey, and Louis, have already caught on in a big way across the pond in England & Wales, where they rank in the current Top 100 boy names. But most of these edgy, uncommon vintage baby boy names are still waiting to be revived and would make a great choice for parents who want a unique baby name with a rich history.

Browse our list of unusual vintage and retro baby names for boys here, or see our pick of the best <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/28/Geek-Chic-Names-for-Girls">Geek Chic Names for Girls</a> for even more inspiration.

Nerdy Boy Names: Geek Chic Cool

Inigo, almost unknown in the U.S., is an intriguing choice, with its strong beat, creative and evocative sound, and associations with the great early British architect and stage designer Inigo Jones. The sixteenth-seventeenth century Jones shared his name with his father, a London clockmaker, who received it when <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/806/spanish-names-for-boys">Spanish names for boys</a> were fashionable in England, especially among devout Roman Catholics.
 Inigo Montoya is a character in The Princess Bride, played by Mandy Patinkin.
 Inigo is one name that's both classic and rare, given to only 14 baby boys in the US last year. The pronunciation is with short i's and a hard g: IN-ih-go.

Inigo

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".

Earl

When it's spelled with two dots over the 'u' in German, Gunther is pronounced GUWN-ter, but it has a much softer sound when the 'h' is voiced by English-speakers, as it was, for example, for the name of a character in Friends.
 Gunther has never been as well used in this country as the Scandinavian version, Gunnar, which now ranks at Number 502, making Gunther all the more distinctive.
 Well-known Gunthers include German novelist Gunt(h)er Grass and the character in the German epic poem Die Nibelungenlied, which formed the basis for Richard Wagner's Ring cycle of operas.

Gunther

Clifford is beginning to overcome a slightly stodgy intellectual image and showing signs of possible revival. Kids might or might not like the association with the big red dog. 
In England, the Clifford family was a powerful family in the Middle Ages. In this country, it was well used for most of the twentieth century, peaking at Number 57 in 1909, but a Top 100 name through 1950. Most prominent American bearers: playwright Clifford Odets and jazz trumpet great Clifford Brown.

Clifford

Nerdy, Geeky Boy Names -- boy with nerdy glasses

Nerdy, Geeky Boy Names

Nerdy, geeky name for boys, including cool nerd boy names with meanings, definitions, and popularity, including british names, undiscovered names and clunky names (Page 9)