Old man names have been fashionable for baby boys for so long now that many of them have morphed into popular baby names: Henry and Samuel rank among the top names in the US, while in the UK, Harry, Leo, and Oscar are all among their most popular baby names.

But don't worry, there are plenty more Old Man Names where those came from! To qualify as a cool Old Man Name, a name has to feel both classic and slightly moth-eaten, like the perfect vintage cardigan. 

Along with Henry and Samuel, other Old Man Names in the US Top 500 include Arthur, Cyrus, Theodore, Otto, Silas, Harvey, Victor, and Frederick. Old man names more common in the UK than in the US include Albert, Ralph, Stanley, and Wilfred.

Like Biblical boy names, antique old man names are constantly being revived by parents. Today's newest old-fashioned boy names include such relics as Herbert, Harold, and Clyde.
 Here are the <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">names for boys</a> we're watching as the next wave of retro Old Man Names ready for revival.

Old Man Names

Wilson is a substantive presidential choice far less prevalent than Taylor or Tyler, and with the advantage of being a new route to friendly nickname Will. We see Wilson growing in popularity as an alternative to William; and as a patronymic, it would make a conceivable (if possibly confusing) choice for a son of William.
 Being the tenth most common surname in the U.S., Wilson has countless possible last-named namesakes in every field, from politics to show biz. Those with Wilson as a first name are harder to find, beyond soul singer-songwriter Wilson Pickett and Wilson Rawls, author of the beloved book Where the Red Fern Grows. Wilson is also the name of Tom Hank's friend, the volleyball, in the movie Castaway.

Wilson

In the US, this spelling is less common than mid-century favorite Jeffrey, and it has faded from popularity faster. This more British spelling is the usual form for historical figures like Geoffrey Chaucer and the Welsh historian Geoffrey of Monmouth, and as such it may feel more rooted and enduring.

Geoffrey

Sure, he'd probably get a certain amount of red-nosed teasing around the holiday, but a boy named Rudolph could probably take it. Besides, he's got other, more distinguished namesakes -- the great ballet dancer Nureyev, silent screen Lothario Valentino and 9-11 Mayor Giuliani.
 Softening short form Rudy has stood on its own long enough to have been consistently in the Top 1000 for as long as Social Security records have been tallied, while Rudolph has been off for decades. Can it be one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/494/german-names-for-boys">German names for boys</a>prime for a comeback?
 The name was spread in England via the Anthony Hope novel <e,>Prisoner of Zenda, which set the fashion for romantic adventure stories in imaginary Balkan countries in the early 20th century.

Rudolph

In the US, this variation is more popular than the original. Terrence has been in the US Top 1000 since 1920, but Terence has been left behind. Alternate spelling Terrance is the most popular iteration of the name.
 Terrence Howard plays Lucious Lyon in the hit television series Empire.

Terrence

Prescott is one of several distinguished, upper-crusty surnames beginning with P.
 There are several historical surnamed Prescotts, including William, a Massachusetts Minuteman and commander at the battle of Bunker Hill, and Samuel, a Revolutonary patriot who traveled with Paul Revere on the night of his famous ride. Prescott is also the first name of the father and brother of George H.W. Bush.

Prescott

Laid-back and humble, with a distinctive down-home charm. 

Clem

A common surname almost never used in recent times. 

Willis

Whitman, a namesake surname for poet Walt, would be much more suited to a boy, probably because of that "man" part.  Whit or Witt makes an uplifting short form which can be used on its own.

Whitman

Verne

This name has not one but two impressive cultural connections: collage artist Joseph Cornell and photographer Cornell Capa--not to mention Cornell University.

Cornell

As a whole Wilford still carries a dowdy, dated image, but each component of the name—Will and Ford—are stylish in their own right.
 
Wilford will be a part of the next generation of grandpa revival names. Right now it's reaching the so-old-it's-actually-cute stage—the predecessor to rejuvenation.

Wilford

This name seems to foresee a future CFO. Not a bad thing. Osgood Perkins is the name of both the father and son of actor Anthony.  Oz is the enlivening nickname.


Osgood

Unfortunate identification with an army of rats in the movie of the same name. 

Willard

Old man names like Theodore and Clyde are back in style along with Old Lady Names.