Vintage Nicknames for Boys
Updated Fri Feb 02 2024
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Vintage nicknames that were once widely used for boys and might be revived by modern parents include those on the following list. Some of these vintage nicknames for boys are still heard today: Theo or Archie, for instance.
Other old-fashioned nicknames are so antiquated they are not heard at all, such as Con and Fate. And then there are those nicknames you might not want to use for a modern boy: We can't see Ham going over so well on the playground.
Along with Archie and Theo, other vintage nicknames for boys in the US Top 1000 include Hank, Sonny, and Gus. Old-fashioned nicknames lost to the time capsule — but potentially worth reviving! — include Brose, Cleve, Lige, and Odie.
If you're tired of the same old Jacks and Sams, you might want to consider these vintage boy nicknames. View our full list, below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Abe
Origin:
Diminutive of Abraham
- Albie
Origin:
Diminutive of Albert, Alban or Albus
- Alvie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"noble friend; friend of the elves"
- Alvy
Origin:
Diminutive of Alvin, EnglishMeaning:
"noble friend; friend of the elves"
- Archie
Origin:
Diminutive of Archibald, TeutonicMeaning:
"truly brave"
- Art
Origin:
Diminutive of ArthurMeaning:
"noble one; bear man"
- Artie
Origin:
Diminutive of Arthur, CelticMeaning:
"bear"
- Augie
Origin:
Short form of August and variations
- Bat
Origin:
Short form of Bartholomew
- Baz
Origin:
Diminutive of Sebastian or Basil; KurdishMeaning:
"regal; falcon"
- Benjie
- Bennie
- Benny
- Bernie
Origin:
Diminutive of Bernard, EnglishMeaning:
"strong; brave as a bear"
- Bert
Origin:
English, diminutive of Albert and Bertram
- Bertie
Origin:
Diminutive of Albert, Bertram etc
- Bige
Origin:
Short form of Abijah, HebrewMeaning:
"God is my father"
- Billy
Origin:
English, diminutive of WilliamMeaning:
"resolute protection"
- Bix
Origin:
Modern nickname
- Bobby
Origin:
Diminutive of RobertMeaning:
"bright fame"
- Bram
Origin:
Dutch variation of AbrahamMeaning:
"father of multitudes"
- Brose
Origin:
Diminutive of Ambrose, LatinMeaning:
"immortal"
- Buck
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"male deer or rabbit"
- Buddy
Origin:
English, nickname name
- Buster
Origin:
Modern nickname
- Cager
Origin:
Short form of Micajah, HebrewMeaning:
"Who is like God?"
- Cal
Origin:
Diminutive of Calvin
- Cas
Origin:
Short form of Casper, PersianMeaning:
"Imperial"
- Chan
Origin:
CambodianMeaning:
"sweet smelling tree"
- Chas
Origin:
Diminutive of Charles, French from GermanMeaning:
"free man"
- Chuck
Origin:
Diminutive of Charles
- Clem
Origin:
, English, diminutive of Clement
- Cleve
Origin:
Diminutive of Cleveland
- Cliff
Origin:
Topographical name or short form of Clifford or Clifton
- Con
Origin:
Diminutive of Cornelius, Conrad, Latin, GermanMeaning:
"horn; brave counsel"
- Coy
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"shy, taciturn"
- Coz
Origin:
Diminutive of CosmoMeaning:
"world"
- Cuddy
Origin:
Diminutive of CuthbertMeaning:
"famous, brilliant"
- Curley
- Cy
Origin:
Diminutive of Cyrus, PersianMeaning:
"sun"
- Dash
Origin:
Diminutive of Dashiell, meaning unknown
- Del
Origin:
English, diminutiveMeaning:
"small valley"
- Dell
Origin:
Diminutive of Odell, EnglishMeaning:
"of the valley"
- Des
Origin:
Diminutive of Desmond
- Dez
Origin:
Diminutive of Desmond
- Dick
Origin:
Diminutive of RichardMeaning:
"dominant ruler"
- Dickie
- Dirch
Origin:
Diminutive of Derrick, EnglishMeaning:
"the people's ruler"
- Dix
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"tenth"
- Dob
Origin:
Diminutive of Robert, EnglishMeaning:
"bright fame"
- Dobbin
Origin:
Diminutive of Robert
- Dock
Origin:
English word name
- Doss
Origin:
Surname name and British English word name
- Dunn
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"brown"
- Eben
Origin:
Hebrew, diminutive of EbenezerMeaning:
"stone of help"
- Eddie
Origin:
Diminutive of Edward et alMeaning:
"wealthy"
- Elzie
Origin:
Diminutive of Eliezer, HebrewMeaning:
"God helps"
- Ernie
Origin:
Variation of Ernest, English from GermanMeaning:
"serious, resolute"
- Fate
Origin:
Short form of Lafayette, FrenchMeaning:
"faith"
- Finney
Origin:
Diminutive of Phineas, EnglishMeaning:
"the Nubian"
- Fitz
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of"
- Frankie
Origin:
Diminutive of Frank, Francis, or Franklin
- Freddie
Origin:
Dininutive of Frederick, GermanMeaning:
"peaceful ruler"
- Fritz
Origin:
German, diminutive of Friedrich or FrederickMeaning:
"peaceful ruler"
- Gene
Origin:
Diminutive of Eugene, GreekMeaning:
"wellborn, noble"
- Gil
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"happiness"
- Gord
- Gore
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wedge-shaped object"
- Gram
Origin:
Variation of GrahamMeaning:
"gravelly homestead"
- Gus
Origin:
Diminutive of Augustus, Angus, Gustave, Augustin, Augusten, Augustine, August
- Hal
Origin:
Diminutive of Harold and Henry
- Ham
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"hot, warm"
- Hank
Origin:
Diminutive of Henry, GermanMeaning:
"estate ruler"
- Hap
Origin:
English diminutive of Henry or HaroldMeaning:
"estate ruler; army ruler"
- Happy
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"joyful"
- Harv
Origin:
Diminutive of Harvey; FrenchMeaning:
"battle worthy"
- Hiley
Origin:
Diminutive of Hiram, HebrewMeaning:
"brother of the exalted one"
- Hoke
- Howie
- Huck
Origin:
Diminutive of Huckleberry, word name
- Huey
Origin:
Variation of Hugh, EnglishMeaning:
"mind, intellect"
- Hy
Origin:
Diminutive of Hyman, HebrewMeaning:
"life"
- Ike
Origin:
Diminutive of Isaac
- Irv
- Jem
Origin:
Diminutive of James or Jeremiah
- Jock
Origin:
Scottish variation of Jack
- Jody
Origin:
Variation or diminutive of JosephMeaning:
"Jehovah increases"
- Jonty
Origin:
Diminutive of JonathanMeaning:
"gift of Jehovah"
- Joss
Origin:
English diminutive of JocelinMeaning:
"the merry one"
- Jules
Origin:
French form of Latin JuliusMeaning:
"youthful; soft, downy"
- Junior
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"young"
- Kiah
Origin:
Short form of Hezekiah, HebrewMeaning:
"God gives strength"
- Kiah
Origin:
Short form of Hezekiah, HebrewMeaning:
"God gives strength"
- Kit
Origin:
English, diminutive of ChristopherMeaning:
"bearer of Christ"
- Lafe
Origin:
Variation of Leif, Diminutive of Lafayette, Scandinavian, FrenchMeaning:
"heir, descendant; faith"
- Larkin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"rough, fierce"
- Larry
Origin:
Diminutive of Lawrence, English from LatinMeaning:
"from Laurentium or bay laurel"
- Laurie
Origin:
English diminutive of LaurenceMeaning:
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
- Lauro
Origin:
Diminutive of Laurence
- Leno
Origin:
Diminutive of LeonardMeaning:
"lion"
- Les
- Lige
Origin:
Diminutive of Elijah, HebrewMeaning:
"Yahweh is God"
- Llelo
Origin:
Diminutive of Llewelyn, WelshMeaning:
"lion"
- Llew
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"lion, leader"
- Lon
Origin:
Diminutive of AlonzoMeaning:
"noble, ready"
- Lonnie
- Lonzo
Origin:
Diminutive of AlonzoMeaning:
"noble, ready"
- Lou
Origin:
Diminutive of Louis or Lewis, French and GermanMeaning:
"renowned warrior"
- Lum
Origin:
Diminutive of Columbus, English from LatinMeaning:
"dove"
- Lye
Origin:
Diminutive of Elijah, HebrewMeaning:
"Yahweh is God"
- Mac
Origin:
Scottish or IrishMeaning:
"son of"
- Mack
Origin:
Scottish or IrishMeaning:
"son of"
- Mal
Origin:
Diminutive of Malcolm, ScottishMeaning:
"devotee of St. Colomba"
- Mano
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"hand"
- Marsh
Origin:
English nature name
- Mart
Origin:
Diminutive of Martin, LatinMeaning:
"warlike"
- Marty
- Maso
Origin:
Italian, diminutive of TomassoMeaning:
"twin"
- Maury
Origin:
Diminutive of MauriceMeaning:
"dark skinned"
- Mo
Origin:
English diminutive of Maurice and MorrisMeaning:
"dark-skinned"
- Mose
Origin:
German variation of Moses, EgyptianMeaning:
"delivered from the water"
- Nat
Origin:
English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel
- Nate
Origin:
English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel
- Ned
Origin:
English, diminutive of EdwardMeaning:
"wealthy guardian"
- Newt
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a small salamander"
- Obed
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"servant of God"
- Obie
- Odie
Origin:
Diminutive of Odell, Otis; English, GermanMeaning:
"of the valley; wealthy"
- Ollie
Origin:
Diminutive of Oliver, LatinMeaning:
"olive tree"
- Ossie
Origin:
Short form of Oscar, Osias, Oswald et al
- Oz
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"strength, powerful, courageous"
- Ozzy
Origin:
Pet form of Oswald, Osborn and Osmond.
- Paddy
Origin:
Irish, diminutive of Patrick
- Pat
Origin:
Diminutive of PatrickMeaning:
"noble, patrician"
- Percy
Origin:
French surname from place name Perci-en-Auge
- Pete
Origin:
Diminutive of PeterMeaning:
"rock"
- Pip
Origin:
English, diminutive of PhilipMeaning:
"lover of horses"
- Quince
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"applelike fruit"
- Rafe
Origin:
Variation of RalphMeaning:
"wolf-counsel"
- Riah
Origin:
Short form of Zachariah, HebrewMeaning:
"The Lord has remembered"
- Richie
Origin:
Short form of Richard
- Rollie
Origin:
Diminutive of Roland, GermanMeaning:
"famous throughout the land"
- Rye
Origin:
English, diminutive of Ryder,; word name; British surnameMeaning:
"cavalryman, messenger"
- Sandy
Origin:
Scottish and English diminutive of AlexanderMeaning:
"defending men"
- Seb
Origin:
EgyptianMeaning:
"God of the earth"
- Si
Origin:
Diminutive of Simon, HebrewMeaning:
"the listener"
- Sid
Origin:
Short form of Sidney, FrenchMeaning:
"Saint-Denis"
- Sim
Origin:
Scottish diminutive of SimonMeaning:
"the listener"
- Sly
Origin:
English word name, diminutive of Sylvester
- Sol
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"sun"
- Sonny
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son"
- Stan
Origin:
Short form of StanleyMeaning:
"near the stony meadow"
- Tad
Origin:
Diminutive of Thaddeus, AramaicMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Teddy
Origin:
Diminutive of Theodore or EdwardMeaning:
"gift of God or wealthy guardian"
- Thad
Origin:
Short form of Thaddeus or variation of Tad
- Theo
Origin:
Diminutive of TheodoreMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Tiah
Origin:
Diminutive of Azariah, HebrewMeaning:
"helped by God"
- Tobe
Origin:
Diminutive of Tobias, HebrewMeaning:
"God is good"
- Tolly
Origin:
Diminutive of Tolliver or Bartholomew
- Vern
Origin:
Diminutive of Vernon, EnglishMeaning:
"place of alders"
- Vic
Origin:
Diminutive of Victor, LatinMeaning:
"conqueror"
- Vin
Origin:
Diminutive of Vincent, LatinMeaning:
"conquering"
- Ving
Origin:
Diminutive of Irving
- Wally
Origin:
English, diminutive of Walter or Wallace
- Walt
Origin:
German, diminutive of Walter
- Wills
Origin:
Diminutive of WilliamMeaning:
"resolute protector"
- Zeb
Origin:
Diminutive of Zebediah or Zebulon
- Zeke
Origin:
Diminutive of EzekielMeaning:
"God strengthens"