Boy Names Lists · Historic and Vintage Names · Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
Vintage Nicknames for Boys
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About this list
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.
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The names
Theo
Diminutive of Theodore
"gift of God"
See the popularity graph below for the name Theo? It's been heading straight uphill since 2010, when it hopped back onto the Top 1000 after a 60+ year absence. Now in the Top 100 in this form, Theo's…
Sonny
English
"son"
Sonny is one of the generic boy nickname names making a surprise reappearance, and it was recently used by actor Jason Lee. Another surprise: It's been on the US Top 1000 list every year since 1927,…
Archie
Diminutive of Archibald, Teutonic
"truly brave"
Archie made global news as the surprise first name of the newborn royal baby, son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aka Harry and Meghan. Archie has now officially transcended Archie Bunker and…
Hank
Diminutive of Henry, German
"estate ruler"
Hank is a midcentury guy nickname (which actually dates back to the seventeenth century) of the Al/Hal/Dick school, which has been on recess from the playground for decades. Now it's just beginning…
Mack
Scottish or Irish
"son of"
Mack, when "formalized" with the final k, makes an engagingly amiable choice, a far more uncommon alternative to the ubiquitous Max and Jack, with a nice, every-guy feel. Mack entered the popularity…
Cal
Diminutive of names including Cal
"dog; the whole of; dove; bald; war-strife; beautiful"
Cal is a nickname style name that feels as friendly and calm as it does cool and breezy. While its longer forms have proved more popular over the years, Cal as a stand alone has dropped on and off of…
Ozzy
Pet form of Oswald, Osborn, Osmond or Oscar, English
"divine; deer"
Cute but cool, fresh but familiar, Ozzy was one of the fastest-rising boy names of 2021 and has continued to rise in the US and the UK ever since. While hard-core rocker Ozzy Osbourne might not be…
Hoke
Hoke is a surname name with a Southern feel, thanks to Morgan Freeman's character in the Oscar-winning movie Driving Miss Daisy . Parents may have passed this name by because of the similarity to…
Mac
Scottish or Irish
"son of"
In Ireland and Scotland, Mac and Mc mean "son of"; here, Mac is a generic fella, or a short form cooler than either Matt or Max. Mac can be a nickname of any longer Mac or Mc starting name such as…
Doss
Surname name and British English word name
Diehard World War II buffs may be interested in this name as a reference to American combat medic Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to be awarded the metal of honor. But it carries a…
Cas
Short form of Casper, Persian
"Imperial"
This short-but-strong name is popular for boys in The Netherlands. While Cass is usually a female name in the U.S., it feels just as right for boys.
Ossie
Short form of Oscar, Osias, Oswald et al
Ossie is best-known as the name of actor Ossie Davis, whose full name did not start with Os: It was Raiford. But Ossie makes a cute contemporary short form for any name beginning with Os.
Junior
Latin
"young"
The line should end with Junior Soprano. While most would expect this to be a nickname rather than an actual given name, Junior has always ranked in the US Top 1000, hitting its peak in 1925 at…
Tobe
Diminutive of Tobias, Hebrew
"God is good"
Simple short form of Tobias that feels more distinctly masculine than Toby. Tobe makes a great middle name — horror film director Tobe Hooper was actually born William Tobe Hooper.
Richie
Short form of Richard, English, German
"dominant ruler"
Richie was once a popular enough nickname for Richard that it made the Top 1000 all by itself, blending in with Ronnie, Reggie, Robbie, and Randy. In the US, it last appeared in the charts back in…
Zeke
Diminutive of Ezekiel
"God strengthens"
Zeke is a casual form of the name Ezekiel, an important prophet from the Old Testament. How well Zeke holds up depends on the boy: it could be a cooler alternative of Zack, or it could prove too…
Marsh
English nature name
Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.
Teddy
Diminutive of Theodore or Edward
"gift of God or wealthy guardian"
Teddy is in some ways one of those midcentury boys' nicknames -- like Jimmy or Bobby or Billy -- yet because it was never that popular, it feels timeless too. The preferred short form of Theodore…
Benny
Diminutive of Benjamin, Hebrew
"son of the right hand"
Benny is a diminutive form of Benjamin, which comes from Hebrew and means "son of the right hand" or "son of the south." Benny can also serve as a nickname for other names like Benedict, Bennett, or…
Pat
Diminutive of Patrick
"noble, patrician"
As seen on SNL, Pat is the ultimate androgynous name . Stick with long form Patrick, and make sure everyone calls him Patrick.
