Boy Names Lists · Historic and Vintage Names · Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
Vintage Nicknames for Boys
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Del
English, diminutive
"small valley"
The kind of name last found in northern Wisconsin in the 1950s, and even then it was probably a nickname for Delbert.
Dell
Diminutive of Odell, English
"of the valley"
Originally a short form of Odell, a place name turned surname that hails from England.
Des
Diminutive of Desmond
The cool clipped Des may be the part of the name wave of the future, with midcentury names like Des and Vic and Stan riding back into style on the heels of big brothers Max and Sam and Ray.
Dez
Diminutive of Desmond
More of an abbreviation than a short form that can stand on its own.
Dick
Diminutive of Richard
"dominant ruler"
Dick was a once-common short form of Richard; replaced by Rick or Richie, and finally by the full name itself. Rude meaning -- make that two rude meanings -- pretty much knocks this one out of…
Dickie
Dickie is traditionally a masculine name functioning primarily as an affectionate diminutive of Richard, which has Germanic origins meaning 'strong ruler' or 'brave power.' While sometimes used as a…
Dirch
Diminutive of Derrick, English
"the people's ruler"
An old-timey nickname for Derrick that has since been forgotten.
Dix
Latin
"tenth"
Once a birth order name, now might work as a cool x-ending nickname. But be warned that it sounds very close to an unfortunate slang term.
Dob
Diminutive of Robert, English
"bright fame"
Along with Dobbin, Dob was medieval nickname for Robert.
Dobbin
Diminutive of Robert, English from German
"bright fame"
Ancient nickname that sounds cuter than its modern alternatives -- but be aware that in the days of the horse and buggy, it was most often used for the horse.
Coz
Diminutive of Cosmo
"world"
A cool sounding nickname with associations to Bill Cosby.
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…
Coy
English
"shy, taciturn"
Though rarely heard now, Coy has been around for a century and was not an uncommon name a hundred years ago. There have been a couple of NFL players named Coy, Coy Bowles is in the Zac Brown band,…
Eben
Hebrew, diminutive of Ebenezer
"stone of help"
Though most parents would shy away from Ebenezer, short form Eben is affable and creative and perfectly able to stand alone; nothing Scroogish about it. This also makes a fresh new spin on the very…
Billy
English, diminutive of William
"resolute protection"
Cute kid with freckles, bouncing a Spalding ball. Cool couple Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton put the name Billy Burton on their son's birth certificate. While the classic William, name of the…
Elzie
Diminutive of Eliezer, Hebrew
"God helps"
The male nickname Elzie originated as a short form of Eliezer. Neither are coming back into fashion anytime soon.
Ernie
Variation of Ernest, English from German
"serious, resolute"
Not too long ago, Ernie may have felt totally out of style: a clunky old man nickname, best reserved for grandpa alongside Merle, Errol, and Barney. Now however, it's a rising star, a vintage revival…
Fate
Short form of Lafayette, French, English word name
"faith; predestined, destiny, chance"
Briefly in the US Top 1000 in the late 19th century, Fate likely emerged as a short form for the old French name, Lafayette. In the contemporary landscape however, it may well be perceived as a word…
Finney
Diminutive of Phineas, English
"the Nubian"
These days Finney is most likely a pet form of Finn, but it was once a standard nickname for the biblical Phineas.
Bat
Short form of Bartholomew
Bartholomew is one vintage name with Biblical antecedents that hasn't risen again in the modern world, perhaps because short form Bart, as in Simpson, would be too difficult for a contemporary boy to…