Vintage Nicknames for Boys

Lou

Diminutive of Louis or Lewis, French and German

"renowned warrior"

Lou, all by itself, is become fashionable for girls, which usually makes a name LESS fashionable for boys. But Lou, like Bill or Jim, is rarely used on its own for boys anyway. (You wouldn't name a…

Lum

Diminutive of Columbus, English from Latin

"dove"

A forgotten nickname for Columbus, which itself is becoming ever rarer. Radio comedy program Lum and Abner , which ran for over two decades beginning in 1931, featured a character named Columbus…

Lye

Diminutive of Elijah, Hebrew

"Yahweh is God"

Once upon a time, Lye was used as a nickname for Elijah. These days it feels too deceitful — try Eli as a nickname, or if you prefer something truly vintage, Lige.

Mal

Diminutive of Malcolm, Scottish

"devotee of St. Colomba"

A nickname for Malcolm that at one point ranked independently on the US Top 1000. It still exists as an affectionate pet form, but you’re unlikely to hear a Malcolm introduce himself as Mal.

Mano

Italian

"hand"

A nickname that sounds like a nickname.

Marsh

English nature name

Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.

Mart

Diminutive of Martin, Latin

"warlike"

Fresher and snappier than Marty and Martin, could Mart be successful as an independent baby name? It certainly has in the Netherlands, where it featured in the Top 300 in a recent year, outranking…

Marty

Short form of Martin, Latin

"warlike"

Marty is one of those Old Man nicknames that's just starting to sound cute again.

Maso

Italian, diminutive of Tomasso

"twin"

Appealing, lively, and distinctive.

Maury

Diminutive of Maurice

"dark skinned"

Old-man name, soft as a fraying gray cashmere cardigan, that would be even cuter for a girl.

Mo

English diminutive of Maurice and Morris

"dark-skinned"

An exceedingly friendly every-guy nickname that could rise alongside the likes of Ike, Sid, and Ned.

Mose

German variation of Moses, Egyptian

"delivered from the water"

Mose is the German variation of Moses, a widely familiar name thanks to the character in the Old Testament. Mose is also used a nickname for Moses. Fans of the American TV series The Office will…

Nat

English, diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel

Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style.

Nate

Diminutive of Nathan or Nathaniel, Hebrew

"given"

Six Feet Under transformed Nate's image from crusty uncle to cool guy. Nate is one of a new generation of nicknames that go directly on the birth certificate. Other similar names: Sam, Jack, Mack.…

Ned

English, diminutive of Edward

"wealthy guardian"

Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance. Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben…

Newt

English

"a small salamander"

Rarely used on its own and irrevocably tied to former House Speaker Gingrich -- who was christened Newton.

Obed

Hebrew

"servant of God"

This quirky Old Testament name has potential, as parents are digging deeper into the Bible to find names for their children. It has also been used as a nickname for Obediah. In the Old Testament,…

Obie

Obie has multiple origins, functioning as both a standalone name and a nickname. It emerged as a traditional diminutive for names like Obadiah, a Hebrew biblical name meaning 'servant of God.' It's…

Odie

Diminutive of Odell, Otis; English, German

"of the valley; wealthy"

This old-timey nickname for Otis and Odell is strongly tied to Garfield’s canine companion in the Garfield comic, movie, and TV franchise. Actress Ashley Williams gave it signs of life when she used…

Ollie

Diminutive of Oliver, Latin

"olive tree"

Ollie is the versatile go-to nickname for the hugely popular Oliver, though the large majority of parents prefer to have the more formal name on the birth certificate. Even in the UK where nickname…