Victorian Boy Names

In Arthurian legend, Lancelot was one of the most dashing of the Knights of the Round Table who eventually had an affair with Queen Guinevere: it makes for a romantic story-- but perhaps overly romantic-- name.

 An older spelling is Launcelot, as seen in Shakespeare's Launcelot Gabbo in The Merchant of Venice and two Tobias Smollett novels.

 Short form Lance has had an independent life of his own.

Lancelot

Ludwig

Godfrey was very popular in the Middle Ages, but today you're more likely to hear it as a surname than a first name. It has a solid, old-man charm, but a couple of possible deal-breakers: the first syllable being God, and no obvious nickname. Goff, maybe? For a different feel, we also like the Italian artist's version Giotto.

Godfrey

Ivor, a favorite choice for upscale characters in Brit Lit novels by authors like P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh, is an interesting and unusual name just waiting to be discovered by parents in this country. 
 Ivor Novello was the stage name of a popular Welsh actor and songwriter of the recent past who brought it to prominence in England.
 An equally appealing name is the related Ivo, which has the energetic impact of all names ending in 'o'.

Ivor

Derived from Aku, the name of the Babylonian god of the moon. In the Old Testament Shadrach is the Babylonian name of Hananiah, one of the three men cast into a furnace before being saved by God.

Shadrach

Last in fashion in the 1930s, Bertram might once have been firmly in the best left in the past category, but with sweet nickname Bertie and the cool option of Bram, Bertram might just be one to reconsider. Fitting in with other clunky vintage options like Chester, Sidney, Abram, Ebenenzer, and Wilfred, Bertram is a literary option, appearing as the full first name of P.G. Wodehouse's inimitable Bertie Wooster and on a character in Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well.
 
Not to be confused with Bertrand (though the two often do get conflated), Bertram is derived from Old German and has the stylish and mystical meaning of "bright raven". A nature and bird inspired choice, it has a hint of Halloween about it too, thanks to the raven link.
 
Bertram briefly entered the UK charts in the 1990s, and ranked in Denmark up until 2016, which in the US, a recent year saw it given to just 10 boys. In England and Wales, it was chosen for 9 boys, placing it alongside Blaise, Boston, Gordon, Gunnar, and Oakes.

Bertram

Rocking out on the porch with buddies Hubert, Norbert, and Osbert. 

Elbert

Edison's middle name is a fabulous option for parents looking for something with history and a soft sound. This could be the name you're looking for if you like Tesla's scientific pedigree but think that it has become too corporate with the advent of Elon Musk's company.

Alva

A once-popular nickname for Albert and Bertram now being polished up by hip Brits, but still hibernating in the Land of Nerd over here. 

Bert

It's easy to love a name that rhymes with "cuddly" and is also attached to the surname Do-Right -- once you ignore the "dud" connection. 
 Dudley has aristocratic roots--the name was originally famous via a sixteenth century noble British family, one member of which, Robert Dudley, came close to marrying Queen Elizabeth I.
 Dudley was the name of the angel played by Cary Grant in "The Bishop's Wife," later remade with Denzel Washington in the role, while Dudley Dursley is a Harry Potter character. The name's most well known bearer in modern times was comic actor Dudley Moore.

Dudley

Like Horace, Horatio is a variation on the Latin Horatius, but its Shakespearean and optimistic Horatio Alger pedigree makes it an attractive up-and-comer, especially with its cool final o. A modern reference is the charismatic TV character Horatio Caine played by David Caruso in CSI: Miami.
 Horatio was the given name of Lord Nelson, one of the most dashing of British heroes, the naval commander who led the British fleet to destroy the French at Trafalgar, and it also belonged to Hamlet's loyal friend. Another literary namesake is Captain Horatio Hornblower, the protagonist of a long-running series of naval novels penned by C. S. Forester, played on screen by Gregory Peck.

Horatio

Granville is a distinguished English place name and surname that originated from the Norman-French "grande ville," meaning "large town." Dating back to medieval times, it gained usage as a given name in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly among families with connections to various Granville locations across England and France. The name carries an air of aristocratic heritage and old-world sophistication. While never extremely common, Granville experienced modest popularity in the early 20th century before declining in usage. Today, it represents a distinguished, vintage choice that suggests refinement and classic elegance. The name may appeal to parents interested in surnames as first names or seeking a dignified traditional option with historical resonance.

Granville

Deriving from the Roman cognomen Vivianus, Vivian was originally a masculine name, with Vivien being a feminine soundalike coined by Alfred Lord Tennyson for the Lady of the Lake in his famous poetic adaptation of the legend of King Arthur. It has since become a much more popular choice for girls in the US, but retains a refined British charm which sees it cropping up occasionally for boys in the Telegraph birth announcements. Fun fact: Vivian is the middle name of Daniel Cleaver, Hugh Grant's rakish character in the Bridget Jones movies.

Vivian

The Welsh version of William is almost unheard-of across, but it's fairly straightforward and could make a good heritage choice or alternative honor name.

Gwilym

Gentle and poetic and most often heard in Wales, Emlyn joins Emrys as soft, interesting alternatives to popular Em- names like Emmett and Emery. Sometimes viewed as a Welsh variation of Emiliano, it more likely comes from the Welsh em and glyn meaning "around the valley" (or possibly from llyn, giving it the meaning "around the lake").
 
Emlyn was one of the seven ancient districts of Wales and while it may lean feminine to American ears - perhaps as a spelling variant of Emmeline - there are plenty of masculine namesakes, including footballers Emlyn Williams, Emlyn Hughes and Emlyn Mulligan, Welsh Physicist Emlyn Rhoderick, and Emlyn A.G Watkins, a police officer awarded for bravery. Writer Jenny Nimmo also used it in her novel, Emlyn's Moon.
 
2023 saw a number of vintage rarities coming back into style in the US, and Emlyn was one of them. Used on more than 5 boys for the first time in a century, perhaps it could fit in with other rising choices like Ephraim and Ellis.

Emlyn

One of the ultimate teasable names, an Irish saint's name now associated with the oversized comic-strip dog.  Scottish adventurer Bear (born Edward) Grylls took up the challenge when he used it for his son.

Marmaduke

The name gained considerable recognition through Dr. David Livingstone, the famous 19th-century Scottish missionary and explorer of Africa. As a first name, Livingstone projects qualities of adventure, discovery, and humanitarian values. While uncommon as a given name, it appeals to parents drawn to its historical significance and substantial, distinguished character. The name carries connotations of intellect, courage, and pioneering spirit.

Livingstone

Feodore is a masculine name with noble Russian roots, serving as a variant of the more common Theodore. Derived from Greek elements meaning 'gift of God,' Feodore carries the same profound meaning but with a distinctly Slavic character. 

The name was borne by several Russian nobles and royals, including Grand Duke Feodor Alexandrovich of Russia. While Theodore remains widely used internationally, Feodore offers a more uncommon alternative with historical depth. The name experienced limited popularity in Imperial Russia but has remained rare elsewhere. 

Feodore

Conjures up a tweedy English country gentleman with a large paunch. 

Squire

Humphrey is an old name that might have faded completely were it not for that Bogie flair. A royal name in Britain, where it's used somewhat more frequently, Humphrey might just have some life beyond Bogart here, especially with the recent interest in the names of Golden Age Hollywood stars. His first name was the maiden name of his mother, Maud Humphrey, a well-known illustrator who used baby H. as a model.
 Humphrey was brought to England by the Normans and was made famous by Duke Humphrey, the fifteenth century Duke of Gloucester and youngest son of Henry IV, a noted patron of literature, who appears in Shakespeare's Henry IV. In other literature, Humphrey Wasp is a character in Ben Jonson's Bartholomew Fair, and the eponymous hero of Tobias Smollett's early novel Humphrey Clinker. In James Joyce's Finnegans Wake Humphrey Climpden Earwicker represents the everyman.
 Bottom line: An interesting name with a noirish edge.

Humphrey

Victorian boy names from the 1800s range from timeless classics like William, Henry and Charles to truly Victorian-era names like Cornelius, Percival and Livingstone, after the famous Scottish physician, explorer and missionary David Livingstone. 

 making a comeback today include Theodore, Ezra, Oscar, and Arthur.

The Victorian age is named after Queen Victoria, who ruled the United Kingdom for most of the 19th century. The names Queen Victoria herself chose for her sons include stylish 1800s boy names like Albert, Arthur, Ernest, Leopold and Duncan. More unusual choices among the 

 include Leopold, Ewart, Temple, Cecil and Feodore.

 were also very popular in the 1800s, including uncommon (in current times) boy names like Simeon, Jabez, Enoch, Hezekiah and Job. Other old-fashioned 1800s names for boys we're starting to hear again include Ambrose, Emrys, Clement, and Lionel.

Find our longlist of Victorian boy names popular in the 19th century here.

Victorian boy names from the 1800s including royal boy names and Biblical boy names from the 19th century (Page 10)

Victorian Boy Names from the 1800s