| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Aaron
|
High mountain
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Abraham
|
Father of nations
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Albert
|
Noble, bright, famous
|
German
|
|
|
|
Alex
|
Defender of man
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Alexander
|
Defender of man
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Alfred
|
Elf or magical counsel
|
English
|
|
|
|
Allen
|
Little rock
|
English
|
|
|
|
Alton
|
Old town
|
English
|
|
|
|
Alvin
|
Elf or magical being, friend
|
English
|
|
|
|
Andrew
|
Manly and powerful
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Angelo
|
Messenger of God
|
Italian
|
|
|
|
Anthony
|
Unknown meaning
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Antonio
|
Unknown meaning
|
Italian
|
|
|
|
Archie
|
A diminutive form of Archibald.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Arnold
|
Eagle ruler
|
German
|
|
|
|
Arthur
|
Bear
|
Celtic
|
|
|
|
Ben
|
Son
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Benjamin
|
A favorite son
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Bennie
|
Son; blessed; son of the right hand; son of the south; son of my old age
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Bernard
|
Strong, brave bear
|
German
|
|
|
|
Bill
|
A diminutive form of William.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Billy
|
Will helmet, protection
|
German
|
|
|
|
Bob
|
A diminutive form of Robert.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Bruce
|
“The man from the brushwood,” ultimately from the Latin bruscia, brush wood.
|
Ancient
|
|
|
|
Calvin
|
Hairless one
|
English
|
|
|
|
Carl
|
A variant form of Charles.
|
German
|
|
|
|
Cecil
|
Blind; sixth
|
Welsh
|
|
|
|
Charles
|
Free man
|
German
|
|
|
|
Charlie
|
Free man
|
English
|
|
|
|
Chester
|
Camp of soldiers
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Clarence
|
One who lives near the River Clare
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Claude
|
Lame
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Clayton
|
Clay settlement
|
English
|
|
|
|
Clifford
|
Cliff-side ford
|
English
|
|
|
|
Clifton
|
Town by the cliff
|
English
|
|
|
|
Clinton
|
Fenced settlement
|
English
|
|
|
|
Clyde
|
“The keeper of the keys,” from the Greek Meidion, a key.
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Curtis
|
Courteous, polite
|
French
|
|
|
|
Dale
|
Valley
|
English
|
|
|
|
Dan
|
Judge; God is my judge
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Daniel
|
God is My Judge
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
David
|
Beloved
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Dean
|
Valley
|
English
|
|
|
|
Delbert
|
Day-bright
|
English
|
|
|
|
Don
|
“A lord,” from the Latin dominus, a master or a lord.
|
Welsh
|
|
|
|
Donald
|
Great chief; world mighty
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Douglas
|
Black river
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Earl
|
Nobleman, warrior, prince
|
English
|
|
|
|
Earnest
|
Serious; battle to the death
|
German
|
|
|
|
Eddie
|
Wealthy guard
|
English
|
|
|
|
Edgar
|
Wealthy spear
|
English
|
|
|
|
Edmund
|
Wealthy protector
|
English
|
|
|
|
Edward
|
Wealthy guard
|
English
|
|
|
|
Edwin
|
Wealthy friend
|
English
|
|
|
|
Elbert
|
Noble, bright, famous
|
English
|
|
|
|
Ellis
|
My God is Yahweh
|
English
|
|
|
|
Elmer
|
Noble, famous
|
English
|
|
|
|
Emil
|
Eager
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Ernest
|
Serious; battle to the death
|
German
|
|
|
|
Glen
|
Glen
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Glenn
|
Glen
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Gordon
|
Large fortification
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Grover
|
Grove of trees
|
English
|
|
|
|
Guy
|
Wood
|
German
|
|
|
|
Harold
|
Army ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Harry
|
Home ruler
|
German
|
|
|
|
Harvey
|
Battle ready
|
English
|
|
|
|
Henry
|
Home ruler
|
English
|
|
|
|
Herbert
|
Illustrious warrior
|
German
|
|
|
|
Herman
|
Soldier
|
German
|
|
|
|
Homer
|
Security, pledge; hostage
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Horace
|
“A maker of timepieces,” from the Latin hora, an hour.
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Howard
|
Noble watchman
|
English
|
|
|
|
Hubert
|
Bright or shining intellect
|
German
|
|
|
|
Hugh
|
Soul, mind, intellect
|
German
|
|
|
|
Ira
|
Full-grown; watchful
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Irvin
|
Green or fresh water
|
Gaelic
|
|
|
|
Irving
|
Green or fresh water
|
Gaelic
|
|
|
|
Isaac
|
He will laugh
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Ivan
|
God is gracious
|
Slavic
|
|
|
|
Jack
|
God is gracious
|
English
|
|
|
|
Jacob
|
Supplanter
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
James
|
Supplanter
|
English
|
|
|
|
Jay
|
To heal
|
English
|
|
|
|
Jerome
|
Sacred name
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Jerry
|
A diminutive form of Jeremiah and Jerome.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Jesse
|
Gift
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Jessie
|
The Lord exists
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Jim
|
A diminutive form of James.
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Jimmie
|
He who supplants
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Joe
|
A diminutive form of Joseph.
|
English
|
|
|
|
John
|
God is gracious
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Johnie
|
God is gracious
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Johnnie
|
God is gracious
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Johnny
|
God is gracious
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Jose
|
Jehovah will increase
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Joseph
|
Jehovah will increase
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Julian
|
Young at heart
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Julius
|
Youthful and downy
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Junior
|
The younger one
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Keith
|
Woodland, forest
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Kenneth
|
Handsome
|
Scottish
|
|
|
|
Lawrence
|
From Laurentum
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Lee
|
Pasture or meadow
|
English
|
|
|
|
Marion
|
Form of Mary
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Marshall
|
Caretaker of horses
|
English
|
|
|
|
Martin
|
Of Mars
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Matthew
|
Gift of God
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Maurice
|
Dark-skinned, Moorish
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Max
|
Greatest
|
English
|
|
|
|
Melvin
|
“The counseling friend.” Based on the Anglo-Saxon mael (council) and wine (friend).
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Merle
|
Blackbird
|
French
|
|
|
|
Michael
|
Who is Like God?
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Mike
|
A diminutive form of Michael.
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Milton
|
Mill town
|
English
|
|
|
|
Morris
|
A variant form of Maurice.
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Nathan
|
He gave
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Nathaniel
|
God has given
|
Hebrew
|
|
|
|
Nelson
|
“The son of Nell or Neal,” from Nell or Neal and son.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Nicholas
|
Victory of the people
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Nick
|
A diminutive form of Nicholas.
|
Japanese
|
|
|
|
Norman
|
Northerner
|
German
|
|
|
|
Oliver
|
Olive tree
|
English
|
|
|
|
Orville
|
Gold town
|
French
|
|
|
|
Oscar
|
Friend of deer
|
Gaelic
|
|
|
|
Otis
|
Wealth; son of Otto
|
German
|
|
|
|
Patrick
|
Nobleman
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Paul
|
Small
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Pete
|
Rock
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Peter
|
Stone
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Philip
|
Horse lover
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Phillip
|
Horse lover
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Ralph
|
Wolf counsel
|
English
|
|
|
|
Ray
|
A diminutive form of Raymond.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Stanley
|
Stony meadow
|
English
|
|
|
|
Stephen
|
Crown
|
English
|
|
|
|
Steve
|
A diminutive form of Stephen.
|
English
|
|
|
|
Sylvester
|
Wooded
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Theodore
|
God's gift
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Thomas
|
Twin
|
Greek
|
|
|
|
Tom
|
A diminutive form of Thomas.
|
Aramaic
|
|
|
|
Tony
|
A diminutive form of Anthony.
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Vernon
|
Alder grove
|
French
|
|
|
|
Victor
|
Champion
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Vincent
|
Conquer
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Virgil
|
“A man of authority,” based on the Latin ver ger e (to bend), but ultimately on virgo, a staff of authority.
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Wallace
|
Welshman
|
French
|
|
|
|
Walter
|
Commander of the army
|
German
|
|
|
|
Warren
|
Game preserve
|
English
|
|
|
|
Wayne
|
Wagon builder or driver
|
English
|
|
|
|
Wesley
|
Western meadow
|
English
|
|
|
|
Wilbert
|
Bright will
|
German
|
|
|
|
Wilbur
|
Bright will
|
German
|
|
|
|
Wilfred
|
Desiring peace
|
English
|
|
|
|
Willard
|
Strong desire
|
English
|
|
|
|
William
|
A willing protector
|
German
|
|
|
|
Willie
|
Willing protector
|
English
|
|
|
|
Willis
|
“The son of Will(iam ),” based on Will (diminutive of William) and is (his).
|
English
|
|
|
|
Woodrow
|
Row of houses by the wood
|
English
|
|
|
Blast-from-the-past picks dominate the baby name charts, including countless 1920s boy names. These roaring 1920s boy names capture the spirit of the times with energy, charm, and wit. Let’s meet some baby boy names from the 1920s together, from well-known classics to rare finds.
Believe it or not, many of today’s most popular picks are 1920s boy names. This includes timeless treasures you likely know, including John, William, and James. According to the Social Security Administration, these names were popular on a level you don’t see today, with the most popular boy name, John, being used a staggering 56,914 times for American boys in 1920. Now compare that to 2020’s top boy name, Liam, who was given to 19,659 little boys. Crazy, right? Other classic 1920s boy names include Michael, Thomas, and Robert.
Some popular 1920s names for boys have seen rises and falls in use over the years but are back in style. This includes newcomers toward the top of the charts like Henry, Benjamin, and Jack. Theodore is another excellent pick enjoying his time in the spotlight again, and with good reason. Meaning “God’s gift,” this Greek great is not only rich in spirit but in sound and nickname options too, including Theo, Teddy, and Ted. See Samuel, Leo, and Charlie for more common 1920s seeing a current spike in usage.
Most fans of vintage boy names love them for their old-man chic styling. Franklin is one of our all-time favorite roaring 1920s boy names for this reason. Both presidential and polished, he’s perfect for an adult but still boyish enough for a little one. He can also go by Frank or Frankie to dress him down, as needed. You can do the same with Walter, a German name with an old soul. On his own, he’s mature, but he can transform into Walt or Wally as a little guy. There’s also Albert, whose nickname Albie is simply precious. Check out Stanley, Ernest, and Howard for more old-man chic goodness.
Browse our collection of 1920s boy names and see which will capture your vintage-loving heart, whether it’s a rare find like Cecil or a perennially popular choice like David.
