If you’re having trouble finding a vintage boy name that isn’t insanely popular, you’re not alone.
“There are actually fewer boys names to choose from,” Laura Wattenberg, creator of Namerology, told TODAY Parents. “If you look back at any given period, it’s going to be John, William and James. Boys names didn’t come in and out of fashion in the same way that girls names did.”
The Social Security Administration confirms Wattenberg’s sentiment. The top names for boys in the early 20th century include: John, William, James, George, Robert and Richard.
But parents set on reviving a vintage name should take heart — there are still plenty of interesting old-fashioned boy names to choose from that feel fresh and modern.
“Names today are all about sound,” Wattenberg explained. “It’s a very smooth, light, and vowel-driven sound. That’s why you see so many Amelias and Olivias and so few Gertrudes and Mildreds.”
Wattenberg, author of the “Baby Name Wizard,” notes that some parents aren’t opposed to big groups of voiced consonants, such as in Mildred.
“Those heavier names stand out more today,” she said. “For instance, Conrad will stand out in a sea of names rhyming with Aiden.”
Wattenberg recommends looking for names that are tied to a historical figure such as Woodrow, after former President Woodrow Wilson, who served from 1913 to 1921. She also recommended researching your own family tree for unexpected gems.
75 Old Man Names For Baby Boys
Whether you are inspired by old-fashioned names for boys or simply want to revive a vintage name, here are 75 old man names to consider for your new son:
Albert
Alvin
Amos
Archibald
Archie
Arthur
Barney
Beau
Bertram
Buck
calvin
Cecil
Chester
Clifford
Clyde
Conrad
Cyril
Cyrus
Desmond
Customs
Dwight
Edmund
Edwin
Ernest
Franklin
Frederick
Gerald
Gideon
Gilbert
Gus
grady
Hardy
Harlan
Harold
Harris
Herschel
Jules
Lionel
Lloyd
Luther
Mack
Marshall
Martin
Melvin
Milton
Ned
Orson
Orville
Otis
Oscars
Otto
Palmers
Percy
Prescott
Quincy
Ralph
Roland
Roy
Rudy
Rupert
Rutherford
Silas
Stanley
Stanton
Sylvester
Theodore
Thomas
Vernon
Wallace
Walton
Ward
Warrens
Wilbur
Winfield
Woodrow
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This article was originally published on TODAY.com