Vintage Boy Baby Names & Name Meanings
Classic Baby Boy Names Have Become Hip and Sophisticated
Sep 24, 2009
Parents often have a dilemma while searching for and deciding on a great name for their child. They want their child to have a name that's "cool" without being trendy. Classic baby names have recently become hip and sophisticated, leading parents to find they are the perfect fit.
Here are 10 classic baby boy names to and the meaning of each. Some of these names seem to be chosen frequently by parents, while others may be thought of as more original. Since some parents may want a more or less popular name, each name is followed by its ranking according to the Social Security Administration in 2008.
More Popular Classic Boy Baby Names by Rank
- Michael – Ranked #2 – Michael is a Hebrew name meaning "who resembles God?". Saint Michael was one of the biblical archangels. Since biblical times, Michael has been the name given to many other saints, along with emperors and kings. Common nicknames include "Mike" and "Mickey".
- Ethan – Ranked #3 – The Hebrew name Ethan means "firmness, long-lived; solid and enduring." A wise man in the Old Testament was the original bearer of the name Ethan. Edith Wharton's novel Ethan Frome (1911) can be given credit for helping make Ethan a popular early 20th century name.
- Alexander – Ranked #6 – The Greek name Alexander means "defender of mankind." Perhaps the most famous Alexander was Alexander the Great, King of Macedon. Since his reign, many other kings, popes and emperors have had the name Alexander. "Alex" is the traditional nickname for Alexander, though many little Alexanders today are given the nickname "Zander".
- William – Ranked #8 – William is of Old German origin, and its means "will helmet, protection". William has been longstanding popular name in Britain since the middle ages, when it belonged to William the conqueror. Currently, the name belongs to Prince William, son of Prince Charles and heir to the British throne. Popular nicknames include "Will" and "Bill".
- Matthew – Ranked #10 – Also an English variation a Hebrew name, and one of the 12 apostles, Matthew means "gift of the Lord". The most popular nickname is "Matt". Many currently famous actors share this name, including Matthew Broderick, Matt Damon, Matt Leblanc, Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Perry.
Less Chosen Classic Boy Baby Names and Name Meanings
- James – Ranked #17 – The English name James is a variation of the Hebrew name Jacob meaning "he who supplants". In the bible two apostles bore the name James, and in United State history six presidents have shared this name.
- Benjamin – Ranked #25 – Benjamin is a Hebrew, Biblical name meaning "son of the right hand; son of the south; son of my old age". In the Bible, Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob. This name also belonged to one of the most famous men in American history, Benjamin Franklin. It's common nickname is "Ben".
- Jack – Ranked #25 – The Old English name Jack is a form of Hebrew name"John", meaning "God is gracious". A some of it's Hollywood owners include Jack Benny, Jack Black, and Jack Nicholson
- Owen – Ranked #57 – Popular in Wales since the 14th century, Owen has gained popularity elsewhere since the 18th century. It means "well-born, noble." Owen and Owens have also been common last names throughout history.
- Henry – Ranked #78 – Henry is a German name meaning "home ruler". Henry has been a very popular name with British royalty, given to eight kings. Henry currently belongs to the second son of Prince Charles, Prince of Whales.
Parents often find that picking a great baby name is a challenging part of new parenthood. A classic baby name is one option to consider. Knowing the meaning of a name may also help parents with their decision.
Find out information about Vintage Girl Baby Names & Name Meanings.
Find out information about Cool Nicknames for Classic & Popular Baby Boy Names
For more information about how popular a baby name is, check out the Social Security Administration's baby name popularity guide at the Social Security Administration.
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