Vintage Nicknames for Boys

  1. Sim
    • Origin:

      Scottish diminutive of Simon
    • Meaning:

      "the listener"
    • Description:

      The Biblical Simon has been rediscovered and this appealing short form, an alternative to Sam, might be a way to make your Simon even more special.
  2. Finney
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Phineas, English
    • Meaning:

      "the Nubian"
    • Description:

      These days Finney is most likely a pet form of Finn, but it was once a standard nickname for the biblical Phineas.
  3. Maury
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Maurice
    • Meaning:

      "dark skinned"
    • Description:

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

      Diminutive of Roland, German
    • Meaning:

      "famous throughout the land"
    • Description:

      As its parent name Roland comes back into style (yep, it’s happening), could there be an uptick in baby Rollies? Certainly as a pet form.
  5. Dix
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "tenth"
    • Description:

      Once a birth order name, now might work as a cool x-ending nickname. But be warned that it sounds very close to an unfortunate slang term.
  6. Happy
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "joyful"
    • Description:

      Many emotional, virtuous word names are coming back into style, but Happy feels unlikely to be revived. This could be because it doesn't have a solid history of being popularly used (in comparison to Joy) and because it's such a familiarly used word in day to day life (unlike Valor).
  7. Vic
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Victor, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "conqueror"
    • Description:

      This short form of classic Victor is popular in its own right in Belgium and the Netherlands.
  8. Gore
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "wedge-shaped object"
    • Description:

      Surname from a landscape feature, associated with author Gore Vidal and Bill Clinton's Vice President Al Gore. Its alternative meaning - as in gory - may explain why it's never made it into the charts.
  9. Les
    • Description:

      Les is a masculine name that functions both as a standalone name and a familiar shortening of longer names like Lester, Leslie, or Leszek. Compact and straightforward, it carries a no-nonsense quality that has appealed to parents for generations. In English-speaking countries, Les reached its peak popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in Britain, Australia, and North America. The name has working-class associations in some regions, often conjuring images of reliability and straightforwardness. In Eastern European contexts, particularly Polish communities, Les may derive from Leszek, giving it different cultural connotations. The name's brevity gives it a distinct, unpretentious character.

  10. Mano
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "hand"
    • Description:

      A nickname that sounds like a nickname.
  11. Gram
    • Origin:

      Variation of Graham
    • Meaning:

      "gravelly homestead"
    • Description:

      Streamlined form eases pronunciation and spelling, but somehow adds a weighty element to this British favorite. It became familiar in the U.S. via musician Gram Parsons.
  12. Mart
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Martin, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "warlike"
    • Description:

      Much more modern than Marty and rhyming with the stylish short name Hart, could Mart show success as an independent baby name? Perhaps that’s too much to ask, but we do like it as a nickname for Martin.
  13. Lye
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Elijah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "Yahweh is God"
    • Description:

      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.
  14. Con
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cornelius, Conrad, Latin, German
    • Meaning:

      "horn; brave counsel"
    • Description:

      Back in the day, Con was a nickname for Cornelius and Conrad. Today it feels like a pet form of Connor.
  15. Ham
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "hot, warm"
    • Description:

      Along with Shem and Japheth, a son of Noah with a name that's almost never used -- for more obvious reasons than those of his brothers.
  16. Si
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Simon, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "the listener"
    • Description:

      Si is an intriguing antique nickname for Simon and Silas, and we’ve also heard it as a short form of names that contain the "sigh" sound, like Josiah and Osiris.
  17. Maso
    • Origin:

      Italian, diminutive of Tomasso
    • Meaning:

      "twin"
    • Description:

      Appealing, lively, and distinctive.
  18. Dob
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Robert, English
    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"
    • Description:

      Along with Dobbin, Dob was medieval nickname for Robert.
  19. Tiah
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Azariah, Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "helped by God"
    • Description:

      In the 18th century, Tiah was seen as a nickname for the biblical name Azariah. Nowadays it's used a variation of the feminine names Thea and Tia.
  20. Mal
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Malcolm, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "devotee of St. Colomba"
    • Description:

      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.