Vintage Nicknames for Boys

Short form of Harvey, variation of Harve.

Cuthbert is unlikely to make a comeback anytime soon, so Cuddy too may be lost to history.

Appealing short form of the stuffy Cleveland, occasionally used on its own.

Actor Rhames's imaginative shortening of the prosaic Irving, giving it new life and energy.

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.

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.

Ossie is best-known as the name of actor Ossie Davis, whose full name did not start with Os: It was Raiford. But Ossie makes a cute contemporary short form for any name beginning with Os.

Adds some dash and substance to Lon.

A vintage addition to the Riley/Miley/Wiley/Kylie brigade.

If default nickname Eli is too common for your tastes, you may consider resuscitating the antique nickname Lige for your little Elijah.

A cool sounding nickname with associations to Bill Cosby.

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

A thoroughly old-school nickname for Ambrose — one that lightens up the serious full form.

Hy was once a nickname for Hyman, a Jewish Anglicization of Chaim. Today it has gone extinct, for obvious reasons.

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.

Ancient nickname that sounds cuter than its modern alternatives -- but be aware that in the days of the horse and buggy, it was most often used for the horse.

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.