1. Home
  2. Topics

Colonial Names for Boys

Many of the baby names that were widely used during colonial times have been out of use for enough time that they’re beginning to sound fresh and cool again. Early Americans used a range of baby names from obscure biblical picks such as Micajah and Zophar, to evocative virtuous word names such as Increase and Prosperity (which honestly wouldn’t sound so out of place today). Of course, the most common boy name during colonial times was John, closely followed by other very classic boy names such as William and Henry.

Along with John and William, other colonial names for boys in the US Top 200 include Abraham, Alexander, Christopher, Elias, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, and Nathaniel. Unique colonial-era nicknames for boys include Cuddy, Dobbin, Fate, Hiley, and Quill.

If you like historic baby names but want to move beyond the Victorian and biblical choices we've heard so much of in recent years, consider these names culled from Revolutionary War rolls and eighteenth-century town histories. Here, our lineup of colonial baby names for boys.

Elbridge Elbridge is a top-trending baby boy name tha...
Origin:Old English
11711
Comfort The meaning of Comfort is 'to strengthen, or...
Origin:Word name
12425
Dirch

Meaning: the people's ruler

Origin:Diminutive of Derrick, English
15700
Horatio

Meaning: hour, time

Origin:English variation of Latin Horatius
759
Zephaniah

Meaning: God has hidden

Origin:Hebrew
3269
Paddy The name Paddy is of Irish origin. The meani...
Origin:Irish, diminutive of Patrick
4042
Jared

Meaning: he descends

Origin:Hebrew
510
Alden

Meaning: old, wise friend

Origin:English
412
Jedidiah

Meaning: beloved of the Lord

Origin:Hebrew
645
Zachariah

Meaning: the Lord has remembered

Origin:Hebrew, form of Zechariah
700
Azariah

Meaning: helped by God

Origin: Hebrew
917
Ebenezer

Meaning: stone of help

Origin:Hebrew
943
Virgil

Meaning: staff bearer

Origin:Latin
780
Lemuel

Meaning: devoted to God

Origin:Hebrew
829
Hiram

Meaning: brother of the exalted one

Origin:Hebrew
875
Willie The name Willie is of German origins and it ...
Origin:Diminutive of William
5757
Origin:Diminutive of Jedidiah
1222
Edwin

Meaning: wealthy friend

Origin:English
316
Abner

Meaning: father of light.

Origin:Hebrew
615
Elihu

Meaning: Jehovah is God

Origin:Hebrew
2931