1. Home
  2. Topics

Old People Names

Old people names are at the cutting edge of the vintage baby name spectrum. Still considered too fusty for mainstream use, unique old people names are being dug out and dusted down by adventurous baby namers looking for rare choices that are still rich in history.

Old people names that rank in the US Top 1000 include Alfred, Barbara, Roland, Eileen, Harold, Joyce, Maurice, and Patricia. Along with Alfred and Roland, other old people names starting to come back into style in the 2020s include Betty, Basil, Clarence, Loretta, Ned, Percy, Thora and Winifred.

Like a loud vintage sweater or a pair of granny-chic glasses, the coolest old people names make a strong retro style statement, but feel close enough to contemporary trends that they stand out for all the right reasons.

Some of these old people names seem like they’ll never feel youthful again, but who knows? Maybe your grandchildren will be called Nelda and Norman, Velma and Vernon.

Below, a selection of choices widely considered to be old people names – but possibly soon ripe for revival.

Gerald

Meaning: ruler with the spear

Origin:English and Irish from German
825
Lemuel

Meaning: devoted to God

Origin:Hebrew
829
Clarence

Meaning: bright

Origin:Latin
842
Norman

Meaning: northerner, Norseman

Origin:English
844
Hiram

Meaning: brother of the exalted one

Origin:Hebrew
875
Truman

Meaning: loyal one

Origin:English
916
Bernie

Meaning: strong; brave as a bear

Origin:Diminutive of Bernard, English
3167
Donald

Meaning: proud chief

Origin:Scottish
1105
Dewey

Meaning: beloved

Origin:Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
1177
Abner

Meaning: father of light.

Origin:Hebrew
615
Oswald

Meaning: divine power

Origin:English
676
Cecil

Meaning: blind

Origin:Latin
699
Howard

Meaning: high guardian or brave heart

Origin:German or English
715
Roy

Meaning: king or red-haired

Origin:French or Celtic
720
Orville

Meaning: gold town

Origin:French
2275
Verne Verne is an English name and the meaning of ...
Origin:English
4462
Arnold

Meaning: ruler, strong as an eagle

Origin:English from German
1175
Basil

Meaning: royal

Origin:Greek
500
Joanne

Meaning: God is gracious

Origin:French variation of Joanna
1820
Sidney

Meaning: Saint Denis

Origin:French
594