The world is always changing and society is always changing with it, but every now and then something defies father time just to return again – and that’s exactly what we’re seeing with old money names.
It’s like they always say – everything old is new again.
Just take one look around and you’ll see old money names like Reginald and Archibald for boys, and Eleanor and Caroline for girls, making a comeback as parents look to honor their family’s rich history.
RELATED: Old Money Baby Names Are Making a Comeback in a Big Way
Even if your family doesn’t have a rich past, old money names are a great way to ‘fake it until you make it’ – giving your family a sense of what living in the upper class is all about, even if it’s just a little taste of it.
We do something similar with the clothes we wear and shows we watch.
If you don’t believe me, look at all the people wearing pleated skirts, penny loafers, and blazers – or all the people watching old money shows like The Gilded Age, Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, and Succession.
Our obsession with old money is obvious – and old money names are no different. If you’re thinking of jumping on the bandwagon, then don’t worry – we’ll detail some of our favorite old money names below!
20 of Our Favorite Old Money Names for Boys
In an era where unique and meaningful names are highly valued, old money names offer a distinctive alternative to more modern names – helping your son stand out while connecting them to a storied past.
And while they serve as a subtle status symbol, they don’t necessarily have to.
Old money names don’t have to reflect your family’s possessions or how much money you have. They can also reflect your family’s aspirations and goals – or a certain lifestyle you hope to obtain someday.
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Whether you have it or not, here are some old money names for your handsome little heir.
20. Preston
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Priest’s Town (originally a surname that indicated someone who lived in or came from a village associated with a church or monastery)
Nicknames: Pres, Prez, Tony, Pressy
Famous People: Preston Sturges (American playwright, screenwriter, and director), Preston Wilson (professional baseball player), Preston Lacy (actor, writer, and stunt performer), Preston Tucker (American automobile designer), Preston Pearson (professional football player)
19. Archibald
Origin: Old High German
Meaning: Genuine, Bold, Brave; combines the elements “ercan” (genuine) and “bald” (bold)
Nicknames: Arch, Archie, Arlo, Archy
Famous People: Archibald Cox (American lawyer and law professor), Archibald MacLeish (American poet, writer, and Librarian of Congress), Archibald Alexander (American Presbyterian theologian), Archibald Gracie IV (American writer, historian, and Titanic survivor), Archibald Primrose (5th Earl of Rosebery; British statesman)
18. Bartholomew
Origin: Aramaic
Meaning: Son of Talmai (derived from the Aramaic name “Bar-Talmai”)
Nicknames: Bart, Barty, Bartel, Tolly, Barry
Famous People: Saint Bartholomew (one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ), Bartholomew Roberts (Welsh pirate), Bartholomew Dias (Portuguese explorer), Bartholomew Ogbeche (Nigerian professional footballer), Bartholomew Fairbairn (fictional character created by Patrick O’Brian)
17. Benedict
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blessed (comes from the Latin name “Benedictus”)
Nicknames: Ben, Benny, Bennie, Ned
Famous People: Benedict of Nursia (Italian saint), Benedict Cumberbatch (British actor), Benedict Arnold (general during the American Revolutionary War), Benedict Anderson (scholar and historian), Pope Benedict XVI (served as the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013)
16. Alistair
Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Defender of the People (derived from the Gaelic name “Alasdair,” which is a form of the Greek name “Alexander”)
Nicknames: Ali, Allie, Alster, Al
Famous People: Alistair Cooke (British-American journalist, TV personality, and broadcaster), Alistair MacLean (Scottish novelist), Alistair Brownlee (British triathlete and two-time Olympic gold medalist), Alistair Darling (British Labour Party politician), Alistair Overeem (Dutch professional mixed martial artist)
15. Leopold
Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Brave People; derived from the elements “leud” (people) and “bold” (brave)
Nicknames: Leo, Lee, Lenny, Lipo
Famous People: Leopold I (Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1658 to 1705), Leopold II of Belgium (second King of the Belgians), Leopold Stokowski (British-American conductor), Leopold Mozart (Austrian composer, conductor, and violinist), Aldo Leopold (American author, ecologist, and environmentalist)
14. Reginald
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Counsel Power, Ruler’s Advisor; derived from the name “Reginaldus,” which itself comes from the Germanic name “Raginwald”
Nicknames: Reggie, Reg, Regg, Renny
Famous People: Reginald VelJohnson (American actor), Reginald Fessenden (Canadian inventor), Reginald Denny (English actor and drone pioneer), Reginald Arvizu (American musician and bassist), Reginald Heber (English bishop, hymn-writer, and poet)
13. Montgomery
Origin: Norman
Meaning: Gomeric’s Mountain, Man’s Power; thought to come from the Old French words “mont” (mountain) and “gomeri” (a personal name of Germanic origin)
Nicknames: Monty, Mont, Momo, Moe
Famous People: Montgomery Clift (American actor), Montgomery Gentry (American country music duo), Bernard Montgomery (1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein), Montgomery Blair (American politician who served as Postmaster General under President Abraham Lincoln from 1861 to 1864), Montgomery Meigs (American military officer who served as Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War)
12. Winston
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Joyful Stone, Friend’s Town (originally used as a surname before becoming a given name)
Nicknames: Win, Winnie, Stone, Tony
Famous People: Winston Churchill (served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II and again from 1951 to 1955), Winston Duke (Tobagonian actor), Winston Marshall (British musician, banjoist, and lead guitarist), Winston Peters (New Zealand politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and leader of the New Zealand First party), Winston Groom (American novelist)
11. Weston
Origin: Old English
Meaning: From the Western Town, West Settlement (originally used as a surname for people living in a western town or settlement)
Nicknames: Wes, West, Westy, Tony, Wessie
Famous People: Weston A. Price (American dentist and nutrition researcher), Weston McKennie (American professional soccer player), Weston Cage Coppola (American actor and singer), Weston Richburg (former American football center), Weston Noble (American music educator and conductor)
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10. Willoughby
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Farm Near the Willows; comes from the Old English words “wilig” (willow) and “by” (farm or settlement)
Nicknames: Will, Willy, Willie, Willow, Bill, Billy, Wills
Famous People: Willoughby Smith (English electrical engineer), Willoughby Williams (American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives), Willoughby Sharp (American artist, independent curator, and telecommunications art pioneer), Willoughby Cotton (British Army officer), Willoughby Gordon (British Army officer)
9. Francis
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Frenchman, Free Man (derived from the Latin name “Franciscus,” which means “a Frenchman”)
Nicknames: Frank, Frankie, France, Franny, Fritz, Fran
Famous People: Saint Francis of Assisi (Italian Catholic friar, deacon, and preacher), Francis Ford Coppola (American film director, producer, and screenwriter), Francis Bacon (English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England), Francis Crick (British molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist), Pope Francis (current Pope of the Roman Catholic Church)
8. Banks
Origin: English
Meaning: One Who Lives on the Hillside or Riverbank (originally used as a surname for those who lived near a bank or hill)
Nicknames: Bank, Banksy, Banny, Banksie
Famous People: Tyra Banks (American TV personality and former model), Banks (American singer and songwriter), Gordon Banks (English footballer who played as a goalkeeper), Elizabeth Banks (American actress, director, and producer), Ernie Banks (American professional baseball player)
7. Cashmere
Origin: Kashmir Province in the Himalayas
Meaning: Luxurious, High-Quality, and Fine Wool
Nicknames: Cash, Cashy, Mere, Cami, Cass
Famous People: Cashmere Cat (Norwegian DJ, record producer, and musician), Cashmere Nicole (founder and CEO of Beauty Bakerie), Cashmere Agency (lifestyle marketing company), Cashmere Jackson (American track and field sprinter), Cashmere Wright (American basketball player)
6. Fortunato
Origin: Italian, Spanish, Latin
Meaning: Fortunate, Lucky (comes from the Latin name “Fortunatus”)
Nicknames: Fort, Nato, Tony, Forty
Famous People: Fortunato Depero (Italian futurist painter, writer, sculptor, and graphic designer), Fortunato Baldelli (Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church), Fortunato Mizzi (Maltese politician, lawyer, and leader of the Nationalist Party), Fortunato Anselmo (Italian-American community leader), Fortunato Arriola (Mexican painter)
5. Clarence
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Bright, Clear
Nicknames: Claire, Clarry, Clancy, Lenny
Famous People: Clarence Thomas (Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the US), Clarence Darrow (American lawyer and leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union), Clarence Clemons (American saxophonist), Clarence Birdseye (American inventor and entrepreneur), Clarence Williams III (American actor)
4. Alfred
Origin: Old English
Meaning: Elf Counsel, Wise Counselor; derived from the Old English elements “ælf” (elf) and “ræd” (counsel)
Nicknames: Alf, Alfie, Al, Fred, Freddy
Famous People: Alfred the Great (King of Wessex from 871 to 899), Alfred Hitchcock (British film director and producer), Alfred Nobel (Swedish chemist, engineer, and inventor of dynamite), Alfred Lord Tennyson (British poet and the Poet Laureate of Great Britain), Alfred Kinsey (American biologist, professor of entomology and zoology, and sexologist)
3. Arthur
Origin: Celtic, Latin
Meaning: Bear, Noble (derived from the Celtic word ‘artos’ or Latin word ‘Artorius’)
Nicknames: Art, Artie, Arty, Thor
Famous People: King Arthur (British leader who led the defense of Britain against Saxon invaders), Arthur Conan Doyle (British writer), Arthur Ashe (American professional tennis player), Arthur Miller (American playwright and essayist), Arthur Schopenhauer (German philosopher), Arthur C. Clarke (British science fiction writer)
2. Warren
Origin: Old English, French
Meaning: Enclosure, Animal Park (originally a surname derived from the Norman French word “warrenef”)
Nicknames: Wary, Ren, Wren, Warry
Famous People: Warren Buffett (American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist), Warren Beatty (American actor, producer, screenwriter, and director), Warren G. Harding (29th President of the United States), Warren Zevon (American rock singer-songwriter), Warren Spahn (former MLB pitcher)
1. William
Origin: Old Germanic
Meaning: Resolute Protector, Strong-Willed Warrior; derived from the Germanic elements “wil” (will or desire) and “helm” (helmet or protection)
Nicknames: Will, Willy, Bill, Billy, Liam
Famous People: William Shakespeare (English playwright, poet, and actor), William the Conqueror (first Norman King of England, reigning from 1066 until his death in 1087), William Faulkner (American writer and Nobel Prize laureate), William Howard Taft (27th President of the United States and the 10th Chief Justice of the United States), William Wallace (Scottish knight), William Wordsworth (English Romantic poet)
20 of Our Favorite Old Money Names for Girls
Alright, we’ve covered the boys in the family, but what if you’re not having a boy? What if you’re having a daughter – or what if you aren’t sure of the gender yet, and are trying to prepare for whatever happens?
I know what you’re thinking – are there any old money names for girls?
Don’t worry – there are plenty of names that come to mind…
In fact, many old money names are linked to strong and influential women who have made significant contributions to society throughout history – such as Eleanor (Roosevelt) and Victoria (Queen Victoria) .
These types of names often convey a sense of strength, resilience, and leadership.
If that’s the type of name you want your daughter to wear proudly, then you’re not alone. As parents seek names that are both distinctive and enduring, the allure of these classic monikers will only grow stronger.
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If you’re hopping on the bandwagon, here are our favorite old money names for your beautiful heiress.
20. Alexandria
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Defender of the People (feminine form of Alexander and was named after Alexander the Great, who founded the city of Alexandria in Egypt)
Nicknames: Alex, Lexi, Lexie, Ria
Famous People: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (American politician and activist serving in the US House of Representatives), Alexandria Mills (American model and beauty queen), Alexandria Karlsen (American model, actress, and author), Alexandria DeBerry (American actress and model), Alexandria Morgan (American model and Youtuber)
19. Ruby
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Red Gemstone (comes from the Latin word “ruber,” which means red)
Nicknames: Rue, Rubes, Bee, Rube
Famous People: Ruby Dee (American poet, actress, playwright, and screenwriter), Ruby Rose (Australian model and actress), Ruby Bridges (American civil rights activist), Ruby Turner (British Jamaican R&B singer and songwriter), Ruby Keeler (Canadian-born American actress, singer, and dancer)
18. Victoria
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Victory (feminine form of Victor)
Nicknames: Vicky, Tori, Vicki, Ria, Toria
Famous People: Queen Victoria (Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 to 1901), Victoria Beckham (English singer, fashion designer, and TV personality), Victoria Justice (American actress and singer), Victoria Azarenka (Belarusian professional tennis player), Victoria Principal (American actress, author, and businesswoman)
17. Elizabeth
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: God Is My Oath (comes from the Hebrew name “Elisheva,” which was borne by the wife of Aaron in the Old Testament)
Nicknames: Liz, Lizzie, Beth, Betsy, Eliza
Famous People: Queen Elizabeth I (Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 to 1603), Queen Elizabeth II (Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022), Elizabeth Taylor (British-American actress), Elizabeth Barret Browning (English poet of the Victorian Era), Elizabeth Olsen (American actress)
16. Charlotte
Origin: French
Meaning: Free Woman, Petite (feminine form of the name Charles)
Nicknames: Charlie, Char, Lottie
Famous People: Charlotte Brontë (English novelist and poet), Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (daughter of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge), Charlotte Gainsbourg (French-British actress and singer), Charlotte Rampling (British actress), Charlotte Church (Welsh singer, songwriter, actress, and TV presenter)
15. Cressida
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Golden, Gold
Nicknames: Cress, Cressy, Sid, Essie
Famous People: Cresside Bonas (English actress and model), Cressida Cowell (British author and illustrator), Cressida Bell (British designer and artist), Cressida Dick (senior British police officer), Cressida Pollock (British business executive)
14. Diana
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Divine, Heavenly (associated with the Roman goddess Diana, who was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature)
Nicknames: Di, Ana, Didi, Dee, Nia
Famous People: Princess Diana (first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales), Diana Ross (American singer and actress), Diana Krall (Canadian jazz pianist and singer), Diana Rigg (British actress), Diana Nyad (American author, journalist, and long-distance swimmer)
13. Eleanor
Origin: Greek, Old French
Meaning: Light, Bright One (introduced to England by Eleanor of Aquitaine, the wife of King Henry II)
Nicknames: Ellie, Ella, Nell, Nora, Laney
Famous People: Eleanor Roosevelet (First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945), Eleanor of Aquitaine (powerful and influential queen consort of France and England in the 12th century), Eleanor Tomlinson (British actress), Eleanor Parker (American actress), Eleanor Catton (New Zealand author)
12. Madeleine
Origin: French
Meaning: Woman From Magdala (a village on the Sea of Galilee)
Nicknames: Maddie, Maddy, Lena, Mads
Famous People: Madeleine Albright (first female Secretary of State in U.S. history, from 1997 to 2001), Madeleine Stowe (American actress), Princess Madeleine of Sweden ( youngest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden), Madeleine L’Engle (American writer), Madeleine Peyroux (American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist)
11. Lucille
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Light (derived from the Latin name “Lucilla,” a diminutive of “Lucia,” which means “light” or “illumination”)
Nicknames: Lucy, Lulu, Lou
Famous People: Lucille Ball (American actress, comedian, and producer), Lucille Clifton (American poet, writer, and educator), Lucille Bogan (American blues singer), Lucille Roybal-Allard (American politician serving in the House of Representatives), Lucille Bremer (American film actress and dancer)
RELATED: 130 Endearing Old English Baby Names That Sound Sturdy and Assured
10. Francine
Origin: French
Meaning: Free, From France (feminine form of Francis, which is derived from the Latin name “Franciscus”)
Nicknames: Fran, Frannie, Frankie, Cici, France, Francie
Famous People: Francine Prose (American novelist, short story writer, essayist and critic), Francine Pascal (American author), Francine York (American actress), Francine Joy Drescher (American actress, comedian, writer, and activist), Francine Rivers (American author)
9. Florence
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Flourishing, Prosperous (derived from the Latin name “Florentia,” which is related to “florens,” meaning “blooming” or “flowering”)
Nicknames: Flo, Flora, Flossie, Florry
Famous People: Florence Nightingale (English social reformer), Florence Welch (English singer and songwriter), Florence Henderson (American actress and singer), Florence Griffith Joyner (American track and field athlete), Florence Foster Jenkins (American socialite and amateur soprano)
8. Evangeline
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Bearer of Good News; derived from the Greek words “eu” (good) and “angelos” (messenger)
Nicknames: Eva, Evie, Angie, Lina, Vangie
Famous People: Evangeline Lilly (Canadian actress and author), Evangeline Booth (fourth General of The Salvation Army), Evangeline Adams (American astrologer in the early 20th century), Evangeline Walton (American author known for her fantasy novels), Evangeline Pascual (ilipino actress, artist, and radio host)
7. Seraphina
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Fiery, Burning One (derived from the word “seraphim,” which refers to an order of angels in biblical tradition)
Nicknames: Sera, Fina, Seri, Phina, Effie
Famous People: Seraphina Affleck (daughter of actors Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner), Seraphina Picquery (fictional character from J.K. Rowling’s ‘Fantastic Beasts’), Seraphina Beh (British actress), Seraphine Sforza (talian noblewoman of the Renaissance era), Seraphina Astafieva (renowned Russian ballerina)
6. Isabella
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Pledged to God, God Is My Oath (variant of the name Elizabeth and has been popular in various cultures over the centuries)
Nicknames: Bella, Izzy, Isa, Belle, Izzie
Famous People: Isabella I of Castile (Queen of Spain), Isabella Rossellini (Italian actress, filmmaker, author, and model), Isabella Blow (British magazine editor and international style icon), Isabella Acres (American actress), Isabella Leong (Hong Kong-based actress and singer)
5. Genevieve
Origin: French
Meaning: Woman of the Race, Tribe Woman; derived from the Germanic elements “kuni” (kin) and “wefa” (woman)
Nicknames: Gen, Genny, Vivi, Eve, Ginny
Famous People: Genevieve Nnaji (Nigerian actress and singer), Genevieve Gorder (American TV host and interior designer), Genevieve Bujold (Canadian actress), Genevieve Padalecki (American actress), Genevieve Cortese (American actress)
4. Cleopatra
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Glory of the Father; derived from the Greek elements “kleos” (glory) and “pater” (father)
Nicknames: Cleo, Clea, Clio, Clee
Famous People: Cleopatra VII (last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt), Cleopatra Selene II (daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony), Cleopatra Thea (queen of the Seleucid Empire), Cleopatra Eurydice of Macedon (daughter of King Philip II of Macedon and the sister of Alexander the Great), Cleopatra Stratan (Moldovan-Romanian singer)
3. Catherine
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pure; derived from the Greek name “Aikaterine,” which is associated with the Greek word “katharos” (pure)
Nicknames: Kate, Cathay, Cat, Catie, Kit
Famous People: Catherine the Great (Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796), Catherine of Aragon (first wife of King Henry VIII of England), Catherine Deneuve (French actress), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Welsh actress), Catherine O’Hara (Canadian-American actress, writer, and comedian)
2. Jacqueline
Origin: French
Meaning: Supplanter, One Who Follws (feminine form of Jacques, which is derived from Jacob)
Nicknames: Jackie, Jack, Lina, Jax
Famous People: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (First Lady of the US from 1961 to 1963), Jacqueline Bisset (British actress), Jacqueline du Pré (British cellist), Jacqueline Fernandez (Sri Lankan actress, model, and former Miss Universe Sri Lanka), Jacqueline Wilson (British author of children’s literature)
1. Miriam
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Wished-For Child, Rebellion (biblical name, as Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron in the Old Testament)
Nicknames: Miri, Mimi, Mira, Mir, Ria
Famous People: Miriam Makeba (South African singer and civil rights activist), Miriam Margolyes (British-Australian actress), Miriam Defensor Santiago (Filipino politician, lawyer, and judge), Miriam Adelson (Israeli-American physician and philanthropist), Miriam Yeung (Hong Kong actress)
Are Any Of These Old Money Names On Your Shortlist?
Were you born into a wealthy family that goes back a few generations? Do you enjoy the ‘old money’ trends in pop culture and entertainment? Are you considering old money names for your son or daughter?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then hopefully our list of old money names above helped give you some ideas!
Old money names are making quite the comeback in 2024 and it doesn’t seem like this trend is going to end anytime soon, but why wait when you can hop on that bandwagon now (or whenever you’re due)?
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Whether you end up going with one of the old money names above or end up selecting a name that has nothing to do with old money, we wish you the absolute best and hope you find the perfect name soon!