Do you love old man names for dogs? Good old-fashioned human names for dogs? There’s just something so ridiculously cute about ’em!
Classic names. Grandpa names. Vintage dog names. Or even grumpy old man names.
However you describe these monikers that harken back to a bygone era, old-timey names are new and unique again. Not only as baby names, but also as names for our fur babies!
In fact, according to a survey from Rover.com, retro or classic dog names were up 17% in 2018.
133 old-fashioned dog names for boy puppy perfection
In the spirit of old-timey days, Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe (my Goldendoodle sidekick) and I have compiled a mega list of 101 old-fashioned human names for your dog.
We think they are almost as ridiculously cute as our furry family members!
These vintage boy names were popular before Instagram and cell phones—and even drive-thrus and microwave ovens. They have a throwback feel and are unique.
We hope there is an old-fashioned dog name in the list below that is as cute as your new boy puppy.
And if you have a little girl puppy, check out our companion article: 101 Sweet & Old-Fashioned Names for Your Girl Puppy.
Tips for choosing the best name for your boy dog
As you choose a human name that makes an adorable dog name too, here are four tips:
1. Your dog may prefer a two-syllable name! Dog experts recommend two-syllable names because they allow for more inflection and emotion. (Most of the dog names listed below have two syllables.)
2. Avoid dog names that sound similar to cues or commands. It’s easier for a puppy to learn and respond when his own name doesn’t sound like something he’s learning to do. (For example, “stay” could be confusing for a dog named “Stacy.”)
3. Does the name fit your dog’s personality? How does it sound to you?
4. Sleep on it! See if the dog name you’ve chosen still “fits” your pup’s personality over time.
Human names for your boy dog that are retro-cool and cute
Old man dog names that start with A – D
| Albert | Carl |
| Alvin | Cecil |
| Alton | Chester |
| Alva | Clayton |
| Archie | Cleveland |
| Archibald | Clancy |
| Arthur | Clarance |
| Barnaby | Clifford |
| Barnie | Clifton |
| Benny | Cliff |
| Bernard | Cornelius |
| Bernie | Curtis |
| Bertie | Darrel |
| Billy | Desmond |
| Bart (Bartholomew) | Dorian |
Old-timey and old-fashioned boy names that start with D-F
| Dewey | Francis |
| Eddie | Frankie |
| Edward | Franklin |
| Edwin | Freddie |
| Eli | Frederick |
| Ellis | Gary |
| Elmer | Gerald |
| Emil | Gilbert |
| Emmett | Gordy |
| Ernest | Grover |
Old man dog names that start with G through L
| Gus-Gus | Humphrey |
| Harley | Ira |
| Harold | Irving |
| Harry | Jasper |
| Harvey | Jesse |
| Herbert | Jimmy |
| Hubert | Jolly |
| Herman | Johnny |
| Horatio | Kenny |
| Howard | Larry |
| Hubert | Leo |
| Hughie | Leopold |
Related: Dog names that start with J
Old timey, vintage boy names that start with L through P
| Leroy | Norman |
| Levi | Perry |
| Lowell | Oliver |
| Marshall | Ollie |
| Martin | Orville |
| Marvin | Oscar |
| Maurice | Otis |
| Melvin | Otto |
| Milton | Owen |
| Morris | Percy |
| Monty | Percival |
| Nelson | Phillip |
| Neville | Phineas |
Old-fashioned boy names that start with Q through Z
| Quincy | Vance |
| Quinlin | Vernon |
| Ralphie | Victor |
| Reginald | Vincent |
| Reggie | Virgil |
| Reuben | Wallace |
| Rolly | Walter |
| Ronald | Warren |
| Ronnie | Wesley |
| Rufus | Wiley |
| Silus | Willie |
| Solomon (Sollie) | Winston |
| Teddy | Wycliff |
| Thaddeus | Xavier |
| Theodore | Yancy |
| Theo | Zach |
| Ulysses | Zeb Zebediah |
Bonus! 25 Grumpy old man names for dogs
Got a puppy in your pack who looks like a grumpy Gus? Try out one of these grumpy old man names for dogs.
We handpicked these names out of all the old man dog names for their curmudgeonly cuteness.
These moody monikers will make your little fur baby sound like an adorable grumpy old geezer.
Carl ~ Inspired by the stubborn yet lovable character Carl Frederickson from the movie, Up
Eb ~ Inspired by Ebeneezer, Scrooge’s first name
Eeyore ~ If you’re looking for adorable with a dash of gloomy, Eeyore, the donkey from Winnie-the-Pooh may be the name for your dog
Gus ~ For your grumpy gus, of course!
Gustafson ~ Inspired by John Gustafson, the cranky character from the movie, Grumpy Old Men
Grumpy ~ You could always just keep it real and go with Grumpy or Grumpster the Pupster as a name
Lou Grant ~ From the old sit com, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant was known for kind heartedness under a grumpy demeanor
Max ~ Inspired by Max Goldman, the cantankerous character in the movie, Grumpy Old Men (Related: Dog names that start with M)
Micky ~ Inspired by Rocky Balboa’s “grumpy old man” manager, Micky Goldman, played by Burgess Meredith
Oscar ~ A nod to the famous Sesame Street character, Oscar The Grouch
Owly ~ Out of sorts? Try Owly as a grumpy old man dog name
Prickles ~ Just a name with both prickliness and cuteness
Scrappy ~ Along the same lines as grumpy, Scrappy has a cute and feisty ring to it
Scrooge ~ Ebeneezer Scrooge
Squidward ~ The grumpy Krusty Krab cashier from SpongeBob SquarePants
Statler ~ One of the two grumpy old men from The Muppets
Stanley ~ Inspired by Stanley Hudson, from The Office
Sully ~ Inspired by the word “sullen” meaning sulky, ill-tempered
Swanson~ Inspired by the cranky character, Ron Swanson from the sit com Parks & Rec
Tank ~ Inpired by the word “cantankerous” which means uncooperative
Walter
Wilson ~ Inspired by the curmudgeonly neighbor in the Dennis the Menace comic, Mr. Wilson (George Wilson)
Waldorf ~ One of the two grumpy old men from The Muppets
Bear ~ For the puppy who is a little unBEARable sometimes
Garfield ~ While not a grumpy old man, we couldn’t leave this grumpy cat off the list
Looking for more cute and unique dog name ideas?
Check out our other mega lists:
We hope that this giant list of human names for your adorable boy dog has inspired you! Enjoy choosing a retro name that’s perfect for your new pup!
What names are you considering for your little fella? We’d love to hear!
Please comment below.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on March 22, 2019. It has been updated to include more old man names for dogs including grumpy old man names for dogs.
