English Names

Vinny or more usually Vinnie, believe it or not, used to a more common nickname for girls than it is now. Along with Ollie, Bertie, and Gussie. it was a 19th century version of a gender neutral name.

Vinny

Synonymous with style, Vogue is the name of a global fashion magazine and a word referring to something popular and on trend. Derived from Old French, it originally meant "wave" or "course of success", this sharp, one syllable choice is associated with the current craze, the clothing style of the moment, and a type of dance.
 
Yet to appear in the US stats, it has been notably borne by Irish model, Vogue Williams, whose grandmother suggested her name after an encounter with someone named Vogue. As such, it is used occasionally in the UK, with as many as 25 born back in 2020, while a more recent year saw it given to 11 girls.

Vogue

A foodie word name, popular for pets, especially anything small and fluffy, from hamsters to pomeranians.

Waffles

Briefly popular in the 1910s and 20s, Wava is an unusual choice that nevertheless the familiar elements of Ava, Eva, Waverly, and Ocean. While the exact origins of the name are unknown, it may have been borrowed from the word "wave", giving it a beachy, nature connection.
 
Other interpretations include that it may have been adapted from the surname Waverley, in turn relating it to meanings such as "quivering aspen" , "restlessness", or "brushwood". It might come from the Arabic Wafa, meaning "loyalty, faithfulness" or an evented choice, blending two different names (such as Wanda and Eva). 
 
Peaking in 1924 when it was given to 60 girls, Wava hasn't been seen in the US stats since the 80s.

Wava

Appearing in the US stats just once back in 1938, Wavalene is a playful, watery feeling choice, perhaps inspired by the word wave, the surname Waverley, or by Aveline. It could be pronounced way-vuh-leen, way-vuh-lehn, or wa-vuh-leen, depending on preference.

Wavalene

While the Waverly spelling is far more popular (for girls at least), Waverley is linked more closely to Walter Scott's popular 1814 novel, whose hero is a young English soldier named Edward Waverley. It is believed that Scott named the novel after the model of pen he used to write it, though as a place and surname, it actually means "from the quivering meadow" or "clearing with quivering aspen trees". 
 
Used occasionally for boys in the early 19th century, the link to the classic novel gives it more substance as a unisex choice.

Waverley

Derived from Wymond or Wigmund, Old English names meaning "war protection",  Weyman is a surname style choice, chosen in 2025 by singer Sam Hunt and his wife Hannah Lee Fowler.

Weyman

A popular classic for cats, alongside Mittens, Snowball, Kitty, Shadow, and Tabby. Whiskers is also a cat food brand. 

Whiskers

Minta is an eighteenth century short form of a literary beauty still used in England today, but yet to be discovered by American baby namers. It has a fresh and dainty feel.
 Virtually unheard today, Minta was on the U.S. popularity lists for most years between 1880 and 1901. Minta (born Araminta) Durfee was a popular silent screen actress married to Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle; Minta Doyle was a character in the Virginia Woolf novel To the Lighthouse.

Minta

An occupational word name with a witty, stylish sound, Whittier feels similar to Whittaker, Whitney, and Wilder. Derived from the Old English hwitian meaning "to whiten", it has been notably borne by inventor and radio communications pioneer, Greenleaf Whittier Picard, and by his great uncle, poet John Greenleaf Whittier.

Whittier

Part Oakley, part Wilder, Wildoak is a rugged yet whimsy word name, in the same vein as Wildflower, Prairie, Pine, and Lionheart. It could work as a bold middle name for those who want something with a stylish sound, a nature-connected meaning, and an untamed, wild-hearted feel.

Wildoak

One of the rare English surname names originally derived from a female given name: Eoforhild (Everild), meaning "boar battle". Also spelled Averill, it's an extremely rare choice today, but shares sounds with fashionable Ava and Avery.

Averill

Probably too odd and elven for mainstream success, but there are certainly circumstances in which this would make a nice boys' name. It might be a nice way to honor a William from your family tree, for instance.

With its S ending, Wilkins might make a more stylish choice. But make no mistake: Most boys with Wilkin or Wilkins as a full name will go by Will most of the time.

Wilkin

Wilkins is a surname style name, derived from Wilkin, itself a diminutive form of the strong classic William. Used quietly in the US across the 19th century, it may be one to consider if you want something rarer than William (or Liam), enjoy last-names as first names, and like those "plural" names along the lines of Banks, Brooks, and Collins.
 
It notably appears in Charles Dickens' novel, David Copperfield, borne by Mr. Micawber, a character who is forever running into trouble and debt, but remains endlessly optimistic that "something will turn up".

Wilkins

A mystical and intriguing choice that would feel at home in a fantasy novel or an ancient poem, Willavere may be considered a compound name, blending several different elements together, leading to several different meanings. And, while it may feel like a poetic and mythological choice, it was in fact invented by @"justagirlwholovesnames" over on the Nameberry forums. 
 The first part, Willa-, is likely taken from the Germanic willos meaning "resolute, will, desire", while the second part, -vere, may be from the Latin verus or the Germanic "war" meaning "truth, true", from the Welsh hwyfar meaning "spirit, phantom, wave", or from the Norman French Vere meaning "alder tree". The Russian Vera ("faith"), the French avère ("uncover, prove"), and the Latin avēre ("long for, to hold") might be other sources.
 
As such, Willavere may be interpreted as meaning "wilful spirit", "one who desires truth", "want for truth", "holds desire, holds a strong will", and so on.
 
Willavere may appeal to fans of Guinevere, Lilivere, Vera, Verity, Willadean, and Willa.

Willavere

Two popular botanical names hyphenated together, Willow-Ivy is rarer than Ivy-Rose or Lily-Rose, but gives a similar feel. Appearing in the England and Wales stats since 2017, a recent year saw it given to 8 girls.

Willow-ivy

A retro-sounding compound name with an earthy feel, Wilmadeene appears in the 1973 young adult novel, Deenie by Judy Blume. In the novel, the character explains how her mother was inspired to name her Wilmadeene by the movie, 60s movie, Splendor in the Grass which features a character called Wilma Dean "Deanie", played by Natalie Wood.
 
A blend of Wilma, a feminine form of William, and Dean, a name that can mean either "valley" or "church official", Wilmadeene could make a rare twist on Willa, Willow, Nadine, Maddie, and Winnie.

Wilmadeene

A surname-style choice, in the same vein of Remington, Kingston, Lexington, and Montgomery, Wilmington is the name of various places in the UK and the US. The meaning is debated, with some sources suggesting it means "Wilhelm's (or William's) estate", while others interpret it as meaning "the desired settlement". 
 
Yet to appear in the US stats, it may be a bold way to nickname Will, an intriguing option for those honoring a William or a Wilmer, or as an alternative to other on-trend last names.

Wilmington

Soft, melodic, and breezy, Windsong is a name that has been very occasionally used in the US (given to at least 27 people on record!) but it more likely appears as a surname, or as a whimsical possibility discussed on the Nameberry forums. Similar in style to Wildflower, Anthem, and Trueheart, it could make an interesting middle name or a rare way to Winn. 
 
Windsong is also the name of a John Denver album and may remind people of wind chimes or wind instruments.

Windsong

Musical and breezy, Windsong is a Nameberry special, yet to see much real-life usage, but discussed among Nameberry users over on the forums. With the whimsical feel of Meadow, Wildflower, Winsome, and Sunshine, it could make an intriguing middle name option or a truly bold way to nickname Winnie. 
 
Given to at least 27 people in the US, and occasionally used as a surname too, it is additionally the name of the an album by John Denver. It might bring to mind wind chimes, wind sound, and wind instruments too.

English names -- names originating in the English language -- rank among the top names in the US, the UK, and other English-speaking countries, along with such European countries as Sweden, Germany, and France.

 in the US Top 300 include Georgia, Juliet, Lily and Olive for girls, and Emmett, Miles, Oscar, and William for boy.

 include Alfie, Lily, Edward, and Ella. In Sweden, the English girls' name Alice ranks near the top of the list, while the English boys' nickname Tom is fashionable in France.



Less conventional English names that rank highly in the US include, for girls, Kendall, Kinsley, Madison, Marley, Peyton, Presley, Sutton, Willow, Winter and Wren, For boys, this group includes Archer, Brooks, Carter, Fletcher, Graham, Huxley, Mason, Reed, Sawyer, and Wilder.

 that carry a lot of style value include, for girls, Araminta, Arden, Azalea, Birdie, Blythe, Clover, Lilac, Lavender, Posey, and Waverly. For boys, unique English names to consider include Birch, Booker, Dane, Garrison, Hale, Kit, Oberon, Shaw, Tobin, and Winston.



Our collection of English baby names also includes surname names such as Lancaster and Huffington, nature names such as River and Marigold, English word names such as Love and Journey, along with place names like Devon and occupational names such as Driver.



Browse Nameberry's complete range of English names for girls and boys, continued, below, or consult our individual lists of 

. The English origin names below are ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.

English names including girl names and boy names of English origin from the English language and culture (Page 115)

1450+ English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)