English Names

A strong, distinctive surname with a quaint meaning and rugged air, Arledge is associated with American sports broadcaster, Roone Arledge. It may hold contemporary appeal thanks to its similarities to Ledger and Arlo.
 
Also associated with two historical Native American structures in Ohio and with cinematographer Arledge Armenaki, the name has yet to appear in the US stats.

Arledge

A wild word name, associated with risk taking, thrill, discovery, and exploration, Adventure has yet to appear in the US stats, though in a recent year, Venture was chosen for 16 boys and Quest for 70. Content creators Cory Worldd and Lea Charlotte named their son Adventure in 2025. 

Adventure

A truly wild word name, Adventure brings to mind risk taking, exploring, and excitement. Though it hasn't appeared in the US stats, the similar Quest was used for 6 girls (and 70 boys) in a recent year, while Venture and Brave also made the stats. 
 
Content creators Cory Worldd and Lea Charlotte named their son Adventure in 2025, which may push others to consider it. Nickname Addie could help ground it.

Sympathetic new twist on a Puritan virtue name. 

Affinity

An early day name worthy of consideration today for someone seeking a truly unusual name. 

Afternoon

With so many A-beginning names finding their way into style, Agacia is one unusual choice that could get more attention.  It's part Agatha, part Acacia, and quite intriguing.

Agacia

This nature name hasn't escaped the hippie dippy air of others like River or Sky. 

This name has been off the USA Top 1000 list since before 1900, but it has some great musical credentials: consider American blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander and country music legend Pat Alger.

Alger

Also written as AJ, Aj, A.J, and Ajay, initial names are typically used as nicknames, in this case, it might be for Alexander James, or Asher Jared, as examples. However, since the 2000s, a growing number of parents are skipping straight to the initials, with 60 boys called "just" AJ in the US in a recent year (along with 56 called Ajay). 
 
A.J. is also a popular and playful choice for pets, particularly dogs.

A.j.

A new addition to the US stats for 2025, Akrys was also the most used debut of the year for boys, given to 74 babies. 
 The exact etymology and meaning are proving elusive (as yet) but prior to 2025, Akrys had been occasionally used in Kazakhstan, and may in turn be a combination of the element ak meaning "white" with arystan meaning "lion".
 
Alternative theories are that it's a short, vernacular form of Zakaryas, Zacharias, and Zachary, meaning "the Lord has remembered"; a spin on the Greek Acrisius, the name of a mythological king whose name means "locust"; or perhaps a modern invention combining the prefix "a" with Krys (from Christopher), which might be interpreted as "a Christian."

Akrys

Alair is a lighter, more unusual form of Hilary. 

Alair

The name of a large seabird, made legendary by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798). It has since become a symbol for innocence and the beauty of God's creation, and killing one is considered unlucky. 
 
Also significant in Hawaiian mythology, where the albatross is considered a sacred manifestation of the ancestors, the name ultimately derives from the Arabic al-qādūs meaning "the diver", the modern spelling may have been inspired by the Latin albus meaning "white".
 
A currently undiscovered choice, Albatross could be a rare (and poetic) bird option for those who want to avoid Wren and Raven. While it may be best reserved for the middle spot or for a fictional character, nicknames Alba, Allie, and Ossie may work.

Albatross

An undiscovered bird name for those looking for alternatives to Wren, Raven, and Peregrine, the albatross is a large seabird, made legendary by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798). Since then, it has become a symbol of innocence and God's creation, and killing one is deemed to bring bad luck. 
 Also significant in Hawaiian mythology, where the albatross is considered a sacred manifestation of the ancestors, the name ultimately derives from the Arabic al-qādūs meaning "the diver", the modern spelling may have been inspired by the Latin albus meaning "white". 
 
Possibly best saved for the middle spot or for a fictional character, nicknames Alby and Ossie could make it more useable.

Aldine and the related Alda are ocean-related names that are highly unusual in the US. No babies were given these names, though hundreds of baby boys were named Aldo or Alden. There were even a few dozen baby girls named Alden.

If you love the sound of Alma and Alba, then perhaps Alda or its elaboration Aldine will appeal to you.

Aldine

The name Aldus gained some recognition through Aldus Manutius, a renowned 15th-century Italian printer and publisher who founded the Aldine Press. The name might be more familiar in its Aldous form, via Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World. While never extremely common, the name has an intellectual, scholarly quality to it.

Aldus

Alcott evokes shades of nineteenth-century New England, and memories of the author of the books Little Women and Little Men. Louisa May Alcott was the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott, noted educator, writer and philosopher, and colleague of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
 Alcott would make an unusual and interesting surname name choice.

Alcott

Alexx

This name's buttoned-up British vibe is what makes it cool - that, and the fact that it was chosen by Anne Bronte as her pseudonym - Acton Bell. That's quite the literary - and may we add feminist - credential for a name. For those with an adventurous edge, Acton is one of the highest peaks in Antarctica.

Acton

If you're over Allie, consider Alfie. This nickname name has already made a splash as a top 20 pick for boys across the pond. But with the growing trend of scrappy tomboy names, Alfie makes a promising choice for girls too.

Alfie

A hyphenated name, blending UK fave Alfie with classic James. It was given to 16 boys in England and Wales in a recent year. 

Alfie-james

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 

English names including girl names and boy names of English origin from the English language and culture (Page 124)

English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)