English Names

This name has two origins: the English word Dusk, meaning evening twilight and the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/529/czech-names-for-girls">Czech name for girls</a> Duška meaning "soul or spirit". Either way, this is an interesting name with some potential.

Duska

Dimity is fairly common in Australia, but unheard of outside of it, which is surprising given its similarity to names like Amity, Verity, and Cassidy. The fabric probably became used as a name given that it was often used in the nineteenth century to make bustles on fashionable clothing, making it ultra-feminine. We think it is a pretty name with great nicknames options including Dimi, Mimi and Mittie.

Dimity

While Ivy Blue has made the color a more popular choice for girls, Blues — as in the musical style — could feel more masculine. While some may find it a sad and gloomy choice, thanks to the phrase "having the blues", the musical connection gives it greater potential. It could make for a laid-back name that oozes cool and works as an alternative for those wanting to avoid more obvious choices like Indigo or Hendrix.
 
 In August 2024, Justin and Hailey Bieber announced the birth of their son, Jack Blues Bieber, which could draw people's attention to the name in coming years.

Blues

Twiggy was the working name of English international supermodel and original 'mod squad' girl Lesley Lawson. While the name conjures images of cool 60s parties and glamour, be warned that this could be a hard name to wear as a teenager, particularly if you're not stick thin. Perhaps best to keep this one as a middle name or nickname.
 Twiggy is less likely to be used in Australia, where it is also closely linked to less-than-glamourous mining magnate Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest.

Twiggy

Harleth is a name which probably stems from combining the oh-so-trendy Harlow with the evergreen Elizabeth. However, literary parents may also remember the beautiful but difficult character Gwendolen Harleth from George Eliot's Daniel Deronda. Harleth has a fashionable edge to it, being associated with rising supermodel Harleth Kuusik. We think that Harleth is a pretty alternative to Harlow and hope to see more of it.

Harleth

A rough-and-tumble surname that has seen a small increase in use in recent years. Ten boys received the name in 2024 in the US. 

Rowley

In the Plymouth Colony of the seventeenth century, Thankful was the third most popular of the abstract word names.  It disappeared after 1700 and has virtually no chance of returning.

Thankful

If January, April and August are useable and fashionable, why not February? February as a word derives from the Latin februa, which was the name of a purification feast coming at the end of winter, to prepare for the coming spring.

For our part, we like February along with December and January as <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">names for winter babies</a>; we also like the possibility of Airy and Rue as nicknames.

A possible stumbling block, however, is that clumsy "bruary" sound in the middle that no one ever quite gets right.

February

Darnel, the plant from which this name derives, is an intoxicating plant, which used to be grown to make medicines and poisons. 

Durnell

One of the more unusual word names used by Plymouth pilgrims for their children. Fear Brewster is an example of the usage of this name. Definitely one of the historic pilgrim names best left in the past.

Fear

The -el ending feels inevitably feminine; also a form of French poetry. 

Rondel

Romany is a melodious name referring to the Roma or Romani community and their culture, which makes it a potentially controversial choice for a baby not of that heritage. Romany Malco is an actor who appeared on the television show "Weeds." Other similar ideas: Roman, Romano, or Romeo.

Romany

For those who are trying to nudge Abeleen, the Texas place-name, toward Adeline, the stylish girls' name. Unfortunately, you arrive somewhere short of a happy medium.

Abbeline

Rochester was Jack Benny's famous valet and sidekick, played by early African-American comic Eddie Anderson. 

Rochester

A traditionally masculine surname, denoting the head of a monastery, a priest, or someone who worked for a church official, Abbott may appeal as a fresh spin on Biblical Abigail. Quietly used for boys, it has seen very occasional use for girls since the 2000s. 
 
Ultimately derived from the same root as Abraham, Abner, and the aforementioned Abigail, Abbott can mean "father", though it has been adapted to mean "priest" or "head of an abbey", via the Italian abate. As an English name, however, it's an occupational choice, given to someone who worked for a church official.
 
An unexpected honor for an Abigail or Abraham, perhaps, or even for a family member who works for the church, Abbott is a rarely used option with familiar nicknames.

Abbott

The Italian form of the classic Biblical name, appearing in the Old Testament as the second son of Adam and Eve, Abele also doubles up as a word name, referring to the white poplar tree. From its Hebrew roots, it means "breath", while the name of the tree ultimately comes from the Latin albus meaning "white".
 
As an Italian name, it would be pronounced as a-BEH-leh and has been notably borne by mountaineer Abele Blanc. As a nature name, it is said as uh-BIHL, uh-BAYL, or as AY-bl (like Abel in English), depending on region.
 
It is also the name of a small village in Belgium.

Abele

A zippy nickname-style choice, which may also feel a bit like a surname, Abry could be considered a variation of popular Aubrey, a feminine form of Biblical Abraham, or a spin on the Spanish month name, Abril. Additionally, there's Abrielle, which could mean "God is my father". 

Abry

Woodsy, earthy, and unexpected, Acre may appeal to those who enough Meadow, Ochre, Landry, and Oakley, but want something truly distinctive. So far, it has only ranked in the US stats for boys, however, social media birth announcements indicate parents are now pondering it for their daughters too.

Acre

A better modern solution than Robert Jr. ; known to fiction readers via Canadian novelist Robertson Davies. 

Robertson

Inventive way to honor a redheaded ancestor, though most people would mispronounce it reeding, making it sound to some kids like a school assignment: Redding is a preferable spelling. 

Reading

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 131)

English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)