English Names

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.

Albatross

One of the more imposing and intriguing of the combo names. 

Quantavius

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

Perhaps if there's a Putnam in your background. 

Putnam

Alexx

Could join such up-and-comers as Miller and Gardener, though the "potty" and Harry Potter associations are strong and potentially unappealing these days.

Potter

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

There are two lovely Portlands, in Maine and Oregon, but not many babies with their name. 

Portland

This is an English surname dating back to 1086, but we don't see it having much of a first name future in the twenty-first century.

Pomeroy

Alician

Pollard

Sleek and poetic, Alisander is a Medieval form of Alexander, notably appearing in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. An appealing choice to those who like the strength of Alexander, the literary feel of Lysander, and the sounds of Alistair and Cassander, it gets bonus points for also being a botanical name for boys. Used as a common name for the plant Smyrnium olusatrum, it has never appeared in the US stats.

Alisander

Despite two distinguished surname-bearers -- the great British statesman William Pitt and actor Brad -- this would be a tough name to pull off in first place. William Thackeray used it for two generations of baronets in his novel Vanity Fair, the Sir Pitt Crawleys.

Pitt

A name you would probably want to use only if it's in your family history.  The first syllable moves it miles away from the softer Whitney.


Pitney

Piper's rising popularity for girls makes it an unlikely masculine choice.

Piper

One surname name unlikely to cross over to first. 

Pickford

Possible middle name to honor an ancestral Philip. 

Phipps

Gwyneth Paltrow's Apple has opened the world of botanical names beyond flowers to trees, herbs, fruits, and — why not — nuts. Cayley and Brandon Jenner have a daughter named Joan Almond.

Almond

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 133)

English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)