English Names

Lettie, also spelled Letty, is a nickname name that until recently, had rarely been heard since the 1950s. Now, this treasured antique is on the rise, fitting right in with the trend for old-fashioned, down-to-earth nickname, such as Lottie, Hettie, Hattie, Josie, and Maisie.
 One of Joan Crawford's early hit roles was in 1932 as the eponymous heroine of the film Letty Lynton, in which she wore a dress--dubbed the Letty Lynton dress--that became a national fad. More recently, the name appeared on characters in the novel and film Howl's Moving Castle and in the musical, The Greatest Showman.
 
Originally used as a short form for Letitia (or Lettice), if that doesn't appeal and you don't want to use Lettie on the birth certificate, other names with the nickname include Loretta, Violette, Scarlett, Elisabeth, Colette, Juliette, Violetta, Arlette, and potentially Charlotte or Elliot/Elliette. 
 
A rising number of parents having been choosing the name since 2015, and, as of 2024, it re-entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in nearly 80 years. In England and Wales, it made its debut in 2025
 
In a recent (US) count, the Lettie spelling was given to 358 babies, while Letty was chosen for 158. Combined, it ranks around the #580 mark, alongside Cleo, Mckenzie, Imani, and Sevyn.

Lettie

Charlie and its many forms are on the rise -- including Charley, which relates more directly to the male formal name Charles. Surprisingly, though, while the number of girls and boys named Charlie are nearly even, there are six times as many girls named Charley than boys. 
 
The Charley spelling still ranks in the Top 1000 for girls, though it's fourth in popularity behind Charlie, Charlee, and Charli.

Charley

For a name that was in the Top 20 for a whole decade – the 1930's – Marilyn has attained the status of almost a one-person name. Just say the name Marilyn, and most people will know who you mean. Yet strangely enough, though Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jean and renamed in tribute to earlier star Marilyn Miller) was the sex symbol of her generation, very little stardust adhered to her name. In fact, when Mariah Carey wished to honor the star in her daughter's name, she chose to call her Monroe rather than Marilyn.
 There have, however, been a number of other notable Marilyns, including opera singer Horne, novelist French and lyricist Bergman--not to mention male musician Marilyn Manson (nee Brian). Actress Kim Novak was born Marilyn.
 The meaning of Mary is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Marilyn

Elina is one of the many variations of mother name Helen to make the US Top 1000 list, and is given to around 300 girls each year. While it might blend in among the Helenas, Elenas, and Alinas, it might be a good way to go if you want the eh-lee-nuh pronunciation or the potential for nicknames Elle, Ellie, or Ella. 
 
Popular in Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Latvia, and Armenia, Elina is an international name that can also be spelled with various accents, depending on where it is used. Elīna is most often seen in Latvia, while Élina is sometimes used in France.

Elina

Boden is most often inspired by the clothing catalog of the same name, and it feels like an appropriate first name for boys because of its stylish two-syllable -n ending rhythm, a la Logan, Mason, Owen, and other trendy choices. While Boden or Bowden is a fairly common English surname, in German it is the everyday name for "floor".
 
Boden may also be a variation of Beauden, an elaboration of the French name Beau. The Boden spelling entered the US Top 1000 in 2014 and has been slowly on the rise since then. You might also consider Bowen, Bode, Bodhi, and Bowie if you enjoy the sounds.

Boden

Keaton is an engaging surname with warmth, energy and a sense of humor, identified with silent comedian Buster Keaton and contemporary actors Michael and Diane Keaton. Given to around 290 boys in a recent year, it currently sits within the latter end of the US Top 1000.
 
Keaton derives from the name of a number places, which has led to a variety of different meanings, depending on which etymological root you follow. These meanings include: "place of hawks" from the Old English cyta; "river town" from the Old English ea; "hedged town" from the Cornish kee; and "Káti's (or Catta's) town", from an Old Norse given name, which ultimately means "merry, happy".
 
An alternative to Weston, Easton, Colton, and Keegan, Keaton is a friendly choice that could also get you nickname Kit.

Keaton

With its harmonious meaning and gentle sound, Truce has joined the wave of virtuous word names that have risen up the charts in the 21st century. Reflecting a wish for peace during turbulent times, Truce moved an impressive 11118 places up the US rankings in 2024, when it was chosen for nearly 230 babies. A year prior, it was given to just six babies. 
 
A bold yet grounded feeling choice, similar in sound to Tru, Truett, and Trace, it could also work as a modern twist on Bruce. 
 
A more recent year has seen it climb further, given to 330 babies.

Truce

Harry is the medieval English form of Henry, which derived from the Germanic name Heimrich, meaning "estate ruler." Harry was the nickname of all eight King Henrys; it is also a diminutive of Harold and Harrison.
 
Harry was everyone's elderly uncle until Princess Diana, following British royal tradition, named her son Henry but called him Harry. Then Harry Potter became a rage and Harry Styles of One Direction became the hottest boy bander of the new millennium. Thus, Harry's avuncular image was history. Harry is still much more popular in England, Ireland, and Scotland than it is in the US, but its classic yet unpretentious image makes it a recommended choice.
 
Harry was a Top 20 name in the US from 1880 to 1918, and continued in the Top 100 into the 1950s (hence the song "I'm Just Wild About Harry"), and has countless worthy namesakes, including Truman, Belafonte, and Houdini.
 
Among the celebs who have chosen this good guy name for their sons are David Letterman (it was his father's name), Simon Baker, and Billy Bob Thornton. It's also found in a number of movie titles from The Trouble with Harry to Dirty Harry to When Harry Met Sally.
 
Something to think about when using Harry: how does it sound in your accent? It might sound great, or it could sound a bit to hairy.

Harry

Royalty represents the convergence of two important trends: word names and superlative names such as Legend and King. Blending status and power with a fashion, flair, and confidence, it this longer form leans more feminine while Royal is given to more boys.
 
 Royalty was the hottest name of 2016 when it entered the Top 1000 for the first time, and by 2017, it was used around 70 times more often than it had been a decade earlier. It peaked in 2019 when it was given to 980 babies, though recent years have seen it decline. Given to around 400 girls in a recent year, it did fall 150 places down the charts, placing it in the Top 800.

Royalty

A variation of Jameson. Both names have climbed in popularity in recent years, though Jameson remains the preferred spelling.

Jamison

Familiar in the UK where it has featured just outside or towards the end of the Top 1000 since the late 90s, this spelling was once a well-used option in the US too, peaking in the 1920s and 30s, when it was in the Top 450. Now, it's making its way back to the American, mainstream, having re-entered the popularity charts in recent years.
 
While it is unlikely to reach the heights of popularity that sleeker Eloise has, it may well work it you're wanting to honor a Louise or a Louisa, or if you want to more easily access the unisex nickname Lou. This spelling was given to 266 girls in a recent year in the US, while Eloise was chosen for 3430.

Elouise

Names of royal ranks -- King, Prince, and yes, Baron -- have become more widely used in recent years, though they're outlawed in several countries. This spelling, the same as that of the financial publication Barrons, was used by Donald and Melania Trump for their son.

Barron

A rediscovered virtue name with a modern makeover, Klarity has the zippy sounds of Felicity along with the familiar feel of Kate, Katie, Kitty, and Klara. 
 
Klarity was one of the fastest-rising girls' names of 2025, when it was given to almost 350 baby girls, up dramatically from fewer than 100 the year before. As such, it ranked above the traditional Clarity spelling, also rising, which was given to 115 babies, which, ironically, might cause a little confusion rather than the simplicity and clearness the name implies. 
 
American rapper Kash Doll named her daughter Klarity in 2024, which may have inspired other parents to use the name.

Klarity

Bellamy is emerging as an up-and-coming <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' name</a>, an Irish surname-y riff on the super-popular Bella series of names. While the Bella connection makes Bellamy sound a little trendier and more popular than it really is, we see the name possibly rising through the ranks for both genders in the coming years.

Bellamy

The -leigh suffix seems to be losing its luster; several names in this category, including Kayleigh, Kyleigh and Ryleigh, peaked in popularity a few years back but have since lost quite a bit of ground.

Kayleigh

Brewer is a surname turned first name that comes from the occupational name for someone who brews beer. Definitely a cool guy name, and one of the fastest-rising boys' names of 2025, when it broke into the Top 1000.

Brewer

Adley made the Top 1000 at Number 735 in 2012 on the heels of sister name Hadley, only to vanish again in 2013. But now, with the popularity of Adelaide and Adeline, it has leaped upward and entered the Top 1000 once again. Adley feels in step with name trends of the moment, but will it survive the ages? Other such mashups have not.

Adley

Brock is a rock solid name, with a touch of preppy sophistication. It ranked solidly in the 200s-300s from 1975 until 2014, but has since tumbled a bit.
 Among Brocks who lived up to their name are Brock Peters (actually born George), who played Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird; Brock Pemberton, a founder of the Tony Awards; and Brock Chisholm, the first director-general of the World Health Organization.
 Brock is the traditional name given to a badger in folk tales.

Brock

This quintessentially common last name makes a distinctive if  first, given to more than 230 babies in the US in the most recent year counted. It has doubled in use over the last decade.

Jones

The popular -leigh suffix is clearly an attempt to feminize this traditionally boyish nickname — and it works. There were about 350 baby girls named Charleigh in the US last year — and zero baby boys.

That's in contrast to Charlee and Charli, which are mostly but not 100% female. And the traditional spelling Charlie, which is almost equally split between boys and girls.

Charleigh

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 18)

English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)