1450+ English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)
Across 73 pages
of 73
Peak
English word name
"pointed top of the mountain; highest point of achievement"
An ambitious geographical name, associated with mountains and success. In the UK, however, this is a slang term, meaning "bad, disappointing".
Peale
English occupational name
"bell ringer"
A child named Peale may have to endure more than a few banana jokes, but the Peales were a distinguished family of artists.
Peel
English
"tower, stockade"
Peel may seem at first like a cool name, until you consider the inevitable teasing. A peel was a tower that sheltered humans and animals against attack, though these days it's better known as the…
Pearce
English and Irish
"son of Piers"
The spelling Pearce softens the name's sharper edges, though we prefer the original Piers. That "pear" snippet could confuse pronunciation, which is just like Pierce.
Pelham
English
"tannery town"
Pelham, a place-name surname, could work well as a first, despite its slightly arrogant air. It's what the P in P.G. Wodehouse stands for.
Pell
English occupational name
"dealer in furs"
Pell makes an unusual middle name choice. And if grandpa Seymour was a fur trader, you might do better to honor him by naming the baby Pell.
Pembroke
English
"bluff, headland"
Better suited to a stuffy school than a little boy, but it nevertheless has a preppy air that may appeal to some.
Pendleton
English
"overhanging settlement"
Pembroke's brother.
Penley
English
"enclosed meadow"
And if it's triplets: Pembroke, Pendleton, and Penley.
Rod
English, diminutive of Roderick and Rodney
Macho-er than thou.
Perry
English
"dweller near a pear tree"
It's a long time now since this casual but suave name was linked to velvet-throated, cardigan-sweatered singer Perry (born Pierino, son of Pietro) Como's day... and this could be the moment for a…
Perkin
English
"little Peter"
Perkin sounds a bit Hobbit-ish as a full name, but it might make a good honor name or nickname for a boy called Peter.
Peterson
English
"son of Peter"
To honor an ancestral Peter.
Palin
English surname
"wine bearer"
Palin, as in, yes, one-time VP candidate Sarah, has emerged as a hot new first name, usually for girls.
Phelps
English
"son of Philip"
Solid Philip middle name alternative.
Phipps
English
"son of Philip"
Possible middle name to honor an ancestral Philip.
Pickford
English
"from the ford at the peak"
One surname name unlikely to cross over to first.
Piper
English occupational name
"one who plays the pipes or flute"
Piper's rising popularity for girls makes it an unlikely masculine choice.
Pitney
English
"island, dry ground in moss"
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.
Pitt
English surname
"pit, ditch"
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…