1450+ English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)
Across 73 pages
of 73
Yarrow
Botanical name, English
"rough stream"
Highly unusual as a baby name for either gender, Yarrow is an herb that grows wild and has long been used for its medicinal property. It's named for the mythical Achilles, who was said to carry…
Yeats
Scottish, English
"the gates"
Admirers of the haunting works of esteemed Irish poet and playwright William Butler Yeats might consider this surname-style name, especially for the middle spot. Ultimately derived from the Old…
Yorick
English literary name
Alas, poor Yorick, your name is fated to remain locked forever as a skull in Hamlet .
York
English
"from the yew estate"
Brisk, preppy York is an underused classic with the potential to really shine in the 21st century. It's most familiar as a place name — York is a city in England — and surname. New York City and…
Yule
English
"winter solstice"
A possible Christmas name for a baby boy, if you find Noel too mundane. But we fear it doesn't sound very festive.
Frost
English
"freezing"
Frost is a name parents are beginning to warm to, appreciating its icy simplicity and connection with the venerable poet Robert. Frost, along with Winter, Snow, and January, are also perfect names…
Abilene
English from Hebrew
"grass"
Abilene is a rarely used place name, mentioned as such in the New Testament, that combines the cowboy spunk of the Texas city with the midwestern morality of the Kansas town where Dwight D.…
Keats
English literary name
"kite"
Keats is both poetic and easier to pronounce (it's keets) than Yeats (which is yates).
Whitman
English
"white man"
Whitman, a namesake surname for poet Walt, would be much more suited to a boy, probably because of that "man" part. Whit or Witt makes an uplifting short form which can be used on its own.
Yeats
English
"gates"
Yeats, the strong name of the great Irish poet, would work better for a boy. Also has possible pronunciation problem with people who might think it rhymes with Keats. Yeats rhymes with the word from…
Atherton
English surname and place-name
A rather formal British surname that originated as a place name in the county of Lancashire.
Hudson
English
"Hugh's son"
Climbing the charts for boys, and has just begun to cross over for girls, despite the macho "hud" sound followed by the "son" syllable.
Marsh
English nature name
Soft and creative update of Marsha.
Wade
English
"at the river crossing"
An established male name that might cross over to the girls' side -- though if it's a water name you're after, there are so many prettier choices.
Fairfax
English
"blond"
Place name and surname that sounds a tad snooty.
Brighton
English place-name
Out-of-the-way place name (it's an antiquated holiday spot on England's south coast) that might make a brilliant choice. Actor/director Jon Favreau named his daughter Brighton Rose.
Seeley
English
"blessed, happy"
Surname name with an uplifting meaning. Just beware that this is a well-known mattress brand.
Halsey
English
"hallowed island"
Halsey became famous as a girls' first name via singer-songwriter Halsey, who took her name from Halsey Street in Brooklyn, where she was living when she began writing songs. It's also an anagram of…
Calder
English
"rocky water"
One art name that sounds distinctly more masculine. Unless you're a big mobile fan, keep thinking.
Falcon
English, from French, nature name
"falcon, a bird"
One of the bird names that's more appropriate for a boy, though it works for a girl too.