English Names

Likely inspired by popular Ezra, 27 parents used the name Ezryn for their baby boys in a recent count, with alternative spellings Ezren and Ezran being preferred, given to 83 and 69 boys in the same year. The Ezryn spelling appears in the book series Beasts of the Briar by Elizabeth Helen.

Ezryn

Down to earth and versatile, Becky is a popular diminutive of the classic Biblical name, Rebecca. In the US, it was most popular as a stand alone name back in the 60s, while in the UK, it remained in the Top 300 right up until the early 2000s. 

Becky

Fading boys' name making fresh start for girls, aided by -ley ending. 

About 50 baby girls were named Bradley last year in the US, versus 900 baby boys. Bradley got a boost as a girls' name via the Jennifer Aniston character on The Morning Show.

Bradley

Clunky yet cuddly, Wilbur is a stylish name in the UK where it currently sits in the Top 600, as cool as Rupert or Wilfred. Its merits are starting to be rediscovered in the US, where it was last truly popular more than a century ago. A recent year saw it given to 42 boys. 
 
Wilbur, the loveable pig who Charlotte of the Web called Some Pig might be considered an inspirational hero and an appealing literary connection, while for others, its left the name far too associated with pigs. 
 
The etymology of the name is somewhat disputed, but one theory is that it derived from the Old English nickname Wildbor (meaning "wild boar"), though other possibilities are that it comes from the Germanic Wilbert ("bright will") or the Old English Wilburg ("wished for fortress").
 
Notable Wilburs include Wilbur Wright, an early aviationist, musician and YouTuber Wilbur Soot and writer Wilbur Smith.

Wilbur

Gentle and friendly, but also full of energy and spark, Albie is a bubbly diminutive, usually of Albert, but also of Alban, Albus, Albie has become a big favorite in England and Wales in recent years. The name has been in the charts there since 1996, but it rose quickly throughout the 2010s, and recently featured in the Top 30. 
 
 If you consider Albie a relation of Albert, it means "noble and bright", while if it is short for Alban and Albus, it would mean "white, bright, light". Also popular in Northern Ireland and Scotland, Albie is sometimes used as an anglicization of Ailbhe, a unisex Irish name meaning "world, light, white" or "rock". 
 
Alternative spelling Alby peaked back in 2016 when it ranked at #387 in England and Wales, though it has since fallen to just within the Top 900. 
 
Albie has never appeared in the US Top 1000 and was given to just 26 boys (and 6 girls) in a recent year.

Albie

There's definitely a cold front of <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/89/winter-baby-names">names for winter babies</a> moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure, evocative -- and magical. A haunting middle name choice. 
 Rare as a first name, there have been several notable surnamed Snows--including singers Hank and Phoebe, and scientist/novelist C.P. And then there's the dreamy Jon Snow in Game of Thrones.

Snow

Smart and sharp but with a touch of heart and charm, Hartley is a surname style name that could work as an alternative to Harley, Harvey, Artie, or Harry. Quietly used as a masculine name throughout the 20th century, the arrival of two celebrity-baby girl Hartleys in 2010 has meant the name has been used as a predominantly feminine one in recent years. However, since 2020, Hartley has doubled in use for boys too, and was give to a modest 30 in 2023.
. Ultimately deriving from a place name, it comes from the Old English words heorot meaning "stag, male deer" and leah meaning "meadow, clearing". They come together to make a name that evokes images of English parks, and joins Oscar and Roscoe as deer-inspired choices.
 Used by poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge for his son in the 18th century, it has also been borne by politician and war crimes barrister Hartley Shawcross and philosopher Hartley Burr Alexander, lending it a scholarly, academic feel. In the UK, it is also the name of a jam and marmalade manufacturer, which might be off putting to some. 
 
If you like the idea of Hartley but aren't quite sure, there's also the simpler, one-syllable Hart, a name currently gaining attention.

Hartley

Audrianna

The currently preferred replacement for Becky, sometimes used on its own. 

Becca

Is this a German surname or is it a trendy spelling of the word name "Camp"? It could be either, or both, but in the former case, it means "field", while in the latter, it refers to a place of short-term accommodation (usually filled with tents) and to a deliberately theatrical and exaggerated style. 
 
Unless the spelling is a family surname, we'd probably advise sticking to Camp if you really want to use it, given the possibility of negative associations (just try adding an -F to the end of this name).

Kamp

Ladd

Ettie or Etty works as a nickname for any name with a prominent "et" sound, usually at the end: think Henrietta, Juliette or Colette. The -ette ending is a French diminutive suffix.

Etty

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 Ashley, the singer's birth name. In a recent year, 35 baby girls were named Halsey in the US.

Halsey

A quietly though not insubstantially used option for boys, Shine ticks a number of boxes. It's an unexpected word name with the familiar sounds of Shiloh or Shane; it fits in among ambitious virtue names like Sincere and Valor; it connects to the stars, the sun, and light in general (much like the popular Orion or Elio); and it has the unisex feel of Sutton and Sage.
 
In the US, around 35 boys were given the name Shine in a recent year, while in England and Wales, it was chosen for eight boys. Small numbers but still worth mentioning, as Shine has only appeared in the UK stats since 2022, and while it's been popping up in the US since the late 90s, it was rarely given to more than 10 babies until the 2020s. 
 
Influencers Rissa and Quan chose Shine for their son back in 2021, which does coincide with increased usage of the name.

Shine

Swade can be read in two ways: a creative respelling of word name Suede, or, as a surname-style choice. As a respelling, it relates to a soft leather material that's often used to make shoes and takes its name from the French phrase gants de Suède ("gloves of Sweden"). As a surname style choice, it comes from the Old English swathu, meaning "swath, track" or "strip of grassland", though the spelling is influenced by the German Schwade. 
 
Whichever way you look at it, Swade may appeal to those who enjoy the sound of the fabric name, but don't love that it's a word. In turn, this feels more reminiscent of Cade or Wade, giving it a slight cowboy vibe.
 
In a recent year, 22 boys were given the name Swade in the US, while Suede was chosen for 80 boys (and 32 girls).

Swade

Could Lilac be the next Lila or Lily or Violet? It certainly has a lot going for it--those lilting double 'l's, the fabulous fragrance it exudes, and the fact that it's a color name as well, providing a ready made nursery theme. In addition, the lilac is symbolic of first love.
 Actor Stephen Moyer was ahead of the curve when he named his daughter Lilac in 2002.

Lilac

Misty is simultaneously an airy and nature inspired choice and a nickname-y gem with a retro feel. First appearing in the US Top 1000 back in the 1960s, it peaked in 1977 when it reached #40. It was out of favor by the 2000s and a recent year saw it given to just 35 girls (compared to the 6315 that received it at its high point).
 
Bringing to mind misty mornings, hazy days, and low cloud, Misty has the sweet feel of Missy, Mitzi, Maisy, and Mimi, along with the mystery of Raven, Aura, and Willow, and the whimsy of Clover, Meadow, and Sunny — all of which could see it revived in coming years.
 
If you do enjoy Misty but would prefer a more formal name, Misty could work as a nickname for choices such as Marissa, Melissa, Artemis, Amethyst, and Maritza.

Misty

A nickname style name, Neely could derive from the strong sounding Cornelia, as a playful alternative to Nelly from Eleanor and Helena, or as a variation of the Scottish surname McNeilly, with the cool meaning "son of the poet". 
 
Wilkie Collins used 'Neelie' for a character in his novel, Armadale.

Neely

While Aurelio, Aurelia, and Aurelius are all on the rise, this historical and Romanian form of the golden name is yet to share in its relatives' success. Given to just 25 boys in a recent year, it may never the less appeal to those who like Adrian, Elian, and Augustine. 
 
Aurelian is typically used in English to refer to the 3rd century Roman emperor (Lucius Domitius Aurelianus), known for reuniting the Roman Empire through his successful military victories. There's also the wrestler Aurelian Smith, better known as Grizzly Smith, Paul Aurelian, a 6th-century Welsh saint who supposedly lived to be 140, and Aurelian Temișan, a singer and actor.

Aurelian

Chadwick Boseman, the late charismatic star of Marvel's blockbuster Black Panther, brought this name to the spotlight for the first time. Though we long considered it an overwrought way to get to the nickname Chad, his celebrity gives it new luster, and we wouldn't be surprised to see it grow in popularity going forward.

Chadwick

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 53)

English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)