English Names

Wrenley has been a trending choice for girls in the early 2020s, and has begun to see quiet use for boys too. Fifteen boys received the name in a recent year, compared to nearly 2000 girls. Soundalikes Renley and Renly are more familiar for boys, likely thanks to the Game of Thrones character of the same name.

Wrenley

On one hand, Julieanna might be considered a less succinct and less popular spelling alternative to Juliana or Julianna, while on the other, it might be viewed as a compound name, blending 70s fave Julie with classic, international Anna. 
 
In the former case, it would share the cloudy etymology of Julia, Julian, Julius, and co. which may mean "youthful", "downy-bearded", "relating to Jove (Jupiter)", or "sky father". Throw Anna into the mix, and you can add "grace" to any of these meanings: "graceful youth" or "youthful grace" or "grace of Jupiter" might be a few possibilities.
 
Juliana or Julianna would probably be easier to wear, but Julieanna might work if you wanted to make it clear you were honoring a Julie and an Anna in one name. 
 
A trending name on Nameberry for 2025, buzz around Julieanna might have been created by social media personality, Julieanna Goddard (also known as YesJulz) or from people searching plant-based Julieanna Hever recipes.

Julieanna

Maeve, a contemporary Irish favorite, is blended here with that trendy -lyn suffix, in the style of Emberlyn, Gracelyn, and Raelyn. It could then be interpreted as meaning "she who intoxicates with her beauty", "intoxicating lake", or "flexible, tender and intoxicating", depending on whether you go with the Spanish, Welsh, or German origins of Lynn. First appearing in the US charts back in 2020, a recent year saw Maevelyn given to 14 girls, while alternative spelling Maevelynn was chosen for 9. 

Maevelyn

The Brits say BARK-lee, but we pronounce it the same as the name of the California college: either way it's quite pretentious and of another era. 

Berkeley

For 007 fans, a great middle name choice -- or even a first, Bond fits into the trend of one-syllable surname-style names like Banks, Brooks, Boone, Beck, and Briggs. As an English surname, it comes from Bóandi, a Norse name meaning "peasant, farmer".
 
Bond could also be viewed as a word name, referring to a connection between people, whether that's based on feelings, interests, beliefs, or blood. More broadly, it denotes the joining together of two different things, a solemn promise, or an official financial agreement on repaying money. As such, Bond may appeal to fans of Truce, Trust, and Teller.
 
Ten boys were given the name in a recent year.

Bond

Most color names, like Scarlet and Violet, are definitely female, but not this one. Brown is as rich and warm as the tone it denotes, though we must admit the Italian version Bruno has more spark and substance. 

Brown

Sleek, unisex surname rarely heard for girls -- which could be seen as an asset. 

Reed

Early is a word-turned-name, pleasantly suggesting the start of a bright new day. Of the new word and day names, Early is one of the best.
 
Early James is the stage name of singer-songwriter Fredrick James Mullis Jr.

Early

Rickie carries a vintage charm and tomboyish appeal. With boyish nicknames for girls - like Charlie and Stevie - rising, why not Rickie?
 
Rickie is given to about 10 baby girls each year in the US, about half the number of sister spelling Ricki. A little under 300 boys a year receive this name spelled Ricky.

Rickie

Originally a surname deriving from the Roman twin Romulus, this attractive name was introduced to the English-speaking world as a first name by painter Augustus John who used it for his son. Romilly John became Admiral of the Fleet in England. 
 A French surname from the twelfth century on, it's more recently been heard as a girls' name. Emma Thompson, for example, used Romilly as her daughter Gaia's middle name. And Romilly was used in the US last year for a dozen baby girls.
 The logical nicknames would be Romy or Milly, both very much in style.

Romilly

An uncommon surname name with that energetic -er ending. Might appeal especially to baseball fans.

Fielder

French designer name Chanel spelt phonetically in English.

Shanelle

A word name that parents might choose to reflect the eternal love they feel for their child, Forever is a bold choice, but grounded perhaps by the familiar ev sound heard in Everett and Evan and the for sound of Ford and Forest. Also used in a religious or spiritual sense, it feels akin to the likes of Heaven, Blessed, Chosen, Fable, and Seven. 
 
Singer Anne-Marie and rapper Slowthai chose Forever for their son, born in 2024, though his name wasn't announced until 2025. The singer explained that she inspired by her nan, mum, and sister signing cards off with "always and forever", and because she thought "it's just a cool name". 
 
Around 50 babies where called Forever in a recent year: 41 girls and 9 boys. The similar Ever was also chosen for more than 300 American babies, 114 girls and 203 boys.

Forever

A modern creation, blending celestial word name Star with the popular suffix -lie, Starlie may be interpreted as meaning "star meadow, star clearing" or simply as "star". It is notably borne by musician (and sister to Lucky Blue), Starlie Cheyenne Smith, and was used by YouTubers Savannah Jean and Josh Alexander (Sav&Josh) for their daughter in 2023.

Starlie

With Yale and Brown in the mainstream, why not this upscale college name and surname as well. 

Harvard

A name that is either inspired by the classic Harriet (and by the character Arrietty in The Borrowers), or, a compound name, merging Aria and Ari with Etta, to generate the meanings "little song" or "little lion"

Arietta

This spelling of Blyss was used for about 20 baby girls in the US last year, but it doesn't add anything to the original.

Blyss

While this spelling is running a close second on the popularity charts to the original Briana, it feels more invented — probably because it is. Some parents may want to move further away from Brian, the root name for all the feminine variations, and so prefer the e versions. But we like the older, more authentic Briana best.  Another spelling way: Breanna. 

Breana

Brier

This frilly Victorian name is a variant of Cecilia and Cecily, with which it might well be confused. Cicely was a surprise choice for comedienne Sandra Bernhard. 
 Literary Cicelys can be found in Sir Walter Scott's "Kenilworth" and the 1925 Dos Passos novel "Manhattan Transfer."
 A distinguished bearer is actress Cicely Tyson. Cicely, or Sweet Cicely is also a herbaceous plant with a strong taste reminiscent of anise,and is sometimes used for medicinal purposes.

Cicely

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 67)

English Names (with Meanings & Popularity)