Names That Mean English

An alternative spelling to Denver, given to 20 girls in a recent year. 

Denvyr

The only thing wrong with the name James is its popularity: James has been among the Top 20 boys' names in the US since the dawn of baby naming time.

The solution, for some parents, is to vary the spelling to Jaymes, but that may create another problem. Is it pronounced just like James or does it have two syllables? And if it's pronounced just like James, why not make life easier for everyone and spell it James

Jaymes

Khemistry

The Wylde spelling puts an old-school, surnamey spin on hot modern word name Wild.

Wylde

Arnie is a nerdy-tipping-into-cute nickname that may rise again, if not for this generation of babies then for their babies. Look for it in the nurseries of 2050.

Arnie

Eliot is the sleekest spelling of the original, very occasionally used for girls, perhaps to honor novelist George Eliot.

Eliot

Both Currency and Kurrency appeared on the charts in 2020, following the bold trend of money-related names for babies.

Kurrency

A frilly southern-accented flower name yet to be planted on many birth certificates. In the language of flowers, the wisteria is a symbol of devotion. It is named for American horticulturalist John Caspar Wister.

Wisteria

Blu is a new (nu?) spin on an increasingly popular color name, also spelled Blue and Bleu by celebrity parents. Blu is the spelling used for one of the (male) Waldrop quintuplets, but the name is gender neutral.

Unusual option, with a Waspy Connecticut air. 

Darian

As this word is less often used to mean derriere, it becomes more possible to view Fanny as the kind of appealingly quaint nickname name, like Josie and Nellie, that many parents are favoring now. 

Fanny

Semaj is part of a special club of names created by spelling other names backward (meet the president, Nevaeh). Semaj is a reversal of James and is used primarily for boys. But ever since James became fair game for girls, so did Semaj — it's now unisex in usage. 

Semaj

After a long time in limbo, Prudence is now so clunky it'a cool, and it's starting to make a comeback, along with other Puritan virtue names like Mercy, Patience, and Constance.

Its short form, Prue, is much rarer on birth certificates, but it has a lot going for it. Spunky, streamlined, and full of energy, it's refreshing on its own, and would also make a charismatic middle name, or second part of a double name.

In the UK, its best-known wearer is the octogenarian cookery writer and presenter Prue Leith.

Prue

A nickname-y choice with a touch of vintage charm, Jeannie is ultimately a feminine diminutive form of the classic John, via Johanna and Jean. With sounds reminiscent of magical genies and of genius, Jeannie (or sleeker Jeanie) might just have the energy to climb back up the charts, as Joni and Joanie have done.
 
Fitness influencer Alice Liveing named her daughter Jeannie Isabella in 2025, which might remind parents of the name. In a recent count, however, it was given to 22 girls while Jeanie was given to 16.

Jeannie

As a male name, Joni is a nickname for Jon or Jonathan, akin to Johnny or Jonny. It's more commonly used as a girl name, where it originated as a nickname for Joan.

Joni

A sweet Scottish short form of Alexander which is feeling newly appealing now the era of Sandra is far behind us. Sandy would also work well as a nickname for a child with pale red or dark blond hair.

Sandy

The surname of Taylor Swift's NFL beau, Travis Kelce, is seeing new life as a given name. Could Swifties take this name to the top?
 
We've seen predictions that Kelce will be a trending baby name in years to come and while there haven't been swarms of Kelces just yet, it did double in use between 2022 and 2023. Given to 36 girls and 24 boys, compared to 18 and 13 the year before, it was one of the fastest rising gender neutral names of the year. 
 
While some may say Taylor Swift can make anything cool, others would argue she can't rescue her boyfriends surnames from the dated image surrounding Millennial favorite Kelsey. Only time will tell.
 
The name derives from an English surname and place name meaning "Cenel's island", Cenel being an Old English given name, meaning fierce" — something that might make it more appealing to contemporary parents.

Kelce

Lianne is occasionally used independently, but fairly flimsy. Our advice: Keep looking for a name that carries more individual authority.

Lianne

Legacy is in the Top 1000 for both boys and girls, reflecting parents' love for grandiose word names. As Legacy picks up speed, other spelling variations such as Legaci do too.

Legaci

Brooklyn is a theoretically unisex name that in reality is 98 percent female, while variations Brooklynn and Brooklynne are all-girl.