English Names that Start With A

Aubrianna, along with Aubriella, is an elaboration of a perfectly good if too trendy name, Aubrey. The final -anna or -ana or -ella does not improve on the original. But A names of all kinds continue to hold widespread appeal.

Over 2500 baby girls were named Aubrey last year, versus about 50 called Aubrianna.

Aubrianna

A cultural crossover with multiple roots. Ashwin is an English surname from the Anglo-Saxon male name Æscwine, meaning "ash tree + friend". It's also a popular Hindi name: in Hindu mythology, the Ashvins or Ashwini are twin Hindu gods of the sunrise and sunset. Either way, it has a soft, strong sound and great nickname potential in Ash or Win
 
As a Hindi name, the pronunciation would be ush-vin, while as an Old English name, ASH-win would be used.

Ashwin

Similar in style to Everett and Avery, Avett is a zippy, musical choice that many will associate with the American folk-rock band, The Avett Brothers. The exact etymology of the name is unknown, but theories include that it comes from the French avette meaning "bee", that it's a diminutive of Avery, meaning "little elf ruler", or that it is comes from the Hebrew ʾAvraham, meaning "father of multitudes".
 
Additionally, it may come from Avis, meaning "bird", Everett meaning "brave, wild boar", Averell meaning "april" or Armenian Avetis meaning "good news".
 
Avett has been appearing in the US stats since 2009, with around 30 boys given the name in a recent year.

Avett

Alyce is an aceepted enough variation that there were more than 50 baby girls given the name with this spelling in the US last year. Of course, there were more than 3600 baby girls named Alice, spelled the conventional way.

Alyce

The Ashlee variation of the megapopular 90s favorite Ashley is best-known as the name of Ashlee Simpson, younger sister of Jessica.

Ashlee

Abbott is a neglected masculine surname with religious overtones, used to describe the head of a monastery or a prominent church figure, such as a priest. Though the feminine nickname Abby could be seen as a slight drawback, that's hardly stopped Abner or Abraham rising up the charts, and besides, there's nothing wrong with a gentler boy name.
 
Derived from the Italian abate meaning "priest, abbot", the name ultimately comes from the same Hebrew and Aramaic root as Abram or Abraham, giving it the additional meaning of "father". While the Abbot spelling is used to describe the head of an abbey of monks, Abbott was originally used as an English nickname or a last name for someone who worked for a high-ranking church official. 
 
An unexpected honor for an Abraham or Abigail, or perhaps for a family member who works within the church, Abbott fits in with the trends for spiritual names, occupational names, and names with a double -tt ending, like Everett, Barrett, Bennett, and co. 
 The political activist and co-founder of the Yippies, Abbie Hoffman's birth name was Abbott, while Abbot (one 't') Kinney is known for developing Venice, California--whose main throughfare bears his name.
 
Quietly used in the US, it was given to 30 babies in a recent year.

Abbott

It may have peaked at #1 for girls in 1991 and 1992 in the US, but Ashley actually has a long history as a male given name, as evidenced by the sensitive Ashley Wilkes in Gone With the Wind. It's always been more popular for boys in England and Wales, where it currently ranks at #414.

Ashley

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

Audrianna

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

Abbreviated form of Harley that might also be spelled, for girls, Arleigh or Arlee.

Arley

If you're torn between Marissa and Alyssa. 

Arissa

With its rich aural relation to names like Aubrey and Audrey, this color name could be the next Amber, or Scarlett. 

Auburn

Amy and all her sisters and cousins was such a popular name that this version was among the Top 1000 girl names in the US until the mid-90s. Last year only 32 baby girls were names Amie.

Amie

About 60 girls were named Alise in the US last year, making it an uncommon but not truly rare name. While it's pretty and intriguing as a spin on the very popular Alice, it's pronounced more like Elise or -- in Latvian -- Elisa, and so may prove more confusing than it's worth. If you want to name your daughter Alice, name her Alice, and if you want to name her Elise, name her Elise. Choosing Alise in many ways gives you the worst of all worlds.

Alise

Aubriana, along with Aubrianna and Aubriella, is an elaboration of a perfectly-good if too-trendy name, Aubrey.  The final anna or ana or ella does not improve on the original.  But A names of all kinds continue to appeal.

Aubriana

An Anglicized form of the Welsh name Afon, Avon is the name of both river in the south of England and the name of a cosmetics company. Given to a handful of boys each year, the similar, unisex Aven is currently more popular. 

Avon

Alura has an entirely different root from the similar Allura and shares the fairy tale tinge. It could be a great choice for a wise baby girl.

Alura

Unusual and attention-grabbing, but this unusual spelling also could make your child's life more complicated than it has to be.

Alizabeth

Arlen might be thought of as an update on the midcentury Arlene or as a unisex surname-name. Arlen was given to 22 girls in the US last year vs 57 boys and those numbers may grow with the fashion for n-ending two-syllable surname-names. Another similar possibility for girls: Arden.

Arlen

English names that start with the letter A for boys and girls, including Aubrianna, Ashwin, Avett, Alyce, Ashlee, Abbott, Ashley, Albie, Audrianna, Aurelian, Arley, Arissa, Auburn, Amie, Alise, Aubriana, Avon, Alura, Alizabeth, and Arlen. (Page 7)

English Names that Start With A

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