By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 47 pages
of 47
English
"upper forest"
Even more uppity than Upton.
"axman's ford"
Surname doomed to remain a surname.
"bright friend"
One step up from Irwin, and that's not nearly enough.
"banner"
He'll have to prove his humility.
English, Irish
"from the marsh or fen; fair"
No, not Ben (you'll say a million times), not Van -- Venn. John Venn was a British logician and philosopher famous for introducing the Venn diagram, which is used in several fields, including logic,…
English from French
"alder"
Upper-class surname in England that might be prime for adoption here.
"happy, joyous"
Fane, used as a nickname in the Middle Ages for someone with a cheerful disposition, is one of the more offbeat members of the Zane-Kane family.
"fortified town"
English nature name
Unusual and simple nature name worthy of further consideration.
"bear rule"
Berold is one of the more obscure boy names meaning bear, which also include Arthur, Orson, and (in a different vein) Teddy.
English occupational name
"wagon maker"
A surname style name that could make an alternative to Wayne or Wyatt.
"ford where barley grows"
Upper-crusty hotelish surname.
Place name
Place names for boys are few and far between; this one would make a singular choice. Prince William of Wales uses this as a surname when required, as in his military life; Jimmy Wales is the…
"bellows maker"
Might be an honorific for novelist Saul Bellow, although bellowing is not the gentlest of sounds. Consider Saul instead.
English and Scottish occupational name
"ringer of the bell"
Simplicity and pleasant associations give the word Bell real possibility as a first name -- but somehow it seems better for a girl, a la Belle.
"pretty valley"
Belden is a little-used surname-name that might work in this age of Belles.
"pretty face"
Try telling the kids it really means "pretty face" and not "burper".
"prayer"
A famous seventh-century saint and church historian whose name has not survived as well as his works. Known as the Venerable Bede, this Benedictine monk is considered the first known writer of…
"home of the Wassa people"
Lincoln, Tyler, Taylor, Jackson, Jefferson, Harrison, McKinley, Grant, Kennedy, Carter -- yes. Washington -- probably not.
"trumpet player"
Might make a good middle name for the child of a musician, though people could think you were honoring your BMW.
