English Names for Boys

High-collared and straightlaced, with the deadly "Ox" nickname. 

Oxford

The name Parson might have seemed ridiculous even a few years ago, but when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe named their son Deacon, they opened up a whole new field of ecclesiastical cool.  Bishop, Priest, and Pastor are other possibilities.

Parson

A name in the spirit of Messiah, Bishop, and Saint, Preacher is a spiritual word choice, used to describe someone who delivers religious sermons to the public. While this may appeal to those who hope their children grow up within the church, it could also relate to someone who's preachy in a moralizing and irritating way, or to the contemporary phrase "Preach!", used to express strong agreement.
 
First appearing in the US stats in 2021, it was given to 5 boys in a recent year.

Preacher

A surname and a place name, Reston blends the sounds of Weston, Stetson, Rhett, and Reese, giving it an on-trend feel. Derived from the Old Scottish Ristun (itself adapted from Old English), the name likely means "settlement by the brushwood".

Reston

Rowan meets Joey in this nickname-y style choice, and it may well be a modern creation, blending the classic nickname for Joseph with the contemporary favorite Ro- sound. However, Roey may have more history than that, even if it did only begin appearing in the US charts in the late 90s.
 
It could be considered a variation of the Hebrew name, Roi, meaning "my Shepherd", or the identically spelled Galician and Spanish name Roi, a diminutive of Roderigo ("famous ruler"). 
 
Used exclusively for boys so far, with 11 given the name in a recent year (double the number given in previous years), if viewed as a modern invention, it could easily cross into unisex territory.

Roey

A possible alternative to Anderson and a cool way to honor an Alexander, Sanderson has a slightly gentler sound and may appeal to those who also like Lysander, Sebastian, and Sullivan. With nicknames Sonny, Sander, Sandy, Sanders, and Sasha, it was given to just 8 boys in the US in a recent year.

Sanderson

One of the more subtle occupational surnames, Sayer is a pleasant, open, last-name-first name, particularly apt for a family of woodworkers -- or writers. 
 
Some parents are beginning to consider Sayer as a less popular alternative to Sawyer, which it may be a variation of, or a separate occupational name for someone who recited poetry and news, or even another occupational name an for assayer, who tested metals or tasted food.
 The most well known surnamed Sayer is the British singer Leo Sayer.

Sayer

British last name that, though rather gentle, feels like a sharper, sleeker Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.

Selby

Striker is one of the new gang of boys' names that have two syllables, end in -er, spring from words, and have a macho, even aggressive meaning and image.  Other examples include Breaker, Heller, and Wilder.  Do the world a favor and desist.

Striker

A spin on surname style-name Truett, this form has appeared in the US stats in 1926 and 2025. Meaning "dry wood"  and "river bend" from its Old Norse and English roots,  it can also mean "true, faithful, and strong" from its Germanic ones. As such, it's a nature-related option with the a virtuous feel of True and Truth. 

Truette

Bourne

Botham

Waspy-sounding choice, well known in literature for Boswell's Life of Johnson.

Boswell

Another servile surname, this one connected to the go-between character in "Charlie's Angels." 

Bosley

A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boy names</a> like Brooks and Hayes, Haines ultimately comes from the name Hagen. 
 
Also spelled as Haynes, it has surprising connections to mythology, appearing in the medieval saga, the Nibelungenlied. This spelling is currently less popular than the alternative Haynes in the US, though both are rare.

Haines

Cooler than the older month names like April and May, and a highly unusual and eye-catching choice. The most famous real-life January is female – January Jones – but the month is named for the Roman god Janus, who presided over doors and new beginnings.
 
For those after a literary reference in their child's name, January (or sometimes Januarie) was used by Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales for one of the main knights in "The Merchant's Tale. It also featured in Jacqueline Susann's novel Once is Not Enough which pushed it into the US charts in the 70s.
 
More recently, January was used for a male character in the 2024 novel The Mars House by Natasha Pulley.

January

Short but not particularly sweet surname. 

Booth

Taken from the name of an English city, Leicester has an aristocratic look about it, though its shorter and simpler than it looks at first glance. Said just as the same as Lester, the more stripped back spelling is usually preferred, bringing with it less risk of mispronunciation. 
 
Used as a given name by Charles Dickens in his novel Bleak House, the name comes the Latin castra meaning "military camp" or "fort", combined with the name of a river.

Leicester

The name gained considerable recognition through Dr. David Livingstone, the famous 19th-century Scottish missionary and explorer of Africa. As a first name, Livingstone projects qualities of adventure, discovery, and humanitarian values. While uncommon as a given name, it appeals to parents drawn to its historical significance and substantial, distinguished character. The name carries connotations of intellect, courage, and pioneering spirit.

Livingstone

Too tightly associated with the real-life villainous Captain Bligh of The Mutiny on the Bounty. 

Bligh

English names for boys dominate the popularity lists of the US, the UK, and other English-speaking countries, with William and James ranking highly in the US, and Jack, Oscar, and Charlie reigning in the UK.



Many English names for boys drawn from surnames are currently trending in the United States: Jackson, Cooper, Lincoln, Hunter, and Landon, for instance. And then there are English word names from Royal to Loyal that have become fashionable for baby boys.

 include Carter, Grayson, Julian, Mason, Parker, Robert, Sawyer, and Wyatt. Trending English names for boys include surname names such as Reeve and Miller and antique names such as Auberon and Anson.

Baby boy names of English origin popular in the UK

 include Oliver — a top name throughout the United Kingdom — Harry, Leo, and Alfie. The English name Tom ranks highly in France, while James is favored in The Netherlands and Oliver is popular in Spain.



Some of the straightforward boys’ names we think of as English — like the royal Charles, William, Henry, George, and Louis — all have non-English roots but may carry nicknames like Charlie or Bill that are distinctively English.

English Names for Boys rank highly throughout the English-speaking world, including William, James, Jack, Oscar, and Charlie. (Page 38)