English Names for Boys

A surname style choice that likely originated from a place in Cornwall, the exact etymology of the name is unknown, though "enclosure of Lon" or "farmstead of Lon" have been suggested, Lon referring to a person. Alternatively, it might have been borrowed the name of a town in Brittany, Lannion, which means "Parish of Huon" (Huon being the Breton form of Hugh).
 
The name appears in the book the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson and may appeal as an alternative to Lennon, Layton, and Lachlan.

Lanyon

Rattler joins the likes of Wrangler, Thrasher, Stunner, and Gunner as a boy name with a macho, rough-round-the-edges feel and a touch of violence. Associated with rattlesnakes, ricket cars, passenger trains, a Marvel supervillain, a rollercoaster in Texas, a number of sports teams, and a type of pistol, it was chosen by at least one set of parents on social media in 2025. 

Rattler

Animal names like Fox, Wolf, and Bear are in style, along with color names like Sage and Onyx, and wild word names like Truce, Rowdy, and Halo. This word name, connected to a type of songbird and a member of the thrush family, combines a bit of all of the aforementioned trends and could make an interesting middle name.

Bluebird

Marlboro is one of those names that could, in theory, be very cool: it has the sounds of Marley and Marlowe, it fits into the last names as first names category, and has a touch of edgy cowboy energy about it. However, in reality, Marlboro is tied so heavily to the American cigarette company that it is probably best reserved for a fictional character (or the middle spot, if it's a family name). 
 
The name is derived from Old English, lending it several possible meanings. If it is taken from the English town of Marlborough, it means "Mǣrla's hill", Mǣrla being an Old English given name, related to Merlin. Alternatively, however, it could mean "clay and lime hill" in reference to the earthy substance of marl, or it could mean "pleasant hill", "hill by the boundary", or "lake by the hill", depending on which root to "Marl" you follow.

Marlboro

Used by writer George R. R. Martin in his popular fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, this name was created for the character Victarion Greyjoy, a relative of Balon and Theon Greyjoy. Described as a fierce and powerful warrior with a calm demeanor, it seems likely that his name is based on Victor, Victorianus, Victorien, and similar, ultimately from the Latin word for a conqueror or a winner. 
 
While other names from the series (and subsequent adaptation Game of Thrones) such as Theon, Arya, and Cersei have been given to babies, Victarion has yet to appear in the US stats.

Victarion

A serious and spiritual word name, a covenant refers to a binding agreement, a solemn promise, or an oath that may have consequences if it is broken. In a religious sense, a covenant might relate to an agreement between God and His followers, though the word also has links to the law and to Wiccan communities.
 
Yet to make the stats, it does feel like the sort of bold, declarative word choice that may appeal to those who like Creed, Credence, Sincere, Abbott and Promise. Nickname Cove may add a gentler, breezy element to it.

Covenant

A bold word name, a grenadier refers to a soldier who throws grenades during battles. Originally, when it started being used as a term in the 18th century, it referred to those who threw hand grenades and required soldiers to be robust and physically strong. 
 
Similar in sound to Gideon, Graham, and Greer, and in vibe to Hunter, Navy, Mariner, and Gunnar, it may appeal to those honoring someone in the armed forces. Derived from the French word for "grenade", it is currently a very rare choice.

Grenadier

Following in the footsteps of Truce, Justice, Harmony, and Serenity, Balance entered the lexicon in 2026 when it was given to one of the first babies born that year. A memorable choice, Balance conjures up ideas of stability and steadiness, of finding middle ground, of harmony and order, and of things being even and equally distributed. 
 
Balance may well reflect a want for calm and steadiness in turbulent times as well as the growing trend for declarative and bold word names. And it might be seen as a balanced choice too: possible nickname Lance adds a familiar element, and the word sounds somewhat similar to more popular options such as Banks, Blaise, Bailey, and Chance.

Balance

Laenan Kite is the protagonist of the 2002 novel Mirror Dreams written by sicence fiction and urban magic writer, Catherine Webb. They likely created the name for the character in keeping with the magical elements on the book, however, it has a contemporary and intriguing sound.
 
While the exact origins of the Laenan are unknown, it could be based on the name Lane, which may connect it to either the English word for a pathway, the name Elaine meaning "shining light", the Irish surname Lane, meaning "warrior", or to the name Delaney meaning "from the alder grove", "dark champion", or "dark river". Alternatively, it may be borrowed from an Old English and Estonian word meaning "loan", "grant", or "gift", though it could equally be a scrambling of the name Leanna.

Laenan

Used sporadically for girls but very rarely for boys, this place name does have one notable bearer: actor, boxer, and Civil Rights activist, Canada Lee. He was born Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata but a mispronunciation of his surname led him to go by Canada. 
 
The name itself comes from kanata, drawn from the Native American language of Iroquoian, in which it means "village".

Canada

Classic Samuel meets stylish Brooks in this distinctive surname-style choice, which might also appeal to fans of Samwise, Hawthorne, and Elwood. Derived from the Old English Semebre, it refers to someone who lived near a sandy stream, giving it a nature connection too. It has seen very occasional use as a given name.

Sambrooke

Cool Briggs meets on-trend -ley in this totally modern surname-style choice. Chosen by a few families on social media in 2025, it may well rank in the charts in coming years, either with this spelling or as Brigsley.

Briggsley

Also used as a unit of measurement, typically for the depth of the sea, Fathom relates to having a good understanding or comprehension of something. As such, it simultaneously implies a level of curiosity and a desire to examine and make sense of things and and an element of depth and sincerity. Predominantly used as a surname, it has the weighty, wordy feel of names such as Favor, Prosper, Pius, Merit, Wisdom, Sincere, and Justice.

Fathom

A triumphant and ambitious name, Succeed joins the ranks of Triumph, Invictus, and Prosper. Used predominantly in Zimbabwe and occasionally in Nigeria, it could be read as a name to live up to, or as a parent's hope for their child. 

Succeed

A surname-style choice, in the same vein of Remington, Kingston, Lexington, and Montgomery, Wilmington is the name of various places in the UK and the US. The meaning is debated, with some sources suggesting it means "Wilhelm's (or William's) estate", while others interpret it as meaning "the desired settlement". 
 
Yet to appear in the US stats, it may be a bold way to nickname Will, an intriguing option for those honoring a William or a Wilmer, or as an alternative to other on-trend last names.

Wilmington

An occupational word name with a witty, stylish sound, Whittier feels similar to Whittaker, Whitney, and Wilder. Derived from the Old English hwitian meaning "to whiten", it has been notably borne by inventor and radio communications pioneer, Greenleaf Whittier Picard, and by his great uncle, poet John Greenleaf Whittier.

Whittier

An earthy, whimsy feeling name, used as a surname, a place name, and very occasionally as a first name, Greenleaf could make an intriguing middle name option, in tune with Wildflower, Forrester, or Woods. 
 
A notable bearer was Greenleaf Whittier Picard, a radio communications pioneer and an inventor, named for his uncle, the poet John Greenleaf Whittier.

Greenleaf

Part Oakley, part Wilder, Wildoak is a rugged yet whimsy word name, in the same vein as Wildflower, Prairie, Pine, and Lionheart. It could work as a bold middle name for those who want something with a stylish sound, a nature-connected meaning, and an untamed, wild-hearted feel.

Wildoak

An alternative transliteration of the Arabic Sunnah, a name that literally means "custom, habit" though is used more broadly to refer to the traditions and practises provided by the prophet Muhammad for Muslims to follow. A spiritually significant choice within Islamic tradition, this form is notably used across India.
 
There is also evidence that Sunna may have been used as an Anglo-Saxon masculine name, possibly meaning "wet, marshy land", though could have also linked to sunne meaning "sun". 
 
Additionally, Sunna is a feminine Scandinavian name, used as short form of Sunneva or Susanna, or as a stand alone name, connected to the "sun".

Sunna

While Roller may bring to mind roller skates, rollercoasters, roller blinds, paint rollers, road rollers, and hair rollers, it is also the name of a type of bird, a character in the Transformers franchise, and, more recently, a baby name, appearing in baby announcements on social media. Use of it as a given name likely relates to its use as a surname, originally given to those who worked in agriculture and textiles.

Roller

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 48)