English Names for Boys

Howel

Houghton

A more modern- sounding alternative to Harman. 

Jarman

Sweet and southern-feeling, maybe thanks to Horton Foote, author of Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, not to mention the Dr. Seuss connection. 

Horton

 As a surname, it's most familiar as Hearst -- publishing magnate William Randolph and kidnapped granddaughter Patty. Few would use it if it wasn't their own family name. 

Hurst

Hooker

Possible middle name for devotees of detective Sherlock...or the actress Katie.

Holmes

A possible nod to grandpa Roger, though somewhat stuffy. 

Hodgson

Poetic and easy to pronounce (it's keets), this is one of many poets' names to consider, such as Auden, Eliot, Frost, Byron, Lorca, Marlowe, Blake, Emerson and Tennyson. Likely meaning "kite", in reference to the bird of the same name, it could also be used as a nickname to Keaton, or as an alternative to vintage Kit. 

Keats

An original way to honor an ancestral Robert.   Hobson is outside the Top 1000 but is among the fastest-rising names for boys.

Hobson

A rarely used member of the Ken- family, Kenelm has a rugged, surname-style feel. Borne by a 9th century martyr and a member of the Mercian royal family, it could make an intriguing namesake for a Kenneth, a Kendra, or a Kendrick. 
 
Historically, it has been borne by Kenelm Winslow, an English Pilgrim who travelled to Massachusetts in the 1600s; by Kenelm Digby, a 17th century diplomat and natural philosopher; by Kenelm Lee Guinness, a 20th century record breaking racing driver; and by Kenelm Creighton, a naval hero during Second World War. 
 
Also appearing as the title character in the 19th century novel Kenelm Chillingly by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, it's a rare choice that could get you to nicknames Ken, Kenny, or even Elm, for something more unexpected.

Kenelm

Hobart

A Robert nickname out of use for hundreds of years, but now sounds cooler than Bob or Rob for a modern boy. 

Téa Leoni and David Duchovny named their kid Kyd in 2002, but he usually goes by his middle name, Miller. Probably a wise choice, given the homonym. On the other hand, the association with Elizabethan playwright Thomas Kyd, who wrote a version of "Hamlet" before Shakespeare, is intriguing. And if you're looking for a name that can't be nicknamed, well... here's looking at you, Kyd.

A dignified yet gentle surname name occasionally heard in England and the West Indies. 

Kynaston

Unless it was your grandmother's maiden name, and you're using it in the middle place, we don't think so. Could be confused with Hazelden, a leading rehab facility. 

Hazelton

British place-name unlikely to evoke much passion in any baby namer. 

Lancaster

Could be difficult to grasp: Hoss. The "Bonanza" cowboy. 

Hawes

Surname choice that could be used to honor the playwright Lanford Wilson. 

Lanford

Classy-sounding surname name usually bypassed in favor of the simpler Landon. 

Langdon

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 52)