English Names for Boys

Sounds like a displaced Dr. Seuss character. 

Merton

A popular first name in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, giving rise to surnames Gifford et al.  Could enjoy a comeback thanks to trendy Griffin.

Giffard

Could catch on in tandem with the newfound popularity of Griffin and Griffith. 

Gifford

Galton

Fortitude is the kind of virtue name the Puritans favored that could feel rather heavy for a modern boy. Nevertheless, with options such as Sincere, Chosen, Messiah, and Valor on the rise, perhaps in coming years, it might not seem so hefty after all, though for now, we think it would be best reserved for the middle spot. 

Fortitude

Moore is recommended as a rich and satisfying middle name choice, whether it relates to your own family history or not. Of the numerous outstanding Moore-surnamed namesakes, count sculptor Henry, writers Clement, Marianne and Brian, entertainers Demi, Dudley, Garry, Roger, Julianne, Melba and Mary Tyler, and provocateur Michael.

Moore

Gently pleasant English family name long associated with 60-Minuteman Morley Safer. 

Morley

Other kids might see a teasible connection to mortician or mortuary. Mortimer is an English family name used a few generations ago as an Anglicization of Moses; it was Walt Disney's original choice for the name of his mouse, until his wife talked him out of it.

Mortimer

An English family name used a few generations ago as an Anglicization of Moses, but hardly heard since th 1950s.

Morton

If it's not too phlegmatic for you, this surname and name of a Scottish clan could honor a number of people, especially Alexander Fleming, the father of antibiotics, and Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond.

Fleming

Just the kind of old-fashioned nickname coming back into style. 

For die-hard Fleetwood Mac fans, though Fleet is definitely a cool short form. 

Fleetwood

Nayland

Unique name for the son of a woodworker. 

Naylor

Unusual alternative to Fisher with a brisker surname appeal. 

Fisk

A family name that wouldn't appeal to many parents. 

Nesbit

Surname choice that's neither new nor bold. Newbold was the middle name of Edith Wharton.

Newbold

Newbury

One of several surnames beginning with New that nevertheless sound anything but. 

Newell

Some will see this as spirited, others stuffy. The protagonist of the Edith Wharton novel The Age of Innocence was a popular and successful lawyer named Newbold Archer.

Newland

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 54)