English Names that Start With B

More a concept than a place — or a name.
 
The place name Bohemia ultimately derives from the tribe name Boii with the German heim, meaning "home".

Bohemia

A newly hatched cousin of Bree and Brea, with a touch of Bailey and Brynn there too, Brae feels like a name that could catch on. However, a 'bray' is also the sound a donkey makes. 

Brae

Brilie combines elements of the megapopular Briana and Riley to form a pleasant merger. Some would call Brilie a Smoosh Name.

Brilie

Briona is another of the increasingly popular Bri picks, a cross between Briana and Briony. 

Briona

Less-traveled member of this fashionable group, with less than attractive sound. 

Burma

Banana is one fruity name we wouldn't recommend. Pick Plum instead. There is a Japanese novelist whose pen name is Banana Yoshimoto--birth name Mahoko.

Banana

A literary word name, now synonymous with Shakespeare, Bard also refers more generally to a poet, particularly one who recited epics and traditional poems out loud. Similar in sound to Bernard, Barnaby, and Ford, and similar in style to Quill and Poet, Bard hasn't appeared in the US stats since the late 70s. With the release of the 2026 movie, The Odyssey however, it may gain more attention, after Travis Scott played the role of "Bard" in the film.

Bard

Related to blackberry plants and more colloquially to any thorny shrub, Bramble has history as an English surname. Cozy in sound but spiky in feel, it could even get you nickname Bram.

Bramble

Bean is a unisex word name with a cute and quirky feel. Early reader series Ivy and Bean features a young girl named Bean, short for Bernice Blue. It has appeal as a casual nickname or middle name, but it's harder to imagine as a given name.
 
Lady Gaga chose the name for her daughter, Rose Bean, in 2026, while it also featured as a nickname for Isabel in the TV series The Summer I Turned Pretty. You could consider it as a nickname for the likes of Sabine, Sabrina, Beatrice, Bianca, Bernadette, and Briana.

Bean

You could see Bonnet as rarely used word name and an unexpected route to nicknames Bonnie and Betty. Or, you could view it as a (masculine) French form of Latin Bonitus, and as a surname-style choice of the same origin. 
 
Yet to appear in the US stats, if Stetson, Denim, and Suede can be used, perhaps Bonnet isn't too far out for girls?

Bonnet

Dora's monkey best friend, an old favorite for pet cats, and a UK drugstore, Boots has nevertheless appeared in the US stats a handful of times in the early 20th-century,, possibly given as a nod to a family surname. More contemporary usage (as seen on at least one social media announcement) may be owing to its connection with cowboy boots and its similarity to popular Books. 

Boots

This ferocious and fuzzy animal name has started to see some use among baby girls, particularly as a middle name. Reporter Katy Tur has a daughter named Eloise Judy Bear, while influencers Quincy and Dylan Jordan named their daughter Davie Bear in 2025.

Bear

A cozy short form of Ambrose and co., Brosie could make a sweet nickname for a kid, but as a stand alone, it might be best reserved for a pet. 

Brosie

Could Briscoe work as a rare alternative to the likes of Roscoe, Bridger, Briggs, Brixton, Nico, Brycen, or Bruno? Possibly, given its brisk sound, cool O ending, surname-y vibe and snappy feel. In fact, it has been occasionally used for boys in the US since the early 20th century, and most recently appeared in the charts in 2021, when it was given to 11 boys.
 
Ultimately from Old Norse and used as an English place and last name, Briscoe means "birch wood" or "wood of birches", giving it a subtle nature connection. As a surname, it's been borne by the professional wrestler brothers, Jay and Mark, actress Lottie Briscoe, and race car driver, Chase Briscoe; in fiction, the character Lennie Briscoe appeared in hit series, Law & Order.
 
While some might find the sounds too similar to brisket or biscuit, it could be one to watch out for ― and could make a pretty cool name for a pet too.

Briscoe

Originally used as a habitational surname for someone from a town of the same name in the North of England, Bingley is perhaps best associated with the good-natured Charles Bingley in Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Yet to catch on, it's a literary choice that might make an alternative to Briggs or Bradley, and could get you to zingy nickname Bing, without having to commit to using the name of a search engine.

Bingley

A cute, foodie name choice for a pet, Biscuit comes from an Old French word meaning "twice baked". Cookie, Biscuits, Waffles, Coco, and Sundae have similar vibes. 

Biscuit

As a given name, Bacon is used mostly as a humorous and quirky choice for animals, however, it is also considered a surname. From its English roots, it's an occupational name, given to those who sold pork, while as a Germanic and Norman surname, it is derived from the given names Bacco or Baco, or perhaps from Bacchus. 


Bacon

A cute, foodie name, derived from an Old French word meaning "twice baked", Biscuit is most often reserved for pets. The similar, plural form Biscuits is also familiar. 

A newly minted compound name, blending popular Bella with the mystical Nyx, Bellanyx has the whimsical meaning of "magical night". An alternative (sound-wise) to Bellatrix or Beatrix perhaps, it would make a cool name for a character. 

Bellanyx

A playful name, reminiscent of buzzy bees and names like Ziggy, Ozzy, and Bobby, Buzzy is less popular than the (also rare) Buzz. It was however used occasionally in the US between the 1930s and 60s. 

Buzzy

English names that start with the letter B for boys and girls, including Bohemia, Brae, Brilie, Briona, Burma, Banana, Bard, Bramble, Bean, Bonnet, Boots, Bear, Brosie, Briscoe, Bingley, Biscuit, Bacon, Biscuit, Bellanyx, and Buzzy. (Page 14)

English Names that Start With B

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