English Names that Start With B

Bliss might once have seemed a far-out choice, but it has been on the rise for girls in recent years, alongside similar options such as Dream, Heaven, Halo, and Blessing. Associated with a state of perfect happiness and with spiritual blessedness, it holds both religious and secular appeal.
 
While the name remains rare for boys in the US, it is beginning to see quiet use, with 9 boys called Bliss in the latest stats. Beyond the US, however, Bliss is used as a masculine or unisex name in Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe. 
 
Similar in feel to Halo, Sincere, Truce, and Chosen, it may, for now, be easier for a boy to wear in the middle spot, though this could change in the future.

Bliss

Kids love Bob the Builder, but do they want to be Bob the Builder? Bob and Bobby have been out of style since the 1960s, but as vintage nickname-names -- Fred, Archie -- come back into vogue, Bob may tag along.  Charlie Sheen used it for one of his twin sons.

Baby is rarely seen as a given name — or even nickname — these days, although it did rank in the Top 1000 from 1989 to 2003. These instances can be accounted for in two ways. Firstly, infants whose birth certificates are not filled out on time are given generic placeholders for registration, such as Infant, Unknown, or Baby. But more influential during this decade was the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing, starring Jennifer Grey as Frances "Baby" Houseman. It's the origin of the famed line, "Nobody puts Baby in a corner."
 
Model Jessica Hart named her daughter Baby-Rae in November of 2020, in homage to the film. In an interview with People, she said, "I first heard it in the movie Dirty Dancing and always thought I'd love to name my daughter Baby."

Baby

A once-popular nickname for Albert and Bertram now being polished up by hip Brits, but still hibernating in the Land of Nerd over here. 

Bert

We've seen Beatrice and Beatrix climb in popularity, along with traditional nickname Bea. And now there's Bee, giving it a buzzy nature world spin, plus a tie to popular late night TV''s Samantha Bee, not to mention Aunt Bee on the old The Andy Griffith Show TV show. Bee can theoretically be short for any <a href="https://nameberry.com/search/girls-names/b">girl names starting with B</a>.

These days, it's more likely you'd call your daughter the popular Belle or Bella.

Bell

Predominantly used for boys, this spiritual occupational surname combines three trends at once. Associated with senior members of the church, the game of chess, and a species of weaver bird, Bishop has been in the US charts for girls (consistently) since 2017. Recent years have only seen it given to a handful of girls each year, with 10 receiving the name in the latest count. 
 
The name ultimately comes from the Greek episkopos meaning "overseer".

Bishop

Barnaby, a genial and energetic name with an Irish-sounding three-syllable lilt, is an ancient appellation that manages to be both unusual and highly attractive and deserves to be used more than it is. A sweet-spot name that's a real winner.
 Barnaby is a version of Barnabas, the name of an Apostle companion of St. Paul on his missionary journeys. Barnaby has NEVER ranked on the US Top 1000, though it is on the charts in the UK and is well-liked by Nameberry visitors.
 The name of the good-natured hero of Dickens's novel Barnaby Rudge, it became more familiar to the modern American public through the TV series Barnaby Jones. Barnaby has been a character in Hello, Dolly!, a doctor played by Cary Grant in the movie Monkey Business, a comic strip character, and has starred in a number of children's books.

Barnaby

Birch is a rarely used nature name that calls to mind the lovely image of the tall, strong but graceful white-barked tree. 
 The best known bearer of the name is former high-ranking Democratic Senator Birch Evans Bayh, who carried the name of his father and was the principal Senate sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment.
 The birch tree has many notable qualities and uses &mdash; including the making of furniture, paper, canoes, and drums, is considered the national tree of Russia (where it used to be worshiped as a goddess), the state tree of New Hampshire, and has spiritual significance in several cultures.

Birch

While the spelling Bobby is far more popular for boys, ranking in the England and Wales Top 100 in a recent year, Bobbie is also perfectly familiar, in line with Albie, Reggie, and Ronnie. Currently appearing at the latter end of the England and Wales Top 1000, it was a favorite for girls in the 1930s. 

Bobbie

An edgy respelling of Banks which entered the US stats in 2020, Banx has that cool and unusual letter X. Given to 6 girls in a recent year, Banks was chosen for 89 in comparison, making it nearly six times more popular. 

Banx

Although she declared her independence as far back as the reign of Elizabeth I — Good Queen Bess, Bess now sounds less passé than Beth or Betsy. 

Bess

A preppy and unexpected surname-style choice, Bancroft may nevertheless appeal to those who've found it in their family tree and are considering it as an alternative to Banks, Brooks, or Banner. Literally meaning "enclosed field of beans", it is also the name of a number of English and American places.
 
Predominantly used as a surname, it does appear as a given name in August Derleth's the Solar Pons stories, a pastiche of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. More recently, former reality TV show star Eliza Limehouse chose Bancroft for her daughter, born in 2025.

Bancroft

One of the rare cases where spelling a name with a y makes it less rather than more feminine.  Birdie might be the freshest choice in this aviary.

Byrd

Bluebell is one flower name that is used very quietly. Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell joined her former Spice Sisters in creative baby-naming with this adventurous — some might say outlandish — choice. Andie MacDowell has a granddaughter named Bluebell Coyote through her daughter Rainey Qualley.
 
So is Bluebell distinctive and charming? Or better suited to a pet? Your call.

Bluebell

One of several trendy boys' names now being adopted for girls with feminized spellings. 

Braeden

One in the currently modish aden family of <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">boys' names</a> beginning to be used for girls as well as boys. The name Brayden was given to 15 baby girls in the US last year....and over 5000 baby boys, so it can hardly be considered gender neutral, but rather a boys' name occasionally used for girls.

Brayden

Fluttery and flighty.  But there are a couple of names that mean butterfly you might consider, such as Yara and Farasha.

Butterfly

Rarely heard name that could sub for Graham. 

Braham

Babson

English names that start with the letter B for boys and girls, including Bliss, Bob, Baby, Bert, Bee, Bell, Bishop, Barnaby, Birch, Bobbie, Banx, Bess, Bancroft, Byrd, Bluebell, Braeden, Brayden, Butterfly, Braham, and Babson. (Page 8)

English Names that Start With B

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