English Names that Start With E

Elvie

English diminutive of Elva, Irish

"leader of the elves"

If Ellie and Evie are fashionable, why not Elvie? This is a diminutive of the Anglicized version of the Irish name spelled Ailbhe.

Etty

English diminutive or names ending with 'etta' or 'ette'

"little"

Ettie or Etty works as a nickname for any name with a prominent "et" sound, usually at the end: think Henrietta, Juliette or Colette. The -ette ending is a French diminutive suffix.

Ethel

English

"noble maiden"

Ethel is a name we once declared as 'So Far Out They'll Probably Always Be Out,' but with the return of other names on that list and with its new starbaby cred via Lily Allen, its soft sound and…

Elah

Spelling variation of Ella, English, Hebrew

"all, completely, fairy maiden; terebinth tree"

Ella may well be used as an unusual spelling variation of the familiar Ella, though it is also a Biblical name. Derived from the Hebrew word for the terebinth tree (and occasionally equated with the…

Elma

Diminutive of Wilhelmina, German and Dutch

"resolute protection"

Historically a diminutive of Wilhelmina, Elma's parent name and soundalike sisters are slowly stirring back to life as the trend for vintage baby names continues. With Alma on the rise in the US,…

Esmay

English variation of Esme, French

"esteemed, beloved"

As the French Esme becomes more popular, it will inevitably spawn spelling variations. This one, like Zoey or Layla, clarifies pronunciation, so while we prefer the original, that's not a bad thing.

Ebba

Feminization of Ebbe, Swedish and Danish, or variation of Old English Æbbe

"bear god; brave boar"

Ebba, the feminine version of Ebbe (a diminutive of Eberhard or Asbjorn) and also a form of an old English name, is in the Swedish Top 10 but virtually unknown in the US. However, with the rise of…

Embry

English surname

"flat-topped hill"

Though Embry became famous as the name of a boy werewolf in Twilight , we think its Em- beginning and -y ending make it perfectly appropriate for a girl. You might consider it as an alternative to…

Erma

English variation of Irma, English, German, Slovene

"whole, great, universal; army man"

A variation of the German Irma, Erma emerged in the 19th century in English-speaking countries where its similarity to timeless Emma might have helped it gain popularity. In fact, if you follow its…

Ebony

English

An attractive and now underused nature name belonging to a tree whose wood is prized for its dark color and dense texture, which shines when polished. Ebony joined the most popular girl names list in…

Emmett

English masculinization of Emma, German

"universal"

Emmett has had an interesting and unusual gender history. A long-obscure masculinization of Emma, Emmett is now rising as a boys' name as a companion to the very popular Emma and Emily. And at the…

Easton

English

"eastern town"

Easton is a stylish Waspy-sounding surname that's climbing up the popularity charts. TV actress Elisabeth Rohm named her daughter Easton August Anthony, which seemed like a real gender bender, and…

Eliot

Variation of Elliot, English diminutive of Elias

"Yahweh is God"

Eliot is the sleekest spelling of the original, very occasionally used for girls, perhaps to honor novelist George Eliot.

Elaria

Variation of Elara, Ilaria, Ellery, or Eulalia

"hazelnut, spear; cheerful, happy; sweetly speaking"

A modern-sounding choice with a well-established feel, Elaria has a longer history than you might expect. On one hand, it may well be considered as a contemporary creation, used as an spin on the…

Elnora

English variation of Eleanora, meaning unknown

Elnora is best known as the name of the heroine of the early 20th century novel A Girl of the Limberlost . While Elnora might plausibly have many derivations, the most logical is that isn't a…