UK Boy Names

Wilton

Windsor may have male references, such as Britain's royal House of Windsor and a tie's windsor knot, but this name also has a definite feminine feel, as in Windsor Rose. That seems appropriate, as Windsor is used equally these days for boys and girls. Nicknames might include Win, Wind, Windy, and Winnie.

Windsor

Edwyn is a masculine name of Anglo-Saxon origin, representing a modernized spelling of the Old English name Edwin, which combines 'ead' (wealth, fortune) and 'wine' (friend). This distinguished name carries historical weight, having been borne by a 7th-century King of Northumbria, Saint Edwin. While less common than Edwin, Edwyn offers a slightly more distinctive spelling while maintaining the same traditional roots. The name has experienced modest usage throughout English-speaking countries but has never been overwhelmingly popular. Edwyn projects reliability and quiet strength, with a touch of literary and historical flair. The 'wy' spelling variation gives it a somewhat Welsh flavor, though its origins are primarily Anglo-Saxon. Parents choosing Edwyn often appreciate its connection to history while enjoying its slight uniqueness compared to more common Ed- names.

Edwyn

The attractive Euan and Ewan are just coming onto the U.S. radar, via actor Ewan MacGregor and Harry Potter's Euan Abercrombie.

Euan

Just as Seamus/Seumus is Irish for James, Hamish is the Scottish form — one that's not often used here, but still redolent of Olde Scotland. If you're ready to go further than Duncan and Malcolm, out to Laird and Ewan territory, this may be worth consideration. It also sounds just like the Yiddish word for homey.
 In Scotland, where it became popular in the second half of the nineteenth century, Hamish is a nickname for a Highlander, and it's a high-ranking name in South Australia, where it's currently in the Top 50.
 Some people may have become familiar with Hamish via one of the grooms in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Hamish

Best known as a hotel company, but shares some of the cool sounds of Wyatt.

Hyatt

Kelsey (ex-Frasier) Grammer is a famous male bearer, although most modern Kelseys are female (in the US at least). It derives from several English place names, possibly meaning "Cenel's island", from the Old English name Cenel "fierce".

Kelsey

This name of a town in Scotland, one of the earliest recorded surnames in the whole British Isles, has more vitality than Kelsey. Distinctive in sound with a cool -o ending and a stylish K initial, it feels part Kayce, Kairo, and Kolson, part Carlisle, Cosmo, and Jago, with just a touch of Marlowe and Casper about it too.
 
Originally known as Calkou, Chalkeugh, or possibly Calchfynydd, the place name likely means "chalk ridge", "chalk spur" or "lime mountain". It is also found on the map in California as the name of a ghost town and appears as a place name in Australia and New Zealand too. 
 
Some will surely associate it with the character of Michael Kelso (usually referred to simply as Kelso), portrayed by Ashton Kutcher on That '70s Show. Others may be reminded however of the tragic and unsolved murder of Kelso Cochrane in the 1950s, whose death both emphasized the racial tensions in London and revealed a desire to unite a community. 
 
Given to around 24 boys in the US and 3 boys in the UK in a recent year, it remains a rare option.

Kelso

A cool looking choice, adjacent to Matrix, Max, Matias, and Mack, Matix likely emerged as a modern spin on Maddox, a Welsh surname meaning "son of Madoc" or "son of good fortune". It has been appearing in the US charts since 2005, around the time Maddox began to trend upwards. It peaked in 2010 when it was given to nearly 50 boys, while a recent year saw it given to 9. 

Matix

A once familiar name for boys in the US, Merrill ranked in the Top 1000 from the 1880s to the late 1960s, peaking in 1926 when it ranked at #331. Now, it is a rare choice, given to 7 girls and 6 boys in a recent count.
 
Merrill has two separate origins and may be viewed as a spin on the feminine name Muriel, ultimately from Old Irish and meaning "sea-bright". Or, it may be a habitational English surname, meaning "pleasant hill". 
 
With its unisex sounds, its surname-y feel, and its nature-related meanings, could Merrill be one to reconsider? Could it work for fans of Merritt, Maverick, Miller, Marshall, and Maxwell? Time will tell.

Merrill

Ancient name, near obsolete now, but could make a good alternative to Owen for the adventurous baby namer.
 

Doctor Who fans will recognize this as part of his companion's name, Clara Oswin Oswald.

Oswin

Could be a novel way for a boy's name to honor an ancestral Claire. 

Sinclair

A spin on the name Tristan, likely inspired by the virtuous (or financial feeling) Trust, or by names like Justin and Dustin. You might also view it as a play on the phrase "trust in -" .
 
Appearing in the US stats since the 1980s, a recent year saw it given to 14 boys.

Trustin

An alternative spelling of Tristan, and also the modern Welsh form of the legendary hero's name.

Trystan

Zero has been documented as a given name before, but it's largely familiar as a stage name (such as Zero Mostel, born Samuel Joel Mostel) and comic book and anime characters. Nevertheless, fourteen boys were called Zero is a recent year, perhaps appealing because of the children's rhyme: "zero the hero, first the worst, second the best..."

Zero

This Welsh river name has possibilities as a place name and nature name that is rare and uncommon.

Alwyn

This Welsh name, also used in France, is the name of a 6th century saint who went to Brittany and established abbeys. Armel has a pleasant and familiar sound, making it easily used outside of Wales and France.

Armel

Self-assured and playful, Bash is a short form of the popular Sebastian, sharing the same energy as Dash, Colt, and Nash. It could work as a quirky, rough-and-tumble alternative to the more familiar nicknames Seb or Baz, or, for those looking for something unexpected and adventurous, it could be a stand alone choice.
 
Beyond its ties to Sebastian, Bash could also be considered a word name. This gives it a number of meanings, including: to strike or thump someone; a party or gathering; an endeavor, or to have a go. These meanings might put some off using Bash on the birth certificate, though for others, it could give it an energetic and confident vibe.
 
Associated for some with the long-running comic strip The Bash Street Kids from the British comic, The Beano, Bash has also featured in the Thomas the Tank Engine Franchise and in the American comedy Franklin and Bash.
 
Quietly used since 2014, Bash was given to 21 babies in 2022, though more recently, it has been declining in the US, given to just 10 boys in a recent count.

Bash

A lesser-used presidential choice, with a charming, buccaneering sound. Fictional bearers include the Marvel Comics character James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, as well as the heroine of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan.

Buchanan

This name projects a sense of well-being, as in "hale and hearty", while also having a nature-adjacent meaning, referring to someone who lives near a hollow, a nook, or a remote area of land. Rhyming word hail adds a hint of storminess to the name too.
 
Unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, it may appeal to those who enjoy Hayden, Hayes, or Hal. Namesakes include Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, along with Margaret Hale and Mr Hale of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel North and South.

Hale

UK names for baby boys originate from all the languages and cultures of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, along with Cornwall and the Isle of Man. UK boy names range from the top names for boys throughout the English-speaking world, such as Edward, Jack, and James, to thousands of unique boy names like Kelso, Mungo, and Rowley.

Browse this list of UK boy names that originate in the Nameberry database that originate in the English, Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish, Cornish and Manx languages and cultures. 

UK names for baby boys originate from all the languages and cultures of the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, along with Cornwall and the Isle of Man. UK boy names range from the top names for boys throughout the English-speaking world, such as Edward, Jack, and James, to thousands of unique boy names like Kelso, Mungo, and Rowley.  (Page 35)