UK Boy Names

Hobbes

English variation of Robert

"bright fame"

All varieties of Hob are antiquated nicknames for Robert, though this one has the "Calvin and Hobbes" cartoon association too. It may also be linked to philosopher Thomas Hobbes, giving it a more…

Huckleberry

Word name and literary name

Everybody knows Huckleberry Finn, the Mark Twain character named, Twain said, for the 19th century slang term for "humble." A few modern parents have put it on a birth certificate, including "Man Vs.…

Iago

Welsh and Galician variation of James and Jacob

Iago, the villain of Shakespeare's Othello , was so treacherously evil that his name has hardly ever been heard offstage. Try the much-more-benign Inigo.

Jonesy

Diminutive of Jones, English surname derived from John

"God is gracious"

It's difficult to imagine anyone using the first name Jonesy -- and in fact, in the most recent US tally, there were nearly 100 babies named Jones but none named Jonesy. Still, this is a name that…

Livingston

English and Scottish surname

"dear friend's place"

When Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves chose the old English surname and place name Livingston for their third child, they elevated it from half of a Stanley & Livingston joke to a modern…

Marsh

English nature name

Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.

Oxford

English place-name

"from the oxen crossing"

High-collared and straightlaced, with the deadly "Ox" nickname.

Paisley

Scottish

"church, cemetery"

Taken from a Scottish town, a Scots surname, and the name of an intricately patterned fabric, Paisley means "church" or "cemetery." It ranks highly for girls and is in US Top 100. It may feel a…

Parson

English occupational name

"clergyman"

The name Parson might have seemed ridiculous even a few years ago, but when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe named their son Deacon, they opened up a whole new field of ecclesiastical cool.…

Sanderson

English

"Alexander's son"

A possible alternative to Anderson and a cool way to honor an Alexander, Sanderson has a slightly gentler sound and may appeal to those who also like Lysander, Sebastian, and Sullivan. With nicknames…

Sayer

English

"woodcutter or reciter"

One of the more subtle occupational surnames, Sayer is a pleasant, open, last-name-first name, particularly apt for a family of woodworkers -- or writers. Some parents are beginning to consider Sayer…

Selby

English

"from the willow farm"

British last name that, though rather gentle, feels like a sharper, sleeker Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.

Striker

English word name

Striker is one of the new gang of boys' names that have two syllables, end in -er, spring from words, and have a macho, even aggressive meaning and image. Other examples include Breaker, Heller, and…

Tudor

Welsh and Romanian variation of Theodore, Teodor, or Theodoric

"gift from God; ruler of the people"

Known as a British royal family line as well as a style of architecture, this name feels both solemn and formidable, but with an intriguing "dark-academia" feel to it too. Currently in the Top 1000…

Vaughan

Welsh

"small"

This familiar but never popular Welsh surname name might be a good Sean alternative-- and we're starting to hear some berrybuzz about it. Vaughn is an alternate spelling. There have been three major…

Quint

English from Quintus; diminutive of Quinton

Clint with a glint; used for flinty characters in old TV westerns and soap operas.

Ailean

Ailean is a masculine name with Scottish Gaelic origins, often considered a variation of Alan or Allen. The traditional Gaelic spelling imbues this classic name with Highland heritage and distinctive…

Adelbert

Variation of Albert, German

"noble, bright"

Adelbert is a masculine name of Germanic origin combining the elements 'adal' meaning noble or aristocratic and 'beraht' meaning bright or famous. It's an antiquated form of Albert. Popular among…

Ailbert

Ailbert is a masculine name with Germanic origins, derived from elements meaning 'noble' ('adal') and 'bright' or 'famous' ('beraht'). It's a variant of Albert, which became widespread throughout…

Alick

Alick is a masculine name primarily found in Scottish usage as a variant of Alex or Alexander, which derives from Greek elements meaning 'defender of mankind.' The form Alick developed as a…