UK Boy Names

An opulent name, associated with wealth and multitudes, Billion first appeared in the US stats in 2014. Given to seven boys in a recent year, it joins Amillion, Cash, Golden and Prosper as names associated whose appeal may lie in their connection with financial success. Alternatively, Billion may be a very modern way to honor a Bill or a Billy. 

Billion

A decade or two ago, we might have stopped with Blake, but today the surname Blakely or Blakeley sounds more modern as a first name.

Blakely

Boyce

This name of a busy British port city -- as well as of several places in America -- has a brisk and bustling air. It will now--and for years to come--be identified as a Sarah Palin name, chosen for her eldest daughter, who is now a TV personality herself.
 
Meaning "site of the bridge" in reference to the English city being divided by the River Avon, Bristol was a rare choice before 2008 when Sarah Palin was chosen to be part of the Republican election campaign. Her family, especially her then teenaged (and pregnant) daughter were then also in the spotlight, pushing the name into the Top 1000 for girls.
 
As the name became seven times more popular for girls, it also also doubled in usage for boys, peaking in 2009 when it was given to 40 boys. While it has remained stylish for girls, it has become a rarity for boys again, given to 11 babies in a recent year.

Bristol

Most parents would prefer to leave the car part parked in the garage. 

Carmichael

An intriguing way to honor a Nicholas, an alternative to Colton, Colby, or Callum, and a rare last-name style choice, Coley may be one to consider. Country singer Cooper Alan and his wife Hally chose Coley Frances Cooper for their daughter in 2025. 
 
As a last name, Coley and its alternative spelling Colley, may stem from the given name Nicholas (or Nicola, Nicole, and Nicolette) meaning "people of victory", and could equally be used as a diminutive for any of those names. Another source however is the Irish Kelly (from Ceallach) meaning "bright headed" or "war, strife".
 
Other sources for the name include the Old Norse koli meaning "dark, black, coal" or the phrase colly bird, usually used to refer to blackbirds (as in the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas in which four colly birds are gifted).
 
Colley and Collie are alternative spellings.

Coley

Perhaps too spicy for some, but this is a popular Gaelic surname that might appeal for those looking to honor a family branch. Curry Barker is the director of the horror film Obsession.

Curry

Ellery is a rhythmic three-syllable boy's name that is familiar and yet rarely used--and just waiting to be discovered. It's long been identified with Ellery Queen--which was both the pen name of two cousins, Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, and the detective they created.
 Laura Dern and Ben Harper chose it for their son.

Ellery

Renowned English author Evelyn Waugh pronounced his name "EEV-lin" (fun fact: his first wife, also named Evelyn, was referred to as "She-velyn"). But "EV-uh-lin" also works, and is probably the most familiar pronunciation of the name today. 

It may be a Top 10 pick for girls right now, but in the 17th century, it was given more often to boys – as a surname name originally derived from the Norman given name Aveline. It was especially popular among the upper classes, where family surnames as given names were well used. 

Evelyn relates to the Norman French female name Aveline, the origins of which are not entirely clear. Theories include "desired" and "water, island".

Evelyn

Faron, a soft and gentle name, has a diverse group of references. There was the medieval Saint Faron, Bishop of Meaux (who has given his name to a cheese); Faron Young, a colorful midcentury country singer known as The Hillbilly Heartthrob, and a character from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
 Could make a more unusual alternative to the Irish surname Farrell.

Faron

An English surname originally given to the illegitimate sons of a monarch.  It might be a nice middle name choice to honor an ancestral Roy, though as a first, it does have a cool meaning.

Fitzroy

Forbes is a business magazine in the U.S., long led by Malcolm Forbes, with a buttoned-down Brooks Brothers image.  If you name your son Forbes, you're definitely implying a connection to the prominent and wealthy family -- which may be exactly what you're intending.  But if you have a more down-to-earth image in mind, try Field.

Forbes

Harrington

Sean and Robin Wright Penn chose this name for their son to honor their friend Dennis Hopper; others might associate it with the painter Edward. Couldn't be more spirited.

Hopper

Succinct and to the point, Joss may appeal to those who enjoy the likes of Jude, Jesse, Jem, and Ozzy. Brought into the spotlight by Joss Whedon , creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and various Marvel movies, it has never been hugely popular in the US, given to a small handful of babies each year -- though recent controversy surrounding the filmmaker may put future parents off.
 
Derived from Jocelyn, referring to an Old Germanic tribe, or from the Biblical Joseph, it nevertheless could make a cool, one-syllable option for boys.

Joss

Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance.
 Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben Johnson character in 1614, and it is also the name of the protagonist in James Fenimore Cooper's Ned Myers. In Australia, Ned Kelly is famous as a larger-than-life legendary outlaw figure. In this country, Ned Rorem is a respected modern composer.
 There was a 1990s sitcom called Ned and Stacey, and other Neds have appeared in The Simpsons (neighbor Flanders), Groundhog Day and School of Rock. Ned Stark is a prominent, and unusually heroic, character in Game of Thrones, giving the name some new cultural cache, though we can't recommend using his proper name, Eddard.

The most outlandish Beatles-inspired name, if Lennon or McCartney are too tame for you. Ringo Starr is the stage name of drummer Richard Starkey, taken from his nickname Ringo (because he wore lots of rings) and the first part of his surname. A bold rock-n-roll inspired choice!

Ringo

Royston

Seren, meaning "star", is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">top girls' names</a> in Wales, but as a boys' name it has a different derivation. It's a rare Polish form of the Latin Serenus, mostly used to refer to the Saint and meaning "serene". It could make for a handsome and almost unknown alternative to rising star Soren.

Seren

Rose and Briar are popular, and Hawthorn is cool – so why not the equally prickly Thorne? The E ending gives it a surnamey spin à la Hawthorne.

 Thorne Smith (born James Thorne) was a comic fantasy writer most noted for his Topper novels.

Thorne

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 41)