UK Boy Names

Overwhelmingly feminine in the US, where parent name Mackenzie is wildly popular, but masculine in the UK, where Kenzie ranks among the Top 1000 names for baby boys.

Kenzie

Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son.  Macallister is usually heard as a patronymic surname, meaning son of Alasdair or Alistair or any one of the spellings of the Scottish form of Alexander.  Like all other names of this type, Macallister leads to the cute short form Mac.

Macallister

Iagan is a masculine name with Scottish Gaelic roots, considered a variant of the more common name Eoghan (often anglicized as Owen). The name ultimately derives from the Celtic word 'eugenos,' meaning 'well-born' or 'noble.' This spelling variation maintains the traditional Gaelic sounds while offering a distinctive appearance. Iagan remains relatively rare, even in Scotland, making it an uncommon choice that still carries authentic Celtic heritage. The name might appeal to families with Scottish ancestry looking to honor their roots with a name that's both traditional and uncommon. Its pronunciation (roughly EE-ah-gahn) gives it a melodic quality typical of Gaelic names.

Iagan

An old name still occasionally heard in the U.K., but still and perhaps forever a foreigner in the U.S.  Can be spelled Ranulf.

Ranulph

Mirren is a lively and attractive Scottish name, popular in its native country but best known outside Scotland as the surname of the English actor Dame Helen Mirren. It is thought to be a Scottish derivative of the name Marion, from Mary. Another possible origin for Mirren is as a modern spelling of a mysterious group of names that all seem to derive from the sixth century Irish saint Mirin who emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football. The Cornish Merryn, best known as the name of the seacoast town St. Merryn, is also related.

Mirren

The 6th century Irish saint Mirin emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football.  Mirren is one modern spelling; the Cornish Merryn, best known as the name of the seacoast town St. Merryn, is also related.  The name is usually used for girls. 

Mirin

Wylei exists because Corey Parker decreed it so: He gave his newborn son this variation of the classic surname more conventionally spelled Wylie or Wiley.  The problem with the Wylei spelling is that it makes you think the name may have a different pronunciation, with an ay versus an ee sound at the end.  This is one of those creative inspirations that will make the child's life more difficult for years to come.

Wylei

Best known to most as a brand of Whisky, Ballantine is a Scottish surname relating to the Celtic god Bal. It has potential as a off-the-beaten-track boys name that is still familiar.  Ballantine is the brand name of a whiskey, a beer, and a publishing imprint.

Ballantine

Wharton is a rather stiff banker name that becomes creative as a middle name choice for lovers of the novels of writer Edith. 

Wharton

New Testament, Texas, and Kansas place-name more fitting for a girl. 

Abilene

Rarely heard name that could sub for Graham. 

Braham

Acker is a surname name that has not seen much use to date, but given it's lush nature meaning (and the fact that it also means "friend" in Somerset slang) this could be a cute choice for parents looking for something fresh. An added bonus its link to English "Master of the Clarinet" Acker Bilk. The Dutch version, Akker, is also an option.

Acker

This name's buttoned-up British vibe is what makes it cool - that, and the fact that it was chosen by Anne Bronte as her pseudonym - Acton Bell. That's quite the literary - and may we add feminist - credential for a name. For those with an adventurous edge, Acton is one of the highest peaks in Antarctica.

Acton

Alcott evokes shades of nineteenth-century New England, and memories of the author of the books Little Women and Little Men. Louisa May Alcott was the daughter of Amos Bronson Alcott, noted educator, writer and philosopher, and colleague of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.
 Alcott would make an unusual and interesting surname name choice.

Alcott

This name has been off the USA Top 1000 list since before 1900, but it has some great musical credentials: consider American blues singer Alger "Texas" Alexander and country music legend Pat Alger.

Alger

A strong, distinctive surname with a quaint meaning and rugged air, Arledge is associated with American sports broadcaster, Roone Arledge. It may hold contemporary appeal thanks to its similarities to Ledger and Arlo.
 
Also associated with two historical Native American structures in Ohio and with cinematographer Arledge Armenaki, the name has yet to appear in the US stats.

Arledge

Rarely heard in the US, Auberon has a gentle autumnal feel rare in a male name. A Shakespeare-adjacent choice, Auberon started out as as a pet form of Auberi, the French form of German Alberich.
 
Meaning "elf ruler" or "noble bear", depending on how you interpret the different elements, Auberon appeared as the name of a fairy king in the 13th-century epic poem Huon de Bordeaux. The poem was then translated into English in the 1540s, meaning it could be from this that Shakespeare got the name for Oberon, in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
 The most famous bearer of the name is British journalist and critic Auberon Waugh (whose grandfather was Aubrey and whose nickname was Bron), of the literary Waugh clan.
 The Oberon spelling is another recommended option.

Auberon

Averill is an ancient name, most properly spelled Averil, that has a Boston Brahmin air – probably due to the image of statesman Averill Harriman. It's of the rare English surname names that originally derived from a female given name: Eoforhild (Everild), meaning "boar battle". 

Averill

One of the rare English surname names originally derived from a female given name: Eoforhild, meaning "boar battle". Also spelled Averill, it's an extremely rare choice today, but shares sounds with fashionable Avery.

Averil

Babson

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 51)