UK Boy Names

Having only entered the US Top 1000 in 2012, Briggs is yet another ends-in-s surname name for boys currently on the rise, along the lines of Brooks and Hayes.

Briggs

This spelling of Brice relates the name to Utah's spectacular Bryce Canyon -- and is much more popular for both genders than the original Brice. Basketball's LeBron James named his son Bryce Maximus James, and in one of his early movies, John Cusack played a Bryce in Sixteen Candles.

Bryce

A doubly Presidential name, via Pierce and Roosevelt, Franklin was given an initial boost via the fame of Benjamin Franklin. It also has a literary tie to the main character of the Wilkie Collins classic The Moonstone.
 Franklin was a Top 100 name at the peak of the FDR period. But will Franklin get a boost from the pro-Fran-name feeling evidenced since the ascension of Pope Francis? Time will tell.

Franklin

Spencer is a name that has everything: it's both distinguished sounding and accessible, dignified but Spencer Tracy-like friendly. Picked by several celebrities (a couple of times even for a girl), adding up to an enthusiastically recommended choice.
 As a family surname, Spencer became the middle name of Winston Churchill, and was the maiden name of Princess Diana. The surname version was often spelled Spenser in the past, as in Edmund Spenser, the poet known for The Faerie Queene.
 The protagonist of Henry James's short story The Jolly Corner" is Spencer Brydon.

Spencer

Miller is an up-and-coming choice in the stylish occupational genre, among the fastest-rising names for both boys and girls in the US in 2023.
 
Miller is also among the <a href="https://nameberry.com/blog/top-last-names-in-the-us">most common last names in the US</a>.
 Miller was chosen as a baby name by Stella McCartney, Melissa Etheridge, and by Tea Leoni and David Duchovny. There are innumerable Miller namesakes, including writers Arthur and Henry, and entertainers Dennis, Glenn, Jonny Lee, Larry, Mitch, Roger, Steve, and Sienna. And in fiction, there's Henry James's heroine, Daisy Miller.

Miller

Forrest is one of the earliest appealingly sylvan, outdoorsy choices, borne by newsman Sawyer, actor Whitaker, and football Hall of Famer Gregg. Forrest Gates was a character on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
 Forrest was steadily on the US popularity list until 2003, reaching a high of Number 175 in 1913, and then received a somewhat surprising blip after the release of "Forrest Gump." It started rebounding again in 2013, when it reentered the Top 1000 as one of the fastest-rising names on the list.
 Early Forrests were named in honor of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest, head of a famous cavalry force, who advised 'Git there fuster with the mostest men.'

Forrest

A unisex name that can be pronounced with one or two syllables (KAYS or KAY-see), Kayce was among the fastest-rising names of 2022 in the US, jumping 490 spots, thanks to the cool-cowboy association from character Kayce Dutton on the hit TV Western Yellowstone. This Kayce's name is pronounced like "Casey", leading to renewed interest in this spelling too.
 
A recent year saw it rank in the Top 400 in the US, given to around 850 boys, while in England and Wales, it was the second fastest rising name, climbing 374 places into the Top 500.
 
The name ultimately comes from the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh, itself from the Old Irish Cathassach (KAH-huh-suhkh) meaning "vigilant, brave in battle".

Kayce

Clark seemed to have been Gone with the Wind, but parents looking for a short, strong boy's name are now beginning to appreciate its cool combination of Gable charm with Superman power. 
 Clark has been steadily on the popularity list—it was Number 176 in 1881 and well used in the 1940s and 50s, and is now on another upswing.
 Long-term Hollywood heartthrob Clark Gable was born William Clark—his middle name was the maiden name of his maternal grandmother.

Clark

Appealing way, à la Dawson, to honor an ancestral Lawrence. Lawson is also an English pop rock band.

Lawson has history or use that dates far back, but it fell off of the charts in 1950. The name resurfaced in 2001 and has been climbing since. Lawson has that surname feel and -son suffix that parents are loving in recent years.

Lawson

Long associated with the Churchill family and common in the West Indies, the distinguished Winston is back in style having been slightly neglected in the US after its brief flash of popularity during World War II. Familiar in England and Wales, recent years have seen in re-enter the Top 500 in the States. 
 
An English place and surname, Winston derives from the Anglo-Saxon Wynnstan, meaning "joy stone", though "friend's town" is another interpretation. It features in George Orwell's famous novel 1984, borne by the protagonist, Winston Smith, whose name serves to make him both an "everyman" character and an individual.
 
It also has a presence in Pulp Fiction, is the name of a character in the best-selling book and film How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and was the middle name of both John Lennon and John Howard, long-serving Australian Prime Minister. More recently, it appeared the TV show, 13 Reasons Why while actress Billie Piper and actor Laurence Fox named their son Winston in 2008.
 
The name peaked in the US back in 1941 when it reached #234 on the charts. Parents then were seeking to honor the British Wartime Prime Minister, however, today, this association may be the reason why some wouldn't use the name. On one hand, some parents may feel it's too attached to one figure, making it hard to wear or live up to; for others, the link to the politician is a negative or at least controversial one.
 
Nevertheless, Winston was chosen for nearly 800 American boys in a recent year, while in the UK, it was chosen for around 50, and it does fit in with recent trends towards strong vintage names, like Edward, Edmund, and Alfred. Nicknames Winnie and Win might soften it slightly.

Winston

Some might be surprised to learn that Edwin has been a consistent presence on the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular names</a> list since statistics have become available.
 The most famous Edwin in history was a seventh century martyr called Edwin of Northumbria, and in literature is familiar from the protagonist of Charles Dickens' final (and unfinished) novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin's was born Edwin, and fellow astronaut Frank Borman honored him by using Edwin for his son.

Edwin

An English surname name, Bradley has a long history, dating way back to at least 1086, but as a first name it actually succeeded in the US before it reached England--though Dickens used it in his novel Our Mutual Friend. Bradley Cooper is one namesake.

Bradley

King is a name that sends a mixed message. While some might think of it as more fitting for a canine, others see it as a strong name with offbeat style and a full court of rich associations, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Elvis. 

King Vidor was an important early Hollywood director; King Camp Gillette invented the safety razor.

If it's <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/505/names-with-royal-meanings">king names</a> you're after that aren't King itself, see our list of Names with Royal Meanings or other lists and blogs on royal names.

King

Rugged but gentle, Rhys is the traditional Welsh spelling of this name, which can also be anglicized as Reese or Reece. Up until 2010, Reese was the preferred spelling in the US, perhaps because parents were concerned about mispronunciation. However, Rhys has since taken over for boys and is now used twice as often as Reese.
 
Always widespread in Wales, where it has deep historic roots and was borne by a number of early rulers, Rhys is also familiar across the rest of the UK, though less now so than it was in the 90s and 2000s. In the US, it didn't enter the Top 1000 until 2004, possibly influenced by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, of The Tudors, and Welsh-born actor Rhys Ifans.
 Former New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre named his son Rhys Edward in 2009, while comedian and actor Rhys Darby is another bearer.

Rhys

Parents seeking alternatives to popular Ryan have flocked to this soundalike name, which peaked at #146 in 2011. Blending in elements of Nolan and Riley too, it remains in the US Top 500, and is given to around 850 babies each year.
 
Likely deriving from the Old English surname Ryland, Rylan could simply mean "rye land", or refer to someone who lives where rye is grown. However, it may also be a modern creation, made up by borrowing the "Ry" from Ryan. In this case, it links back to the Irish rí meaning "king", combined with "lan", meaning "land", giving the meaning "king's land", which might appeal to those who want a regal twist. 
 
Rylan was briefly popular in the UK, rising up the Top 1000 during the 2000s, however, by 2013, it had rapidly fallen out of favor. This could have been because it became almost synonymous in 2012 with X Factor contestant turned broadcaster, presenter, and media personality, Rylan Clark.
 
In the US, it is a unisex choice that leans masculine, currently used three times more often for boys than girls.

Rylan

A slim, elegant, silvery surname, Reed could be a banker or a sculptor, and therein lies the appeal of this simple yet distinctive name. The versatile Reed can be seen as a grass-like nature name and a musical name.
 There have been Reeds on Grey's Anatomy and Party of Five, as well as on the big screen in Boogie Nights. Reed Richards was the human name of the scientific genius who became Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four.
 The many notables who wore Reed as a surname include army surgeon Walter, basketball coach Willis, Brady Bunch dad Robert, critic Rex, director Sir Carol, actors Donna and Oliver, and singer-songwriter Lou.
The name can also be spelled Reid.

Reed

Rugged, outdoorsy, and full of energy, Wilder entered the US Top 1000 back in 2015. Part bad boy, part Western, part preppy, and part nature-loving, Wilder is given to nearly 800 babies each year.
 
Once an off-beat, rarely used choice, Wilder began to climb the charts in 2007, after American actress Goldie Hawn became a grandmother to a Wilder. Similar in sound to Wiley and Wyatt and with the -er ending of Carter or Cooper, Wilder sounds bold but familiar, and fits in with the likes of Ledger, Forrest, Fox, and Maverick. Until recently, Wilder was much more familiar as a surname, borne by such notables as authors Laura Ingalls and Thornton, composer Alec, director Billy, and actor Gene. Douglas Wilder was the first African American to be elected Governor of Virginia. Wilder was one of the 10 fastest-rising boys' names back in 2016, though its climb up the charts has slowed in recent years.

Wilder

Lewis is the best spelling to choose if you want this pronounced with the S. It was a Top 100 name in the US from 1880 to 1930, reaching Number 30 in 1880 and while it has declined in use, it has remained in the Top 1000 since stats began. 
 
A Medieval form of Louis, one of its most famous namesakes is Lewis Carroll, born Charles while current bearers are comedian Lewis Black and singer Lewis Capaldi. Lewis is also a very common surname, as in Lewis & Clark, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Daniel Day-Lewis, Sinclair Lewis, Leona Lewis, and many other notables. Interesting fact: Louis Armstrong pronounced his first name as Lewis.
 Nickname/middle name Lou is making a comeback for girls (as in Keri Russell's Willa Lou), so why not Lew for boys?

Lewis

Dalton is a name with multi-faceted appeal. Many are attracted to the name's resemblance to other two-syllable n-ending favorites: Colton, Holden, and cousins. Others see it as a trendy Western name, recalling the legendary Dalton Brothers gang. It also has something of an upscale, preppy feel connected to the exclusive New York private school. 
 The most well known bearer of the name is blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, but there have been a number of high-profile fictional Daltons as well. Dalton Rumba was an adult character on Glee, Clive Owen played a Dalton in Inside Man, there was a scholarly Dalton on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Patrick Swayze opened the film Roadhouse by stating "My name is Dalton Russell."

Dalton

A name of multiple identities: a somewhat soap-operatic single-syllable surname, a homonym for the biblical bad boy Cain, and, when found in Japan and Hawaii, it transforms into the two syllable KA-neh. 

Kane also has multiple meanings: in Welsh, it's "beautiful"; in Japanese, "golden"; and in Hawaiian, "man of the Eastern sky."

Kane

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 7)