UK Boy Names

An alternative to names like Desmond, Denver, Banks, and Jennings, Dennings may also work as a fresh way to honor a Dennis or Denise. It's an Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Duinnín, literally meaning "descendant of Duinnín", or more figuratively, "descendent of the brown haired man" or "descendent of the chieftain".

Dennings

A quaint route to nickname Bram, Bramley is an English surname and place name, originally referring to someone who lived in a meadow or clearing full of the plant, Scotch broom. Also associated with cooking apples, it could make a more discreet way to use a fruit name.

Bramley

Hankins is a cool, surname-style name with an intuitive nickname and a fashionable -s ending. It likely emerged as a patronymic of Hankin (a Medieval nickname for John) or from Henry, Henrik, or Henk (meaning "estate ruler"). 
 
A rare choice, it may appeal as an alternative to Banks, Hayes, Franklin, or Hendrix.

Hankins

A Medieval nickname for names in the "John" family, including Hann, Iohannes, and Johan, Hankin is a rare choice these days and has never appeared in the US stats. Nevertheless, it has an almost surname-y sound to it, and could perhaps fit in with the likes of Franklin, Austin, Quinn, Ronin, Kelvin, Finley, Anakin, and, of course, Hank itself. 

Hankin

Scottish curler Hammy McMillan Jr pulls off this unlikely nickname and might make it feel like a cool alternative to Harry. For some, however, it may ever be associated with hamsters and ham. 

Hammy

A wild word name in the realms of Prairie, Wilder, Ridge, and Summit, Frontier is an undiscovered option, most literally describing the boundary or border between two places and the extreme limit of understanding into a particular area. More broadly however, it is associated with the "American Frontier", or the "Old Wild West", when settlers in the US expanded their territories towards the specific coast.
 
In popular imagination, Frontier brings to mind cowboys, Old Western movies, Yellowstone National Park, and the works of writers such as James Fenimore Cooper, Zane Grey, Owen Wister, and Willa Cather.

Frontier

A term associated with bygone fashions and styles, differing from vintage in that it's usually related to the more recent past — think 70s and 80s. As a word name, its got those cool, jaunty sounds of Rhett, Rex, Rio, and Jethro, and is linked to being "fashionably old-fashioned", nostalgic but in a playful, spirited kind of way.
 
Rarely used as a given name — though we've seen it used on at least one Berry Baby! — with choices like Vintage, Trendy, Fancy, Avant, and Boheme being used, perhaps Retro will gain more attention in the future.

Retro

A variation of the Greek Corydon, a name used in Ancient Greek and European literature as a a stock moniker for shepherds or herdsman. Likely derived from the word korydos meaning "lark", it could appeal as an ancient choice that gives you a modern nickname and a distinctive sound.
 
This particular form was coined and used by Edmund Spenser in his epic 16th-century poem, The Faerie Queene.

Coridon

An intriguing word name, perhaps for the middle spot, Sojourn is connected to Civil Rights activist, Sojourner Truth who adopted the name in the 1840s when she began travelling to preach abolition. Aspirational, adventurous, and rare, it may intrigue those who enjoy travelling or are hoping for a name with a worthy namesake. Similar options could be Peregrine or Journey.

Sojourn

 A rare compound name, blending two mid-century favorites, Markwayne is notably borne by American politician Markwayne Mullin. Named for his two paternal uncles, he is likely one of only a handful of Markwaynes to be born, given that it has never appeared in the US stats and global records show that only a small number have ever been registered in the Philippines.  As such, it might feel like a "one-person-name" in the US, at least. 

Markwayne

A name to live up to, this option has only recently entered the lexicon. Fitting in with the likes of Saint, Chosen, Succeed, and Golden, it refers to someone or something large or great, and notably more impressive, more luxurious, more elevated than what came before. 

Grander

A cute but rugged diminutive of Russell, less popular than Russ, but perhaps appealing with names such as Albie, Freddie, Scottie, Frankie, and Reggie in style.

Russie

Jax meets Jacques in this new creation, blending the French form of James with the modern English John/Jack/Jackson offshoot. Pronounced alternatively as JAKS, ZHAKS or ZHAK, it appeared on the Telegraph Birth Announcements for 2025 (also known as the unofficial list of the poshest British names). 

Jacqx

An old English last name meaning "son of Hodge", Hodge being a nickname for Roger, a more figurative interpretation could be "son of the famous spearman". Yet to appear in the stats and perhaps too close to Hodgkins for some, Hodgins nevertheless may appeal alongside choices like Riggins, Higgins, Jennings, and Hudson. 
 
It features in the TV show Bones, borne by character Jack Hodgins.

Hodgins

Playful with a hint of poetry, Pashkin is a Medieval diminutive of Pash or Paschal, ultimately derived from Hebrew to mean "Easter" or "Passover". Used as a unisex choice, it could make an interesting character name for a something slightly fantastical.

Pashkin

Succinct, simple, and approachable, Pash is a Medieval English name, relating to Paschal and Pascal. Derived from Hebrew via Latin, it means "Easter" or "Passover" and was occasionally used for babies born on Easter Sunday. Occasionally used as slang for passion or passionate, it may also be used as a nickname for Pascal, Pavel, or Pavlo and as a diminutive of the Armenian Pasha (used originally as the title of a high ranking Ottoman military officer). 
 
Occasionally used in India too, it may derive from names such as Tapash ("meditation, austerity") or Vipashyin ("seeing clearly, understanding").

Pash

A rare alternative perhaps for Boston, Paxton, Ashton, and Preston, Poston is a surname style name that is as yet undiscovered. Too similar perhaps to the phrase "post on" in an age of social media, it has appeared on social media baby announcements.
 
The name may have derived from "Boston", meaning "Botwulf's stone", or more figuratively, "stone of the improved wolf". The Poston spelling may have emerged due an error when recording it or owing to varying dialects. < 
Alternatively, it may refer to a town near a post or back gate or be an Old English place name, meaning "Possa's town" or "Possa's thorn".

Poston

Similar in sound to Avon, Avery, Aidan, Eirian, and Teifion, this Welsh name is the source of an area in the north-west of Wales called Eifionydd (ay-vyawn-ith). An ancient Welsh name, the exact meaning is unknown, but notable bearers include rugby player Eifion Lewis-Roberts and footballer Eifion Williams.

Eifion

A surname-style choice, Foxley has a similar feel to the popular Wrenley, that is, it blends that popular -ley suffix with an animal name. Given to 4 boys in 2025 in England and Wales having made its debut back in 2017, Foxley may sound too much like foxy for some, but not too wordy for others. 

Foxley

Vaughn meets Charlie in this rare surname-style name, which, despite its fashionable sounds, has never made it to the US charts. Capturing that ar sound of Arlo, Marlow, and Harvey, the ley of Bailey, Finley, and Westley, and the sharp V of Levi and Oliver, it has its roots in English and Irish.
 
As an English name, it likely originated as a name for someone from Verly or Vrély in the north of France, two places that take their name from the Latin virilius meaning "manly".
 
As an Irish name, it is an Anglicization of <en>Mac Bhearshúiligh or just the given name, Berach, meaning "sharp, pointed" or more figuratively, "sharp-eyed one".

Varley

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 85)