Popular English Boys' Names
English names for boys -- that is, names that originate in the English language -- are more widely-known than you might think. Whereas classic boys' names like Richard may be German and popular ones such as Noah and Jacob may be Hebrew, many of the top boys' names today actually originate in English. These include occupational names such as Hunter and Mason and surname-names like Auden and Colton, as well as English word names such as the newly-trendy Bear. Some classics such as James and Edward are English, as are many common nicknames such as Joe, Jim, and Mike. Here are the best-known male English names. For an even larger selection, check out our masterlist of English names for boys.
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Alden
Hot young actor Alden Ehrenreich, the new Han Solo, gives this formerly-stodgy surname name an attractive new image, making it a fresh successor to Aiden or Holden. Before it got this fresh shine,... Read More
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Alfred
Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in... Read More
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Anson
Anson has always been rare, though you might think of actor Anson Williams, best known for playing Potsie Weber on 1970s sitcom Happy Days. As a direct result of the show's popularity,... Read More
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Archer
Archer is an Anglo-Saxon surname that feels more modern than most because of its on-target occupational and Hunger Games associations. And it's a nice way to bypass the clunky Archibald... Read More
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Auden
The poetic, soft-spoken Auden has recently started to be considered as a first name option, used for both sexes, appreciated for its pleasing sound as well as its link to the distinguished modern... Read More
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Austin
Austin is one of the most attractive city names for babies, with an attractive southwestern feel, place-name panache and the... Read More
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Avery
Avery's a last-name-first-name being used increasingly for girls -- perhaps because of Avery's similarity to Ava and Ivory. It's still well-used for boys and is one of today's most
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Bailey
Extremely amiable, open-sounding surname that's gradually being taken over by the girls. Read More
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Barnaby
Barnaby, a genial and energetic name with an Irish-sounding three-syllable lilt, is an ancient appellation that manages to be both unusual and highly attractive and deserves to be used more than... Read More
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Baxter
An x makes any name cooler, so that Baxter has a bit more pizzazz than the original Baker. Baxter had some currency as a first name a century ago--it was on the popularity lists sporadically from... Read More
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