City Names - England and Wales
- Bradford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wide river crossing"Description:
Brad in a Brooks Brothers suit.
- Brecon
Description:
Brecon is a masculine name with Welsh geographic origins, taken from the market town and mountain range (Brecon Beacons) in southern Wales. The name evokes the rugged, natural beauty of the Welsh landscape and carries connotations of strength and endurance. As a given name, Brecon remains uncommon, appealing to parents seeking distinctive options with Celtic heritage. The name has a strong, crisp sound with its double-consonant beginning and clear ending. For those with Welsh connections, it offers a way to honor this heritage through a place name rich in history and natural significance. Brecon's rarity makes it stand out while still being straightforward to pronounce and spell in English-speaking countries.
- Brighton
Origin:
English place-nameDescription:
Out-of-the-way place name (it's an antiquated holiday spot on England's south coast) that might make a brilliant choice. Actor/director Jon Favreau named his daughter Brighton Rose.
- Bristol
Origin:
Place-nameMeaning:
"the site of the bridge"Description:
Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Alaska governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, grabbed her own share of headlines after her pregnancy and having appearing on Dancing With The Stars. She subsequently (almost) single-handedly propelled her distinctive name, derived from the name of a city in England, into the Top 1000 and up the charts.
- Carlisle
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the walled city"Description:
This stuffy English surname and hotel name took on Twilight cool when attached to vampire Carlisle Cullen. Inspired by the character, it's more popular in this spelling than as Carlyle and more widely used for boys than for girls.
- Chester
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fortress, walled town,"Description:
Chester is a comfortable, little-used teddy-bear of a name that suddenly sounds both quirky and cuddly.
- Derby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"park with deer"Description:
It's a hat, it's a race, and it's even been known to be a name. In Britain, it would be pronounced darby.
- Durham
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hill peninsula"Description:
Gentle and southern-inflected, redolent of the North Carolina landscape.
- Kingston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"king's town"Description:
Chosen for their first son by musical couple Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, this Jamaican place and elegant British surname also boasts the more regal yet user-friendly short form, King.
- Lancaster
Origin:
English place-nameDescription:
British place-name unlikely to evoke much passion in any baby namer.
- Leicester
Description:
Leicester is a distinguished male name of English origin, derived from the historic city and county in the East Midlands of England. The place name itself combines Old English elements, likely meaning 'camp' or 'fort of the Ligore people,' referring to an ancient Celtic tribe. As a given name, Leicester embodies a sense of heritage and nobility, often associated with the aristocratic connections of the city. While relatively uncommon as a first name, it carries distinctive British flair and sophistication. Those named Leicester may appreciate its unique sound, historical significance, and the subtle connection to English cultural heritage. This name might be chosen by parents with ties to the Leicester region or those seeking a distinguished, uncommon name with historical depth.
- Lincoln
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"town by the pool"Description:
Lincoln cracked the Top 50 for boys' names for the first time in 2016, more than 150 years after the death of its most famous bearer. This is especially remarkable because, as crazy as it seems now, Lincoln was deeply out of fashion as recently as the late 90s, consistently hovering near the bottom of the Top 1000.
- London
Origin:
English place-nameMeaning:
"Capital city of England"Description:
The capital of England makes a solid and attractive twenty-first-century choice in the US where it is currently in the Top 1000. Given to nearly 1000 girls and 200 boys each year, it is a unisex option that has been in slow decline since its peak in 2013. Conjuring up images of Big Ben, red phone boxes, and the London Eye for some, but perhaps the rush hour commute and grey skies for others, London is far less popular in the UK and other English-speaking countries.
- Newport
Origin:
English place-nameMeaning:
"new port"Description:
For sailors or jazz lovers. Or smokers of menthol cigarettes.
- Oxford
Origin:
English place-nameMeaning:
"from the oxen crossing"Description:
High-collared and straightlaced, with the deadly "Ox" nickname.
- Preston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"priest's estate"Description:
Britney Spears put this old-fashioned surname name back on the map when she chose it as her son Sean's middle name, which the family uses as his first.
- Reading
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of the red-haired"Description:
Inventive way to honor a redheaded ancestor, though most people would mispronounce it reeding, making it sound to some kids like a school assignment: Redding is a preferable spelling.
- Sheffield
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the crooked field"Description:
One place-name that doesn't make the cut as a person name, associated with several commercial enterprises. We've seen it used by Chicago Cubs fans — Sheffield is the name of a major street bordering Wrigley Field.
- York
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the yew estate"Description:
Brisk, preppy York is an underused classic with the potential to really shine in the 21st century. It's most familiar as a place name — York is a city in England — and surname. New York City and State were named after the Duke of York.