Most Common Names In The UK For Boys

Tim

Diminutive of Timothy, Greek

"honoring God"

Tim is a boyish short form occasionally given on its own. There were 37 baby boys named Tim in the US last year, versus over 1700 named Timothy.

Terence

Latin clan name

"soft; thresher"

A name that seems to hail from the old Irish neighborhoods of Boston and New York, Terence actually dates back a lot further, to the time of a famous second-century poet, who started life as a North…

Maurice

English and French from Latin

"dark-skinned"

In the USA, Maurice was in the Top 200 for most of the 20th century; since 1990, however, it has been on a slow and steady decline. This name has the potential for some old-school cute nicknames such…

Steve

Diminutive of Stephen or Steven

"garland, crown"

Some parents just use Steve on the birth certificate, but it doesn't have the breezy charm of trendy short forms like Max, Sam, and Jake. Regardless of how much you love Steve as a given name, it…

Stuart

Scottish

"steward"

This ancient royal Scottish name had a brief vogue in midcentury America, but it would be far from a fresh choice for a baby boy now.

Daryl

Variation of Darrell, French

"dear one, beloved"

Darrell and all its variations was a trendy name in the 1950s and 1960s, an update on David and Daniel that began to fall out of favor by the 1970s and fell out of the Top 1000 completely at the turn…

Jim

English, diminutive of James

"supplanter"

Peaked in the 1940s, but still an amiable classic, a la Joe and Tom -- though rarely used on its own.

Kris

Short form of Kristof or Kristofer

"Christian"

Many European cultures spell Christopher with a K and thus the short form Kris. There were about 35 baby boys named Kris, just Kris, in the US last year, and only a handful of baby girls -- this…

Tariq

Arabic

"the one who knocks at the door"

A strong and confident name growing in popularity, in numerous spellings.

Ron

Short form of Ronald, Norse

"ruler's counselor"

Ron is a masculine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a shortened form of longer names like Ronald, Aaron, or Byron. Ronald, its most common source, derives from the Old Norse…

Ken

Diminutive of Kenneth; Japanese

"born of fire or handsome; healthy and strong"

In many minds this one belongs to Barbie, but with such positive meanings and international connections, can Ken make the transition to usability again?

Denis

French from Greek

"god of Nysa"

While Dennis may be more familiar to English speakers, Denis, or sometimes Denys, were the original medieval French forms of the name. Ultimately derived from Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and…

Stewart

Scottish

"steward"

This ancient royal Scottish name and its equally-correct spelling French variation Stuart had a brief vogue in midcentury America--it was Number 286 in 1955--dropped off the list completely in the…

Greg

Greg is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive of Gregory, which comes from the Greek name Gregorios, meaning 'watchful' or 'alert.' While Gregory has been used since early Christian times,…

Roderick

German

"famous ruler"

The aristocratic--if not haughty--Roderick was nevertheless consistently in the Top 1000, reaching as high as Number 221 in 1967, when it was not uncommon to run into a Rod or a Roddy. It's at a low…

Mick

English, diminutive of Michael

Most often associated with Rolling Stone Jagger, Mick is also used as a generic, and derogatory, term for an Irishman.

Neal

Irish

"champion or cloud"

Always the less common spelling of Irish classic Neil, Neal has been on a fifty-year slide, and now doesn't even make the Top 1000. It has a streamlined, surnamey appeal in this spelling.

Rick

Diminutive of Richard, Frederick

Last cool when Bogie roamed Casablanca.

Darryl

Darryl is a masculine name with ancient Celtic origins, derived from the Irish name 'Dáire' or 'Daire,' meaning 'fruitful' or 'fertile.' It entered common usage in English-speaking countries as both…

Phil

Phil is a masculine name primarily used as a familiar short form of Philip or Phillip, though it occasionally stands as an independent given name. Derived from the Greek name Philippos meaning 'lover…