English Baby Names
Baby names of English origin, with what each name means and how it is used today.
300 names · each links to its meaning, origin, pronunciation and history.
Boy names (175)
Alden — Old friendAlfred — Counsel of the elvesAlfredo — Elf counsel; wise counsellorAnderson — Son of AndrewArcher — Bowman, one who shoots with a bowArlo — Of uncertain originAustin — Venerable; contracted form of AugustineBarnaby — Son of encouragementBarrett — Uncertain; possibly 'quarrelsome'Baxter — BakerBeckett — Little stream, or beakBennett — BlessedBlake — Dark-haired, or pale and fairBradley — Broad clearing or meadowBrandon — Hill covered in broomBrantley — Steep clearing (origin uncertain)Brent — High place, hillBridger — One who lived by a bridgeBrooks — Of the streamByron — At the cowshedsCade — Uncertain; possibly 'round, lumpy'Camden — Valley with enclosuresCarlton — Settlement of free peasantsCarter — Transporter of goods by cartCaspian — Of the Caspian SeaCedric — Uncertain; literary inventionChad — Origin uncertain; possibly 'battle'Chase — Hunter; the chaseChester — Fortress, Roman campClarence — Of Clare (a place name)Clark — Clerk, scholarClay — Clay; from clay landClayton — Settlement on clay landClifford — Ford by a cliffClifton — Settlement by a cliffClinton — English place name; settlementClive — Cliff, slopeCole — Swarthy, coal-dark; or from NicholasColin — Young pup; or 'victory of the people'Collin — Young pup; 'victory of the people'Colton — Cola's settlementCooper — Barrel makerCrew — A team working togetherDale — ValleyDalton — Settlement in the valleyDane — From Denmark; a DaneDarwin — Dear friendDavis — Son of DavidDawson — Son of Daw (David)Dean — ValleyDexter — DyerDixon — Son of DickDrake — DragonEarl — Nobleman, warriorEdgar — Wealthy spearEdison — Son of Edward or AdamEdmund — Prosperous protectorEduardo — Wealthy guardianEdvard — Wealthy guardianEdward — Wealthy guardianEdwin — Rich friendEliot — From Elias; 'my God is Yahweh'Finch — Small songbirdFord — River crossingFoster — Forester; possibly foster parentFranklin — Free landholderGarrison — Son of Garret; or a fortified postGene — Well-born, nobleGibson — Son of Gib (Gilbert)Godwin — Friend of GodGraham — Gravelly homesteadGreyson — Son of the stewardGrover — One who lives by a groveGulliver — GluttonGus — Great, venerable (as Augustus)Hale — From the nook or hollowHamilton — Flat-topped hillHampton — Home settlementHank — Ruler of the home (as Henry)Hardy — Bold, braveHarlan — Hare land; rocky landHarold — Army rulerHarris — Son of HarryHarrison — Son of HarryHart — Stag, male deerHartley — Stag clearing, deer meadowHayes — Enclosed land, hedged areaHeath — HeathlandHolden — Hollow valleyHoward — Uncertain; possibly 'brave heart'Hudson — Son of HuddeHunter — One who huntsJace — Healer (as a form of Jason)Jack — God is graciousJackson — Son of JackJameson — Son of JamesJarrett — Spear-strongJarvis — From Gervase; possibly spear servantJay — Victory (Sanskrit); jay bird (English)Jayden — Modern coinage; no fixed meaningJefferson — Son of JeffreyJett — Jet black stoneKeaton — From a place-name; perhaps hawk townKendrick — Royal ruler; high championKent — Edge, border; the county of KentKingston — The king's settlementLandon — Long hillLane — Narrow road, pathwayLangston — Long stoneLawson — Son of LawrenceLeland — Fallow land, meadowLester — From LeicesterLincoln — Lake settlementManning — Son of MannMercer — Merchant, traderMerritt — From the boundary gateMilton — Mill town or middle townMitchell — Who is like God? (from Michael)Nash — At the ash treeNed — Wealthy guardian (from Edward)Nelson — Son of NeilNorman — NorthmanOsborne — God-bear; divine bearOscar — Deer lover; or god's spearOsvaldo — Divine rule, power of GodOswald — Divine powerOtis — Wealth, fortunePalmer — Pilgrim carrying a palmParker — Park keeperPaxton — Settlement of PæccPearce — RockPenn — Enclosure; hillPerry — Pear treePierce — RockPorter — GatekeeperPreston — Priest's settlementRaleigh — Red clearing, or roe-deer meadowRalph — Wolf counselRamsey — Wild-garlic islandRandall — Shield wolfRandolph — Shield wolfReed — Red-hairedReid — Red, red-hairedRemington — Settlement by the boundary streamRodney — Island near clearings, or Hroda's islandRussel — Little red oneScott — A Scot, a GaelSheldon — Steep-sided valleyShepherd — Sheep herderSpencer — Steward, dispenser of provisionsStanley — Stony clearing, stony meadowSterling — Genuine, of high qualityStewart — Steward, keeper of the householdStuart — Steward, household guardianTanner — Leather tannerTate — CheerfulThatcher — Roof thatcherTodd — FoxTucker — Fuller of clothTurner — One who works a latheTyler — Tile maker, tilerVance — Dweller by the fenWade — Ford, river crossingWalker — Cloth fullerWaylon — From Wayland, the legendary smithWayne — Wagon makerWells — Springs, wellsWesley — Western meadowWeston — Western townWilbur — Possibly 'wild boar' or 'willed fortress'Wilder — Wild, untamedWillis — Son of WillWinston — Friend's settlementWyatt — Brave in warZane — Uncertain; often linked to John Girl names (106)
Addison — Son of AdamAinsley — Clearing by a hermitageAleesha — Noble (by way of Alice)Alisha — Noble (as a form of Alicia)Alveena — Generally given as 'noble friend'Alvina — Noble friend; elf friendAnnie — Grace; pet form of Anne or AnnaAnsley — Clearing by the hermitageAshley — Ash tree clearingAshlyn — Ash tree; possibly 'dream, vision'Audrey — Noble strengthAutumn — The autumn seasonBeverly — Beaver streamBlythe — Cheerful, happyBristol — Place by the bridgeBrooke — Small streamCarol — Free woman; joyful songCharity — Christian love, generosityChelsea — Chalk landing placeCheryl — Dear one, belovedChristabel — Beautiful ChristianCicely — Blind; from the Roman CaeciliaClover — Clover plantCollins — Son of Colin; young warriorCoral — Coral, the sea growthCoraline — Coral; a variant of CarolineCrystal — Clear crystal, iceDaisy — Day's eye (the daisy flower)Dawn — DaybreakDella — NobleEdith — Prosperous in battleEliza — My God is an oathEllery — Cheerful, joyfulEmber — Glowing coal, sparkEthel — NobleEverly — Boar clearing, boar meadowFaith — Trust, beliefFaye — Fairy; possibly faithFern — Fern plantHarlow — Army hill, rock hillHarper — Harp playerHarriet — Ruler of the homeHaven — Safe place, harbourHazel — Hazel treeHeather — Heather plantHolly — The holly treeHope — Hope, expectationImogen — Maiden (probably)Ivy — The ivy plantJessamy — JasmineJessica — Possibly 'God beholds'Joy — Joy, happiness, delightJune — The month of JuneKay — Pet form of K-namesKayla — Of debated originKendall — Valley of the River KentKinsley — Cyne's meadow; royal clearingLark — SongbirdLavender — Lavender flowerLeighton — Leek garden, herb gardenLilian — Lily; possibly from ElizabethLillian — Lily; pet form of ElizabethLily — Lily flowerLotus — Lotus flowerLynn — Lake, poolMae — Pet form of Mary or Margaret; MayMarian — Form of Mary; meaning debatedMarlowe — Remnant of a lake; drained lakeMercy — Compassion, forgivenessMildred — Gentle strengthMolly — Pet form of MaryMyra — Admirable; often linked to myrrhMyrtle — Myrtle shrubNancy — GraceNell — Light (from Helen)Nelly — Diminutive of Eleanor, Helen or EllenNora — Honour; short for Honora or EleanorOpal — Opal gemstonePaige — Young servant, pagePamela — Possibly 'all honey'Patience — Endurance, patiencePearl — PearlPiper — Pipe playerPoppy — Poppy flowerPresley — Priest's meadowPrimrose — First rose; the spring flowerSally — PrincessSamantha — Of uncertain originScarlett — Scarlet redSelina — Moon (from Greek Selene)Shirley — Bright clearingSuzy — LilyTessa — Short form of TeresaThelma — Possibly 'will, wish'Tiana — Short form of Christiana or TatianaTrisha — Thirst, longing; or nobleUnity — OnenessVanesa — Invented literary nameVanessa — Name coined by Jonathan SwiftViolet — Violet flower; purpleWaverly — Meadow of quivering aspensWendy — Friend (popular explanation)Whitney — White islandWilla — Will, determination; protectionWillow — Willow treeWren — Wren (small songbird) Unisex names (19)