English names and what they mean
231 popular and classic English names for boys and girls, each with its meaning, origin, pronunciation and story. Find the right English name for yourself, or just learn where your favourite comes from.
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How to choose an English name
Picking an English name for school, work or travel? These five tips will help you find one that feels right.
- 1
Pick a name people already know
Classic names like Anna, David, Emma or James are understood everywhere English is spoken. Nobody will ask you to repeat or spell them.
- 2
Say it out loud first
Choose a name you can pronounce comfortably. If “th” or “r” is hard for you, a name like Leo, Mia or Max may feel more natural than Theodore or Rory.
- 3
Check what it means
Every name on this page has a meaning. Many people like a name that matches their personality or the meaning of their own name, such as Grace, Felix (“lucky”) or Clara (“bright”).
- 4
Avoid words and joke names
Some English words make odd names at work. Stick to names people really give their children; everything in this guide is a real, widely used name.
- 5
Think about where you will use it
A short, friendly name suits school and social life, while a fuller name like Elizabeth or Alexander can sound more formal at work. You can always use the full name and a nickname.
All English names from A to Z
A
- AaronBoy“possibly high mountain or exalted” · Hebrew
- AbigailGirl“my father is joy” · Hebrew
- AdaGirl“noble” · Germanic
- AdamBoy“man” · Hebrew
- AdrianBoy“from Hadria” · Latin
- AlbertBoy“noble and bright” · Germanic
- AlexUnisex“defender of men” · Greek
- AlexanderBoy“defender of men” · Greek
- AlfieBoy“elf counsel” · Old English
- AliceGirl“noble type” · Germanic
- AmberGirl“amber, a golden fossil resin” · English
- AmeliaGirl“work” · Germanic
- AmyGirl“beloved” · Latin
- AndrewBoy“manly” · Greek
- AnnaGirl“grace, favour” · Hebrew
- AnthonyBoy“from the Roman family name Antonius” · Latin
- ArchieBoy“genuine and bold” · Germanic
- ArthurBoy“possibly bear” · Welsh
- AsherBoy“happy, blessed” · Hebrew
- AshleyGirl“ash tree clearing” · Old English
- AshtonUnisex“ash tree town” · Old English
- AudreyGirl“noble strength” · Old English
- AuroraGirl“dawn” · Latin
- AvaGirl“life” · Hebrew
- AveryUnisex“elf counsel” · Old English
B
C
- CalebBoy“possibly dog, or whole-hearted” · Hebrew
- CalvinBoy“bald” · Latin
- CameronUnisex“crooked nose” · Scottish
- CarolineGirl“free man” · Germanic
- CarterBoy“cart driver” · English
- CaseyUnisex“watchful, vigilant” · Irish
- CatherineGirl“pure” · Greek
- CharlesBoy“free man” · Germanic
- CharlieUnisex“free man” · Germanic
- CharlotteGirl“free man” · Germanic
- ChloeGirl“young green shoot” · Greek
- ChrisUnisex“bearing Christ; follower of Christ” · Greek
- ChristopherBoy“bearing Christ” · Greek
- ClaireGirl“clear, bright” · Latin
- ClaraGirl“clear, bright” · Latin
D
E
- EdwardBoy“rich guardian” · Old English
- EdwinBoy“rich friend” · Old English
- EleanorGirl“uncertain, often linked with light” · French
- ElijahBoy“my God is Yahweh” · Hebrew
- ElizabethGirl“my God is an oath” · Hebrew
- EllaGirl“all, other” · Germanic
- EllieGirl“uncertain, often linked with light” · French
- ElliotUnisex“my God is Yahweh” · Hebrew
- EloiseGirl“healthy, wide” · Germanic
- ElsieGirl“my God is an oath” · Hebrew
- EmersonUnisex“son of Emery” · Germanic
- EmilyGirl“rival” · Latin
- EmmaGirl“whole, universal” · Germanic
- EricBoy“ever ruler” · Norse
- EstherGirl“star” · Persian
- EthanBoy“firm, enduring” · Hebrew
- EvaGirl“life” · Hebrew
- EvelynGirl“uncertain, perhaps desired” · Germanic
- EzraBoy“help” · Hebrew
F
G
H
- HannahGirl“grace, favour” · Hebrew
- HarleyUnisex“hare clearing” · Old English
- HaroldBoy“army ruler” · Old English
- HarperGirl“harp player” · Old English
- HarryBoy“home ruler” · Germanic
- HaydenUnisex“hay valley” · Old English
- HazelGirl“hazel tree” · English
- HelenGirl“torch, light” · Greek
- HenryBoy“home ruler” · Germanic
- HollyGirl“holly tree” · English
- HopeGirl“hope” · English
- HudsonBoy“son of Hudde” · English
- HugoBoy“mind, heart” · Germanic
- HunterBoy“hunter” · English
I
J
- JackBoy“God is gracious” · Hebrew
- JacksonBoy“son of Jack” · English
- JacobBoy“holder of the heel” · Hebrew
- JadeGirl“jade stone” · English
- JamesBoy“holder of the heel” · Hebrew
- JamieUnisex“supplanter” · Hebrew
- JaneGirl“God is gracious” · Hebrew
- JasmineGirl“jasmine flower” · Persian
- JasperBoy“possibly treasurer” · Persian
- JenniferGirl“fair, white” · Welsh
- JesseUnisex“gift” · Hebrew
- JessicaGirl“to behold” · Hebrew
- JohnBoy“God is gracious” · Hebrew
- JonathanBoy“God has given” · Hebrew
- JordanUnisex“flowing down” · Hebrew
- JosephBoy“he will add” · Hebrew
- JoshuaBoy“Yahweh is salvation” · Hebrew
- JoyGirl“joy, great happiness” · English
- JudeBoy“praised” · Hebrew
- JulesUnisex“youthful, downy-bearded” · Latin
- JuliaGirl“of the Julius family” · Latin
- JulianBoy“from the family of Julius” · Latin
- JulietGirl“of the Julius family” · Latin
- JustinBoy“just, fair” · Latin
K
L
- LauraGirl“laurel” · Latin
- LaurenGirl“from Laurentum” · Latin
- LeahGirl“weary” · Hebrew
- LeeUnisex“clearing, meadow” · Old English
- LeoBoy“lion” · Latin
- LeonardBoy“brave lion” · Germanic
- LeslieUnisex“garden of holly” · Scottish
- LeviBoy“joined, attached” · Hebrew
- LiamBoy“will helmet” · Germanic
- LilyGirl“lily flower” · English
- LindaGirl“soft, gentle” · Germanic
- LoganBoy“little hollow” · Scottish
- LouisBoy“famous in battle” · Germanic
- LucasBoy“from Lucania” · Greek
- LucyGirl“light” · Latin
- LukeBoy“from Lucania” · Greek
- LunaGirl“moon” · Latin
- LydiaGirl“woman from Lydia” · Greek
M
- MadisonGirl“son of Maud” · English
- MargaretGirl“pearl” · Greek
- MarkBoy“probably from Mars” · Latin
- MaryGirl“uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter” · Hebrew
- MasonBoy“stone worker” · English
- MatildaGirl“mighty in battle” · Germanic
- MatthewBoy“gift of God” · Hebrew
- MaxBoy“greatest” · Latin
- MayaGirl“uncertain, perhaps mother” · Greek
- MeganGirl“pearl” · Greek
- MiaGirl“uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter” · Hebrew
- MichaelBoy“who is like God?” · Hebrew
- MichelleGirl“who is like God?” · Hebrew
- MilaGirl“gracious, dear” · Slavic
- MilesBoy“uncertain, possibly gracious” · Germanic
- MorganUnisex“sea circle” · Welsh
N
O
P
- ParkerUnisex“park keeper” · English
- PatriciaGirl“noble, patrician” · Latin
- PatrickBoy“nobleman” · Latin
- PaulBoy“small, humble” · Latin
- PenelopeGirl“uncertain, perhaps weaver” · Greek
- PeterBoy“rock, stone” · Greek
- PeytonUnisex“Pæga’s town” · Old English
- PhilipBoy“lover of horses” · Greek
- PhoebeGirl“bright, pure” · Greek
- PhoenixUnisex“dark red” · Greek
- PoppyGirl“poppy flower” · English
R
- RachelGirl“ewe, female sheep” · Hebrew
- RaymondBoy“wise protector” · Germanic
- RebeccaGirl“to tie, bind” · Hebrew
- ReeseUnisex“enthusiasm, ardour” · Welsh
- RichardBoy“brave ruler” · Germanic
- RileyUnisex“descendant of Raghallach” · Irish
- RiverUnisex“river” · English
- RobertBoy“bright fame” · Germanic
- RobinUnisex“bright fame” · Germanic
- RoseGirl“rose flower” · Germanic
- RowanUnisex“little red one” · Irish
- RubyGirl“ruby, a red gem” · English
- RuthGirl“friend” · Hebrew
S
- SageUnisex“wise; the herb sage” · English
- SamUnisex“God has heard” · Hebrew
- SamanthaGirl“uncertain” · Hebrew
- SamuelBoy“name of God, or God has heard” · Hebrew
- SarahGirl“princess, lady” · Hebrew
- ScarlettGirl“scarlet, bright red” · English
- SebastianBoy“from Sebaste” · Greek
- SimonBoy“he has heard” · Hebrew
- SkylerUnisex“scholar” · Germanic
- SophiaGirl“wisdom” · Greek
- StellaGirl“star” · Latin
- StephenBoy“crown” · Greek
- SusanGirl“lily” · Hebrew
- SydneyUnisex“wide island” · Old English
T
V
W
English names: frequently asked questions
How do I choose a good English name?
Choose a real, widely used name that is easy for you to say and easy for others to spell. Look at what the name means and how it sounds with your family name. Short classic names such as Anna, Emma, Daniel or Leo work well in almost any country.
What are the most popular English names right now?
In the UK and the US in the 2020s, some of the most popular girls’ names are Olivia, Amelia, Isla, Charlotte and Emma, and some of the most popular boys’ names are Noah, Oliver, Liam, George and Theodore.
Do English names have meanings?
Yes. Most English names come from older languages such as Hebrew, Greek, Latin or Old English, and each originally meant something: Sophia means “wisdom”, Henry means “ruler of the home” and Lucy is linked to “light”. Today people often choose names for their sound, but the meaning is still part of the name’s story.
What is a unisex name?
A unisex name is used for both boys and girls, such as Alex, Taylor, Jordan or Riley. Many unisex names began as surnames or as short forms of longer names.
Is it OK to use a nickname as my English name?
Yes. Short forms such as Sam, Kate, Tom or Ellie are used as names in their own right. In formal situations you can give the full form, like Samuel or Katherine, and let people use the short one.