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104 English names

Popular English names today

Names that are among the most popular for babies in the UK and the US in the 2020s, with their meanings and origins.

Names

  1. AbigailGirlAB-ih-gayl · HebrewMeans “my father is joy”In the Bible, Abigail is a wise woman who becomes a wife of King David. English Puritans began using the name in the 17th century, and for a while “abigail” was also an everyday word for a lady’s maid because of a character in a popular play. Today it is a common girls’ name again, especially in the US.
  2. AdaGirlAY-duh · GermanicMeans “noble”Ada began as a short form of old Germanic names that start with adal, the word for “noble”. It was used in England from the 18th century and is best known through Ada Lovelace, who wrote about computer programs long before computers existed. Short and old-fashioned, it has become fashionable again in the 2020s.
  3. AlexanderBoyal-ig-ZAN-der · GreekMeans “defender of men”Alexander comes from Greek words meaning “to defend” and “man”. It was made famous by Alexander the Great, the king of Macedon who built a huge empire. It has been used across Europe for centuries, including by several kings of Scotland.
  4. AlfieBoyAL-fee · Old EnglishMeans “elf counsel”Alfie is a short, friendly form of Alfred, an Old English name made of words for “elf” and “advice”. Alfred the Great was a famous Anglo-Saxon king of the 9th century. Alfie is now often given as a full name and has been one of the most popular boys’ names in England in recent years.
  5. AliceGirlAL-is · GermanicMeans “noble type”Alice comes from Adalheidis, the same old Germanic name as Adelaide, and the Normans brought it to England in the 11th century. It was very common in the Middle Ages and became famous again through Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Queen Victoria also gave the name to one of her daughters.
  6. AmeliaGirluh-MEE-lee-uh · GermanicMeans “work”Amelia probably comes from the old Germanic word amal, meaning “work”, through the name Amalia, but it has also been mixed up with the Latin name Emilia. It arrived in Britain with the German royal family in the 18th century, and King George III named his youngest daughter Amelia. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England since the 2010s.
  7. ArchieBoyAR-chee · GermanicMeans “genuine and bold”Archie began as a short form of Archibald, a Germanic name that became especially common in Scotland. Today Archie is usually given as a name on its own. It has been one of the most popular boys’ names in England and Wales in recent years.
  8. ArthurBoyAR-ther · WelshMeans “possibly bear”Arthur is best known from the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Its origin is uncertain: it may come from the old Celtic word artos, “bear”, or from the Roman family name Artorius. It is an old royal name in Britain and has become very popular again in England.
  9. AsherBoyASH-er · HebrewMeans “happy, blessed”In the Bible, Asher is one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and one of the tribes of Israel is named after him. His mother Leah gave him the name because she felt happy at his birth. It has become very popular in the US in recent years.
  10. AuroraGirluh-ROR-uh · LatinMeans “dawn”Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, who was believed to bring the morning light each day. The northern lights are also called the aurora borealis. The princess in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is named Aurora, and the name has become very popular in the US in recent years.
  11. AvaGirlAY-vuh · HebrewMeans “life”The origin of Ava is not certain. It is usually treated as a form of Eve, from the Hebrew word for life, but there was also an old Germanic name Ava in the Middle Ages. The film star Ava Gardner made it well known, and it has been one of the top girls’ names in the US and UK in the 21st century.
  12. AveryUnisexAY-vuh-ree · Old EnglishMeans “elf counsel”Avery comes from an English surname that grew out of a Norman French form of the Old English name Alfred, which joins words for “elf” and “advice”. It was used mainly for boys at first. Today in the US it is given to girls much more often than to boys.
  13. BenjaminBoyBEN-juh-min · HebrewMeans “son of the right hand”In the Bible, Benjamin is the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. The “right hand” in the meaning may also mean “the south”, so the name is sometimes explained as “son of the south”. It has been used in English since the Reformation and is still very popular today.
  14. CalebBoyKAY-lub · HebrewMeans “possibly dog, or whole-hearted”In the Bible, Caleb is one of the men Moses sent to explore the land of Canaan, and he stays loyal to God. The meaning is debated: it is often linked to the Hebrew word for “dog”, a symbol of loyalty, but some explain it as “whole-hearted”. Puritans took the name to America, and it is popular in the US today.
  15. CarterBoyKAR-ter · EnglishMeans “cart driver”Carter began as an English surname for a person who drove a cart to carry goods. Like many surnames, it later came into use as a first name. It has become popular in the US in the 21st century.
  16. CharlieUnisexCHAR-lee · GermanicMeans “free man”Charlie is a short form of Charles for boys and Charlotte for girls, both from a Germanic word for a man who was not a slave. It is now very often given as a full name. In the UK it is a favourite for boys, while in the US it is used for both genders.
  17. CharlotteGirlSHAR-lut · GermanicMeans “free man”Charlotte is a French feminine form of Charles, from a Germanic word for a free man. It became common in Britain after Charlotte of Mecklenburg married King George III in the 18th century. The novelist Charlotte Brontë and today’s Princess Charlotte have kept it popular in England and the US in the 2020s.
  18. ChloeGirlKLOH-ee · GreekMeans “young green shoot”In ancient Greece, Chloe was a name given to the goddess Demeter, who looked after crops and new growth. It appears once in the New Testament, in a letter of St Paul, so Puritans began to use it in the 17th century. It became very popular in Britain and the US from the 1990s onwards.
  19. DaisyGirlDAY-zee · EnglishMeans “daisy, day’s eye”Daisy is the name of the small white flower; the word comes from Old English and described how the flower opens in the morning and closes at night. It began as a pet name for Margaret, because the French word marguerite means daisy. Today it is used as a name of its own and is well liked in Britain.
  20. DanielBoyDAN-yul · HebrewMeans “God is my judge”In the Bible, Daniel is a prophet who survives a night in a den of lions. The name has been used in England since the Middle Ages and became very common after the Reformation. It is still widely used around the world.
  21. DylanBoyDIL-un · WelshMeans “great tide”Dylan is a character in Welsh legend, a sea god who appears in the Mabinogion. The name probably comes from Welsh words meaning “great” and “tide”, so it is often linked to the sea. The poet Dylan Thomas made it known outside Wales, and Bob Dylan later took it as his stage name.
  22. EleanorGirlEL-uh-nor · FrenchMeans “uncertain, often linked with light”Eleanor comes from Aliénor, an old name from the south of France whose origin is uncertain; it is often linked with Helen and with light, but this may not be correct. Eleanor of Aquitaine brought the name to England in the 12th century when she married King Henry II, and later Edward I married Eleanor of Castile. It is very popular again in the US and UK in the 2020s.
  23. ElijahBoyih-LY-juh · HebrewMeans “my God is Yahweh”In the Bible, Elijah is a great prophet who is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. English Puritans used the name after the Reformation. In the 2020s it has been one of the most popular boys’ names in the US.
  24. EllaGirlEL-uh · GermanicMeans “all, other”Ella was a Norman name, probably from a Germanic word meaning “all” or “other”, though this is not certain. It is also used as a short form of names like Eleanor and Isabella. The jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald made it famous, and it has been a popular name in the UK and US for many years.
  25. EllieGirlEL-ee · FrenchMeans “uncertain, often linked with light”Ellie began as a pet form of Eleanor, and it is also used for Ellen and Elizabeth. Since the 1990s it has often been given as a full name on its own. It is one of the most popular girls’ names in the UK.
  26. EloiseGirlEL-oh-eez · GermanicMeans “healthy, wide”Eloise comes from the French Héloïse, which probably goes back to a Germanic name made from words for healthy and wide. Héloïse was a clever 12th-century French woman whose love letters to the scholar Abelard are still famous. In the US, the Eloise children’s books about a girl living in a New York hotel made the name well known.
  27. ElsieGirlEL-see · HebrewMeans “my God is an oath”Elsie started in Scotland as a pet form of Elspeth, the Scottish form of Elizabeth. It was very common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After sounding old-fashioned for many years, it has become popular again in England.
  28. EmilyGirlEM-ih-lee · LatinMeans “rival”Emily comes from Aemilia, the female form of an old Roman family name that probably meant “rival”. It became common in England in the 18th century, after the German royal family arrived; a princess named Amelia was often called Emily. The writers Emily Brontë and Emily Dickinson helped make it a classic.
  29. EmmaGirlEM-uh · GermanicMeans “whole, universal”Emma began as a short form of Germanic names starting with ermen, meaning whole or universal. Emma of Normandy became queen of England in the 11th century, and the name spread further after the Norman Conquest. Jane Austen’s novel Emma helped keep it popular, and it has been one of the top names in the US and Europe in recent years.
  30. EthanBoyEE-thun · HebrewMeans “firm, enduring”In the Bible, Ethan the Ezrahite is a wise man mentioned in the books of Kings and Psalms. The name was rare for a long time but became very popular in the US and UK from the late 20th century. It is still a common choice today.
  31. EvaGirlEE-vuh · HebrewMeans “life”Eva is the Latin and Greek form of Eve, the first woman in the Bible, whose name comes from a Hebrew word for life. It is used in many European languages and has been common in English since the 19th century. It is popular again in the UK and US today.
  32. EvelynGirlEV-uh-lin · GermanicMeans “uncertain, perhaps desired”Evelyn comes from an English surname, which came from the Norman girls’ name Aveline; that probably goes back to a Germanic word, but its meaning is not certain. At first it was used for both boys and girls, as with the writer Evelyn Waugh. Today it is almost always a girls’ name and one of the most popular in the US.
  33. EzraBoyEZ-ruh · HebrewMeans “help”In the Bible, Ezra is a priest and teacher who leads the Jewish people back to Jerusalem from Babylon. A book of the Bible carries his name. It was used by Puritans and has become popular again in recent years.
  34. FelixBoyFEE-liks · LatinMeans “lucky, happy”Felix was a Roman name taken from the Latin word felix. It was borne by several early saints and popes, which kept it in use across Europe. Today it is popular in the UK and in German-speaking countries.
  35. FinleyUnisexFIN-lee · ScottishMeans “fair warrior”Finley comes from the Scottish Gaelic name Fionnlagh, made from words for “white, fair” and “warrior”. It is a popular boy’s name in the UK. In the US it is used for both genders and in recent years more often for girls.
  36. FinnBoyFIN · IrishMeans “fair, white”Finn comes from the Irish name Fionn, made famous by the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn McCool) in Irish legend. A similar name, Finnr, also existed in Old Norse. It has become a popular boys’ name in the UK and Ireland.
  37. FlorenceGirlFLOR-uns · LatinMeans “flourishing, blooming”Florence comes from the Latin name Florentius, from a word meaning to bloom or do well. In the Middle Ages it was used for both men and women. It became popular as a girls’ name after the nurse Florence Nightingale, who was named after the Italian city where she was born, and it is fashionable again in England.
  38. FreyaGirlFRAY-uh · NorseMeans “lady”In Norse mythology, Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty and war, and her name simply meant “lady”. The name has been very popular in Britain, especially Scotland, since the 2000s.
  39. GabrielBoyGAY-bree-ul · HebrewMeans “God is my strength”In the Bible, Gabriel is the archangel who tells Mary that she will have a son, Jesus. The name is used in Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions. It has become very popular in many countries, including the US, in recent years.
  40. GeorgeBoyJORJ · GreekMeans “farmer”George comes from the Greek word georgos, a person who works the earth. Saint George, who killed a dragon in legend, is the patron saint of England. Britain has had six kings called George, and Prince George keeps it a favourite royal name.
  41. GeorgiaGirlJOR-juh · GreekMeans “farmer”Georgia is a feminine form of George, from a Greek word for a farmer or someone who works the earth. The US state of Georgia was named after King George II. As a first name it became popular in Britain from the 1990s.
  42. GraceGirlGRAYS · EnglishMeans “grace, God’s favour”Grace is the English word for elegance and for God’s kindness, which came into English from Latin gratia. Puritans began using it as a name in the 17th century, along with other virtues. The actress Grace Kelly, who became Princess of Monaco, made it glamorous, and it is still very popular.
  43. HannahGirlHAN-uh · HebrewMeans “grace, favour”In the Old Testament, Hannah prays for a child and becomes the mother of the prophet Samuel. English Puritans started using the name in the 17th century. It reads the same backwards and forwards, and it was especially popular in the 1990s and 2000s.
  44. HarleyUnisexHAR-lee · Old EnglishMeans “hare clearing”Harley comes from an English surname based on a place name, probably from Old English words for “hare” and “wood, clearing”. Many people also link it with the motorbike brand. It is more common for boys in the UK, while in the US it is given to both genders.
  45. HarperGirlHAR-pur · Old EnglishMeans “harp player”Harper is an English surname for someone who played the harp. It became known as a first name through Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. In the 2010s it quickly became one of the most popular girls’ names in the US.
  46. HarryBoyHARR-ee · GermanicMeans “home ruler”Harry was the usual medieval English form of Henry, and it is also used as a short form of Harold. King Henry V was known as “Prince Hal” or “Harry”, and today Prince Harry carries the name. Harry Potter helped make it one of the best-known names in the world.
  47. HazelGirlHAY-zul · EnglishMeans “hazel tree”Hazel is the name of a small tree that gives hazelnuts, from an Old English word, and also of a light brown eye colour. It was first used as a first name in the late 19th century, when nature names were fashionable. After a long quiet period, it is popular again in the US.
  48. HenryBoyHEN-ree · GermanicMeans “home ruler”Henry comes from a Germanic name made of words for “home” and “ruler”. The Normans brought it to England, and eight English kings were called Henry, including Henry VIII. It has become one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US again.
  49. HudsonBoyHUD-sun · EnglishMeans “son of Hudde”Hudson began as an English surname meaning “son of Hudde”, a medieval pet form of Hugh or Richard. The explorer Henry Hudson gave his name to the Hudson River and Hudson Bay. It has become a popular first name in the US in the 21st century.
  50. HugoBoyHYOO-goh · GermanicMeans “mind, heart”Hugo is the Latin form of Hugh, from a Germanic word for “mind” or “spirit”. It is used in many European languages, including Spanish, French and German. It has become popular in the UK in recent years.
  51. IsaacBoyEYE-zuk · HebrewMeans “he will laugh”In the Bible, Isaac is the son of Abraham and Sarah. Sarah laughed when she heard she would have a child in her old age, which explains the name. It became common in English after the Reformation and is popular again today.
  52. IsabellaGirliz-uh-BEL-uh · HebrewMeans “my God is an oath”Isabella is the Latin form of Isabel, which began as a Spanish and southern French form of Elizabeth. Isabella of France became queen of England when she married Edward II in the 14th century. In the 21st century it has been one of the most popular girls’ names in the US and UK.
  53. IslaGirlEYE-luh · ScottishMeans “from Islay, uncertain”Isla is taken from Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland, and from a Scottish river of the same name; the meaning of the place name is not known. It is sometimes linked with the Spanish word isla, “island”, but that is a different word. Since the 2000s it has become one of the most popular girls’ names in Scotland and England.
  54. IvyGirlEYE-vee · EnglishMeans “ivy plant”Ivy is the evergreen climbing plant, from an Old English word, and has long been a symbol of loyalty and lasting love. It became a first name in the late 19th century with other plant names. It is very popular again in the UK and US in the 2020s.
  55. JackBoyJAK · HebrewMeans “God is gracious”Jack began in the Middle Ages as a pet form of John, through the old form Jankin. It appears in many English stories and sayings, such as “Jack and the Beanstalk”. For many years it was the most popular boys’ name in England, and it is still a top choice.
  56. JacksonBoyJAK-sun · EnglishMeans “son of Jack”Jackson began as an English surname meaning “son of Jack”. It came into use as a first name in the US, partly in honour of President Andrew Jackson. It has been popular there in the 21st century.
  57. JacobBoyJAY-kub · HebrewMeans “holder of the heel”In the Bible, Jacob is born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau, and the name is linked to the Hebrew word for “heel”. It can also be understood as “one who takes another’s place”. The name James comes from the same source.
  58. JamesBoyJAYMZ · HebrewMeans “holder of the heel”James comes from Iacomus, a late Latin form of Jacob. Two apostles of Jesus were called James, and the King James Bible is named after King James I. It has been one of the most common boys’ names in the English-speaking world for centuries.
  59. JosephBoyJOH-zuf · HebrewMeans “he will add”In the Bible, Joseph is the son of Jacob who receives a coat of many colours, and also the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The name was given in hope that God would add more children to the family. It has been common in Europe since the Middle Ages.
  60. JulianBoyJOO-lee-un · LatinMeans “from the family of Julius”Julian comes from the Roman name Julianus, which was based on Julius. The meaning of Julius is uncertain; it is often explained as “youthful”, but this is not proven. Several saints had the name, and it has become popular in the US in recent years.
  61. LeahGirlLEE-uh · HebrewMeans “weary”In the Old Testament, Leah is the first wife of Jacob and the older sister of Rachel. Her name probably comes from a Hebrew word for tired, though some scholars connect it with an older word for a cow. Puritans began using it in the 17th century, and it is still common today.
  62. LeoBoyLEE-oh · LatinMeans “lion”Leo is the Latin word for “lion”. It was the name of many popes, including Pope Leo the Great. Short and easy to say in many languages, it has become one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  63. LeviBoyLEE-vy · HebrewMeans “joined, attached”In the Bible, Levi is one of the sons of Jacob, and his descendants, the Levites, served as priests. His mother Leah hoped the baby would bring her husband closer to her. The name has become popular in the US and UK in recent years.
  64. LiamBoyLEE-um · GermanicMeans “will helmet”Liam is the Irish short form of Uilliam, the Irish version of William. It spread from Ireland to other English-speaking countries in the late 20th century. It has been the most popular boys’ name in the US for several years in a row.
  65. LilyGirlLIL-ee · EnglishMeans “lily flower”Lily is the name of a tall white flower, from Latin lilium, which is a symbol of purity. It was also an old pet form of Elizabeth. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England and the US in recent years.
  66. LoganBoyLOH-gun · ScottishMeans “little hollow”Logan began as a Scottish surname taken from a place in Ayrshire. The place name comes from a Gaelic word for a small hollow in the land. It is popular as a first name in the US and Scotland.
  67. LouisBoyLOO-ee · GermanicMeans “famous in battle”Louis is the French form of a Frankish name made of words for “famous” and “battle”. Eighteen kings of France were called Louis, and the Normans brought the name to England. Today Prince Louis, the son of Prince William, carries it.
  68. LucasBoyLOO-kus · GreekMeans “from Lucania”Lucas is the Latin form of the Greek name Loukas, which meant a person from Lucania in southern Italy; people have also long linked it to the Latin word lux, “light”. Saint Luke, who wrote one of the Gospels, has this name. It is one of the most popular boys’ names in Europe and the US.
  69. LucyGirlLOO-see · LatinMeans “light”Lucy comes from the Latin name Lucia, from lux, the word for light. St Lucy was a 4th-century Christian saint whose feast in December is still a festival of light in Sweden. The Normans brought the name to England, and it has been widely used ever since.
  70. LunaGirlLOO-nuh · LatinMeans “moon”Luna is the Latin word for the moon and the name of the Roman goddess of the moon. It is also used in Spanish and Italian. In the 2020s it has become one of the most popular girls’ names in the US and many other countries.
  71. MadisonGirlMAD-ih-sun · EnglishMeans “son of Maud”Madison is an English surname that meant “son of Maud”, Maud being a medieval form of Matilda. It was rare as a girls’ name until the 1984 film Splash, in which a mermaid names herself after Madison Avenue in New York. It then became one of the most popular girls’ names in the US.
  72. MasonBoyMAY-sun · EnglishMeans “stone worker”Mason began as an English surname for a person who built with stone, from an Old French word. Like many job surnames, it later became a first name. It has been one of the most popular boys’ names in the US in the 21st century.
  73. MatildaGirlmuh-TIL-duh · GermanicMeans “mighty in battle”Matilda comes from old Germanic words for strength and battle. The Normans brought it to England: Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror, and Empress Matilda fought for the English throne in the 12th century. Roald Dahl’s children’s book Matilda helped make it popular again.
  74. MaxBoyMAKS · LatinMeans “greatest”Max is a short form of Maximilian, from the Latin word maximus, and is sometimes short for Maxwell or Maximus. It is now very often given as a name on its own. It is popular in many countries because it is short and works in many languages.
  75. MayaGirlMY-uh · GreekMeans “uncertain, perhaps mother”Maya has several separate origins. In Greek mythology Maia was the mother of the god Hermes, and her name is linked to a word for mother or nurse; in Sanskrit, maya means “illusion”. The poet Maya Angelou made the name well known, and it is popular in many countries today.
  76. MiaGirlMEE-uh · HebrewMeans “uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter”Mia began as a short form of Maria, the Latin form of Mary, in Scandinavia, Germany and the Netherlands. In Italian and Spanish it is also the word for “mine”, which many parents like. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in the US and UK in the 21st century.
  77. MichaelBoyMY-kul · HebrewMeans “who is like God?”In the Bible, Michael is an archangel who leads the armies of heaven. The name spread across Europe in the Middle Ages through devotion to Saint Michael. In the US it was the most popular boys’ name for much of the second half of the 20th century.
  78. MilaGirlMEE-luh · SlavicMeans “gracious, dear”Mila is usually a short form of Slavic names such as Ludmila and Milena, from a Slavic word for gracious or dear. In Spanish and Italian it can also be short for Camila, which comes from Latin, so its origin depends on the family. It has quickly become a popular name in the US and Europe.
  79. MilesBoyMYLZ · GermanicMeans “uncertain, possibly gracious”Miles comes from the old name Milo, which the Normans brought to England. Its meaning is not known for sure: it may come from a Slavic word for “gracious”, and people have also linked it to the Latin word miles, “soldier”. It is popular in the US today.
  80. NoahBoyNOH-uh · HebrewMeans “rest, comfort”In the Bible, Noah builds an ark to save his family and the animals from a great flood. The name was used by Puritans but was not very common until recent decades. It has been one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  81. NoraGirlNOR-uh · LatinMeans “honour”Nora is a short form of Honora, from the Latin word for honour, and is also used for Eleanor. It was especially common in Ireland. Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House made Nora famous, and the name is popular again in the US in the 2020s.
  82. OliverBoyOL-iv-er · LatinMeans “olive tree”Oliver comes from the Old French name Olivier, usually linked to the Latin word for “olive tree”, although it may have Germanic or Norse roots. Oliver was a hero in old French legends of Charlemagne, and Charles Dickens later wrote Oliver Twist. It has been one of the most popular boys’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  83. OliviaGirluh-LIV-ee-uh · LatinMeans “olive”Olivia was first used by Shakespeare for a rich young woman in his comedy Twelfth Night. Its origin is debated: it is usually linked with the Latin word for olive, but it may have been made as a female form of Oliver. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England and the US in the 2020s.
  84. OscarBoyOS-ker · IrishMeans “possibly deer lover”Oscar is a hero in Irish legend, and the name may come from Irish words for “deer” and “loving”, though it may also come from Old English. It became famous across Europe through the 18th-century Ossian poems, and a Swedish king took the name. It is popular in the UK today.
  85. OwenBoyOH-in · WelshMeans “possibly well born”Owen is the English form of the Welsh name Owain. It may come from the Latin name Eugenius, “well born”, or from a Welsh word for “lamb”. Owain Glyndŵr led a famous Welsh rebellion against the English in the 15th century.
  86. ParkerUnisexPAR-ker · EnglishMeans “park keeper”Parker is an English surname for a person who looked after a park, a large area of land where animals were kept for hunting. It is mostly given to boys in the US. A smaller number of girls are also named Parker.
  87. PenelopeGirlpuh-NEL-uh-pee · GreekMeans “uncertain, perhaps weaver”In Homer’s Odyssey, Penelope is the faithful wife of Odysseus, who waits twenty years for him to come home. Her name may come from a Greek word for threads on a loom, because she tricks unwanted suitors by weaving and unweaving cloth, but this is not certain. It has become very popular in the US in recent years.
  88. PhoebeGirlFEE-bee · GreekMeans “bright, pure”In Greek mythology, Phoebe was a Titan, and her name was also used for the moon goddess Artemis. A woman called Phoebe is praised by St Paul in the New Testament. It was used by Puritans and is well liked in Britain today.
  89. PoppyGirlPOP-ee · EnglishMeans “poppy flower”Poppy is the bright red flower, from an Old English word. After the First World War, the poppy became the symbol for remembering soldiers who died, and people in Britain wear paper poppies in November. As a first name it has been very popular in England since the 2000s.
  90. QuinnUnisexKWIN · IrishMeans “descendant of Conn”Quinn comes from the Irish surname Ó Cuinn, from the old name Conn, which may mean “chief” or “sense, reason”. In Ireland it is mainly a surname. As a first name in the US it is now given more often to girls, but boys get it too.
  91. RileyUnisexRY-lee · IrishMeans “descendant of Raghallach”Riley usually comes from the Irish surname Reilly, from an old name whose meaning is unknown. It can also come from an English place name meaning “rye clearing”. It is popular for both genders, more for boys in the UK and more for girls in the US.
  92. RubyGirlROO-bee · EnglishMeans “ruby, a red gem”Ruby is a precious red stone; the word comes from Latin ruber, meaning red. It was first used as a name in the late 19th century, together with other gem names. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in England in recent decades.
  93. SamuelBoySAM-yoo-ul · HebrewMeans “name of God, or God has heard”In the Bible, Samuel is a prophet who chooses the first kings of Israel, Saul and David. The exact meaning is discussed, but it is often explained as “name of God” or “God has heard”. It became common in English after the Reformation and is still popular.
  94. ScarlettGirlSKAR-lut · EnglishMeans “scarlet, bright red”Scarlett is an English surname for someone who made or sold scarlet, a bright red cloth. It became a girls’ name thanks to Scarlett O’Hara, the heroine of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel Gone with the Wind. It is very popular in the US and UK in the 2020s.
  95. SebastianBoysuh-BAS-tee-un · GreekMeans “from Sebaste”Sebastian comes from the Latin form of a Greek name meaning a person from Sebaste, a town whose name came from sebastos, “honoured”. Saint Sebastian was an early Christian martyr. It has become popular in the UK and the US in recent years.
  96. SophiaGirlsoh-FEE-uh · GreekMeans “wisdom”Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom, and the great church Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is named after Holy Wisdom. The name was used by European royal families, and it came to Britain with the German House of Hanover in the 18th century. It has been one of the most popular girls’ names in the US in the 21st century.
  97. StellaGirlSTEL-uh · LatinMeans “star”Stella is the Latin word for a star. The English poet Sir Philip Sidney used it in the 16th century in his love poems Astrophel and Stella, which made it a name. It is popular again in the US.
  98. TheodoreBoyTHEE-uh-dor · GreekMeans “gift of God”Theodore comes from the Greek name Theodoros, made of words for “god” and “gift”. The teddy bear was named after the US president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. It has become very popular in England and the US in recent years, often shortened to Theo.
  99. ThomasBoyTOM-us · AramaicMeans “twin”Thomas comes from the Aramaic word for “twin”. In the Bible, the apostle Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen until he saw him, which is why we say “doubting Thomas”. Saint Thomas Becket helped make it one of the most common names in medieval England.
  100. VioletGirlVY-uh-lut · EnglishMeans “violet flower”Violet is the name of a small purple flower and of its colour, from Old French violete and Latin viola. It became popular in Victorian times, when flower names were fashionable. It is very popular again in the US and UK in the 2020s.
  101. WilliamBoyWIL-yum · GermanicMeans “will helmet”William comes from Germanic words for “will, desire” and “helmet, protection”. It arrived with William the Conqueror and the Normans in 1066 and soon became one of the most common names in England. Four kings have had the name, and today Prince William carries it.
  102. WillowGirlWIL-oh · EnglishMeans “willow tree”Willow is a tree with long thin branches that often grows near water, from an Old English word. It became a first name in the 20th century as part of the trend for nature names. It is now popular in both Britain and the US.
  103. WyattBoyWY-ut · Old EnglishMeans “brave in war”Wyatt began as an English surname that came from the medieval name Wyot, from the Old English Wigheard, made of words for “war” and “brave, hardy”. It is linked to the American Old West through the lawman Wyatt Earp. It has become popular in the US in recent years.
  104. ZoeGirlZOH-ee · GreekMeans “life”Zoe is the Greek word for life, and early Greek-speaking Christians used it in place of Eve. It was an important name in the Byzantine Empire. It became common in Britain and the US from the 1970s.