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33 English names

Royal English names

Names borne by British kings, queens, princes and princesses, from William and Elizabeth to Charlotte and George.

Names

  1. AlbertBoyAL-bert · GermanicMeans “noble and bright”Albert is a Germanic name that came to England with the Normans, but it was rare for centuries. It became very popular in Britain after Queen Victoria married the German Prince Albert in 1840. King George VI was also called Albert by his family.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. AndrewBoyAN-droo · GreekMeans “manly”Andrew comes from the Greek name Andreas, based on the word for “man”. Saint Andrew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and he is the patron saint of Scotland. The name has been common in Britain for many centuries.
  5. 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.
  6. BeatriceGirlBEE-uh-tris · LatinMeans “she who makes happy, blessed”Beatrice comes from the Latin name Beatrix, which was probably first Viatrix, “traveller”, but was changed to look like the Latin word for blessed. It is famous as the name of the woman Dante loved and wrote about in his poetry. Queen Victoria gave it to her youngest daughter, and Princess Beatrice of York carries it today.
  7. CarolineGirlKAR-uh-lyn · GermanicMeans “free man”Caroline is a French feminine form of Carolus, the Latin form of Charles, which comes from a Germanic word for a free man. It came to Britain with Caroline of Ansbach, the German wife of King George II, in the 18th century. It has stayed in steady use ever since.
  8. CatherineGirlKATH-rin · GreekMeans “pure”Catherine comes from the Greek name Aikaterine, whose real origin is unknown; early Christians linked it with the Greek word for pure. Returning crusaders brought the story of St Catherine of Alexandria to England, and the name became very common. Three of Henry VIII’s wives were called Catherine, and so is the present Princess of Wales.
  9. CharlesBoyCHARLZ · GermanicMeans “free man”Charles comes from the Germanic word karl, meaning a free man. Charlemagne (Charles the Great) made it famous in Europe, and the Normans brought it to Britain. Britain has had three kings called Charles, including King Charles III.
  10. 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.
  11. DianaGirldy-AN-uh · LatinMeans “divine, heavenly”Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon and of hunting, and her name probably comes from an old word linked to the sky and the gods. English speakers began to use it in the 16th century, after the revival of interest in classical stories. Diana, Princess of Wales, made it famous around the world.
  12. EdwardBoyED-werd · Old EnglishMeans “rich guardian”Edward is an Anglo-Saxon name made of the Old English words for “wealth” and “guard”. It was the name of the English king Edward the Confessor, and it survived the Norman Conquest because people respected him. England and Britain have had eight kings called Edward.
  13. 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.
  14. ElizabethGirlih-LIZ-uh-beth · HebrewMeans “my God is an oath”Elizabeth comes from the Hebrew name Elisheva; in the New Testament, Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist. It became one of the most common English names after Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century. Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years, made it famous all over the world.
  15. 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.
  16. FrederickBoyFRED-rik · GermanicMeans “peaceful ruler”Frederick is a Germanic name made of words for “peace” and “ruler”. It was common among German kings, such as Frederick the Great of Prussia. It became more used in Britain after the German Hanoverian kings arrived, and several British princes were called Frederick.
  17. 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.
  18. HaroldBoyHARR-uld · Old EnglishMeans “army ruler”Harold comes from Old English words for “army” and “power”; the Old Norse name Haraldr has the same parts. King Harold II was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, and he died at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The name was rare for centuries but came back in the 19th century.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. JaneGirlJAYN · HebrewMeans “God is gracious”Jane comes from Jehanne, an Old French feminine form of John, which goes back to Hebrew. It became common in England in the 16th century; Jane Seymour was the third wife of Henry VIII. Jane Austen and the novel Jane Eyre made it a lasting classic.
  24. JohnBoyJON · HebrewMeans “God is gracious”John comes from the Hebrew name Yochanan. In the Bible it was borne by John the Baptist and by John the Apostle, so it spread across the Christian world. King John of England signed the Magna Carta in 1215, and for centuries it was the most common boys’ name in England.
  25. 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.
  26. MargaretGirlMAR-gret · GreekMeans “pearl”Margaret comes from the Greek word for a pearl, which itself probably came from Persian. St Margaret of Scotland, an 11th-century queen, made it very popular in Britain, and Queen Elizabeth II’s sister was Princess Margaret. It has more nicknames than almost any other English name.
  27. MaryGirlMAIR-ee · HebrewMeans “uncertain, perhaps beloved or bitter”Mary comes from the Hebrew name Miriam, whose meaning is not known for sure; suggestions include “bitter”, “wished-for child” and an Egyptian word for “beloved”. As the name of Jesus’s mother, it has been one of the most important names in Christian Europe for centuries. England has had two Queen Marys who ruled in their own right, and Scotland had Mary, Queen of Scots.
  28. 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.
  29. PhilipBoyFIL-ip · GreekMeans “lover of horses”Philip comes from Greek words for “friend, lover” and “horse”. It was the name of Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, and of one of the apostles of Jesus. In Britain it is well known through Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
  30. RichardBoyRICH-erd · GermanicMeans “brave ruler”Richard comes from Germanic words for “power” and “brave, hardy”. The Normans brought it to England, and three English kings had the name, including Richard the Lionheart. It has been a common English name ever since.
  31. StephenBoySTEE-vun · GreekMeans “crown”Stephen comes from the Greek word stephanos, a crown or wreath. In the Bible, Saint Stephen is the first Christian martyr. King Stephen ruled England in the 12th century, and the name is also spelled Steven.
  32. VictoriaGirlvik-TOR-ee-uh · LatinMeans “victory”Victoria is the Latin word for victory and was the name of the Roman goddess of victory. It was rare in England until Queen Victoria, who reigned for most of the 19th century and gave her name to the Victorian age. Many places around the world, such as Lake Victoria, are named after her.
  33. 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.