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50 English names

Short English names

English names of four letters or fewer: quick to say, easy to spell and hard to get wrong.

Names

  1. 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.
  2. AdamBoyAD-um · HebrewMeans “man”In the Bible, Adam is the first man, made by God from the earth. The Hebrew word is probably connected to adamah, “earth” or “ground”. It has been used in English since the Middle Ages and is short and easy to say in many languages.
  3. AlexUnisexAL-iks · GreekMeans “defender of men”Alex is a short form of Alexander for boys and Alexandra for girls, both from Greek words for “defend” and “man”. It is now often given as a full name on its own. Because it works for both genders, it is one of the best-known unisex names in English.
  4. AmyGirlAY-mee · LatinMeans “beloved”Amy comes from the Old French name Amée, from the Latin word for being loved. It has been used in England since the Middle Ages. Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women, with its youngest sister Amy March, helped keep it popular.
  5. AnnaGirlAN-uh · HebrewMeans “grace, favour”Anna is the Greek and Latin form of the Hebrew name Hannah. In the New Testament, Anna is an old prophetess who sees the baby Jesus in the Temple. The name is used in almost every European language, which makes it easy to say anywhere.
  6. 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.
  7. DrewUnisexDROO · GreekMeans “manly, brave”Drew began as a short form of Andrew, from a Greek word for “man” and “brave”. It is also an English surname, and that is how many girls got it. It is mostly a boy’s name, though the actress Drew Barrymore made it familiar for girls.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. EricBoyERR-ik · NorseMeans “ever ruler”Eric comes from the Old Norse name Eiríkr. The second part means “ruler”, and the first part probably means “ever” or “alone”. Erik the Red was a famous Viking explorer, and the name became common in English in the 19th century.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. HopeGirlHOHP · EnglishMeans “hope”Hope is the English word for wanting and expecting something good to happen, from Old English. It is one of the virtue names used by Puritans in the 17th century. It is often used today as a middle name as well as a first name.
  15. 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.
  16. IrisGirlEYE-ris · GreekMeans “rainbow”In Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow, who carried messages from the gods. The name is also the word for a colourful flower and for the coloured part of the eye. It became a first name in the late 19th century.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. JadeGirlJAYD · EnglishMeans “jade stone”Jade is a green stone used for jewellery and art. The word comes from Spanish piedra de la ijada, “stone of the side”, because people believed it could cure pain in the side of the body. It became a common first name in Britain from the 1970s.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. JoyGirlJOY · EnglishMeans “joy, great happiness”Joy is the English word for great happiness, which came from Old French joie. It has been used as a name since the Middle Ages, but it became more common in the 20th century. It is a popular middle name too.
  24. JudeBoyJOOD · HebrewMeans “praised”Jude is a form of Judas, which comes from the Hebrew name Judah. Saint Jude was one of the apostles and is the patron saint of lost causes; the short form helped people avoid the name of Judas Iscariot. The Beatles song “Hey Jude” made it better known.
  25. KyleBoyKYL · ScottishMeans “narrow strait”Kyle comes from a Scottish Gaelic word for a narrow stretch of water between two pieces of land. It was first a place name in Ayrshire, Scotland, and then a surname. It became a common first name in the late 20th century.
  26. 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.
  27. LeeUnisexLEE · Old EnglishMeans “clearing, meadow”Lee comes from an English surname based on the Old English word for an open space in a wood. It became popular as a first name in the 20th century. It is more common for boys, while girls often use the spelling Leigh.
  28. 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.
  29. 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.
  30. 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.
  31. 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.
  32. 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.
  33. LukeBoyLOOK · GreekMeans “from Lucania”Luke is the English form of the Greek name Loukas, meaning a person from Lucania in southern Italy; it is also often linked to the Latin word lux, “light”. Saint Luke wrote one of the four Gospels in the Bible. The name has been used in England since the Middle Ages.
  34. 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.
  35. MarkBoyMARK · LatinMeans “probably from Mars”Mark comes from the Roman name Marcus, which is probably connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Saint Mark wrote one of the Gospels and is the patron saint of Venice. The name became very common in English in the 20th century.
  36. 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.
  37. 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.
  38. 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.
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. 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.
  42. 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.
  43. 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.
  44. PaulBoyPAWL · LatinMeans “small, humble”Paul comes from the Roman family name Paulus. In the Bible, Saint Paul spread Christianity and wrote many letters in the New Testament. The name has been used across Europe for many centuries.
  45. RoseGirlROHZ · GermanicMeans “rose flower”Rose was first a Norman name, probably from Germanic words for fame or horse. Over time people connected it with the flower, from Latin rosa, which is a symbol of love. It is now often used as a middle name as well as a first name.
  46. 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.
  47. RuthGirlROOTH · HebrewMeans “friend”Ruth is the heroine of the Old Testament Book of Ruth, a woman famous for staying loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi. The meaning “friend” is the usual explanation, but it is not certain. Puritans used it from the 17th century, and it was very common in the early 20th century.
  48. SageUnisexSAYJ · EnglishMeans “wise; the herb sage”Sage is an English word for a wise person and also for a herb used in cooking. Both words come from Latin, through French. It is used for both genders, and somewhat more often for girls.
  49. SamUnisexSAM · HebrewMeans “God has heard”Sam is a short form of Samuel for boys and Samantha for girls. Samuel is a Hebrew name, usually explained as “God has heard” or “name of God”, and Samantha was probably made from it in America. Sam is one of the most common unisex short names in English.
  50. 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.