1450+ English Names

  1. Winton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "friend's farm"
    • Description:

      See WYNTON.
  2. Vinny
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Vincent
    • Description:

      Best left at the Jersey Shore.
  3. Joss
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Jocelyn
    • Description:

      A short form that could be used independently, a la the singer Joss Stone.
  4. Deforest
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "living near the forest"
    • Description:

      Nature surname with an aristocratic edge. Spelling it DeForest distances it from deforestation.
  5. Loyal
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "faithful, loyal"
    • Description:

      Loyal is one of the few virtue names suitable for boys, an honorable and principled Boy Scout-esque appellation with a surprisingly long and distinguished history.
  6. Quint
    • Origin:

      English from Quintus; diminutive of Quinton
    • Description:

      Clint with a glint; used for flinty characters in old TV westerns and soap operas.
  7. Marsh
    • Origin:

      English nature name
    • Description:

      Soft and mellifluous nature-surname name, situated miles away from the dated Marshall.
  8. Collier
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "coal miner"
    • Description:

      This occupational surname could find new life with those wishing to honor someone in their heritage who was connected to the tough-as-nails breed that was the pre-modern coal miner. Coll and Collie are some sweet nickname options to tone down the formality of this name.
  9. Worth
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "enclosure, homestead"
    • Description:

      No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.
  10. Colby
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from a coal town"
    • Description:

      One of the first reality show-inspired names (he was a Texas hunk on an early season of "Survivor"); hugely trendy for boys but just starting for girls.
  11. Brand
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "firebrand, sword"
    • Description:

      Rugged and straightforward brand-new name, though you might not like the idea of branding your son.
  12. Dayton
    • Origin:

      English, variation of Deighton
    • Meaning:

      "place with a dike"
    • Description:

      If Dayton, like Trenton and Camden, is finding favor with parents, it's more because of its popular two-syllable surname feel and -on ending than the industrial city in Ohio.
  13. Bliss
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "intense happiness"
    • Description:

      If you use this for a boy, it had better be a family name, hidden away in the middle.
  14. Embry
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "flat-topped hill"
    • Description:

      Though Embry became famous as the name of a boy werewolf in Twilight, we think its Em- beginning and -y ending make it perfectly appropriate for a girl. You might consider it as an alternative to Emma, Emily, or Aubrey. Embry or Embury is an established English surname.
  15. Tessie
    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Theresa, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "to reap, gather"
    • Description:

      With Tillie a new favorite of avant-garde parents, the British music-hall Tessie might conceivably follow.
  16. Elfrida
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "elf power"
    • Description:

      The name of the mother of Aethelred the Unready was once common among the Anglo-Saxon nobility, and was briefly revived during the 19th century, only to be lost once again to history.
  17. Beacon
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "signal light"
    • Description:

      A word name with an appealing and illuminating meaning.
  18. Halsey
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "hallowed island"
    • Description:

      Name of World War II hero that sounds feminine today. Worth update of Holly, Hallie, or cousins.
  19. Brenton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "town near the burnt land"
    • Description:

      Name hovering near the bottom of the Top 1000 that may move higher with the fashion for two-syllable surnames. You could do worse...but you probably could also do better.
  20. Barlow
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "bare hillside"
    • Description:

      A friendly sounding surname name reminiscent of the increasingly popular Marlow and Harlow. British musician Gary Barlow is a notable namesake.