Names That Mean English

Alternative spelling of the Welsh name Lowri, a form of Laura.

Lansing is perhaps best known as the state capital of Michigan, which was named after the town of Lansing, New York. The original Lansing was named in honor of John Lansing Jr., a Chancellor of New York and mayor of Albany. He was of Dutch parentage.

Cymricized version of the English flower/rainbow/goddess name Iris.

Derived from the personal name Adalhard.

Kross is one of the new generation of Christian word names with a twist, and joins the ranks of Chozen, Kruz, Zyon, Kannon, and Tru as options for boys. Given to around 20 babies in 2018, by 2019, it was received by more than 100. Now, it is given to nearly 200 babies each year and is more popular than the traditional Cross spelling.

Ellar Coltrane, the star of Richard Linklater's acclaimed 2014 movie "Boyhood," is an outlier, namewise. Most others with his first name are girls, and there aren't even many of them -- the last time the Social Security Administration registered the name at all was in 1956, when six girls were named Ellar. Still, with Gaelic names being trendy, and the "El-" sound on the rise, it has some potential.

A fresh nature name — Bluet is a dainty, low-growing plant with small, light blue flowers — that feels like a mix of jazzy word-name Blue and trendy surname Truett.

This very popular Armenian name represents a grandson of Noah, considered the father of the Armenian nation.

The Finnish form of Andrew is featured in mythology as Antero Vipunen, a giant in Finland's national legend the Kalevala

A handful of baby girls were named Poem in the US in the most recent year, along with Poet and Poetry. But of course, these word names can work for boys too.

With place names extending their range, this is an unmapped possibility, though a bit stiff. Baltimore, Maryland was named after Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Baron Baltimore. Baltimore is ultimately derived from the Irish Baile an Tí Mhóir, meaning "town of the big house."

A potential nickname for Lake, or in professional surfer Lakey Peterson's case, Laura Louise.

Ilisa is a spelling variant that's less appealing than the original.

The latest metal name to make it as a baby name, although interestingly, Chrome is nowhere to be seen on the charts.

Variant spelling of the word name Sincere.

Rhyett is a respelling of the word name Riot with a name-centric spin combining the popular Rhett and Wyatt. While rising in popularity, Rhyett might prove confusing on spelling and pronunciation, spawning a lifetime of "Riot? Wyatt? How do you spell that, anyway?"

If Story and Poet and Sonnet can be names that work as well for girls as for boys, why not Ode?

Mailer is one of the more unusual of the on-trend occupational surnames. Recommended for fans of the macho writer Norman Mailer.

Variation of Cataleya, both of which are popular among Hispanic families in the US. Zoe Saldana played a character named Cataleya in Colombiana.

Cosy is a, well, cozy name, whose only downside is people forever making that dumb joke. Cosy can be short for Cosima or Cosette but can certainly stand on its own as a word name. Another plus: Sounds like Posy, Josie, and Rosie.