Names That Mean English

Distinctly feminine form of the unisex name Liel

Briefly used as a male name in the early 20th century. Doll is a surname with a variety of origins and meanings, some more desirable than others.

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

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.

Cute and eminently wearable surname name for girls.

It feels like a slenderized modern version, but Jennet actually has deep roots. Could this plucky name rescue Janet and Jenny from their datedness?

Rein, along with Reign, have taken over from Rain as a trendy word name. Should you rein it in or let it rein? Okay, bad puns we know, but that's the downside of word names. This is a true unisex name, given to 15 girls and 12 boys in the US in one recent year.

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.

Krown broke through the charts in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Corona means "crown").

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.

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

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

Mormon supermodel Pyper America Smith Holder brought this spelling into the public eye. Pyper's younger brother is also a model, Lucky Blue Smith.

A nouveau take on Mabry, an English and Irish surname that derives from Mayberry. Undoubtedly, some parents are using Maebry as an invented name, a combination of the stylish name Mae and versatile syllable "bry."

Short and sweet but edgy too, Tru is fresh feeling virtue name that's currently in the US Top 1000 for boys and girls. Given to around 270 girls in 2023, the longer form True also on the rise. Rarely used before the 2000s, Tru caught on in 2004 when it was used for the heroine in the television series, "Tru Calling".

Chemistry has never been used as a baby name before — to our knowledge — but Khemistry appeared on the charts in 2021 and 2022. There was a 1980s band by the name.

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?"

Cooler than Ernest and less Muppet-like than Ernie, the Finnish Erno may be the best way to honor someone with an Ern- name.

Huntley is among the most evenly-split gender-neutral names, while Huntleigh is virtually all girl. Huntleigh is actually more common than the original.

The Finnish form of Peter was most common in its culture of origin in the 1950s and '60s.