English Names that Start With S

Sunshine was seen as a quintessential hippie name of the 70s, reaching as high as Number 536 in 1975. Now such names are making a bit of a retro comeback, seen, for example, as a character on Glee.

The Shirley of the 1950s. Shelley Winters was born a Shirley.

New twist on Bennett. Mack Sennett was the early movie director known as the innovator of slapstick comedy.

Striker is one of the new gang of boys' names that have two syllables, end in -er, spring from words, and have a macho, even aggressive meaning and image. Other examples include Breaker, Heller, and Wilder. Do the world a favor and desist.

What works for Paige just doesn’t work for Sage. The added i will likely create a lifetime of spelling mistakes.

British last name that, though rather gentle, feels like a sharper, sleeker Shelby. Todd Selby, known primarily by his last name, is a hip photographer of interiors.

Obsolete Swanhild gives way to oh-so-modern Swan, joining the flock of newly fashionable bird names such as Wren and Lark. In France, the Swann spelling is fashionable for both sexes. But Swan carries an image of grace, though perhaps also a bit of languor. It's a lovely and original name, right for our times.

Despite its poetic associations, almost as dated as Sheldon, and more feminine.

Sure, and we hope he has a good time playing with Buster and Buddy.

Spring doesn't sound half as contemporary as Winter, which has become the cool season name.

Seems to stand at attention and salute.

With the current taste for last names first, this sounds a lot cooler than Shawn; it also has creative connections to the great Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, novelist Irwin Shaw, and Big Band Era clarinetist/bandleader and one-time Ava Gardner husband Artie Shaw.

A dated fifties surname name that led to the nickname SAndy.

Nice sound, but double meaning -- shady glen or shady character.

A perfectly fine Anglo surname, though we'd prefer Keaton. Oscar-winning writer-director George Seaton (Miracle on 34th Street, The Country Girl) was actually born George Stenius. 

St. JOhn is mainly (but rarely) used by Catholics in England -- there's one in Jane Eyre. This would probably be too cumbersome for most American kids.

Unfashionable surname, best left in the forest with Robin Hood and his Merry Men.

Seldom heard as a first name.

Surname name with an uplifting meaning. Just beware that this is a well-known mattress brand.

Stockard Channing -- "West Wing" 's first lady -- picked this strong, Waspy first name over her original, Susan.