UK Baby Names
- Braden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wide valley"Description:
One of the trendiest of the new two-syllable boys’ names that have swept the country in the past few years, including the rhyming Aidan, Caden, Kaden, and Jaden. It's been falling on the US Top 1000 lately but it is still among the most popular contemporary English names for boys..
- Lyle
Origin:
Scottish and English from FrenchMeaning:
"someone who lives on an island"Description:
Though it's used far more often for boys, Lyle has a lot in common with today's trending girl names that share the double L sound: Lila, Layla, and Lola.
- Rigby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"ridge farm"Description:
Rigby is a rather stiff British surname, which might call to mind the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" or, from the recent past, Cathy Rigby, the first American woman to win a medal in World Gymnastics competition. The problem with Rigby may be its similarity to the word "rigid."
- Cicely
Origin:
English variation of CeciliaMeaning:
"blind"Description:
This frilly Victorian name is a variant of Cecilia and Cecily, with which it might well be confused. Cicely was a surprise choice for comedienne Sandra Bernhard.
- Rudyard
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"red enclosure"Description:
Often thought of as a one-peson name because of Jungle Book writer Kipling, this was actually his middle name. He was middle-named for Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, the beauty of which inspired his parents to reference it in their first child's name. Trivia tidbit: Actress Kim Raver gave her son Leo the middle name of Kipling.
- Moe
Origin:
English, diminutive of MosesMeaning:
"delivered"Description:
If Gus and Max have made it, why not Moe? Can it be the lingering Three Stooges effect? We think that Moe, like Joe, is one of the friendliest and most open of regular guy nickname names and should get a little more attention.
- Warner
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"army"Description:
Long-time connection to the movie biz doesn't lend it any pizzazz.
- Gwendoline
Origin:
Variation of Gwendolen, WelshMeaning:
"white ring"Description:
The Gwendoline form may introduce pronunciation confusion -- does that last syllable rhyme with wine or win or when? We vote Gwendolen as not only the most proper but the clearest spelling, followed by Gwendolyn, with Gwendoline a distant third.
- Nairn
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"river with alder trees"Description:
Scottish nature name that could prove a tongue- twister for the younger set.
- Karter
Origin:
Spelling variation of CarterMeaning:
"transporter of goods by cart"Description:
Lovers of the name Carter and the Kardashians method of baby naming have popularized this choice, one of many boys' names starting with K that began life as boys' names starting with C. Karter has been in the charts since 2005, riding on the success of the original Carter. Since 2014, Karter has been just inside the Top 200.
- Edric
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wealthy ruler"Description:
Formerly in style limbo, Edric has recently started to see more use by parents. It could be because it sounds medieval yet accessible - which George R. R. Martin took advantage of for several characters - or because it's an offbeat alternative to the more popular Ed-names.
- Dot
Origin:
English, diminutive of DorothyDescription:
Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.
- Keris
Origin:
Spelling variation of Kerris or CerysMeaning:
"love"Description:
This phonetic version of the Welsh Cerys might be easier for Americans, certainly, to understand, but it does lose some poetry in translation.
- Naim
Origin:
Scottish; ArabicMeaning:
"river with alder trees; happy"Description:
Naim, also sometimes spelled Naime, is a pleasant choice that may have some confusing pronunciation issues in English-speaking countries (where may will say this name as "name"). But don't let that deter you if you're in love with this moniker.
- Aldous
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"old"Description:
Aldous has long been associated with British writer Huxley, author of Brave New World. So many of these rare British names are starting to be reconsidered by the literary or hipster crowds and this one, considering its pedigree, deserves the renewed interest.
- Briallen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"primrose"Description:
Unusual floral name which would be perfect for a spring baby girl, if you can pronounce the Welsh double L correctly. It's a tricky sound for non-native Welsh speakers, kind of halfway between an H and an L.
- Baird
Origin:
Scottish occupational nameMeaning:
"minstrel, poet"Description:
Meaning bard, this is an original choice with poetic and melodic undertones. Bard itself has also come into consideration, both names bringing to mind Shakespeare and other literary lights.The Scottish surname Baird's most notable bearer was John Logie Baird, the Scottish engineer and inventor of the televisor, the world's first practical television system in 1926, and also the world's first fully electronic color TV tube two years later. Some might also remember puppeteers Bil and Cora Baird.
- Benton
Origin:
English surname and place nameMeaning:
"bent grass enclosure"Description:
Benton is an old English surname of a type usually given to local landowners. It is also recorded in early records as Beneton and Bentune. Benton newly returned to the Social Security list in 2011 after a forty-plus year absence, perhaps as a fresh route to Ben.
- Cairn
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"mound of rocks"Description:
In Scotland, a cairn is a heap of stones placed as a memorial or to support a beacon. This gives the name a rugged, timeless quality that is very appealing at present.
- Bly
Origin:
English surname nameMeaning:
"friendly"Description:
The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.