UK Baby Names

Upscale and upstanding.

This British last-name-first-name could make a more masculine alternative to Shelby.

An upper-crusty-sounding name with humble origins.

Adds some thorns to the smooth texture of Lily.

The new Randy -- though a bit commercial, as in Rand Corporation, Rand McNally, et al.

In the currently popular solid, serious, two-syllable mold.

Prissy, no matter how you spell it.

Yardley is an English surname with a distinguished vibe, a la Chauncey and Clancy. Extremely rare for either sex, it would make a stand-out choice that still fits in with current trends.

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

Fielding isn't an occupational name, exactly, though it does relate to someone who works in or lives in a Field. Although there have been a handful of people, real and fictional, with the first name Fielding, the most famous Fielding is eighteenth century writer Henry Fielding, author of Tom Jones.

The Brits say BARK-lee, but we pronounce it the same as the name of the California college: either way it's quite pretentious and of another era.

This scary word name was given to five baby boys in the US in 2013, entering the lexicon for the first time. Are the boys named Vice destined for a life of crime, or the creation of a media empire?

Unusual two-syllable choice with a real pronunciation challenge.

A name with various origins, Elmira combines the sounds of multicultural Mira with the popular El- beginning. Despite this, the name is rarely heard in the US, though it does rank in the Top 100 names in Azerbaijan.

Some surnames should stay surnames.

Pansy is an early floral name that lost credibility when it became a derogatory slang term for gay people. Better these days: Posy or Poppy.

Great middle name choice for music lovers or those with Scottish roots, also spelled Fyfe.

An old-school great-grandpa name, like Irving and Ernest, that may just be ready for revival. It's also a well-known name in Hungary and elsewhere in central and eastern Europe. As a surname, it's associated with jazz sax player Booker Ervin.

Decidedly offbeat name that combines jauntiness with that uber-cool X, and would certainly set your son up for life outside the mainstream.

Related to the powerful South African warrior people, sometimes chosen by African-Americans to celebrate their heritage.