UK Baby Names

A once-popular nickname for Albert and Bertram now being polished up by hip Brits, but still hibernating in the Land of Nerd over here.

Might Carlyle (or Carlisle) be the next Carly, which of course was the update on Carla? In 2015, 14 girls were given the Carlisle spelling (vs. 35 boys) but the Carlyle version did not make the SSA list for girls although it was registered for ten boys. But it's a name we think we'll hear more of for both genders.

This dignified Old English surname was brought into the modern consciousness by author Armistead Maupin, who wrote the San Francisco stories Tales of the City. There was also a Civil War general named Lewis Armistead.

Sounds like an authentic upper-crust family name -- not necessarily a bad thing.

At one time associated with the fictional detective Bulldog Drummond, this formal surname name does boast the cute nickname Drum.

More modern nickname for Victoria than Vicky. Better known as Tori spelling.

Among the more masculine of the short unisex B names, Brice is less popular than Bryce for both sexes. There were 240 boys named Brice in the US in one recent year, versus only five girls -- and more than ten times that many of both genders named Bryce.

Long one of the most popular girls' names starting with P, Patti replaced Patsy as the midcentury's popular, peppy babysitter but has now joined her in the retirement home.

A strong, classic, simple name that has nonetheless never been overexposed.

A casual take on Corbin.

A nice beachy name, but one that would require constant explanation.

Would make a difficult choice even for those with ties to the Virginia city or British county.

If you prefer the woods to the ocean, you'll want to name your son (or daughter) Beech instead of Beach.

This is an occupational surname for one who made nails and has been used by one Berry to honor a Canadian World War I hero, Col. George Nasmith. Other related names with the same meaning nclude Nayler, Naismith, Naysmith and Neasmith. Trivia note: Dr. James Naismith is considered the inventor of basketball.

Drover, an ancient occupational surname, is right in step with today's styles and would make a distinctive choice. Drover and brothers are fresh updates of such now-widely-used names as Carter and Cooper.

If you feel a burning need to gussy up Ray -- think again.

A Robert nickname out of use for hundreds of years, but now sounds cooler than Bob or Rob for a modern boy.

An old French surname derived from baille, meaning "fortification" – the same root as the English word bailey. The surname was borne by an aristocratic English family descended from French nobility.

A nice enough last name that turns supercilious as a first.