Less common E names
- Elouan
Origin:
Breton and FrenchMeaning:
"light"Description:
This beautiful Breton saint's name peaked at #127 in France in 2006. It's still in the Top 500 there today, but remains almost unknown outside of France.
- Elowen
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"elm"Description:
A beautiful modern Cornish nature name that is rapidly picking up steam in the States: even spawning variant spellings like Elowyn and Elowynn. In its native region, it wasn't widely used as a name before the twentieth century, when the Cornish language was revived. A (currently) unique member of the fashionble El- family of names, it has a pleasant, evocative sound.
- Eloën
- Elwen
Origin:
Welsh, Cornish, BretonMeaning:
"noble friend"Description:
St Elwen is venerated in Cornwall and Brittany, and lent his name to several regional place names. It is also found as a surname, especially in Norfolk, England.
- Elwood
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"elder tree forest"Description:
The "el-" sound is red-hot these days, and a myriad of place names and surnames give this name a wealth of possible namesakes. The main drawback is its kinship to the name of the hero of the Legally Blond series, Elle Woods, though that will fade with time.
- Elwyn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"noble friend, elf friend"Description:
A charming Welsh name with a great meaning, borne by E. B. White, author of Charlotte's Web.
- Emeric
Origin:
French form of German EmmerichMeaning:
"power"Description:
A name popular both in France (where it's Number 405) and within the Cajun population, it's more substantial than Eric, and occurs twice in the Harry Potter series.
- Emil
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"rival"Description:
In the US, the preferred boys' spin on the mega-popular Emily and Emma is Emmett, but in much of Europe it's Emil. As Emmett gets trendier in the US, parents in search of a more unusual Em name may look to Emil.
- Emlyn
Origin:
Welsh, from LatinMeaning:
"charming, flattering or rival"Description:
Gentle and poetic and most often heard in Wales, Emlyn joins Emrys as soft, interesting alternatives to popular Em- names like Emmett and Emery.
- Emrys
Origin:
Welsh, variation of AmbroseMeaning:
"immortal"Description:
If you're looking for a Welsh name less common than Dylan, Griffin, Evan, or Morgan, you might want to consider this offbeat epithet of the wise wizard Merlin.
Root name Ambrose is an ancient saints' name derived from the Greek ambrosia, the food and drink of the gods that conferred immortality.
- Endelienta
Origin:
CornishDescription:
Saint Endelienta is the woman whose name became Endellion, of David Cameron fame. Endelienta was the daughter of a king and reputed to be the god-daughter of King Arthur. Her feast day is 29 April, making this name an interesting choice for a daughter born on that day.
- Endelyn
Origin:
CornishDescription:
Cornish form of Endellion
- Ender
Origin:
TurkishMeaning:
"very rare"Description:
This popular Turkish name has a very on-trend sound and is familiar to English speakers thanks to Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi novel Ender’s Game. The book has recently been turned into a movie, starring Asa Butterfield as Andrew "Ender" Wiggin.
- Endicott
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"beyond the cottage"Description:
Upstanding New England patrician name.
- Endymion
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"dive into, enter"Description:
The name of a mythically handsome youth – loved by Selene, the moon, who bore him fifty daughters.
- Enfys
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"rainbow"Description:
The Welsh name Enfys is a unisex name, although it is more commonly used as a feminine name. It is rare even in the United Kingdom, used on only a handful of children each year.
- Ephram
Origin:
Spelling variation of Ephraim, HebrewMeaning:
"fruitful, fertile, productive"Description:
The Ephram spelling, a phonetic spin on the original, may gain ground as it's the one used for the hero's name in the novel Ruby by Cynthia Bond, the new pick for Oprah's book club.
- Eryx
Origin:
Greek mythology nameDescription:
Eryx has a sci-fi sound and deep roots. In Greek mythology, Eryx was the son of Poseidon and Aphrodite and a king in Sicily. He was a great boxer, but was eventually beaten by Heracles. He probably got his name from Mount Eryx in Sicily, now known as Erice. Never used before 2005, this could be a mythological gem to watch - and an alternative way to honor an Eric.
- Eseld
Origin:
Cornish variation of IsoldeDescription:
This Cornish variant of Isolde is rare even in the UK - but that's part of its charm. Like Isolde, Eseld is generally thought to mean "ice battle", a meaning sure to be pleasing to a little girl in this age of all things "Frozen".
- Esmond
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"graceful protection"Description:
Though slightly haughtier and less accessible than cousin Edmond, Esmond could appeal to some parents seeing a distinguished appellation. It began being used (albeit sparingly) in England in the nineteenth century, possibly influenced by William Makepeace Thackeray's novel The History of Henry Esmond.