370+ English Boy Names With Meanings (Plus Some Exotic Origins)

Overview

Modern English is a dynamic language with influences from other languages. So, it isn’t surprising that many English boy names actually have exotic origins outside the British tongue. (1)

Amazingly, about two-thirds of the English vocabulary comes from Romance languages, particularly French, Latin, Spanish, and Italian. (1)

It’s also influenced by Germanic languages such as Old English, German, Dutch, Gothic, and Scandinavian. Approximately one-fourth of the modern English vocabulary has Germanic origins, while other languages influence the rest. (1)

Below are 370+ top baby names with English origins for your little prince.

The Best English Boy Names By Category

What Are Popular & Very British Boy Names?

Arthur (Celtic and Old English boy name) – “Strong man” or “bear king”; it can be the perfect name for boys, thanks to its link to the legendary King Arthur, a fictional hero from the Middle Ages

Charlie (English and German boy name) – “Free man”; the name began as a nickname for the Old English name “Charles” but later evolved as a standalone, gender-neutral name (famous namesakes include the iconic actor from the silent era, Charlie Chaplin)

Freddie (English and German name) – “Peaceful ruler”; also a common nickname for “Fred” or “Frederick” but can be a standalone name (popular namesakes include British singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury and American actor Freddie Prinze Jr.)

George (English, Anglo-Saxon, and Greek boy name) – “Farmer”; comes from the Greek name “Georgios,” which means “earth-worker” (popular namesakes include former US President George W. Bush and St. George, the patron saint of England)

Harry (English boy name) – “Home ruler”; a medieval form of “Henry” and a variant of the Germanic name “Heimerich” (famous namesakes include former US President Harry S. Truman and Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex)

Jack (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God is gracious” as a diminutive for the English name “John” or “supplanter” as a variant of the Hebrew biblical names “Jacob” and “James”; famous namesakes include American actors Jack Nicholson and Jack Black

Jackson (English boy name) – “Son of Jack”; famous namesakes include American abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock

Liam (English and Irish boy name) – “Resolute protector” or “helmet of will” as a variant of the Irish name “Uilliam”; it ranks #1 in the list of the most popular baby boy names in the US, according to 2022 data from the SSA (Social Security Administration) (2)

Louis (English and French boy name) – “Famous warrior”; famous namesakes include Louis Vuitton, the French fashion designer from the 1800s who built the famous fashion brand under his name

Oliver (English, Old Norse, and Latin boy name) – Nature name meaning “olive tree” derived from the Latin name “Olivarius,” which means “olive branch planter”; it’s also an elf boy name after its Old Norse meaning of “elf warrior” (famous namesakes include the fictional main character Oliver Twist in the novel by English author Charles Dickens)

William (English and Germanic boy name) – “Resolute protector”; also a prince name after Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge (he’s the crown prince to the British throne)

Aside from Liam in the #1 spot, Oliver and William also made it to the list of top baby names in the US at ranks #3 and #6, respectively. (2)

English Names With Exotic Origins

Names in this next section that also made it to the top 10 favorite boy names in the US: (2)

Noah at #2
James at #4
Elijah at #5
Henry at #7
Benjamin at #9
Theodore at #10

Alexander (English and Greek boy name) – Warrior name meaning “defender of men”; famous namesakes include Alexander the Great, the legendary king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon

Benjamin (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Son of the right hand”; biblical boy name after the youngest of Jacob’s 12 sons and one of the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel

David (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Beloved”; powerful name after King David, one of the most famous kings of Israel

Elijah (English and Hebrew boy anime) – “Yahweh is my God”; famous namesakes include the prophet in the Bible’s Old Testament and American actor Elijah Wood

Finley (English and Irish boy name) – “Fair-haired courageous one”; famous namesakes include English soccer player Finley Burns

Gervase (English and Germanic boy name; pronounced as “jur-vayz”) – “Spear”; variant of the Germanic name “Gervasius” (famous namesakes include the English poet Gervase Markham from the 1960s)

Henry (English, Old German, and French name) – “Ruler of the house” or “lord of the manor”; variant of the German name “Heimeric” or the French name “Henri” (famous namesakes include eight kings of England and British actor Henry Cavill)

Isaac (English and Hebrew boy name) – “One who laughs”; famous namesakes include one of the main patriarchs of Israel and English mathematician Isaac Newton

Jacob (English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew boy name) – “Supplanter” or “may God protect”; variant of the Greek name “Iakobos” and Latin “Iacobus” (famous namesakes include Jake Gyllenhaal, born Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal)

James (English, Latin, and Hebrew boy name) – “Supplanter” as a variant of the Hebrew name “Jacob” or the Latin name “Iacomus”; famous namesakes include several Scottish kings, six American presidents, iconic film director James Cameron, American actor James Franco, and the fictional British spy James Bond

Jeremy (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Yahweh will exalt”; variant of the biblical name “Jeremiah” from the New Testament (popular namesakes include British actor Jeremy Irons and American actor Jeremy Renner)

Joseph (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God will give”; famous namesakes include the biblical figure Joseph, one of Jacob’s 12 sons who was sold (by his brothers) as a slave in Egypt but later saved them from famine

Noah (English, Babylonian, and Hebrew boy name) – “Rest” or “repose”; variant of the Hebrew name “Noach” or the Babylonian name “Nukhu” (famous namesakes include the biblical character who built an ark to save his families and the animals from the Great Flood)

Peter (Old English and Greek boy name) – “Stone” or “rock”; variant of the Greek name “Petros” (famous namesakes include Simon Peter, the disciple appointed by Jesus as the rock of Christianity and the keeper of heaven’s keys)

Roman (English and Latin boy name) – “From Rome”; famous namesakes include award-winning French-Polish film director Roman Polanski and American professional wrestler Roman Reigns (ring name of Leati Joseph “Joe” Anoaʻi)

Sebastian (English, Latin, and Greek boy name) – “Venerable”; Disney name after the red crab in “The Little Mermaid” (famous namesakes include American stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco)

Theodore (English, Latin, and Greek boy name) – “Gift from God”; variant of the Latin name “Theodorus” (famous namesakes include former US president Theodore Roosevelt)

Thomas (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Twin”; famous names include former US president Thomas Jefferson and American inventor Thomas Edison

English Variants Of International Names

Horace (English and Latin boy name) – Variant of the Latin name “Horatio,” meaning “timekeeper”; famous namesakes include former American professional basketball player Horace Grant and “Harry Potter” character Professor Horace Slughorn

Jasper (English and Persian boy name) – Variant of the Persian name “Gaspar,” meaning “treasurer”; famous namesakes include English comedian and TV presenter Jasper Carrott

Jonah (English and Hebrew boy name) – Variant of the Hebrew boy name “Jonas,” meaning “dove”; also a biblical boy name after the prophet swallowed by a whale and brought to Nineveh (where God intended him to go before he tried to escape by riding a boat to the opposite direction) with famous modern namesakes such as American actor Jonah Hill and English actor Jonah Hauer-King (Prince Eric in Disney’s 2023 live-action version of “The Little Mermaid”)

Luke (English and Latin boy name) – Variant of the Latin name “Lucas,” a name that means “light” or “light-giving”; famous namesakes include Welsh actor Luke George Evans and American country singer Luke Bryan

Mark (English and Latin boy name) – Variant of the Latin name “Marcus,” meaning “dedicated to Mars (Roman god of war)”; famous namesakes include English actor and musician Mark Farmer

What Are Good English Names For A Boy?

Basil (English and Greek boy name) – “Royal” or “kingly”; variant of the Greek name “Vassilios,” meaning “emperor” (also a plant name)

Daniel (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God is my judge”; famous namesakes include English actors Daniel Radcliffe and Daniel Craig

Edward (Old English boy name) – “Wealthy protector”; famous namesakes include American actor Edward Norton and the fictional main character in the movie “Edward Scissorhands” starring Johnny Depp

Hudson (English boy name) – “Son of Hudd” or “son of Hugh”; also a place name after the Hudson River in New York (named after English explorer Henry Hudson)

Joshua (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God is salvation”; famous namesakes include British professional boxer Anthony Joshua and American actor Joshua Taylor Bassett (“High School Musical”)

Teddy (English and Greek boy name) – “Gift from God”; also a popular nickname for “Theodore” (e.g., American boxing coach Theodore A. “Teddy” Atlas Jr.)

What Are English Classic & Old-Fashioned Boy Names?

Alfie (Old English, Old Norse, and Gothic name) – “Old peace or counsel” or “elf wisdom” as a variant of the Old English name “Aelfraed”; can also be a nickname for “Alfred” (famous namesakes include “Game of Thrones” English actor Alfie Allen)

Arlo (Old English boy name) – Short boy name that means “fortified hill”

Cenric (English and Welsh boy name) – “Bold ruler” or “greatest champion”; variant of the Welsh name “Kendrick”

Godric (Old English boy name) – “Good ruler”; variant of the Anglo-Saxon name “Goodrich” (famous namesakes include “Harry Potter” character Godric Gryffindor, one of the powerful and brilliant wizards who founded Hogwarts)

Harley (Old English boy name) – “Hare’s meadow”; often linked to the American motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson

Oswald (Old English boy name) – “Divine power”; famous namesakes include Walt Disney’s first character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

Patton (Middle English boy name) – “Fighter’s town”; also considered a nonbinary name (not identified with a particular gender) or a nickname for “Patrick” (famous namesakes include American stand-up comedian Patton Oswalt)

Philip (English and Greek boy name) – “Horse friend”; royal name after kings or princes such as Philip II of Macedon (Alexander the Great’s father) and Prince Philip (the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II)

Truman (Old English boy name) – “True,” “trusted,” or “loyal one”; also a common last name in the US (e.g., former US President Harry S. Truman)

Cool & Trendy English Names For Boys

Jaxon (English boy name) “God has shown favor” or “son of Jack”; famous namesakes include American professional football player Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Piers (English and Greek boy name) – “Stone” or “rock” as a variant of “Peter”; popular namesakes include English broadcaster Piers Morgan and British children’s writer Piers Torday

Reggie (English and Latin boy name) – “King”

Rowan (English boy name) – “Red-haired”; famous namesakes include English actor Rowan Atkinson (popularly known as “Mr. Bean” after the character he created and played)

Tommy (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Twin” as a variant of “Thomas”; famous namesakes include American actor Tommy Lee Jones

What Are Strong English Male Names?

Alistair (English, Anglo-Saxon, and Greek boy name) – “Man’s defender” or “warrior”; variant of the ancient Greek name “Alexander” (famous namesakes include English actor Alistair McGowan and broadcaster Alistair Appleton)

Edmund (English boy name) – “Wealthy protector” or “prosperous protector”; variant of the Old English name “Eadmund”

Emmett (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Hard worker,” “truth,” “universal,” or “powerful”; famous namesakes include Irish actor Emmett J Scanlan

Ralph (Old English boy name) – “Wolf-counsel”; famous namesakes include English actor Ralph Fiennes and American fashion designer Ralph Lauren

Ronnie (English and Norse boy name) – “Ruler”; famous namesakes include American singer-songwriter Ronnie Radke

Ryan (English and Irish boy name) – “Little king”; famous namesakes include Canadian-American actor Ryan Reynolds and Canadian actor Ryan Gosling

Mythical English Boy Names

Draco (English, Greek, or Latin boy name) – “Dragon” or “serpent”; witchy name after Draco Malfoy, a young wizard and Harry’s rival in the “Harry Potter” series

Griffin (English and Welsh boy name) – “Prince” after the Welsh name “Gruffydd”; also a mythical creature with a lion body and eagle head plus eagle wings (famous namesakes include American actor Griffin Gluck)

Jason (English and Hebrew boy name) – “The Lord is salvation” or “healer”; the legendary main character of the Greek myth “Jason and the Argonauts” (adventurers who went on a quest to find the golden fleece)

Orion (English and Greek boy name) – “Great hunter” or “rising sky”; giant hunter turned by Zeus into a constellation (famous namesakes include Hollywood voice actor Orion Acaba)

Phoenix (English and Greek name) – “Dark red” or “crimson red”; androgynous name (gender-free) after the mythical bird that burns and turns into ashes at death but rises back again (it symbolizes immortality)

Adorable English Boy Names

Albie (English and Latin boy name) – “White”; famous namesakes include English professional football player Albie Morgan

Allen (English, Irish, Iranian, French, and Scottish boy name) – “Handsome” or “little rock”; variant of the Irish name “Ailín” or the French name “Alain” (famous namesakes include American former professional basketball player Allen Iverson)

Archie (English boy name) – “Genuine” and “bold”; can also be a nickname for “Archibald”; famous namesakes include Prince Archie of Sussex, the son of Prince Harry (Duke of Sussex) and Meghan Markle (Duchess of Sussex)

Arnie (English, Norse, and German boy name) – “Eagle ruler”; also a nickname for “Arnold” (famous namesakes include American actor Armie Hammer)

Cooper (Middle English and Dutch boy name) – “Tub,” “container,” or “barrel-maker”; also a variant of the Dutch name “Kuper”

Trevor (English, Welsh, and Anglo-Saxon boy name) – “Large village” or “settlement”; variant of the Anglo-Saxon name “Trefor” (famous namesakes include English film and TV actor Trevor Eve)

English Boy Names With Beautiful Meanings

Ansell (Old English boy name) – “God’s protection”

Dayton (Old English boy name) – “From the sunny town”

Gabriel (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Man of God”; also a biblical and angel name after the archangel who was God’s messenger to the Virgin Mary (about the birth of Jesus) and Zechariah (about the birth of John the Baptist)

Matthew (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Gift of God”; famous namesakes include American actor Matthew McConaughey and American-Canadian actor Matthew Perry

English Names That Mean Fire

Aiden (English, Irish, and Gaelic boy name) – “Little fire Aidan”; variant of the Irish name “Aodhán” (famous namesakes include British actor Aiden John Turner and professional footballer Aiden John McGeady of the Republic of Ireland national team)

Blaise (Old English gender-neutral name) – “Torch” or “bright flame; famous namesakes include French mathematician Blaise Pascal

Blaze (English nonbinary name) – “Fire”

Conley (English, Celtic, and Irish boy name) – “Chaste fire” or “purifying light”; variant of the Irish name “Conleth”

Ember (English nonbinary name) – “Smoldering remains of a dying or extinguished fire”

Hayden (Old English, German, and Celtic boy name) – “Fire”; also a country boy name that means “hay field” or “from the hedge in the valley” (famous namesakes include Canadian actor Hayden Christensen and English former football player Hayden Mullins)

Kindle (English boy name) – “To set fire”

Rare & Unique English Boy Names

Aaren (English and Scandinavian boy name; pronounced as “ah-ren”) – “Lofty,” “inspired,” and “high mountain”

Aaric (English and Old Norse boy name; pronounced as “ah-reek”) – “Graceful ruler” or “rule with mercy”

Algar (Old English boy name) – “Elf spear”

Cuthbert (Old English boy name) – “Bright,” “brilliant,” or famous”

Desmond (English, Anglo-Saxon, Gaelic, and Irish boy name) – “Gracious defender” or “descendant of the person from southern Munster (one of the kingdoms of the early Gaelic Ireland, now a province in modern Ireland)”; variant of the Gaelic name “Ó Deasmhumhnaigh” (famous namesakes include American professional basketball player Desmond Bane)

Malachy (English, Scottish, and Irish boy name; pronounced as “maa-laa-kiy”) – “Second” or “messenger of God” (famous namesakes include Shetland singer-songwriter Malachy Tallack; Shetland is a subarctic archipelago in Scotland)

Ripley (Old English boy name) – “Shouting man’s meadow”; also a last name

Saxon (Old English boy name) – “From Saxony (a historical kingdom in the German empire)” or “Saxon village (a village in Yorkshire)”

Tobias (English and Greek boy name; pronounced as “toh-byas”) – “God is good”; variant of the Hebrew name “Tobiah” (famous namesakes include American professional basketball player Tobias Harris)

Torquil (English, Anglo-Saxon, and Old Norse boy name; pronounced as “tor-kweel”) – “Thor’s helmet” or “the Norse god of thunder’s helmet”; variant of the Old Norse name “Torkel” (famous namesakes include London-based film producer Torquil Jones and actor Torquil Deacon)

Travel-Inspired English Place Names For Boys

Alton (English boy name) – “Old town”; a town in Hampshire, England

Ashford (Old English boy name) – “Ford by the ashes”; a borough in Kent, England

Austin (English and Latin boy name) – “Majestic,” “great,” or “magnificent”; a city in Texas, USA

Bradford (Old English boy name) – “Broad ford” or “a wide river crossing”; a city in West Yorkshire, England

Brent (English boy name) – One-syllable boy name that means “hill” or “mount”; a borough in London, England

Bristol (Old English boy name) – “Meeting place by the bridge (refers to a bridge over England’s River Avon)”; a city in England

Brixham (Old English boy name) – “Brioc’s homestead (after an early England resident)”; a town in Devon, England

Byron (Old English boy name) – “Cow shed”; also an English last name and a place in North Yorkshire, England

Caledon (English, Latin, and Gaelic boy name) – “Hard, rocky land”; variant of the Latin name “Caledonia” and a place in Northern Ireland

Camden (English and Scottish boy name) – “Winding valley”; town in London, England, known for shopping and entertainment

Carlisle (Old English unisex name; pronounced as “car-lyle”) – “From the walled city” or “from the city of Luguvalium (a Roman town in northern Britain)”; a city in Cumbria, England

Carlton (Old English and British boy name) – “From the town of the free men” or “free peasant settlement”; a village in Yorkshire, England

Denver (Old English and French boy name) – “Belonging to a green valley”; a city in Colorado, USA

Easton (Old English boy name) – “East town”; a city in Pennsylvania, USA

Eldon (Old English boy name) – “Ella’s hill” or “sacred hill”; a city in Missouri, USA

Ely (English boy name) – “Ascension” or “high”; a city in Cambridgeshire, England

Harlow (English unisex name) – “Army hill”; a town in Essex, England

Harrow (Old English boy name) – “A person who harrowed (plowed) the land”; a town in Greater London, England

Kendal (English unisex name) – “The Kent River valley”; a town in England

Kensington (English boy name) – “The town of Chenesi’s people (one of the first settlers in the area)”; a royal borough in London, England

Kent (English and Celtic boy name) – “Bordering of a circle”; a county in southeastern England

London (English unisex name) – “City in the grove” or “grove town”; the capital of England and the United Kingdom

Marlow (English unisex name) – “Driftwood”; a town in Buckinghamshire, England

Merton (English and Anglo-Saxon boy name) – “Farmstead by the pool”; a borough in Southwest London, England

Raleigh (Old English boy name) – “A meadow for deer”; the capital city of North Carolina, USA, named after English colonist Sir Walter Raleigh

Ramsey (Old English and Scottish boy name) – “Low-lying land” or “island of garlic”; a town in Cambridgeshire, England

Sheldon (English unisex name) – “Steeped valley”; a village in England

Trent (English boy name) – “The flooder” or “traveler”; a village in Dorset, England

Walton (Old English boy name) – “Walled town”; names of several villages and towns in the United Kingdom

Warwick (Old English boy name) – “Buildings near the weir (low dam built across a river)”; a town in West Midlands, England

York (Old English boy name) – “Yew settlement” or “boar settlement”; a walled city in northeast England

Nature-Inspired English Boy Names

Ash (English gender-neutral name) – “From the ash tree” or “gray, powdery residue left after burning”; also an anime boy name (a protagonist in “Pokemon”) and a nickname for “Ashley”

Coal (English nonbinary name) – “Sedimentary rock burned for fuel”

Douglas (Old English, Scottish, Gaelic, and Irish boy name) – Names that mean water (dark river) or “dark glass”; famous namesakes include British author Douglas Murray

Forrest (Old English and French name) – “Of the woods” or “one who lives in the woods”; famous namesakes include the fictional main character of “Forrest Gump” and American adventurer Forrest Galante

Rain (English and American unisex name) – “Abundant blessings from above” or “rain (weather phenomenon)”

English Plant Names For Boys

Cedar (English boy name) – “Coniferous tree”

Ollie (English and Latin boy name) – “Olive tree”; can be a nickname for “Oliver”

Spruce (English boy name) – “European native tree species”

English Animal-Inspired Names For Boys

Everett (Old English boy name) – Powerful name meaning “brave and strong bear”; famous namesakes include Marvel universe fictional character and CIA agent Everett K. Ross

Finch (Old English unisex name) – “Songbird”

Leon (English and Greek boy name) – “Lion”; famous namesakes include American singer-songwriter Leon Bridges

Lynx (Middle English, Latin, and Greek name) – “Species of wild cat”; also a boy cat name

Wolf (English boy name) – “Wild canine species”

Max (English and Latin androgynous name) – “Greatest”; also a short form of “Maximiliano” or “Maximilian”

Maxi (English unisex name) – “Greatest”

Maxton (English boy name) – “Settlement of Maccus (an early settler)”; namesakes include musical composer Maxton Waller

Maxwell (Old English and Scottish boy name) – “Mack’s stream (another early settler)”; namesakes include American musician Maxwell (born Gerald Maxwell Rivera)

Celebrity-Inspired English Boy Names

Ashton (Old English boy name) – “Ash tree town”; famous namesakes include American actor Ashton Kutcher

Blake (Old English unisex name) – Ambiguous meaning as “dark or black” from the Old English word “blac” or “pale hair or skin” from the word “blaac”; also a southern boy name after country singer Blake Shelton

Colin (English, Gaelic, Old French, and Irish name) – “Cub” or “whelp”; famous namesakes include Irish actor Colin Farrell (also spelled as “Collin”)

Devon (English and Celtic unisex name) – “Beloved” or “from Devon (a county in Southwest England)”; famous namesakes include Canadian actors Devon Bostick (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” films) and Devon Sawa (“Casper” and “Little Giants”)

Elton (Old English boy name) – “Elf enclosure” or “Ella’s town”; famous namesakes include famous English singer Elton John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight)

Holt (Old English boy anime) – “A forested upland” or “wood”; famous namesakes include American actor Holt McCallany (born Holt Quinn McAloney) from the Netflix series “Mindhunter”

Hugh (English, Germanic, Celtic, and Irish boy name) – Name that means “fire” or “heart, mind, and spirit”; famous namesakes include English actor Hugh Grant and Australian actor Hugh Jackman

Oscar (English, Old Norse, and Irish boy name) – Warrior name meaning “spear of the gods,” “gentle friend,” or “friend of deer”; famous namesakes include American boxer Oscar De La Hoya, Oscar de la Renta (Jacqueline Kennedy’s Dominican fashion designer), and American actor Oscar Isaac (“Dune”)

Rupert (English and German boy name) – “Bright glory”; famous namesakes include English actor Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint (Ron Weasley in the “Harry Potter” movie series) and Prince Rupprecht (nephew of King Charles I)

Wesley (Old English boy name) – “From the west field” or “western meadow”; last name also used as a given name (examples include English Methodist Church founder of John Wesley and American actor Wesley Snipes)

English Boy Names From Pop Culture

Alvin (Old English and Scandinavian boy name) – “Old friend” as a variant of the Anglo-Saxon name “Ealdwine” or the Scandinavian name “Alfvin”; popular namesakes include the main character in the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” film series

Jarvis (English, French, and Celtic boy name) – “Servant” or “spear” as a variant of the French name “Gervase”; after J.A.R.V.I.S., the AI (artificial intelligence) robot created by Tony Stark in the Marvel movies

Maurice (Old English, French, and Latin boy name) – “One from Mauritania (an African country); also a Disney name after Disney princess Belle’s father in “Beauty and the Beast”

Percy (English, Old French, and Greek boy name) – “Hard steel” or “one who pierces the valley” as a variant of the Old English name “Percival” or “to destroy” as a form of the ancient Greek name “Perseus”; after the main character in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians”

English Boy Names From History & The Past

Edgar (Old English boy name) – “Fortunate,” “powerful,” or “prosperous spear”; variant of the Old English name “Eadgar” (famous namesakes include American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe and English filmmaker Edgar Howard Wright)

Harper (Middle English unisex name) – “Harp player”; variant of the Old English name “Harpere” (famous namesakes include Ralph Harper Goff, the American artist who planned and designed the Disney theme parks)

Leo (English and Latin boy name) – “Lion”; short form or nickname for “Leo-” names such as “Leopold” and “Leonard ” (famous namesakes include Russian writer and Nobel Prize nominee Leo Tolstoy)

Lysander (English and Greek boy name) – “Free man” or “liberator”; famous namesakes include Spartan military leader Lysander (he led the Battle of Aegospotami in 405 BC) and Lysander (the main character in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”)

Nelson (Old English boy name) – “Son of a champion” or “son of Neil”; famous namesakes include former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela

Romantic English Boy Names

Adonis (English and Greek boy name) – “Handsome” or “extremely good looking”; namesakes include Adonis Graham, the son of Canadian rapper Drake

Milo (English and Slavic boy name) – “Dear”; famous namesakes include American actors Milo Ventimiglia and Milo Manheim

Long English Boy Names

Absalom (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Father of peace”

Aethelred (Old English boy name; pronounced as “ey-thel-red”) – “Noble counsel”; famous namesakes include one of the longest-serving kings of Medieval England (he ruled for 38 years)

Archibald (English and German boy name) – “Genuine and brave”; namesakes include American poet Archibald MacLeish)

Bartholomew (English and Aramaic boy name) – “Son of furrows (long, narrow trench in the ground for planting)”; also a biblical boy name after Saint Bartholomew the Apostle

Christopher (English and Greek boy name) – “Bearer of Christ”; famous namesakes include British-American filmmaker Christopher Nolan and American singer-songwriter Christopher Cross

Cornelius (English and Latin boy name) – “Horn”; after American business magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, member of the prominent US Vanderbilt family, known for their shipping and railroad business empire

Jeremiah (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God will raise”

Lancelot (English and French boy name) – “Servant”; after one of King Arthur’s brave “knights of the round table”

Lazarus (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God has helped”; biblical name after the man that Jesus resurrected

Nathaniel (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Given by God”; variant of the Hebrew name “Netan’el”; after American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne and singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff

Sheridan (English, Anglo-Saxon, Gaelic, and Irish boy name) – “Peaceful and wild man” or “seeker”; also a place name after a town in Wyoming

Short English Boy Names

One-Syllable Boy Names Of English Origin

Dean (Old English and Greek boy name) – “Valley” or “dignitary or monk in charge of ten others”; after American singer Dean Martin and actor Dean Cain

Dwight (English, Flemish, and Greek boy name) – “White,” “blond,” or “devoted to Dionysus (the Greek god of festivals and wine); famous namesakes include former US president Dwight D. Eisenhower and American professional basketball player Dwight Howard

Earl (Old English and Germanic boy name) – “Warrior,” “nobleman,” “prince,” or “warrior-king”; variant of the Germanic name “Jarl”

Jake (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Supplanter”; variant of “Jack” (famous namesakes include American actor Jake Gyllenhaal and media personality Jake Paul)

Rand (English, German, and Arabic boy name) – “Shield,” “son of Randolph,” “warrior,” or “bay laurel”

Rex (English and Latin boy name) – “King”; used as the king’s insignia in the Middle Ages (e.g., Henry II became known as “Henri Rex,” which also translates to “King Henry”)

Shaw (Old English and Scottish boy name) – “Small clearing,” “dweller by the wood,” or “living near a thicket (group of trees)”

Zac (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Yahweh remembers”; can be a short form or nickname for “Zachary” and “Zechariah” (famous namesakes include American actor Zac Efron)

Two-Syllable Boy Names Of English Origin

Aden (English, Hebrew, and Irish boy name) – “Handsome” or “little fire” as a variant of “Aidan”

Amos (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Carried by God”; biblical boy name after a prophet in the Old Testament

Theo (English and Greek boy name) – “Gift from God”; also a nickname for “Theo-” names like “Theodore” or “Theodred” (namesakes include English actor Theo James)

English Middle Names For Boys

Adkins (English boy name) – “Son of Aiken”; a variant of “Adam”

Anthony (English and Roman boy name) – “Highly praiseworthy”; famous namesakes include Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins and American professional basketball player Anthony Davis

Caden (Old English and Gaelic boy name) – “Marsh”

Lee (English unisex name) – “Meadow” or “a clearing in the woods”

Rhett (English and Dutch boy name) – “Advice”; after American singer-songwriter Rhett Akins

Sky (English boy name) – “The heavens”

Stark (English boy name) – “Firm and unyielding”

Sterling (English boy name) – “Genuine” or “of high quality”; after American actor Sterling K. Brown

Tripp (Old English boy name) – “Stepping lightly”

Gender-Free & Androgynous Names

Billie (English name) – “Determination” or “strength”; can also be a nickname for “William” (namesakes include American musician Billie Joe Armstrong)

Cameron (English, Scottish, and Celtic name) – “Crooked nose” or “crooked river”; famous namesakes include American actors Cameron Diaz, Cameron Boyce, and Cameron Monaghan

Ellis (English and Welsh name) – “Benevolent” or “kind”; also a variant of the Welsh name “Elis” (a form of the biblical names “Elias” or “Elijah”)

Hollis (Old English name) – “One from the grove of holly trees” or “a holly tree”

Kris (English and Latin name) – “Christian” or “a follower of Christ”; after American professional baseball player Kris Bryant

Psalm (English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew name) – Biblical name that means “song,” “to pluck,” or “high praise”

Reese (English name) – “Ardent” or “fiery”

Riley (English and Gaelic name) – “Valiant” or “wood clearing”; after American country music singer-songwriter Riley Green

Winter (English name) – “Winter season”; also a middle name

English Boy Names From A To Z

English Boy Names Starting With A

Aaron (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Messenger,” “enlightened,” or “mountain of strength”

Aart (English, Celtic, and German boy name) – “The eagle”

Ackley (English boy name) – “Meadow of oak trees”

Adam (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Son of the earth”

Addison (English and Hebrew boy name) – “The son of Adam, from the red earth”

Albert (English and German boy name) – “Noble, bright, and famous”

Aldis (English and German boy name) – “The old house” or “elder”

Alfred (English, Norse, and German boy name) – “Elf counsel”

Archer (English and French boy name) – “The art of archery”

English Boy Names Starting With B

Benedict(English, Latin, and German boy name) – “Blessed one”; after German Pope Benedict XVI (born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger)

Bertram (English and Germanic boy name) – “Bright, famous raven”

Bobby (English and German boy name) – “Bright fame”

Braxton (British and Old English boy name) – “Brock’s town (one of the first settlers)” or “badger”

Brody (English and Irish boy name) – “Ditch”

English Boy Names Starting With C

Caleb (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Faithful”

Callum (English and Latin boy name) – “Dove”; variant of the Latin name “Columba”

Carew (English, Welsh, and Cornish unisex name) – “Fort near a slope” or “chariot”

Carter (English boy name) -“A person who uses a cart” or “cart driver”

Charles (English and German boy name) – “Free man”

Chester (English and Latin boy name) – “Walled town”

Christian (English, Latin, and Greek boy name) – “Follower of Jesus Christ”

Cillian (English and Gaelic boy name) – “War,” “church,” “strife,” or “monastery”

Clement (English and Latin boy name) – “Merciful”

Colton (English boy name) – “From a dusky, dark village (where there’s no light)”

Crispin (English, Old French, and Latin boy name) – “Curly-haired”

Cynebald (ancient English boy name) – “Royal and bold”

English Boy Names Starting With D

Damian (English and Greek boy name) – “Conquer” or “tamer”; variant of the Greek name “Damianos”

Dennis (English and Greek boy name – “ Follower of Dionysus (god of wine in Greek mythology)”

Duncan (English and Gaelic boy name) – “Chieftain,” “brown-haired man,” or “warrior”; variant of the Gaelic name “Donnchadh”

Dunstan (English boy name) – “Stony hill”

Dylan (English and Welsh boy name) – “Son of the sea”

English Boy Names Starting With E

Eastmund (Old English boy name) – Name that means “grace” and “protection”; variant of the Old English name “Esmond”

Elliot (English, Gaelic, and Hebrew boy name) – “The Lord is my God,” “God is my Yahweh,” and “mound” or “bank”

Elmer (Old English boy name) – “Noble” or “famous”

Elsdon (Old English boy name) – “Elli’s valley”

Ethan (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Enduring”

Ezra (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Helpful”

English Boy Names Starting With F

Farley (English, Anglo-Saxon, and Old Irish boy name) – “Man of valor,” “meadow of the sheep,” or “meadow of the bulls”; variant of the Old Irish name “Ó Fearghail”

Felix (English and Latin boy name) – “Lucky”

Fenton (Old English boy name) – “Marsh town”

Fergus (Old English and Gaelic boy name) – “Strong one” or “fearsome”

Finn (English and Irish boy name) – “Fair”

Fortune (English and French boy name) – “Prosperous” or “luck”

Frankie (English and German boy name) – “Free man”

Frasier (English and Scottish boy name) – “Strawberry” or “of the forest”

Frederick (English and German boy name) – “Peaceful ruler”

Fulton (English boy name) – “Bird hill”; variant of the Old English name “Foulden”

English Boy Names Starting With G

Garland (Old English boy name) – “Triangle land” or “person who owned/bought a triangular-shaped piece of land”

Garnet (English unisex name) – “Dark red gemstone”

Garrick (English and French boy name) – “Oak tree grove”

Gideon (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Great destroyer”

Goddard (English, French, and Germanic boy name) – “Brave god”; variant of the Germanic given name “Godehard”

Godwin (English and Anglo-Saxon boy name) – “Good friend”

Goodwin (English and Anglo-Saxon boy name) – “Friend of gods”

Graham (English and Scottish boy name) – “Gravelly homestead”; variant of the Old English name “Grantham”; also a middle name for boys (e.g., telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell)

Grant (English, Norman French, and Scottish boy name) – “Great” or “large”

Grayson (English, Scottish, and Irish boy name) – “Son of the gray-haired one” or “son of the steward”; also a variant of the Scottish name “Grierson” and the Irish name “Gray”

Gravesson (English and Anglo-Saxon boy name) – “Son of the reeve (local official)”

Gresham (Old English boy name) – “Grazing homestead”

Grover (Old English boy name) – “Grove of trees”; famous namesakes include former US president Grover Cleveland and “Sesame Street” character Grover

English Boy Names Starting With H

Hale (Old English boy name) – “Nook” or “retreat”

Hamilton (English and Scottish boy name) – “Treeless hill”

Hamish (English, Hebrew, and Gaelic) – “God protects” or “supplanter” as a variant of the Gaelic name Sheumais (a form of “James”) or the Hebrew name “Iakobos”

Harold (English and Scandinavian boy name) – “Army ruler”

Harrison (English boy name) – “Son of Harry”

Harvey (English and Celtic boy name) – “Battle worthy” or “blazing iron”

Hugo (English and German boy name) – “Intellectual”

Humphrey (English and Old German boy name) – “Peaceful warrior”

Hunter (English boy name) – “A person who hunts wildlife”

English Boy Names Starting With I

Ian (English, Scottish, Hebrew, and Gaelic boy name) – “God is gracious”

Indigo (English unisex name) – “Shade of blue”

Isaiah (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God is salvation”

English Boy Names Starting With J

Jayden (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God will judge”

Jenson (English, Dutch, and Norse boy name) – “Son of Jens,” “God exists,” or “God is gracious”; variant of the English name “John”

Josiah (English and Hebrew boy name; pronounced as “jo-sah-yah”) – “God has healed”

Jude (English and Greek boy name) – “Praised”; variant of the Greek and Hebrew name “Judah”

Julian (English, Roman, and Latin boy name) – “Youthful”; variant of the Roman name “Julianus” or “Julius”

English Boy Names Starting With K

Kane (English and Irish boy name) – “Little battler”

Kevin (English and Irish boy name) – “Beloved birth”; variant of the Irish boy name “Caoimhín”

Kingsley (Old English boy name) – “King’s wood”

Kingston (Old English boy name) – “King’s town”

English Boy Names Starting With L

Lake (English unisex name) – “Body of water”

Landon (English boy name) – “Man from the long mountain” or “long hill”

Lawrence (English and Latin boy name) – “Bright,” “shining,” or “from Laurentium (an ancient Roman city named after its abundant laurel trees)”

Levi (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Joined” or “attached”; also a biblical boy name after one of Jacob’s 12 sons

Lincoln (English boy name) – “Town by a lake”

Logan (English and Scottish boy name) – “Hollow”

Louie (English and French boy name) – “Famous warrior”

English Boy Names Starting With M

Madison (English and Irish boy name) – “Son of Maud” or “son of a mighty warrior”

Marley (Old English boy name) – “Pleasant wood” or “boundary wood”

Mason (English boy name) – “Stoneworker”

Maverick (English boy name) – “Independent”; famous namesakes include American basketball players Maverick Rowan and Maverick Morgan

Michael (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Who is like God?”

Miles (English, Latin, and Hebrew boy name) – “Gift from God” or “soldier”

Milton (Old English boy name) – “English settlement that has a mill” or “mill town”

English Boy Names Starting with N

Nash (Middle English boy name) – “At the ash tree”

Nathan (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Gift from God”

Niall (English, Gaelic, and Old Irish boy name) – “Champion”; variant of the Old Irish name “Niadh”

Nigel (English and Gaelic boy name) – “Champion” or “dark”; variant of the Gaelic name “Niall” or the Latin name “Nigellas”

Niles (English boy name) – “Son of Neil”

Noel (English and French boy name) – “Christmas” or “born on Christmas day”; variant of the French name “Noël”

English Boy Names Starting With O

Oakley (Old English boy name) – “Oak forest”

Odell (English boy name) – “Hill”; famous namesakes include American professional football player Odell Beckham Jr.

Orson (English and Latin boy name) – “Bear cub”; famous namesakes include American director and actor Orson Welles

Osmund (English and Scandinavian boy name) – “God’s protection”

Otis (English and Norse boy name) – “Wealth”

Owen (English, Irish, and Welsh boy name) – “Youthful”

English Boy Names Starting With P

Patrick (English, Irish, and Latin boy name) – “Nobleman”; variant of the Latin boy name “Patricius” or the Irish boy name “Pádraig”; famous namesakes include Saint Patrick and English actor Patrick Stewart

Paxton (Old English boy name) – “Pœcc’s town (name of an early settler)”; famous namesakes include American football quarterback Paxton Lynch

Peregrine (English boy name) – “Traveler”

Perry (English or Welsh boy name) – “Pear tree” or meaning “son of Herry”

Peyton (Old English boy name) – “Pæga’s town (an early settler)”

Preston (Old English boy name) – “Priest’s town”

Prince (English and Latin boy name) – Noble title as “son of the king”; variant of the Latin name “Princeps”

English Boy Names Starting With Q

Quest (English boy name) – “To explore”

Quigley (English and Irish boy name) – “Descendant of Coigleach” or “untidy”; variant of the Irish name “Ó Coigligh”

Quiller (English boy name) – “Scribe”

Quincy (English boy name) – “The fifth”

English Boy Names Starting With R

Ray (English boy name) – “Beam of light”

Reuben (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Behold, a son”; biblical name after the eldest of Jacob’s 12 sons

River (English boy name) – “Flowing body of water”

Rodney (Old English boy name) – “Hroda’s island (after an early settler)”

Roland (English, Norse, and Germanic boy name) – “Renown,” “bold,” and “red-haired”

Rory (English and Gaelic boy name) – “Red king”

Roscoe (English, Cornish, and Old Norse boy name) – “Doe wood” or “deer forest”

Royle (Old English boy name) – “Rye hill”; also a common English last name

Rupert (English and German boy name) – “Fame bright”

Ryder (Old English boy name) – “Mounted warrior” or “messenger”

Ryker (Old English and German boy name) – “Rich”; variant of the Low German name “Rike” or the surname “Roker”

English Boy Names Starting With S

Samuel (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God has heard”

Seth (English and Hebrew boy name) – “Appointed”

Silvester (English and Latin boy name) – “Wild”

Simon (English, Greek, and Hebrew boy name) – “Flat-nosed” or “be heard”; famous namesakes include Jesus’ apostle Simon Peter

Sonny (English boy name) – “Son”

Spencer (Old English, Anglo-Saxon, and French boy name) – “Steward”

Stanley (Old English boy name) – “Stony meadow”

English Boy Names Starting With T

Tate (Old English, Old Norse, and Native American boy name) – “Cheerful,” “pleasant,” “bright,” “a great talker,” or “windy”

Tatum (Old English boy name) – “Tata’s homestead”; also a common English last name (e.g., American actor Channing Tatum)

Terry (English and Norman boy name) – “Power of the tribe”; popular namesakes include American actor Terry Crews

Theoderick (English and Old German boy name) – “Powerful ruler of the people”

Toby (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God is good”

Travis (English and Old French boy name) – “Traverser” or “to cross”; famous namesakes include American actor Travis Scott

Tristan (English and Welsh boy name) – “Sad”

Tristram (English and Welsh boy name) – “Noise”

Tyler (Old English boy name) – Occupational name meaning “tiler of roofs”

English Boy Names Starting With U

Ulric (Middle English and German boy name) – “Wolf ruler” or “prosperity and power”; variant of the German name “Ulrich” or “Ulfric”

Unique (English unisex name) – Word name meaning “unique” or “one of a kind”

Uhtric (Old English boy name) – “Mighty ruler” and “pre-dawn”

English Boy Names Starting With V

Valiant (English boy name) – Word name meaning “brave” or “strong”; also a prince name after the main character of “The Legend of Prince Valiant,” a comic strip and TV series

Vance (English, Anglo-Saxon, and Scottish boy name) – “Low-lying area” or “marshland”; variant of the Old English name “Fenn”

Vaughan (English and Welsh boy name) – “Little”; variant of “Vaughn” and is also a last name (e.g., American actor Vince Vaughn)

Vortigern (English and Old Welsh boy name) – “Supreme king”; variant of the Old Welsh name “Gwrtheyrn”

English Boy Names Starting With W

Wade (English and Anglo-Saxon boy name) – “A ford (a shallow place in a stream or river)” or “to go”

Walker (Old English boy name) – Medieval occupational name meaning “someone who treads on wet, unprocessed wool to thicken and clean it” or “someone who loves to take a stroll”

Wallis (Old English, Anglo-Norman French, and Scottish boy name) – “Welshman” or “foreigner and stranger”

Walter (Old English and German boy name) – “Powerful ruler”

Wilfred (Old English, Anglo-Saxon, and Germanic boy name) – “Peace”; famous namesakes include 7th-century Anglo-Saxon bishop Saint Wilfred

Wulfric (Old English boy name) – “Wolf power”

Wyatt (English and Anglo-Saxon boy name) – “Battle” or “brave”

Wynnstan (Old English boy name) – “Joy stone”; also a variant of “Winston” or “Wynstan”

English Boy Names Starting With X

Xander (English boy name; pronounced as “san-der”) – “Defender of humankind”; variant of the Greek name Alexander (popular namesakes include Alexander Lavelle “Xander” Harris, a character in the TV show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”)

Xylon (English and Greek boy name) – “From the forest”

English Boy Names Starting With Y

Yandel (English boy name) – Invented name with an unknown meaning

Yardley (Old English boy name) – “Fenced meadow”

Yorick (English and Dutch boy name) – “Earth-worker or “farmer”; variant of the Dutch name “Jørg”

English Boy Names Starting With Z

Zachary (English and Hebrew boy name) – “God remembers”; variant of the Hebrew boy name “Zechariah”

Zane (English and Arabic boy name) – “The ultimate beauty” or “grace”; variant of the Arabic name “Zain” or “Zayin”

Zavier (English and Basque name, a language in the Basque Country near France and Spain) – “The new house”

Zeal (English unisex name) – “Great energy,” “ardent energy,” or “enthusiasm”; variant of the Greek name “Zêlos”

Zed (English, Greek, and Hebrew boy name) – “The Lord is just” or “God’s righteousness”; also a short form or a nickname for the Hebrew name “Zedekiah”

Bonus: English Baby Girl Names

Alice
Charlotte
Ella
Emma
Rose

Some Things To Consider When Choosing English Boy Names

Many English boy names come from different languages, last names, or father’s names (“son of”). Some parents might consider adding “Jr.” instead, but the addition of “son” to a given name also means the same thing (e.g., “Jackson” means “son of Jack”).

Some names are also gender-neutral.

Modern English names often have a simpler, easier spelling compared to their original counterparts, but Old English versions can also make a unique name for your little one. For example, “Winston” vs. “Wynnstan” or “Edmund” vs. “Eadmund.”

You can choose the perfect name for your baby from the top English names we’ve listed above or try other cool choices from the links below.

You can also find ideas from the top 15 baby name generators.

Baby Name Lists By Letter

References

(1) https://www.britannica.com/topic/English-language/Vocabulary

(2) https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/