Origins

English names

The 90 most-given names of English origin in the US today.

  1. Oliverboy · From Old French Olivier, of disputed origin: either Latin oliva (olive tree) or a Germanic name like Alfihar (elf-army) reshaped by association with olive#3 · 14,939
  2. Henryboy · From Germanic 'Heimrich', meaning 'ruler of the home' or 'home power'#7 · 12,020
  3. Jamesboy · He who supplants #8 · 11,945
  4. Williamboy · Resolute protector #12 · 10,545
  5. Evelyngirl · From an English surname derived from Old French 'Aveline', a diminutive of Avila/Ava#9 · 9,123
  6. Jackboy · Medieval English pet form of John, from Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious'#18 · 8,748
  7. Hudsonboy · English surname meaning 'son of Hudde', Hudde being a medieval pet form of Hugh meaning 'mind, spirit'#20 · 8,583
  8. Eleanorgirl · From the Old French form of the Occitan name Alienor, reportedly from Latin 'alia Aenor' meaning 'the other Aenor'#17 · 7,649
  9. Violetgirl · From the flower name#18 · 7,546
  10. Cooperboy · From an English occupational surname for a maker of barrels and casks, from Middle English 'couper'#29 · 7,472
  11. Harpergirl · English occupational surname for a harp player, from Old English hearpere#26 · 6,792
  12. Lilygirl · From the lily flower (Latin 'lilium'), a symbol of purity, innocence, and beauty#15 · 6,673
  13. Jacksonboy · English surname meaning 'son of Jack', itself a pet form of John ('God is gracious')#13 · 6,582
  14. Wyattboy · English surname from Germanic 'Wigheard', meaning 'brave in war' or 'hardy warrior'#44 · 6,480
  15. Averyunisex · Ruler of the elves#38 · 6,423
  16. Hazelgirl · From Old English 'haesel', the hazel tree#32 · 6,318
  17. Masonboy · English occupational surname for a stoneworker or bricklayer#43 · 6,291
  18. Bennettboy · English surname derived from Benedict, from Latin 'benedictus' meaning 'blessed'#48 · 6,268
  19. Elliegirl · Diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen, or Elizabeth#33 · 6,176
  20. Rileyunisex · From Irish O Raghallaigh or an English place name meaning 'rye clearing'#19 · 6,107
  21. Carterboy · English occupational surname meaning 'one who transports goods by cart'#35 · 6,024
  22. Parkerunisex · English occupational surname meaning 'park keeper' or 'gamekeeper of a park'#129 · 6,013
  23. Graysonboy · English surname meaning 'son of the steward'#22 · 5,805
  24. Laineygirl · Diminutive of Elaine, a French form of Helen, from Greek meaning 'torch' or 'bright'#27 · 5,738
  25. Scarlettgirl · From a medieval occupational term for a scarlet cloth merchant#28 · 5,644
  26. Wesleyboy · From Old English 'west leah' meaning 'west meadow'#65 · 5,578
  27. Westonboy · From a surname derived from Old English place names meaning 'western settlement' (west + tun)#45 · 5,482
  28. Waylonboy · Variant of Wayland, from Old English 'Weland', the legendary Germanic master smith, from a root meaning 'craft, cunning'#62 · 5,408
  29. Ivygirl · From Old English 'ifig', the climbing evergreen plant#41 · 5,117
  30. Madisongirl · Son of Matthew #25 · 4,945
  31. Brooksboy · From the English surname Brooks, 'one who lives near a brook (stream)'#74 · 4,877
  32. Willowgirl · From Old English 'welig', the willow tree#58 · 4,763
  33. Lincolnboy · From an English place name#78 · 4,703
  34. Charlieunisex · Diminutive of Charles, from Germanic Karl meaning 'free man' or 'strong man'#74 · 4,620
  35. Riverunisex · English nature name referring to a flowing river#243 · 4,540
  36. Everettboy · From English surname derived from Germanic 'Eberhard': eber (boar) + hard (brave, strong)#87 · 4,287
  37. Walkerboy · English occupational surname for a cloth-walker (one who trod cloth to clean it), from Old English 'wealcere'#91 · 4,204
  38. Sadiegirl · Pet form of Sarah, meaning 'princess' in Hebrew#66 · 4,168
  39. Sawyerunisex · English occupational surname meaning 'one who saws wood'#313 · 3,997
  40. Lilliangirl · Probably a diminutive of Elizabeth, also taken as an elaborated form of Lily from Latin 'lilium', the lily flower, a symbol of purity#67 · 3,966
  41. Archerboy · English occupational surname meaning 'one who shoots with a bow'#108 · 3,627
  42. Emersonunisex · English surname meaning 'son of Emery'#63 · 3,612
  43. Rubygirl · From the gemstone name, from Latin 'rubeus' meaning 'red', in use as a given name since the 16th century#79 · 3,554
  44. Zoeygirl · Variant of Zoe#12 · 3,427
  45. Coltonboy · From an English place name meaning 'coal settlement' or 'settlement of Cola'#88 · 3,420
  46. Tatumunisex · From an English surname derived from a place name meaning 'Tata's homestead'#173 · 3,397
  47. Madelyngirl · Modern variant of Madeline, from Mary Magdalene, ultimately from Hebrew 'Magdala' meaning 'tower'#13 · 3,362
  48. Milliegirl · Diminutive of Millicent (Old German: 'strong in work') or Camilla (Latin: 'attendant at a shrine')#83 · 3,353
  49. Emerygirl · From Germanic Amalrich meaning 'work' and 'power'#56 · 3,208
  50. Daisygirl · From Old English 'daegeseage' meaning 'day's eye'#99 · 3,206
  51. Eastonboy · From an Old English surname and place name meaning 'east settlement' or 'east town'#119 · 3,198
  52. Austinboy · Medieval English contracted form of Augustine, from Latin 'Augustinus', meaning 'great' or 'venerable'#123 · 3,103
  53. Roryunisex · Anglicization of Irish/Gaelic Ruaraidh or Ruairi, 'red king' or 'red-haired king'#227 · 3,100
  54. Melodygirl · From Greek 'melodia' meaning 'song' or 'music' (melos + aeidein = to sing)#97 · 3,095
  55. Lylagirl · Variant of Leila, from Arabic 'layla' meaning night#47 · 3,089
  56. Madelinegirl · French form of Magdalene, from Hebrew 'Migdal', meaning 'tower' or 'woman from Magdala'#13 · 3,086
  57. Jaceboy · Modern short form of Jason (Greek, 'healer') or phonetic variant of Jayce#64 · 3,083
  58. Jaxonboy · Modern phonetic spelling of Jackson#13 · 3,073
  59. Harrisonboy · English surname meaning 'son of Harry (Henry)'#126 · 3,072
  60. Josiegirl · Diminutive of Josephine, from Hebrew 'Yosef' meaning 'God will add' or 'God will increase'#102 · 3,021
  61. Haydenunisex · From an English surname derived from place names meaning 'hay valley' or 'hay hill', from Old English heg (hay) plus denu (valley) or dun (hill)#410 · 2,975
  62. Addisongirl · English surname meaning 'son of Adam'#93 · 2,971
  63. Grahamboy · From a Scottish surname derived from the English place name Grantham, probably meaning 'gravelly homestead' in Old English#129 · 2,967
  64. Emmettboy · English surname used as a given name, derived from a diminutive of Emma#112 · 2,950
  65. Audreygirl · From Old English 'Aethelthryth', meaning 'noble strength'#109 · 2,919
  66. Deanboy · From Old English denu meaning 'valley'#130 · 2,876
  67. Georgeboy · From Greek 'Georgios', derived from 'georgos' meaning 'farmer' or 'earth-worker'#135 · 2,848
  68. Landonboy · Long hill#121 · 2,840
  69. Autumngirl · From Latin 'autumnus', the season of autumn/fall#116 · 2,805
  70. Jasperboy · From Latin Gaspar, perhaps from Hebrew gizbar meaning treasurer via Old Persian#142 · 2,804
  71. Elliottunisex · English surname derived from Elijah, from Hebrew meaning 'my God is Yahweh'#425 · 2,776
  72. Hunterboy · English occupational surname meaning 'one who hunts', transferred to given name use#144 · 2,761
  73. Suttonunisex · English surname from Old English meaning 'southern settlement'#209 · 2,715
  74. Ryderboy · Horseman, cavalryman#145 · 2,710
  75. Everlygirl · Old English surname meaning 'boar meadow'#87 · 2,695
  76. Kinsleygirl · From an English place name and surname meaning 'clearing belonging to Cyne', Cyne a short form of Old English names beginning with cyne meaning 'royal'#96 · 2,671
  77. Stetsonboy · From the English surname Stetson, derived from the Devon village name Stidston meaning 'Stithweard's town'#151 · 2,662
  78. Oakleyunisex · English place name and surname meaning 'oak meadow', from Old English 'ac' (oak) + 'leah' (clearing)#126 · 2,621
  79. Junipergirl · From Latin 'juniperus', the evergreen shrub/tree#123 · 2,618
  80. Jamesonboy · Patronymic surname meaning 'son of James'#153 · 2,609
  81. Allisongirl · Medieval French and English diminutive of Alice, from Germanic Adalheidis meaning 'noble type'#65 · 2,564
  82. Haileygirl · From an English place name meaning 'hay meadow'#84 · 2,556
  83. Sageunisex · From Latin 'salvia' (the healing herb), also means 'wise one'#132 · 2,537
  84. Beckettboy · English surname of uncertain origin, possibly from Middle English 'bec' meaning 'beak' or 'bekke' meaning 'stream, brook'#156 · 2,518
  85. Dawsonboy · English surname meaning son of Daw (a medieval pet form of David)#157 · 2,487
  86. Arloboy · Of uncertain meaning, perhaps inspired by the fictional Arlo Hill in Spenser's The Faerie Queene, likely altered from the Irish place name Aherlow meaning 'between two highlands'#165 · 2,443
  87. Greysonboy · Variant of Grayson, an English surname meaning 'son of the steward' (from Old French greve + son)#22 · 2,439
  88. Elliotboy · My God is Yahweh#73 · 2,417
  89. Brysonboy · English surname meaning 'son of Brice'#141 · 2,416
  90. Elizagirl · Short form of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheba meaning 'my God is an oath' or 'my God is abundance'#134 · 2,370

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