50 English Baby Names

Learn the meaning and origins of popular English baby names

By Meena Azzollini
Updated on August 04, 2021
Fact checked by Emily Swaim
mother playing with baby

Tara Moore / Getty Images

English names have an old-world charm that comes from their rich historical background. They conjure visions about knights and castles, royal ancestry, and more recently, Harry Potter.

In Old English times, parents were inspired by gardens, resulting in names like Rose, Violet, and Holly. Places and geographical features also supplied British parents with immense possibilities for names such as Devon, River, or Brooks. Meanwhile, occupation-based names such as Mason and Carter are popular even today.

We've compiled a list of 50 timeless baby names with English origins to consider for your baby on the way.

Popular English Baby Names for Girls

Ashlee

  • Origin: Modern English
  • Meaning: Meadow of ash trees
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ashley, Ashleigh, Ashlie, Ashlyn, Ashlynn, Ashlea
  • Famous Namesakes: American singer, Ashlee Simpson; American fiction writer, Ashlee Adams Crews
  • Peak Popularity: The name Ashlee has not been in America's top 1,000 most popular names since 2010. However, its variant Ashley ranked No. 154 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Ashlee Wolfe is a fictional character on daytime drama "Guiding Light."

Avery

  • Origin: English, French
  • Meaning: Ruler of the elves
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Averie, Averi
  • Famous Namesakes: American actress, Avery Clyde; Canadian television journalist, Avery Haines
  • Peak Popularity: For American girls, Avery has gradually been growing in popularity since 2000, with peak popularity in 2013.

Fun Fact: Avery Bailey Clark is a fictional character from the daytime soap opera "The Young and the Restless."

Bethany

  • Origin: English, Hebrew
  • Meaning: Place of figs
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bethanie, Bethney, Beth, Bethenny, Bethonie, Bethania (Spanish)
  • Famous Namesakes: American actress, Bethany Joy Lenz; English stand-up comedian, Bethany Black
  • Peak Popularity: It was the 59th most popular name for girls in England and Wales in 2010, and 11th most popular in 1999. In 2020 the name was ranked 603.

Fun Fact: In the Bible's New Testament, Bethany is a town near Jerusalem, where Lazarus lived.

Charmaine

  • Origin: English, Greek, Latin
  • Meaning: Charm, Bountiful orchard, Singer
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Charmine, Charmane, Charmene, Sharmaine, Charmian
  • Famous Namesakes: Canadian soccer player, Charmaine Hooper; Australian Paralympic athlete, Charmaine Cree
  • Peak Popularity: The name was most popular in England and Wales in 1996, when it ranked No. 319 in the charts. In the U.S., Charmaine was most popular in 1952 and was last seen in the top 1,000 names in 1993.

Fun Fact: "Charmaine" is a song recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1962. The name also appeared in the 1924 play "What Price Glory," which was later made into a successful silent film in 1926.

Deonne

  • Origin: Old English, Greek
  • Meaning: Valley, Church leader, Follower of Dionysius
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Deanna, Deonna, Deondra, Deona, Dionne
  • Famous Namesakes: Australian archer, Deonne Bridger; American singer and actress, Dionne Warwick
  • Peak Popularity: The name Deonne does is not featured in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Elvina

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Elf, Magical creature, Friend
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alvina, Alveena, Elvena, Elvene, Elvenia, Elvinia, Elvyra, Elveena
  • Famous Namesakes: Italian opera singer, Elvina Ramella; American entrepreneur, Elvina Beck
  • Peak Popularity: Elvina was in the top 1,000 names between 1900 and 1923, with peak popularity in 1902.

Fun Fact: Elviña, is a town in Spain, where the Battle of Corunna took place.

Felicity

  • Origin: English, Latin
  • Meaning: Happiness, luck, good fortune
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Felicia, Felicidad (Spanish), Felicita (Italian), Félicité (French), Felizitas (German)
  • Famous Namesakes: English actress, Felicity Jones; British film producer, Felicity Dahl
  • Peak Popularity: Felicity was the 97th most popular name for girls born in England and Wales in 2016. In the U.S. it was most popular in 2017, ranking at 345.

Fun Fact: "Felicity" is an American drama TV series, seen on Time magazine's list, "All-Time 100 Best TV Shows" in 2007.

Georgia

  • Origin: English, Latin, Greek
  • Meaning: Farmer
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Georgiana, Georgina, Georgeanna
  • Famous Namesakes: American artist, Georgia O'Keeffe; English fashion model and designer, Georgia May Jagger
  • Peak Popularity: Georgia reached its top rank at No. 10 in 1997 in England and Wales. In the U.S., Georgia ranked No. 176 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Georgia is the name of an American state, which was named after the British King George II.

Hazel

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: The hazelnut tree
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hazell, Hazelle, Hazal, Hazle
  • Famous Namesakes: English actress, Hazel Court; American chemist and inventor, Hazel Gladys Bishop; Australian author, Hazel Edwards
  • Peak Popularity: The name steadily dropped in popularity from 1954, but since 2009 it has been rising up the ranks in the U.K. It was most popular in 1907 in the U.S. and featured in the top 50 names since 2017. It ranked at No. 31 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Hazel is a rare eye color that combines both green and brown coloring.

Ivy

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Evergreen climbing plant, A symbol of fidelity and faithfulness
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ivie
  • Famous Namesakes: American author, Ivy Ruckman; Duchess of Portland, Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck; American actress, singer, and voice-over artist, Ivy Austin
  • Peak Popularity: Ivy first reached the top 200 names for girls in England and Wales in 1880. It featured in the top 50 girl names for 2020 announced by The Telegraph. In the U.S., the name Ivy was most popular in 2020, when it ranked at No. 58. The name Ivy has featured in the top 500 names since 1995.

Fun Fact: Ivy League is a term used to refer to eight schools as a group of elite colleges in the U.S.

Jemma

  • Origin: English, Italian,
  • Meaning: Jewel (Italian)
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gemma
  • Famous Namesakes: English actress, Jemma McKenzie-Brown; English actress, Jemma Redgrave
  • Peak Popularity: The name was most popular in England, Wales, and Australia during the 1990s and early 2000s. It has only recently been used in the U.S., with 2018 being its most popular year ranked at 528.

Fun Fact: Jemma Simmons, is a fictional character on the American TV series "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Kellsie

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Victorious ship
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kelsey, Kelsie, Kellsey, Kelsa, Kelcy, Kelcie
  • Famous Namesakes: Professional basketball player, Kelsey Plum; American actress, Kelsey Asbille
  • Peak Popularity: The name Kellsie does not appear on any historical charts as it is a modern variant of the name Kelsey, which featured at no. 87 in 1998 for girls in England and Wales. Kelsey reached its peak popularity in Scotland that same year, ranking at No. 66. In the U.S. it ranked at No. 527 in 2020.

Lily

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Lily flower; Innocence, Purity, Beauty, God is gracious
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lilybell, Lilli, Lilly, Lillie, Lillian
  • Famous Namesakes: English Singer, Lily Allen; American actress and comedian, Lily Tomlin; British fashion model, Lily Cole
  • Peak Popularity: In England and Wales, the name ranked No. 9 in 2019. In the U.S., the name Lily has featured in the top 50 girl names since 2005. Its most popular year was 2011.

Fun Fact: Lily-of-the-valley is a woodland flowering plant found in the Northern Hemisphere.

Madeline

  • Origin: English, Hebrew, Greek
  • Meaning: High tower, Woman from Magdala (Hebrew), Child of light (Greek)
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Madeleine (French), Madalyn, Madelyn, Madelynn, Magdalene
  • Famous Namesakes: American actress, Madeline Zima; American actress and comedian, Madeline Kahn; English actress, Madeline Duggan
  • Peak Popularity: The popularity of the name Madeline has been dropping since 2003 in England and Wales, when it was ranked No. 110. Its variant Madeleine peaked in 2005, when it was ranked No. 64. In the U.S., both names have appeared in the top 500 for three decades, with Madeline being the more popular variation.

Fun Fact: Madeline is the heroine of the book series of the same name by Ludwig Bemelmans.

Maisie

  • Origin: English, Scottish
  • Meaning: Pearl
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maisy, Mazie, Maisey, Maisee
  • Famous Namesakes: English actress, Maisie Williams; French Resistance fighter, Maisie Renault
  • Peak Popularity: Maisie was the 40th most popular name of 2020 in the U.K. It seems to be catching on in the U.S. too. It has featured in the top 500 names in the U.S. since 2018.

Fun Fact: Maisy Mouse is the main character of the children's book series by the same name created by Lucy Cousins.

Natalie

  • Origin: English, French
  • Meaning: Birthday of the Lord, Christmas Day
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Natalia, Nathalie, Natalee, Nataleah, Nataleigh, Nathaly, Natali, Nat
  • Famous Namesakes: Australian-British singer-songwriter, Natalie Imbruglia; American actress, Natalie Portman
  • Peak Popularity: Natalie was most popular in the U.K. between 1980 and 1990 and currently features in the top 500 names. In the U.S., the name is extremely popular with peak popularity in 2008. Currently, Natalie sits at No. 51.

Fun Fact: Geranium 'Natalie' is an evergreen plant with lilac-blue flowers.

Olivia

  • Origin: English, Latin
  • Meaning: Olive tree
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alivia, Olyvia, Livia, Olive (French), Olivie (Czech)
  • Famous Namesakes: American actress, Olivia Wilde; British biologist, Olivia Judson; British-Australian singer, songwriter, and actress, Olivia Newton-John
  • Peak Popularity: Olivia is an extremely popular name in the U.K. ranking in the top 10 since 2000. In the U.S. the trend is similar, with the name reaching peak popularity in 2020 at No. 1.

Fun Fact: "Olivia" is the name of a song by English-Irish pop boy band One Direction.

Peyton

  • Origin: English, Latin
  • Meaning: Fighting man's estate, Noble
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Payton
  • Famous Namesakes: American actress, Peyton List
  • Peak Popularity: This unisex name is quite popular in the U.K. It moved into the top 1,000 names for girls in 2008 and peaked in 2010 at No. 254. In the U.S. the name has been gaining popularity since 1992. It was most popular in 2009, ranking at No. 42.

Fun Fact: Peyton Sawyer is a recurring character in the television series "One Tree Hill."

Poppy

  • Origin: English, Latin
  • Meaning: Red flower 'poppy'
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: N/A
  • Famous Namesakes: Australian-American actress, Poppy Montgomery; English model and actress Poppy Delevingne
  • Peak Popularity: Poppy was the 13th most popular girl name in 2016 in England and Wales, and ranked in the top 50 names in Scotland in 2020. In the U.S., the name was not in the top 1,000 names till 2016. Since then it has climbed into the top 500 in 2019 and 2020.

Fun Fact: Tall Poppy Syndrome refers to aspects of culture where people with notable achievements and success are criticized.

Rose

  • Origin: English, Latin, French
  • Meaning: Fragrant flower 'rose'
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rosa, Rosabel, Rosabella, Roseanne, Rosalie (French)
  • Famous Namesakes: Australian actress, Rose Byrne; American philanthropist, Rose Kennedy; American actress, Rose McGowan
  • Peak Popularity: The name ranked at No. 56 in England and Wales in 2019. In the U.S. it was most popular in 1913. More recently, it has featured in the top 200 names since 2014.

Fun Fact: Rose Hathaway is the main character of the TV series "Vampire Academy."

Scarlett

  • Origin: English, Arabic, French
  • Meaning: Scarlet or bright red (French), One who makes scarlet cloth (Arabic)
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Scarlet, Scarlette
  • Famous Namesakes: American actress, Scarlett Johansson; English actress, Scarlett Alice Johnson
  • Peak Popularity: Scarlett has featured in the top 50 names in the U.K. since 2005. Scarlett has been a popular name in the U.S. since the early 2000s. The name is currently ranked at No. 21 in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Scarlett O'Hara was the main character in the 1930s novel and movie, "Gone With the Wind."

Tiffany

  • Origin: English, Greek
  • Meaning: Revelation of God, Born on the day of the festival Epiphany
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tiffiny, Tiffani, Tiffaney, Tiffanie, Tiffney, Tiffiney, Tiphanie
  • Famous Namesakes: American actress, comedian, and author, Tiffany Haddish; American figure skater, Tiffany Scott
  • Peak Popularity: Tiffany was a popular name in the late 90s in the UK but has dropped in popularity over the years. However, it still featured in the top 1,000 names in 2019. In the U.S., Tiffany had the height of its popularity between the mid-70s and the mid-90s, peaking in 1988.

Fun Fact: Tiffany & Co is an American luxury jewelry and specialty retailer known worldwide.

Violet

  • Origin: English, Latin
  • Meaning: Purple, Flower
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Violetta, Violette, Viola (Italian and Scandinavian)
  • Famous Namesakes: Irish author, Violet Florence Martin; Australian-British actress, Violet Hopson
  • Peak Popularity: Violet was an extremely popular name in the U.K. in the early 1900s, and over the past decade, it seems to be making a comeback. It featured in the top 100 names in 2019 and 2020 and is trending for 2021. The U.S. has shown a similar trend since the 1900s. The name Violet was most popular in 2019 and ranked at No. 37 in 2020.

Fun Fact: In France, the flower violet was worn by the followers of Napoleon to show their allegiance to him when he was exiled.

Willow

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Willow tree, Freedom
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Willo
  • Famous Namesakes: American singer, rapper, and actress, Willow Smith; American actress, Willow Shields
  • Peak Popularity: In England and Wales, Willow has featured in the top 100 girl names since 2011. It is also a popular name in Australia and Canada. The name has been steadily climbing the charts in the U.S. since 1998. Currently, it is ranked at No. 48.

Fun Fact: "Little Willow" is a song by Sir Paul McCartney which he wrote as a tribute to Maureen Cox, Ringo Starr's first wife.

Yetta

  • Origin: Old English, Old German, Yiddish
  • Meaning: Ruler of the household, Light (Yiddish)
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Yette, Etta, Henrietta
  • Famous Namesakes: Puerto Rican actress, Yetta Gottesman; Yiddish movie star, Yetta Zwerling
  • Peak Popularity: Yetta is an unusual name in the U.K. and was more prominent during the 1800s and 1900s. In the U.S. the name was predominantly used in the early 1900s and was most popular in 1913. Currently, it does not feature in the top 1,000 girl names.

Fun Fact: Grandma Yetta is a main recurring character in American sitcom television series "The Nanny."

Popular English Baby Names for Boys

Acton

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Village with oak trees, oak tree settlement
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: N/A
  • Famous Namesakes: British barrister and Liberal Party politician, Acton Smee Ayrton
  • Peak Popularity: Acton is a historical name that first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain and was mostly used as a surname back then. Currently, it is a unique first name for boys in the U.K. and is not ranked in the U.S.

Fun Fact: Mount Acton is one of the highest peaks in Antarctica at 3015 meters.

Archie

  • Origin: English, Scottish
  • Meaning: Archer, Bold, Brave
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Archibald
  • Famous Namesakes: American jazz saxophonist, Archie Shepp; American professional boxer Archie Moore; son of Prince Harry and Meghan, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
  • Peak Popularity: The name has been featuring in the top 100 boy names in the U.K. since 2000 and has been in the top 20 names since 2013. In the U.S. the name featured in the top 500 names from 1900 through 1972. It returned to the top 500 in 2020.

Fun Fact: "Archie Comics" is a famous American comic book series that first appeared in 1941.

Braxton

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Badger; From Bracca's Town
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Brax
  • Famous Namesakes: American football player, Braxton Miller
  • Peak Popularity: In the U.S. the name has only started gaining popularity since 1985 reaching peak popularity in 2017 at No. 118. Currently, it is ranked at No. 132. In England and Wales, Braxton briefly reached the top 500 names in 2013.

Fun Fact: Braxton-Hicks contractions are false labor pains that some women experience.

Colton

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Coal town or settlement, Swarthy
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Colten, Kolton
  • Famous Namesakes: American singer-songwriter, Colton Dixon; American actor, Colton Haynes; Canadian former professional ice hockey player, Colton Orr
  • Peak Popularity: Colton is quite a popular name in the U.K. In the U.S. the name has been in the top 100 boy names since 2008, with peak popularity in 2019.

Fun Fact: Colton Shore was a fictional character from 1988 to 1991 on daytime soap opera "General Hospital."

Dean

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: From the valley, A church official
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Dane, Dene
  • Famous Namesakes: American singer, actor, and comedian Dean Martin; American actor and television show host, Dean Cain
  • Peak Popularity: The name featured in the top 100 names in England and Wales from the late 1960s to the late 1990s.

Fun Fact: Dean Winchester is one of the main characters on the TV show "Supernatural."

Everett

  • Origin: Old English, German
  • Meaning: Brave as a wild boar
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Everette, Everitt, Everet, Everrett, Evert, Evrett, Everard, Rhett
  • Famous Namesakes: American professional baseball player, Everett Scott; American actor, Everett McGill
  • Peak Popularity: In the U.S. Everett has been a popular name since 1900, with peak popularity in 1906. Since 2018 it has featured in the top 100 boy names.

Fun Fact: Everett is the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States.

Ellis

  • Origin: English, Welsh
  • Meaning: Benevolent
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elis
  • Famous Namesakes: British director and actor, Ellis Jones; British speedway rider, Ellis Perks; American talk show host and TV personality Ellis Cannon
  • Peak Popularity: The name has been ranking in the top 100 boy names in England and Wales since 2014. In the U.S. Ellis has been a popular name since 1900, peaking in 1902, and was featured in the top 500 boy names for many of those years. Currently, it sits at No. 325.

Fun Fact: Ellis Bell was the male pseudonym of author Emily Bronte when she wrote "Wuthering Heights."

Fletcher

  • Origin: English, Scottish, Irish
  • Meaning: Arrow maker
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: British artist, Fletcher Sibthorp; American landscape architect, Fletcher Steele; American sculptor, and painter, Fletcher Benton
  • Peak Popularity: The name is quite popular in the U.K., ranking at No. 293 in 2019. It was most popular in 1900 in the U.S. and has been predominantly featured in the top 1,000 names through 2020.

Fun Fact: Fletcher Place is a historic district in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Grayson

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Son of a bailiff, Son of a steward, To shine
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Greyson
  • Famous Namesakes: British sprint canoer and Olympian, Grayson Bourne; English contemporary artist, Grayson Perry
  • Peak Popularity: The name Grayson has been popular since 2019 in England and Wales, listed in the top 100 boy names. In the U.S. the name has been steadily climbing the ranks, with 2018 being its most popular year. Currently, it ranks at No. 35 while the alternate spelling of Greyson is at No. 81.

Fun Fact: Dick Grayson is a fictional superhero commonly known as Robin, partner to Batman.

Harlow

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Rock hill, Army hill
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations:
  • Famous Namesakes: American scientist and astronomer, Harlow Shapley; American real estate investor, Harlow Curtis
  • Peak Popularity: This gender-neutral name has been gaining popularity in England and Wales in the past decade—it has featured in the top 500 boy names since 2013. In the U.S. it is predominantly used as a girl name and is not so popular as a boy name. It has not featured in the top 1,000 boy names since 1936.

Fun Fact: Harlow is the name of a town in the English county of Essex.

Jaxon

  • Origin: English, American
  • Meaning: Son of Jack
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jackson, Jaxson, Jack, Jax
  • Famous Namesakes: American artist, Jackson Pollock; American actor, Jackson Rathbone; American voice-actor, Jaxon Lee
  • Peak Popularity: A variant of the classic name Jackson, this name has been rising fast in the popularity charts both in the U.K. and the U.S. It features in the top 50 names in England and Wales. In the U.S. the name Jaxon entered the top 1,000 in 1997 and is currently ranked at No. 48.

Fun Fact: Thunderbolt Jaxon is a superhero comic-book character from British comics who first appeared in an Australian comic in 1949.

Jameson

  • Origin: English, Scottish, Irish
  • Meaning: Son of James
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jamieson. Jamisen
  • Famous Namesakes: British Antarctic explorer, Jameson Adams; American country musician, Jameson Rodgers; Canadian-American professional baseball player, Jameson Taillon
  • Peak Popularity: Jameson is a popular name in the U.K., featuring in the top 1,500 since 2008. It has also been in the top 1,000 boy names in the U.S. since 1969. It was most popular in 2019 at No. 77.

Fun Fact: Jameson is a blended Irish whisky.

Knox

  • Origin: English, Scottish
  • Meaning: Small hill (Scottish), Round-topped hill (English)
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: N/A
  • Famous Namesakes: American painter, sculptor, and muralist Knox Martin
  • Peak Popularity: The surname Knox has been around since the 13th century in the U.K. As a first name it has been gaining popularity over a decade or so, and from 2012 to 2018 it was positively climbing the charts. In the U.S., it made its appearance in the top 1,000 boy names in 2009, with peak popularity in 2018. Currently, it ranks at No. 236.

Fun Fact: Knox is a brand of gelatin made from collagen.

Landon

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: Long hill
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Langdon, Landen, Landyn, Landin, Landan
  • Famous Namesakes: American professional soccer player, Landon Donovan; American basketball player, Landon Turner
  • Peak Popularity: Landon reached its peak popularity in the U.K. in 2006, ranking No. 914. In the U.S. it entered the top 200 in 2000, and by 2010 it was the 33rd most popular boy name. Currently, it ranks at No. 68.

Fun Fact: Landon Arena is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena built in 1987 in Topeka, Kansas.

Milo

  • Origin: English, Old German, Latin
  • Meaning: Soldier
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Miles, Myles, Mylo
  • Famous Namesakes: American actor, Milo Ventimiglia; Irish actor, Milo O'Shea
  • Peak Popularity: Milo was touted as No. 108 on the list of most popular boy names in England and Wales in 2019. That same year in the U.S., it ranked No. 162.

Fun Fact: Milo is a chocolate-flavored malted powder product originally developed in Australia and now popular throughout the world.

Nash

  • Origin: English
  • Meaning: By the ash tree
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: N/A
  • Famous Namesakes: American Internet personality, Nash Grier; prominent Australian jockey, Nash Rawiller
  • Peak Popularity: Nash entered the American popularity charts in 1997. Its popularity has been growing since 2004, reaching peak popularity in 2020 when it ranked at No. 240. In the U.K., its popularity has fallen since 1997.

Fun Fact: Nash Bridges is the main character portrayed by Don Johnson in a TV show by the same name.

Oscar

  • Origin: Old English, Irish, Old Norse
  • Meaning: Friend to the deer, Spear of the gods
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Óscar (Portuguese, Spanish), Oskar (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German)
  • Famous Namesakes: Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde; Guatemalan-American actor, Oscar Isaac
  • Peak Popularity: Oscar is an extremely popular name in the U.K. featuring in the top 10 names in 2019 and 2020. In the U.S. the name has maintained its popularity since 1900. In 2020, it ranked at No. 215.

Fun Fact: Oscar the Grouch is a popular fictional character in the TV show "Sesame Street."

Preston

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Priest's town
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: N/A
  • Famous Namesakes: American playwright, screenwriter, and film director, Preston Sturges; Scottish aviation pioneer, Preston Watson
  • Peak Popularity: Preston has maintained a good presence in the top 1,000 boy names in America since the 1900s. After a slight dip in the 1970s, the name has been steadily gaining popularity, often ranking in the top 200 names. In the U.K. the name has featured in the top 500 since 2006.

Fun Fact: Preston is a city in Lancashire, England.

Parker

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Park keeper
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Parke
  • Famous Namesakes: American actor, Parker Stevenson; American professional stock car racing driver, Parker Kligerman
  • Peak Popularity: This name is almost as popular for girls as it is for boys. Parker has ranked in the top 200 names for boys in the U.K since 2014. The name started getting popular in 1978 in the U.S. and has been steadily climbing the ranks. Its most popular year was 2015 ranked at No. 72. Currently, it features in the top 100 boy names.

Fun Fact: The Parker Pen Company is a manufacturer of luxury pens, founded in 1888 by George Safford Parker in Janesville, Wisconsin, United States.

Ryder

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Mounted warrior, Knight, Messenger, Horseman, Rider
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Rider
  • Famous Namesakes: Canadian professional racing cyclist, Ryder Hesjedal; American science fiction author, Ryder Windham
  • Peak Popularity: Ryder is a more favored spelling than Rider in the U.S. In 1994 it entered the top 1,000. In 2014, the name's most popular year, Ryder jumped into the top 100 boy names. Currently, it ranks at No. 108. In the U.K., it has been in the top 500 names since 2018.

Fun Fact: Ryder is the main character in the children's TV series "Paw Patrol."

Sheldon

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Valley with steep sides
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Shelden, Sheldin
  • Famous Namesakes: Nobel Prize-winning American theoretical physicist, Sheldon Lee Glashow; American film and television actor, Sheldon Leonard
  • Peak Popularity: Sheldon was a popular name in the 1900s, featuring in the top 500 American boy names from 1915 to 1997 (1982 was the only exception with a rank of No. 513). Since the 90s, Sheldon has fallen on the popularity charts and was last on the charts in 2012 at No. 941. In England and Wales, Sheldon only made it on the charts between 1996 and 1999.

Fun Fact: Sheldon Lee Cooper is the character on the TV hit series "The Big Bang Theory."

Tanner

Origin: Old English

Meaning: Leather maker, One who tans hides

Alternative Spellings & Variations: N/A

Famous Namesakes: American professional racing driver, Tanner Foust; American singer-songwriter, Tanner Patrick

Peak Popularity: Tanner first appeared on the U.S. charts in 1976 and steadily climbed the charts to enter the Top 100 names in 1993. In 1998, it reached peak popularity, and Tanner currently features in the top 500 names.

Fun Fact: Tanner's sumac is a deciduous shrub native to southern Europe and western Asia. The leaves and twigs are used for tanning leather, and the dried fruits of the plant are used as a spice.

Tucker

  • Origin: Old English, Irish, German, Old Dutch
  • Meaning: One who softens the fabric, Cloth-maker (German), To tug sharply (Old Dutch)
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tuck
  • Famous Namesakes: American actor, dancer, and singer, Tucker Smith; American author and public speaker, Tucker Max
  • Peak Popularity: The name entered the U.S. charts for Top 1,000 boy names in 1978. Its popularity took off in the late 1980s, and by 2011 it was in the Top 200 names. In the U.K. the name has been getting increasingly popular since 2008.

Fun Fact: "Tucker's Town" is a popular song by American rock group Hootie & The Blowfish.


Vance

  • Origin: Old English
  • Meaning: Marshland
  • Alternative Spellings & Variations: Van
  • Famous Namesakes: Australian singer and songwriter, Vance Joy; American NASA astronaut, Vance Brand
  • Peak Popularity: The name became popular in England in the 19th century and entered the U.S. charts in the 1900s, where it maintained its position. It was most popular in 1969. In recent years, the name has lost much of its popularity, ranking at No. 977 in 2020.

Fun Fact: Vance is a town in Alabama, United States.

3 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Weiss AS. Imaginary onomastics. Transl Stud. 2019;12(1):100-108. doi:10.1080/14781700.2019.1669486

  2. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica.

  3. Alsamri H, Athamneh K, Pintus G, Eid AH, Iratni R. Pharmacological and antioxidant activities of Rhus coriaria L. (Sumac). Antioxidants. 2021;10(1):73. doi:10.3390/antiox10010073

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By Meena Azzollini
Meena Azzollini is a health and wellness content creator with experience covering parenting, women's health, and mental health. She specializes in creating effective content for various health and wellness-based businesses and empowers them with words that make a connection with their audience. 

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