What guides the inhabitants of "foggy Albion" when choosing a name for their son or daughter? Read about modern English "trends" in choosing names for newborns in our article. Bonus: 10 most British names for girls and 10 for boys.
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When the UK Office for National Statistics released its annual report for 2014, it was interesting fact: more and more parents choose a name for newborns under the influence of pop culture, and above all - modern TV shows.
The growing popularity of the Game of Thrones movie epic has given rise to a whole galaxy of new names - in the real, not fictional world. The character of Emilia Clarke gave a start to life for two names at once: 53 British newborns were named Khaleesi royal title), and 9 more were given the name Daenerys (Daenerys). The name Arya Stark turned out to be even more popular: 244 families chose the name Arya for their daughters, but only 6 girls were named Sansa (Sansa).
British boys were also not spared by the new fashion: 2014 was a fruitful year for Tyrions (17) and Theons (18) - for comparison, in 2013 there were 6 and 11, respectively.
But Game of Thrones isn't the only show to inspire Britain's new parents. "Downton Abbey" revived a dozen names popular in turn of XIX-XX centuries. Since the launch of the movie saga in 2010, the names Rose, Cora, Violet and Edith have grown in popularity. Hollywood is not far behind. disney cartoon"Frozen" sparked interest in the old-fashioned but charming Elsa name.
Fans of "Sherlock" also contribute to the "nominal statistics". And although no one was named Sherlock in 2014, 132 little Britons were named Benedict.
Meanwhile, heading the list of the most popular names in England and Wales Oliver (Oliver) and Amelia (Amelia) - however, as in previous years.
10 most British male names
Alastair, Alistair, Alistair - Alastair, Alistair
Meaning: protector
Scottish equivalent Greek name Alexander.
Fergus
Meaning: strong
A Scotch-Irish name, rather old-fashioned but colorful.
Crispin - Crispin
Meaning: curly (lat.)
Saint Crispin, the patron saint of shoemakers, is mentioned in Shakespeare's play Henry V. A beautiful English name, and most importantly, a rare one.
- If we are talking about Henry the Fifth, we strongly recommend that you look english movie 1989 "Henry V: The Battle of Agincourt" with Kenneth Branagh in leading role. An amazingly dramatic film that is useful to watch in the original.
Ellis — Ellis
Meaning: benevolent
No that's not female name: Ellis is the Welsh version of the male Greek name Elias.
- Interesting fact: Emilia Bronte wrote her " Wuthering Heights” (“Wuthering Heights”) under the pseudonym Ellis Bell.
Piers
Meaning: stone
Pierce is the first variant of the Greek name Peter to reach the English-speaking world at the time of the Norman invasion. Among the famous Pierces are Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan, the lead actor in four Bond films.
Conall - Conall
Meaning: strong wolf
The Scottish name Conall is a variant of the name Connor. Wolves hunt in packs - choosing this name, parents must hope that their offspring will always be surrounded by friends.
Kenzie
Meaning: fair-skinned
And although the meaning of this name refers to the color of the skin, Kenzi boys are often endowed with a special inner light which sets them apart from their peers.
Euan, Ewan
Meaning: born of a yew tree; youth
Scottish version of the name John. Judging by Ewan McGregor, the owners of this name are very talented, but at the same time modest.
Lachlan
Meaning: Warrior from the Scottish lands
The most Scottish name imaginable. You should not be surprised if this child prefers a Scottish kilt to trousers from childhood.
10 most British female names
Amelia - Amelia
Meaning: work
Most popular British name the previous year, in fact, is not a name at all. This word is a hybrid of the Latin Emilia (Emilia) and the German Amalia (Amalia), and the letter e in the middle of the word symbolizes good old England (England) :)
Gladys
Meaning: country; people
Welsh name, equivalent to Claudia (Claudia).
Myrtle - Myrtle, Myrtle
Meaning: bush
Someone somewhere in the mists of time decided to name his newborn daughter in honor of a flowering bush - anything can happen. Surprisingly, the name stuck and became quite popular in Britain.
Frideswide
Meaning: peaceful, calm
The name comes from the Old English Friðuswiþ, combining the words frið (peace) and swiþ (strong). Therefore, little Fridesvids (no matter how unusual this name may seem) show an enviable firmness of character with outward calm. Just like Saint Frideswide (by the way, a princess) who lived in the 8th century and founded the Church of Christ in Oxford.
Note: To be honest, this name is, of course, quite rare these days. But in the days of Queen Elizabeth, it was in the top 50 most popular female names.
Agatha - Agatha
Meaning: good, respectable
Agathos means "good" in Greek, which is why Agathos are good girls (literally). The name migrated to England in the 11th century with the Normans who venerated Saint Agatha, who lived in the 3rd century and was probably a very good girl. And then there is Agatha Christie - a very, very good girl.
Olivia - Olivia
Meaning: olive
The female version of the male name Oliver (Oliver), meaning an olive seller or just an olive, an olive. Some names do not need to look for subtext.
Boadicea (Boudicca)
Meaning: victory
The militant Boudicca is the queen of the Briton tribe of the Iceni, who raised an uprising against the Romans (the events are mentioned in the Annals of Tacitus). And although the uprising was crushed, the name of the warrior has survived for centuries.
Edith - Edith
Meaning: riches obtained in battle
The Old English word ead means riches or blessing, and gyth means struggle. A girl named by this name will excel in martial arts. An interesting fact: the wife of William the Conqueror was also called Edith. Edith the Conqueror :)
In Russian culture, there are a huge number of beautiful names. There are among them those who are called children for hundreds of years (Alexander, George, Ivan), but the fashion for them does not pass. There are those that have already sunk into oblivion, although recently the ancient Slavic names have again been at the peak of popularity. However, there are parents who believe that the most beautiful names for boys are English, and they name their offspring in accordance with the trends of Western countries.
Origin
England is a country with very long traditions. The oldest names in it were a description of one or another trait in a person’s character - more often desired than actual, because the baby was called immediately after his birth, still completely unaware of him as a person. Having given the child the name Alan, the parents wanted the boy to become handsome in adulthood, Frankie to be free, Squiler to be a protector. English names, like the names of people Slavic peoples, often were of a purely religious nature, and in the old days they were completely pagan:
- Gabe - strong man that belongs to the Lord.
- Dustin is a stone that belongs to Thor.
- Denis is one who reveres Dionysus.
- Elric, Elroy, Ellgar, Oliver are names associated with elves.
- Saig - wise or sage.
- Mordecai is the one who follows Marduk.
With the advent of Christianity, English names for boys were a copy of the names of various saints, their modification, or simply associated with religion. Often a clergyman helped pick them up. However, their imagination was not too rich, so there was no variety of names during this period.
Divine
English clergy learned very beautiful names for boys from the Bible - Samuel, Benjamin, Abraham. Many holy fathers invented and own names for the offspring of their parishioners. Over time, they became popular, and many people still use them. The main message that is embedded in this or that name is faith, service to the church and God, although at first glance there is nothing highly spiritual in them:
- Mitch - one who is like God.
- Matthew is a godsend.
- Christopher, Keith is a follower of Jesus Christ.
- Zechariah - not forgotten by God.
- Joshua is salvation in God.
- Devin, Devon - parishioner.
It is curious that when the Catholic Church dominated in England, it was customary to call children by the names of specific biblical heroes, but with the spread of Protestant sentiments in the country, the semantic vector invested in the name took on a new direction. In those days, the church demanded subjugation and humility from its wards, and therefore the English clergy chose the appropriate names for the boys (Benedict - blessed, Amedeus - the one who loves God, Timothy - honoring the Lord).
Victory in the name
The Anglo-Saxons have always been a warlike race, there were many reasons for this, but the fact remains that true warriors in this country were indeed revered. The fate of the winner of the boys was prophesied from birth. It is possible that the names predicting military glory for sons were given not by mothers, but by fathers, nevertheless, they were included in the list of such: William, which means “helmet”; Walter is the master of the host; Fergus - strong-willed; Herb, Harvey - wrestler against bad man; Andy is a warrior.
There is a large list of beautiful and sonorous English names for boys who have absorbed peaceful activities - agriculture, craft, farming, helping people:
- Ernest - the one who fights death, perhaps a healer, healer;
- Eustace - harvest, fertility;
- Harper is a musician who plays the harp;
- Philip is a horse breeder, one who loves horses;
- Peter is a stone;
- Leslie is an oak grove.
It is curious that many of these names can only conditionally be called English. Most of them came from other areas, were the result of a mixture of cultures and, if you look closely, the most popular of them are in our language, only they sound a little different.
What is the name of the ship...
Another interesting fact about western world in general, and about England in particular, it is a custom to give a person not one name, but several. For our mentality, naming a girl Anna-Maria is already something out of the ordinary, while abroad a child can be given three, five or more names. In fairness, it should be noted that they have no such thing as a patronymic. And even an adult, a respected and gray-haired elderly man, there is quite official level can be called a diminutive name, neglecting complete record specified in the documents.
In Western countries, there is a kind of classification of names in order - the first and second name, surname. And if it is not customary to change the latter, it is inherited by the baby from the parents in an unchanged form, then absolutely any name can be given to the child according to the law. It can be something from the generally accepted list, it can be the surname of an important person for the family (historical, political figure, football player, etc.) or a diminutive form of the name, a flower, a fruit, and in general any word you like.
In most cases, moms and dads are sensible and name offspring normal names or they insert their fantasies at the end of the nominal line, but there are madmen who write children down as Thank God Penniman, Rise-Hurry Stringer, or If-Christ-Didn't-Die-For-You-You-Would-Damn Barebone.
In the history of Russia (in the USSR) there was also a fashion for names of this kind, though in a slightly different way - children were called Pobeda, Oktyabrina, Leninid.
Top male names from England
Such cases are not only historical fact, which has come down to us since the time of Puritan England of the last millennium. Nowadays, some parents also manage to spoil the life of the child immediately after birth. How else can you say about a father who named his son not John (a name that is quite suitable for any boy), but Bus No. 16?
It is quite predictable that, having lived to adulthood, a person will go to register himself under a new pseudonym as soon as possible. Among the most popular English-language names of past years are Jack, Michael, John, Alan, Oliver, Thomas, William, Harry (a name that you can read about in more detail below), Daniel, Matthew.
Dear John
There are names that are truly popular in all corners the globe, they carry the same interpretation and slightly differ in sound, although they have common origin. The most common - John, Ivan, Jean, Jan, Hans. John is not inferior to him - a name that can be translated from the Hebrew dialect as "God's grace." They named many people. Among the Christian great martyrs, there are more than fifty saints, and there are a lot of Johns in the world. This name was proudly worn by kings, kings, lords and simple peasants. It is no less popular with modern famous personalities - John Tolkien, John Lennon, John Kennedy.
magic guy
Harry's name is not very typical for our hearing, at least it was before the advent of famous book about the young wizard, whose name was that. Harry from ancient German is interpreted as "courageous." Men with this name are credited with many vices, but no less talents. On the one hand, they are considered liberated, purposeful and charismatic individuals, on the other hand, intolerance and excitement prevent them from succeeding in life one hundred percent.
One can argue with such an opinion, because among the owners of this name there are very influential, famous and, of course, successful people, in whose high intellectual and personal qualities it is a sin to doubt. Among them are Harry Truman, Harry Oldman, Garry Kasparov, Harry Harrison, Harry Houdini.
Alan
Another interesting and beautiful English name is Alan. It has, oddly enough, ancient Slavic roots, and in translation it stands for - “ ancient slav". Esotericists and numerologists believe that if you call the boy Alan, he will definitely succeed in life. He will be helped in this by remarkable fortitude, a developed mind and talents that providence generously rewards children with that name. This theory is proved by such famous people as actor Alan Rickman, writer Alan Milne, scientists Alan Turing and Alan Hodgkin.
Popular boys
The topic of children has always been in demand among readers, and kids have to endure a special share of curiosity famous people. So, in the Western media, the greatest hype is always caused by how show business stars or important statesmen will call their offspring. Is it worth remembering with what impatience the decision of the British royal family was expected when the first-born, George Alexander Louis, was born to the couple Charles and Kate.
It is almost impossible to meet a simple and uncomplicated name (Bill, Jack or Fred) among star kids. Born in unusual families, they have to get used to PR and extravagance from the cradle. It will be especially difficult for the children of Ashlee Simpson - Bronx Mowgli, David Beckham - Brooklyn, Jason Lee - Air Traffic Controller (Pilot Inspector) or Gwen Stefania - Zuma Nesta Rock. With such names, attention is definitely provided to them.
Women's full names in England have their distinguishing feature. They consist of three parts, two of which are written with a hyphen, and last names. The first name is the main one. The second is the average. The third is the last name. The first name is the main one, it is by him or by a diminutive form from him that a girl is called in life. The list of English female names is constantly updated, because any word can become a name, even the surname of one of the relatives or a celebrity.
History of the origin of the English name
Initially English names, like all other peoples, were a common nickname, consisted of two words - a noun and an adjective. They reflected the character of a person, his main features and signs. Further development led to the fact that people began to attribute names (nicknames) to born girls that reflect the most desirable qualities that would predetermine and influence fate.
Native English female names
For England itself, true English names are rare. They account for less than 10% of the total. But it's not just in England. In any Christian country, the basis is made up of names borrowed from the Bible, that is, they have Jewish, Latin or Greek roots. List of English female names of English origin:
- Mildred - Mildred. Delicate and strong.
- Alice - Alice. It means "noble class" in translation.
- Alfreda - Alfreda. Wisdom, mind.
- Yvonne - Yvonne. Archer.
- Eloise - Eloise. Daughter close to God.
Nevertheless, some Britons remain true to their traditions and name their daughters. The conquest of England by the Vikings reduced the number of English names. Instead, the Normans appeared. At present, in Britain, not all female names are English, the list is constantly growing due to famous foreign women, after whom democratic Britons name their babies.
Names from Christian calendars, Bibles
The spread of Christianity in England greatly influenced women's names. At baptism, babies were named after saints and characters in the Bible. The people twisted these words in their own way, so new English female names began to appear. A list of them is given below:
- Mary - Mary. Serene. Descended from Jewish name Maria. That was the name of the mother of the Lord Jesus.
- Ann - Ann. Grace, Grace. This name was the mother of the prophet Samuel.
- Maryanne - Maryann. Serene grace. This name united two - Mary and Ann.
- Sarah - Sarah. Name Means "powerful princess".
- Sophia - Sophie. Wisdom. Came to English from Christianity.
- Katherine - Katherine. Purity. The name comes from Christianity.
- Eva - Eve. Life. Came from the Bible. That was the name of the progenitor of people.
- Agnes - Agnes. Innocent, undefiled. The name comes from Christianity.
- Susanna - Susanna. Little lily.
- Judyt - Judith. Glorification. Biblical name.
- Joan - Joan. A gift from a merciful God.
A large number of names that are still used today owe their appearance to Protestants and Puritans, who opposed themselves to the Anglican Church and gave their children new names that were different from the usual ones. For the most part they were of a rather strange nature, consisting of sentences. For example, The-Work-of-God Farmer, which means God's Work Farmer. But life has conquered religious fanaticism. Simple people gave their daughters beautiful and new names:
- Daniel - Daniel. God is my judge.
- Sarah - Sarah. Imperious.
- Susan - Susan. Lily.
- Hannah - Hannah. It came from the name of Anna. Grace. Grace.
- Dinah - Dina. Derived from Diana. Divine.
- Tamar - Tamara. Date palm.
The modern list of English female names that appeared in Puritan families is quite significant. Many representatives of this trend were forced to hide and went to Australia or North America.
American names
America was settled by people from different countries. Mostly immigrants from the British Empire: British, Scots and Irish. For the most part, these were commoners and criminals who fled from persecution in their homeland. It was they who brought here a shortened form of names that took root well and gained popularity. The list of English female names has been replenished with new ones, such as Ben, Ed, Mud, Mel, Dan, Meg, Ellie, Tina, Lina.
In addition to the inhabitants of Britain, thousands of people from all over Europe moved here, who came with their own traditions and names, which were partly remade by the English-speaking population in their own way.
The most popular American female names (list in English):
- Mary - Mary. Derived from Mary. Serene.
- Patricia - Patricia. Noble.
- Linda - Linda. Beautiful.
- Barbara - Barbara. Foreigner.
- Elizabeth - Elizabeth. God is my oath.
- Jennifer - Jennifer. Enchantress.
- Maria - Maria. Serene.
- Susan - Susanna. Little Lily.
- Margaret - Margaret. Pearl.
- Dorothy - Dorothy. Gift of the gods.
- Nancy - Nancy. Grace.
- Karen - Karen. Generous.
- Betty - Betty. Oath to the Gods.
- Helen - Helen. Sunbeam.
- Sandra - Sandra. Male protector.
- Carol - Carol. Derived from Karolina - princess.
- Ruth - Ruth. Friendship.
- Sharon - Sharon. Princess, plain.
English Catholics, Protestants, Puritans brought their own rules to America, according to which names were given. They, as well as in England, consist of three parts - the main, middle and surname. Many American names were borrowed by the British.
New female names
In the 18th century in England appeared new tradition give children a middle (middle) name. This brought back to life Old English and gothic names such as Matilda, Diana, Emma. New beautiful English female names have also appeared. The list was supplemented by well-known English writers. Jonathan Swift, William Shakespeare and others donated English women such names:
- Stella - Stella. Star.
- Vanessa - Vanessa. Butterfly.
- Juliet - Juliet. Born in July
- Ophelia - Ophelia. Exalted.
- Viola - Viola. Violet.
- Silvia - Sylvia. Lesnaya.
- Julia - Julia. Girl with soft hair.
- Clara - Clara. Clear. Light.
- Pamela - Pamela. Wanderer. Pilgrim.
- Wendy - Wendy. Girlfriend.
- Candida - Candida. Net. White.
- Clarinda - Clarinda. Light. Purity.
- Belinda - Belinda. Beautiful.
- Fleur - Fleur. Flower. Blooming.
- Sybil - Sybil. Prophetess. Oracle.
Beautiful female names
Every parent wants, above all, their child to be healthy and beautiful. For their newborn daughters, the British choose euphonious and gentle names. It is hoped that the girl will have those character traits that the name denotes. Therefore, the names are chosen sonorous and with meaning. If there is no such name, then the child can be called any word you like. Legislation allows this, so new beautiful English names for women appear. The list is given below:
- Agata - Agatha. Good, good.
- Adelaide - Adelaide. Noble.
- Beatrice - Beatrice. Blessed.
- Britney - Britney. Little Britain.
- Valery - Valerie. Strong, brave.
- Veronica - Veronica. The one that brings victory.
- Gloria - Gloria. Glory.
- Camilla - Camilla. Worthy of serving the gods.
- Caroline - Carolina. Princess.
- Melissa - Melissa. Honey.
- Miranda - Miranda. Delightful.
- Rebecca - Rebecca. Trap.
- Sabrina - Sabrina. Noble.
English surnames
It so happened historically that the personal name is primary, and the surname, which denotes belonging to a clan, family, is secondary. In the same way, English names and surnames are formed for women. List of the most popular and frequently occurring surnames:
- Anderson - Anderson.
- Baker - Baker.
- Brown - Brown.
- Carter - Carter.
- Clark - Clark.
- Cooper - Cooper.
- Harrison - Harrison.
- Jackson - Jackson.
- James - James.
- Johnson - Johnson.
- King - King.
- Lee - Lee.
- Martin - Martin.
- Morgan - Morgan.
- Parker - Parker.
- Patterson - Patterson.
- Richardson - Richardson.
- Smith - Smith.
- Spencer - Spencer.
- Taylor - Taylor.
- Wilson - Wilson.
- Young - Jung.
For the most part, like most peoples, they came from personal names. In some cases, they do not undergo any changes - Allen, Baldwin, Cecil, Dennis. Others are associated with the names of the gods and Teutonic mythology - Godwin, Goodiers, Godyears. Part is formed from Scandinavian names - Swain, Thurston, Thurlow.
Some surnames consist of a personal name, to which the ending - son is added, which meant "son of such and such": Thompson, Abbotson, Swainson. The people of Scotland use the prefix - Mac, which also means "son". For example, MacDonald is "Donald's son", MacGregor is "Gregor's son".
Some surnames have a professional connotation, that is, Stuart - "royal seneschal", Pottinger - "the cook who cooks the royal soup." Surnames, like first names, can be given in honor of the place of residence, these can be the names of counties, countries, cities.
Until the eleventh century, English names served as the only source of personal identification, the English did not have patronymics. People differed simply by name, and three old Anglo-Saxon names of that period - Edith (Edith), Edward (Edward) and Edmund (Edmund) have survived to this day.
Foreign names in England
Most of the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) names that have come down to us are bibasic: Æðelgar - æðele (noble) + gār (spear), Eadgifu - eād (wealth, prosperity, luck, happiness) + gifu, gyfu (gift, gift), Eadweard - eād (wealth, prosperity, luck, happiness) + weard (guardian, guardian).
Old English names were given to newborns at the christening ceremony. Ancient names were given to children depending on social status families. Norman nobility wore Germanic names- Geoffrey, Henry, Ralph, Richard, Roger, Odo, Walter, William and from Brittany - Alan and Brian (Brian).
The Normans proposed the idea of forming Old English female names from male- Patrick (Patrick), Patricia (Patricia), Paul (Paul), which are used in England to date. Between 1150 and 1300, the number of names in use began to decline rapidly. By the end of the fourteenth century, most of the male population had one of five names: Henry (Henry), John (John), Richard (Richard), Robert (Robert), William (William).
Women's names in the fourteenth century also did not differ in variety: Alice (Alice), Anne (Anne), Elizabeth (Elizabeth), Jane (Jane) and Rose (Rose). Since the personal name was no longer able to individualize one or another member of society, the use of hereditary surnames began, for example, Richard, son of John (Richard, son of John). This process in London proceeded very slowly, moving down the social ladder from wealthy aristocrats to the poor. In the north of England, even at the end of the sixteenth century, many inhabitants still did not have their own surnames.
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, New Testament biblical names came into vogue.:
- Andrew.
- John.
- Luke.
- Mark.
- Matthew.
- Peter (Peter).
- Agnes.
- Anne.
- Katherine.
- Elizabeth (Elizabeth).
- Jane.
- Mary
Common names in 18th century England were John, William, and Thomas, and women's names were Mary, Elizabeth, and Anna. In the 19th century male names John, William and James, and women's - Mary, Helen and Anna. In the 20th century, the English fashion for names changed significantly every ten years..
Popular English names of the last 500 years
The Office for National Statistics conducted an unusual English experiment in the field of family history. She studied over 34 million British and Irish birth records from 1530 to 2005 and identified the 100 most popular male and female names.
English names for men:
- John.
- William (William).
- Thomas (Thomas).
- George.
- James (James).
English female names:
- Mary
- Elizabeth (Elizabeth).
- Sarah.
- Margaret.
- Anna (Ann).
Rare and unusual names
Unusual English names were determined according to the Office for National Statistics of England. Each name on the lists below was established in 2016 from the registration data of children in England. The rare case of the name being used, as it was given to no more than three newborns, confirms the high degree of uniqueness in the context of the whole country.
The rarest English girl names:
- Adalie. Meaning: "God is my refuge, noble one."
- Agape. Meaning: "Love" in ancient Greek.
- birdie. Meaning: "Bird".
- noam. Meaning: "Pleasant".
- Onyx. Meaning: "Claw or nail" in ancient Greek. Black gem.
The rarest English boy names:
- Ajax. Meaning: "Eagle" in ancient Greek mythology.
- Dougal. Meaning: "Dark Stranger" in Gaelic.
- Henderson. Meaning: A traditional English surname.
- Jools. Meaning: Descended from Jupiter.
- marvelous. Meaning: beautiful, beautiful, wonderful. More traditionally, it is the name of a Nigerian girl.
Modern tendencies
Fashion trends for names are always in dynamic movement. New names were born, old ones returned from the distant past, gaining again forgotten popularity, and sometimes the British simply borrowed names from other peoples. England has its own characteristics - the fashion for names is also dictated by the royal family. Member names royal family Harry, William, Elizabeth, George are especially popular with the people. In 2017, ONS published an annual report that provides data on the names of newborns in 2016.
The leader in this list is the name of the boy Oliver (Oliver), and the female leader is Amelia (Amelia). This championship star couple occupied since 2013. Although in fact, many believe that in London the male name Muhammad is in the first place. If you carefully analyze the list of the best baby names in England and Wales, it seems that this opinion is true.
Muhammad - Arabic name and has several spellings, therefore, in the statistics given, the name Muhammad occurs several times. Muhammad ranked 8th, Mohammed ranked 31st, Mohammad ranked 68th, with total- 7,084 people. And the name Oliver was given to 6623 newborns, so the obvious advantage of Mohammed over Oliver. Representatives of the ONS attribute such popularity Muslim name in England with social changes in the country.
Ahead of the ONS, the English parenting site BabyCentr launched in 2017 its official version 100 best baby names. The lists are compiled from a survey of over 94,665 parents of newborns (51,073 boys and 43,592 girls). Olivia again took first place in the nomination of female names. This year, the name Muhammad confidently overtook the name of Oliver, taking a leading position. The site also notes that in England they began to give names that are gender-neutral, for example, the name Harley is almost the same name for male and female children.
The best English female names of 2017:
The best English male names of 2017:
Meanings of English names
Numerous life stories, research results and theories suggest that names help shape a person's personality. Names are certainly not the only force in life that causes a person to develop in a certain way and become a person, but the importance of a name has been noticed even in antiquity.
English male names and their meanings
Meanings of English female names
- Olivia (Olivia). This name is in Latin oliva, which means "olive".
- Sophia (Sophia). The legends about her probably arose as a result of the medieval "Hagia Sophia", meaning "Holy Wisdom".
- Amelia (Amelia). Mixture of medieval names Emilia and Amalia. In Latin, it means "industriousness" and "striving." Its Teutonic meaning is "protector".
- Lily (Lily). In English, the meaning of Lily: the lily flower is a symbol of innocence, purity and beauty.
- Emily (Emily). Emily is a female name derived from the Roman female name Aemilia. Latin name Aemilia, in turn, may come from Latin word aemulus (or from the same root as aemulus) - this means "rival".
- Ava (Ava). Maybe from the Latin avis, meaning "bird". It can also be a short form of the name Chava ("life" or "living"), the Hebrew form of Eve.
- Isla (Isla). The traditionally used mostly Scottish usage derived from Islay which is the name of an island off the west coast of Scotland. It is also the name of two Scottish rivers.
- Isabella. Variant of Elizabeth, meaning "dedicated to God" in Hebrew.
- Mia (Mia). In Latin, the meaning of the name Mia is a desired child.
- Isabelle. In Hebrew, the meaning of the name Isabelle is dedicated to God.
- Ella (Ella). In English meaning: Eleanor and Ellen's abbreviation is a beautiful fairy.
- Poppy (Poppy). This is a female name from the name of the poppy flower, derived from Old English popæg and referring to various types Papaver. The name is gaining popularity in the UK.
- Freya. In Scandinavia, the meaning of the name is lady. Derived from the name of Freya, the Scandinavian goddess of love and fertility and the mythological wife of Odin.
- Grace (Grace). In English, the meaning of the word is "grace", derived from the Latin gratia, which means the blessing of God.
- Sophie. In Greek, the meaning of the name Sophie is wisdom, wise.
- Evie (Evie) in Hebrew, the meaning of the name Evie: life, live.
- Charlotte. Charlotte is a female name female form masculine name Charlot, a diminutive of Charles. It is of French origin meaning " free man' or 'small'.
- Aria (Aria). Italian - "air". In music, an aria is usually a solo in an opera. In Hebrew it comes from Ariel which means the lion of God and its Teutonic origin is related to the bird.
- Evelyn. In French: From a surname derived from the French Aveline, meaning hazelnut.
- Phoebe. Feminine form of the Greek phoiba (bright), which is derived from phoibo (bright). Phoebe is found in Greek mythology as the name of Artemis, goddess of the moon. In poetry, Phoebe personifies the moon.
Each of us was given a name at birth. However, when we look at our lives, we wonder who we would be if our names were different.
Every parent thinks about choosing a name for their child. This is a necessary step. Someone wants to give the baby, others sincerely want to surprise others. After all, it’s actually nice to be different from the masses. The names of girls and boys in English sound original, unique. You can be sure that they will not be repeated in the kindergarten group, your child will not lose his individuality. English names for boys and their meanings are presented in the first half of the article. Parents will be able to choose among them. If you have a daughter, then pay attention to the second part of the text.
English names for boys are accompanied by an interpretation. It is extremely important for people who believe in astrology to know what the character of the child will be. No one claims that easily the English variants can provide food for thought.
Brian
Pretty It sounds very nice, and if you do not live in America, then others will always be surprised and ask the name of the child again. If we turn to its meaning, then Brian is translated as "worthy of respect." Such a person from childhood is distinguished by a special nobility, a desire for leadership. He is ready to show best qualities character to become independent and courageous. By demonstrating action to others, Brian often achieves success much faster than his peers.
If you are interested in boys, then pay attention to this option. have a child with unusual name- it is not only fashionable, but also distinguishes you in the eyes of others. Brian will always be special among other children.
John
Nice English name. It is quite common abroad and is very popular. If you are interested in English names for boys, think maybe John is suitable for a little son? This sounds very original and unusual for Russian society. Since childhood, John has been distinguished by purposefulness and the ability to easily get out of difficult situations. He does not need to be persuaded to do something, he himself will master many methods of action, including non-standard ones. John always strives to achieve his goals, so nothing is impossible for him. Such a person is more likely to succeed than his sluggish peers.
Benjamin
beautiful and original name. Many people like it, so they call children this way not only in European countries. Names for boys, especially English ones, are very popular today. Benjamin is generally level-headed, calm and highly sensitive. Such a person will never pass by someone in need of help, he will definitely try to console.
Benjamin himself is prone to get emotional when the occasion is right. He can easily listen, support the interlocutor, become good friend. When he is betrayed or repulsed, he becomes upset and loses faith in people for a while.
Alan
There are boy names, especially English ones, that attract attention by their sound alone. Alan is one of them. In translation, this name means "beautiful." A person named Alan is usually different a high degree self-respect, ambition, self-esteem. He will never allow suffering, he will always find how to adequately get out of a difficult situation. Alan is moderately eloquent, knows the price of his own attractiveness and irresistibility. Such guys are very popular with girls and never find themselves alone.
Agnes
Feminine name meaning purity, innocence. The girl, who was named Agnes, is usually modest and reserved. She sometimes suffers from isolation, it is difficult for her to express her feelings. By nature, she is non-confrontational, friendly, and can be a good friend, since fidelity is her second nature.
Agnes easily makes contact with those who are sincerely interested in her, however, it is difficult for her to start relationships herself, to get acquainted, because she is shy and indecisive.
Alice
Another variation of this name is Alison. The meaning is the following - nobility, strength. Alice grows up as a mobile and active girl, she likes to be in the center of attention since childhood. Everyone loves her for her amazing activity and cheerfulness, which she easily shares with others. Perseverance from this girl also does not hold: she will achieve everything she wants. Alice is sometimes stubborn, capricious, but in general she is a kind child, not capable of betrayal and gossip.
Amanda
The meaning of the name is sweet, pleasant. Differs in kindness and responsiveness. Such a person can never remain indifferent to the troubles of other people. Amanda's heart is soft. She is sensitive and has a subtle perception of reality. This name is suitable for creative personality who is truly passionate about the process of composing music, writing poems or paintings. If a baby has been drawn to dancing since childhood or dreams of performing on stage, then this is also perfect for her. Amanda is very feminine in nature. In the future, this is a wonderful mother and caring wife, the keeper of the family hearth.
If you are thinking about how to name a child, look at one of the proposed options. There are beautiful names for boys, English and American. For girls, you can also pick them up tender, sonorous and amazing.
