Famous English names. English and American names

A person’s name is an integral part of his personality, so many parents take a very responsible approach to choosing a name for their child. Each name has a unique sound and eigenvalue, and English names are no exception. Names, like the language itself, can change over time and adapt to the norms of the language into which they are transferred or translated. English female names are beautiful in their own way. In this article you can get acquainted with the meanings of some of them.

Nowadays, there are few original English names left: many names were borrowed from Celtic, Norman, Hebrew, Greek and other cultures. Names praising the power of the gods, the forces of nature, and the individual qualities of a person’s character were common in the past. And as a result, the meaning of ancient names may be unusual for modern people.

After the arrival of Christianity in Europe, the names of biblical characters became common: Sarah, Agnes, Mary. A certain type of human activity is also reflected in the names: Abella is a shepherdess, Bailey is a sheriff’s assistant.

Sometimes a shortened version of a name becomes an independent name, for example, Victoria - Vicky; Rebecca - Becky; Angelina - Angie.

Popular English female names

Fashion is a passing and recurring phenomenon. The fashion for names is no exception. According to the service national statistics UK, most popular female names became Olivia, Emma and Sophie.

The top 10 English female names are presented below:

1. Olivia
2. Emma.
3. Sofia
4. Isabel
5. Charlotte
6. Emily
7. Harper
8. Abigail

The entertainment industry, and specifically cinema, also has an impact on the popularity of names. Thanks to the Game of Thrones series, the following names have become popular among the British: Arya (24th place in the ranking of popular female names in Great Britain in 2014), Sansa, Brienne, Catelyn and Daenerys.

The name Isabella was given new life by the heroine of the Twilight saga, Bella Swan.

At first glance, the name Hermione seems outdated, but thanks to the film adaptation of the Harry Potter book series, this name seems to have acquired a “second life.”

The status of the bearer of the name also affects the prestige of the name itself. According to the results of a survey conducted in Great Britain, the most and least “successful” female names were identified among the residents of Foggy Albion.

The most successful female names

1. Elizabeth
2. Caroline
3. Olivia
4. Amanda

Less successful female names

1. Julia
2. Emily

As we see from the above results, the full forms of the name sound more aristocratic and sublime, which gives weight to their bearers, while more simple names are associated with “simpler” girls. Despite the fact that Lisa is a shortened form of the name Elizabeth, nevertheless, full form the name took the leading position in the ranking, while the shortened form is not popular.

Rare English female names

The names below are not even temporarily popular in the ratings. Named outsiders include:

It is likely that the unusual sound of the name, its meaning and cacophony are the reasons for the rare use of the name. However, the combination of euphony and meaning in no way guarantees the popularity of the name in modern world. For example, the native English name Mildred, in different sources means “noble” or “gentle strength,” despite its euphony and meaning, it is not popular today.

Beautiful English female names

The beauty of a woman can be compared to a flower, and her name to its fragrance. Therefore, the euphony and beauty of a name for a woman is very great importance. Despite the fact that everyone's tastes are different, there are still names that sound beautiful to most people:

• Agatha
• Agnes
• Adelaide
• Alice
• Amanda
• Amelia
• Anastasia
• Angelina
• Ariel
• Barbara
• Beatrice
• Bridget
• Britney
• Gloria
• Diana
• Deborah
• Dorothy
• Caroline
• Cassandra
• Constance
• Christina
• Catherine
• Olivia
• Cecilia
• Charlotte
• Cheryl
• Evelina
• Eleanor
• Elizabeth
• Emily
• Esther

Unusual names of celebrity children

Unusual names among ordinary people are quite rare, because when choosing a child’s name, parents try to choose an attractive name, in their opinion, without risk to the unborn child.

To attract attention to their person, celebrities do the opposite, because a child’s name is another way to stand out. But can the exclusivity of a name compensate for its meaninglessness?

Such inventors include:

1. Bruce Willis. Name younger daughters in honor of horses? No problem, because the horses won the race! This is exactly what Bruce Willis did, naming his youngest daughters after his favorite horses that won at the races - Scout Larue and Tallupa Bell.

2. Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple (Russian - “apple”). The actress's favorite fruit? It is not that simple! The girl's name is associated with the biblical legend of the paradise forbidden fruit.

3. 50 Cent.“Grant” a child a title by means of a name? Why not...yes! Rapper 50 Cent named his child Marquis. But Marquise is a boy. A good way to develop self-respect, indifference to other people’s opinions and fortitude in a child.

4. Singer David Bowie picked up the baton and named his son Zoe (a female name). Only because he thought the combination of Zoe Bowie was funny.

5. Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Blue Ivy, or Blue Ivy, is the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Choosing a name star couple argued with excerpts from the novel by Rebecca Solnit, where the color blue (Blue) gives “beauty to the whole world.” And the word Ivy is similar to the Roman numeral IV, with which many events in the singer’s life are connected.

6. Actress Milla Jovovich named her daughter Ever Gabo. The second part of the name consists of the first syllables of Mila's parents - Galina and Bogdan. Perhaps the combination of parts of a relative's name guarantees happiness for the child?

7. Frank Zappa. American rock musician Frank Zappa named his daughter Moon Unit. (Lunar Satellite). Isn't the desire to be a musician a good reason for choosing a child's name?

8. Christina Aguilera. The music of summer rain... Let it sound in your daughter’s name too! Singer Christina Aguilera, not wanting to give her daughter a banal name, simply called her “ Summer rain"(Summer Rain).

IN modern cinema You can really find masterpieces that you want to immortalize in names. Why limit yourself to a flight of fancy that does not go beyond the names of your favorite characters? Let's expand the boundaries using ordinary words, which are not proper names. Khaleesi, a new female name, a tribute to “Game of Thrones”: (Khaleesi is the title of one of the heroines of the series, synonymous with queen or queen). Today at real world There are already 53 girls with this name.

There are no limits to human imagination, so it will not bypass names either. Over time, we will definitely find out which of the new names will take root and become loved, and which will soon be forgotten.

A name is a person’s personal name, which is given to him at birth; it is a well-known fact. As a rule, when meeting a new person, we tell him our name, and the person tells him his. Why might British and American names? In fact, everything is very simple. We read about such people in books and articles on the Internet, watch English and American movies. In this article we will analyze the origin and compile a list of common female and male English and American names.

Origin

The traditions associated with English and American names differ from those familiar to us. IN English speaking countries a person's name consists of three components: the first (given name), the second (middle name) and the last name (surname). The roles of the first and second can be traditional names and even last names. In addition, diminutive forms are often used (for example, these are the Americans we all know: Bill Clinton or Johnny Depp), even in an official setting.

The history of the origin of names always helps to learn more about the history of the country and its culture. In England you can find names of Anglo-Saxon origin, biblical and imbued with Protestant culture (Faith-My-Joy, Everlasting-Mercy), borrowed from other cultures and familiar to everyone individual names, which today can become any common words.

List of popular female names in the table

There are a lot of female and male names in the English language and they often overlap, so we have prepared for you a selection of 60 (30 male and 30 female) that can often be found in the UK. Many of them will be familiar for a long time, thanks to literature and English and American cinema.

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List of male names in the table

The most common female names

Modern English dictionary The names are varied and very rich. But among all this diversity there are those that are found most often. In Russia it is considered popular to name children Alexander, Maxim, Sophia and Maria, but what is the most common name for children in the UK? What names are considered beautiful and most loved by people who call British English their native language?

Some of these names are in the top ten long years, are considered beautiful or even “classic”, others come and go depending on fashion. So, when Kate Middleton gave birth to her son George in 2013, and her daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana in 2015, these names immediately gained great popularity among the British population.

The most common male names

The most unusual male and female names

Unusual, and often even a little strange names, people give to their children in English-speaking countries. We have selected for you several examples that can be found in England and the USA.

Unusual male names

Unusual female names

Useful video on the topic:

Choosing a name for a girl is doubly difficult for the British, since British names girls consist of two names: first name and middle name. The important thing, of course, is the first name, since it is a personal name. It should be noted that the fashion for British girls' names changes every year, as there is an active mixing of several cultures, which did not happen in past centuries.

In the 18th century in Britain, the most popular female names were Elizabeth, Mary and Anna. Almost every third newborn was named either Mary or Anna. At the same time, such British female names as Mary and Anna hardly lose their popularity. Even now they are often used. But when choosing a girl’s name, parents must understand that by doing so they determine her fate. If you want to have a girl with a warlike character, then we advise you to name her Alexa or Alexandrea, that is, the defender of humanity. And the names Gabby and Brill have a meaning - strong from God. The British name Claribel means bright and beautiful. When choosing a name, do not forget to take into account the consonance with the surname, and the name should be light and pleasant. Parents often make this mistake when they call their children complex names. As a result, the child difficult fate or difficult character. Our list of British girl names will help you choose.

British girl names:

Aion - island

Loris - sadness

Aleta is true

Lu - famous warrior

Alexa - defender of humanity

Maybelline - attractive

Aliz - noble look

Misi - pearl, honey bee

Amaranth - not disappearing

Madonna is my lady

Allin - bird

Margot - pearl

Annis - chaste, holy

Martha - lady

Alexandrea - protector of humanity

Mackenzie - pretty

Anetta - benefit, grace

Morain - lover

Adrina - from Hadria

Makey - a gift from God

Alberta - bright nobility

Meidlin - from Magdala

Annali - graceful meadow

Merrilin - sweetheart, lake

Azalea - dry

Monat - little noblewoman

Blanda - care

Modi - Mighty in Battle

Brianna - strength

Melloni - black, dark

Brill - strong from God

Melissa - honey bee

Bailey - Deputy Sheriff

Monta - a sharp hill

Bekkai - trapper

Nicolet - victory of the people

Beth is god is my oath

Nevaeh - heaven

Brooklyn - stream, stream

Natil - birthday

Bessie - God is my oath

Omega - the last child

Briar - thorny bush

Prunella - small plum

Britnay - Little Britain

Prudence - careful

Belind is a beautiful snake

Paisley - church

Blondie - blonde

Petunia - petunia

Belita - a little beauty

Rona - wise ruler

Vega - fallen, attacking

Roxanne - dawn

Wilma - helmet

Romei - rosemary (herb)

Vinny - sacred agreed

Rebeccann - trapper

Valerie is strong

Rhona - wise ruler

Willow - willow

Rena - born again

Vanessa - revealed

Roni - brings victory

Vendaya - friend

Rose - booster

Ghislaine - pledge

Ruby - contemplative

Gaea - earth

Rinna is a maiden

Gabby - strong from God

Sarahjin - princess

Johnel - good god

Sam - listening to God

Dorinda is a gift

Sabina - sweet

Destiny - fate, welfare

Scarlet - scarlet

Jessa - God knows

Sammaya - God listened

Jewell - gemstone

Starla is a star

Demi - earth mother

Steph - crown

Divina - like a goddess

Sage - sage

Devan - parishioner

Sayanna - being old

Jazmine - jasmine flower

Celeste - heavenly

Jonah - good god

Sunday - on Sunday

Desiree - desired

Titania - of the Titans

Justis - justice

Thea is a gift from God

Joanne - good god

Tessie the reaper

Gilbertine - bail

Twila - twilight

Jorja - peasant woman

Trisha - noblewoman

Dalinda - noble snake

Terry the Reaper

Dolores - sadness

Teresa - the reaper

Josie - multiplier

Temple - temples

Georgina - peasant girl

Tessa the reaper

Desira - desirable

Tiler - roof

Erline - noblewoman, princess

Teri - the reaper

Janine - good god

Tibby - gazelle and brave

Zavannah - savannah

Tamsen is a twin

Ilana - tree

Tresha - noblewoman

Indy - land of the Hindus

Unag - hunger

Yvon - yew tree

Fern - fern

Elayn - bird

Flower - flower

Zella - zealous

Felicia is lucky

Coretta - maiden or gorge

Flossie - flower

Kiseli - blind

Haven - shelter, refuge

Kaylin is a girl

Hortens - garden

Kitty - immaculate, chaste

Hannah - kind, merciful

Claribel - bright and beautiful

Cherry - cherry

Karon - to love

Chelsea - landing site

Kayleigh is weird

Chantail - stone place

Katya - immaculate, chaste

Cherise - cherry

Kerry - Ciara people

Cheryl - darling

Connie is resilient

Shanna - lily

Kapukain - nasturtium

Sha - hawk-like

Kelly is blonde

Shavon - good god

Curry is a man

Shari - favorite

Colleen is a girl

Sharron - plain

Corrie is a maiden

Shevoun - good god

Courtney - short nose

Chanel - good god

Keita - forest

Shena - good god

Kira - like the sun

Eivise - bird

Keilich is strange

Ethel - noble

Catelynn - virgin

Eldreda - ancient meeting

Cameron - crooked nose

Erma - whole

Lolly - babbling

Ezelinda - noble snake

Lillay - lily

Emmaya - whole, whole

Fox - God - my oath

Aimee - much loved

Latisha - happiness

Elanor - star light

Lukinda - light

Ashley - Ash Grove

Lakeshia - cinnamon tree

Edwena - rich friend

Leontyne - lion-like

Eugenia - Well Born

Lola - sadness

Yula - polite

Letty - happiness

Yunis - good win

List of popular and rare English names for girls.

Nowadays, many new parents are coming up with various and interesting names. Along with old Russian names, foreign ones are gaining popularity. Their popularization is associated with foreign films and TV series.

What are the most popular, beautiful, rare, unusual, short English names for girls: ranking of the best with meaning

Now in our country there are quite a lot of girls with foreign names. We offer you a rating.

Foreign names and their decoding:

• Abigail. Translated, it means “Father’s Joy.” Most often, girls grow up to be very positive and in a good mood.
• Elinor. In translation it stands for “shepherdess”. Usually girls are quite simple and comfortable in communication.
• Eveline. The girl is very independent and leaves her parents’ nest early. Translated it means “free bird”.
• Avalon. Translated it means “Apple”. Girls grow up to be very powerful and responsible. In America, this is what girls are called in winter.
• Holly. Girls are very sensual and faithful. They never betray. Translated it means “sister”.
• Anabelle. The girls are very unconventional and different from the majority. They have a subtle mental organization that not everyone likes. Translated it means “gracefully beautiful.”
• Andrea. Means "warlike". This is a fighter girl who is not afraid of difficulties. She is always ahead and very brave.
• Doris. These girls are very cheerful and cheerful. Translated it means “funny”.

Short beautiful English female names for girls and girls: list, meanings

Popular short names because of its brevity.

List:

• Laura. Such girls can predict the future. They are endowed with good intuition. Translated it means “seer”.
• Chloe. The girl is very strong spiritually and will not stop at any obstacles. Translated as “mighty.”
• Chris. A very popular name in the USA. There is a legend dedicated to this name. The girl is very brave and courageous.
• Lisa. A friendly girl who has many friends. Loves to communicate. Translated, the name means “friendship.”
• Easy. The girl is very emotional and sensual. Translated it means “sensual”.
• Audrey. This name has English origin, but gained popularity in America. Translated it means “light”.
• Neli. Popular name, which means "appearing". Such a girl can be unexpected and spontaneous.
• Katie. Very gifted and active. Means "girl".

The most popular English female names: list, meanings

There are also a lot of foreign names that I most often call girls.

List:

• Agatha. The girl is very good and responsive. Means “kind”, “bright”.
• April. The girl is very emotional and can evoke a response from many men. Translated it means “spring”.
• Audrey. A well-known and common name in the states. Means “light, radiant.”
• Cecilia. This girl is fire. Very passionate and emotional. Means "changeable".
• Emily. The girl knows what she wants and is constantly on the move. Means "rival".
• Amanda. A girl with bright and good energy, always positive. Means "pleasant".

The rarest English female names: list, meanings

As in our country, in foreign countries there are names that girls are called the least often.

WITH squeak:

• Rebecca. This is a very sociable representative of the fair sex. She gets along well with others, as her name means “friendly.”
• Mabel. An unusual representative of the fair sex. She has a calm disposition and finds a way out of any situation. life situations. Translated it means “pearl”.
• Candles. A girl with that name is very modest and shy. She rarely causes much fuss because her name translates to “virgin.”
• Madeline. A representative of the fair sex with this name is very calm and responsible. Since childhood, she can be assigned a variety of tasks. Translated, it means “obedient daughter.”
• Nellie. In our country the name is also not particularly popular, as in the countries of Europe and America. Translated it means “appearing”.
• Laura. It's never boring with such a girl; she will always find something to do. Translated it means “toy”.

The most unusual English female names: list, meanings

There are names that are quite rare and unusual.

WITH squeak:

• Annik. A girl with that name tries to be useful. After all, when translated, her name means “useful.”
• Christie. The girl is very devout, as her name means “follower of Christ.”
• Dusty. The character of the fair sex is strong and strong-willed, as translated it means “Thor’s stone.”
• Stanley. A young lady with that name strives for harmony in everything. Translated it means “cleansing”.
• Manley. The young lady always strives for clarity and certainty. Perhaps due to the fact that the name means “clarifying” in translation.
• Baz. A somewhat non-standard name, which is very reminiscent of a man's name. Translated it means “Grass”.
• Ogden. The girl is very persistent and strong in spirit. She does not lose heart and always goes ahead, because her name means “oak grove.”
• Kevin. Both girls and men are called this name. Translated it means “dear, beloved.”
• Clare. The name can often be found in films, but it is not popular. Translated it means “glorifying.”
• Filip. This name can also be considered both male and female. Translated it sounds like “horse lover.”

Despite the popularization of foreign names, girls in our country are still rarely called with English names. More often, names are used that have gained popularity both here and in Europe.

So much is told about the culture or traditions of England, but it is quite rare to learn about english names. And the topic, by the way, is very interesting. After all, the naming system is globally different from what we are used to.

If we have a first and last name, then in England it is somewhat different. They have a first name, a middle name and a last name. In addition, in England it is considered normal to give diminutive forms of a name. For example, even in formal negotiations a person may be called Tony, although he full name sounds like Anthony. If desired, the child can be immediately registered with a diminutive name and the state will not object. Moreover, you can take almost any word or name as a name - for example, the name Brooklyn. But if they tried to name their son, for example, Novosibirsk, they would hardly give permission.

System of English given names and surnames

Each of us is already accustomed to the fact that he is the bearer of a surname, name and patronymic. But for the English this scheme is not suitable; their system of names is absolutely unusual and therefore curious. The main difference between our systems is the absence of a middle name. Instead, they have a surname, first name and middle name. Moreover, as either of these two names, an Englishman can bear the surnames of some stars or even his ancestors. Although there is no strict requirement that a person have only these three points. Any Englishman can give a child a name from several names or surnames. For example, if you want to name it after a whole football team straightaway.

This tradition of giving a person a surname as a first name has survived to this day from noble families. Although the history of the English name system developed quite actively, borrowings were made from various countries, and also names were mixed from the Angles, Celtic tribes, and Franco-Normans. Since the Anglo-Saxons initially had only one name, they tried to give it special meaning. Therefore, in ancient names one could find words such as wealth or health. Old English female names were most often formed using adjectives, the most common variation being Leof (dear, beloved). And after the Norman invasion of England, a surname was gradually added to the name, making it already close to the system of names existing today. The old Anglo-Saxon names gradually began to disappear and due to the influence of the Christian religion, Christian schools that opened everywhere actively stimulated the registration of newborns who received a name at baptism, so the names changed slightly: from Mary to Mary, from Jeanne to Joanna.

English first and last name generator

GENERATOR OF ENGLISH NAMES AND SURNAMES
(including Anglo-Irish and Anglo-Scottish surnames)

Here are the most common ones British names. For convenience, they are divided into parts of the country, because in each corner some of the most popular individual names. Some of them are the same, some are different. The names are ranked by popularity.

England

Men's

1. Harry– Harry (diminutive of Henry – rich, powerful)
2. Oliver– Oliver (from ancient German – army)
3. Jack– Jack (diminutive of John, from Hebrew – Yahweh is merciful)
4. Charlie– Charlie (from ancient German – man, husband)
5. Thomas– Thomas (from ancient Greek – twin)
6. Jacob– Jacob (simplified version of the name James)
7. Alfie– Alfie (from Old English – advice)
8. Riley– Riley (from Irish – courageous)
9. William– William (from ancient German – desire, will)
10. James– James (from Hebrew – “heel-holding”)

Women's

1. Amelia– Amelia (from ancient German – labor, work)
2. Olivia– Olivia (from Latin – olive tree)
3. Jessica– Jessica (the exact meaning is unknown, perhaps the name comes from biblical name Jescha)
4. Emily– Emily (female form) male name Emil - rival)
5. Lily– Lily (from English name lily flower)
6. Ava– Ava (variant of the medieval English name Evelyn)
7. Heather– Heather (from English – heather)
8. Sophie– Sophie (from ancient Greek – wisdom)
9. Mia– Mia
10. Isabella– Isabella (Provençal version of the name Elizabeth)

Northern Ireland

Men's

1. Jack– Jack
2. James– James
3. Daniel– Daniel
4. Harry– Harry
5. Charlie– Charlie
6. Ethan– Ethan
7. Matthew– Matthew (from Hebrew – gift of Yahweh)
8. Ryan– Ryan
9. Riley– Riley
10. Noah– Noah

Women's

1. Sophie– Sophie
2. Emily– Emily
3. Grace– Grace (from English – grace, elegance)
4. Amelia– Amelia
5. Jessica– Jessica
6. Lucy– Lucy (from the male Roman name Lucius - light)
7. Sophia– Sofia (variant of the name Sophie)
8. Katie– Katie (from Greek – pure, purebred)
9. Eva– Eve (from Hebrew – breathe, live)
10. Aoife– Ifa (from Irish – beauty)

Wales

Men's

1. Jacob– Jacob
2. Oliver– Oliver
3. Riley– Riley
4. Jack– Jack
5. Alfie– Alfie
6. Harry– Harry
7. Charlie– Charlie
8. Dylan– Dylan (according to Welsh mythology, this was the name of the God of the Sea)
9. William– William
10. Mason– Mason (from a similar surname meaning “stone carving”)

Women's

1. Amelia– Amelia
2. Ava– Ava
3. Mia– Mia
4. Lily– Lily
5. Olivia– Olivia
6. Ruby– Ruby (from English – ruby)
7. Seren– Seren (from Latin – clear)
8. Evie– Evie (from English surname Evelyn)
9. Ella– Ella (from ancient German – all, everything)
10. Emily– Emily

Modern English names

In English names, affectionate and diminutive forms are very often found as official name. In our country, this form is allowed only in personal, close communication. For example, take people familiar to everyone - Bill Clinton or Tony Blair. They are called by such names even at world negotiations, and this is absolutely acceptable. Although in fact Bill's full name is William, and Tony is Anthony. The British are allowed to register a newborn child by giving him diminutive name as first or second. Although there are no special prohibitions on choosing a name in English-speaking countries, you can give your child a name in honor of a city or region. For example, this is what the star couple Beckham did: Victoria and David gave their son the name Brooklyn - it was in this area of ​​New York that he was born.

Gradually, fashion began to change and names in English-speaking countries began to be often borrowed from different languages. Since the 19th century, many female names have appeared, such as Ruby, Daisy, Beryl, Amber and others. Names originally from Spain or France were readily used - Michelle, Angelina, Jacqueline. But the tendency of some people to give their children unusual names has not disappeared anywhere. Bill Simser, vice president of Microsoft, named his daughter Vista Avalon. The first part of the name is in honor of Windows Vista, and the second part is in honor of code name Avalon systems. But director Kevin Smith decided to name his daughter Harley Quinn - that was the name of the girl from the Batman comics.

By the way, not every owner likes such unusual names. Many children are embarrassed by this and eagerly wait until they reach adulthood to officially change their name. Little Pixie Geldof, who is the daughter of musician Bob Geldof, was very embarrassed by the prefix “little” at the beginning of her name and adult life preferred to call herself simply Pixie. But it’s hard to even imagine what a resident of New Zealand, whose name is Bus No. 16, will do with his name. One can only envy his parents’ imagination.