37 British Baby Names for Your Posh Peanut
Anglophiles rejoice: The definitive list of the best British baby names is in! And did you know that the UK is teeming with beautiful British names for boys and girls that you may have never heard of?Ā
According to inside sources (do the authorās friends across the pond count as inside sources?!), the tendency in Great Britain is to go one or two ways when naming a child: straight-up classics inspired by centuries of nobility and tradition...or way off the beaten path.Ā
Of course, these are the English weāre talking about, so their version off the beaten path isnāt going to be quite as āout thereā asĀ many others tend to get. But color names, obscure flowers, and surprising pop-culture inspired picks tend to rise to the top of baby name lists, along with standards, like Charles, George, Catherine, or Elizabeth. Naming kids after the Royals is also prevalent there (just a quick Google will provide you a solid list!).Ā Ā
If youāre searching for the perfect British baby name for your little one, you might just find it here. Here are some of our favorite British names for babies...
British Boy Names
Alastair: The beloved traditional British boy name actually has Scottish roots as a version of Alexander.Ā Ā
Archie: This derivative of Archibald means ātruly braveā and has shot up in popularity since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex imparted the British name on their first-born son last year.Ā
Barnaby: A British boy name meaning āthe son of consolation,ā itās an ancient name from the Apostles thatās been seen more and more in recent years in the UK.Ā
Duncan: The Scottish name meaning ādark warriorā is not too rare nor too overused.Ā Ā
Felix: This British name means āhappyā and āfortunate,ā making this fancy, jaunty-sounding name a hope-filled choice for Baby Boy.Ā Ā
Harvey: This is one of those trendier British names picking up speed with modern parents in the UK. It means ābattle worthyā and has French origins.Ā Ā
Henry: A classic that will seemingly never go out of style! This noble English name means āestate ruler.ā
Inigo: Parents seeking a unique British baby name might be charmed by this gem from the Spanish thatās popular with English parents right now. It means āfieryāāand sounds like it, too.Ā
Jasper:Ā This popular British nameĀ has Persian origins meaning ābringer of treasure.āĀ
Laird: The Scottish land-ownerās name is a slick pick for those who like one-syllable baby names, and is growing in popularity with British parents.Ā Ā
Noah: While the biblical name has been in the Top 5 in the US for years (and currently in the #1 spot!), itās steadily risen in popularity in Great Britain ever since the 1800ās, rounding out their top 10 currently. The name has Hebrew roots, and means ārestā or ācomfort.ā
Oliver: Itās a popular baby name among British parents, meaning āolive tree.ā Give him the nickname āOllieā for extra British flair.Ā Ā
Piers: The name with Greek origins meaning ārockā is a trendy pick with UK parents and a softer answer to Pierce, which is also a posh British boy name.Ā
Sebastian: This name has Greek and Latin roots and has been popular on both sides of the pond for years. Your little boy would be in the best British company if you nicknamed him Seb.
Theo: The shortened version of Theodore is an oft-given name for British baby boys; Teddy is another option. Theodore means āgift of God.ā
British Girl NamesĀ
Agnes: Itās an old-fashioned name that never really went out of style in England. Agnes has Greek origins, means āpureā or āvirginal,ā and would be an adorableāif unconventionalāpick for a baby girl.Ā
Beatrix: This beautiful British baby girl name means "she who brings happiness; blessed."
Briony: Itās in the British Top 100, making it a gorgeous choice for your daughter. The name means āto sprout,ā making it a perfect choice for outdoorsy parents, as well.Ā Ā
Cressida: This fun British name for girls is Greek for āgold,ā and is beloved by UK parents. Plus, Cressida appears in Shakespeare, giving it extra cred on our list of British baby names. Itās pronounced phonetically so it wonāt cause confusion.Ā
Florence: The Brits have fun with this pretty girlsā name from the Latin, meaning āflourishing, prosperous.ā Singer-songwriter Florence Welsh of Florence and the Machine has given the unique name a bit of an edge since bursting on the scene with her girl-power vibe.Ā
Freya: The Norse name meaning ānoble womanā has been popular in the UK for years and is becoming a favorite here.Ā
Gemma: Your āprecious stoneā would be in good company in England with this pretty baby name that is a favorite there.Ā Ā
Isla: The trendy British name in this spelling and other variants (such as Ayla) is picking up speed inĀ other parts of the world as well. Isla means āislandā and it has a fun, whimsical sound.Ā Ā
Jocelyn: The ancient French name has a lovely British feel to it. Call her Jossie to secure English cool-girl status.Ā
Maisie: Itās a super sweet diminutive of Margaret meaning āpearl,ā and British mums love it (we do, too!).Ā
Nicola: This Italian version of Nicole (and the feminine of Nicholas) is especially popular in the UK. The name means āpeople of victoryā and this variation has a charming, exotic sound.
Philippa: Or Pippa, as sheāll likely be called, is a gorgeous English name with a royal feel. The female version of Phillip means ālover of horses;ā Kate Middletonās sister by this name made it popular the world over in recent years, but the equine name has deep British roots dating back to the 14th Century.Ā Ā
Poppy: British parents have loved flower names forever; this spirited one denotes a bright red bloom that stands for extravagance (or deep sleep) in the Victorian language of flowers. Other nature names loved by the English include Willow, Primrose, and Jasmine.Ā
Rhonwen: It strikes the perfect note somewhere between recognizable and totally one-of-a-kind. The Welsh name meaning āslenderā or āfairā is beloved in the UK but far less popular here than similar-sounding picks like Bronwen or Gwendolen.Ā
Scarlette: Color names are big in Britain, and this shade of red gets high marks. Similar choices that are popularĀ across the pond include Ruby and Violet.Ā Ā
Tamsin: Itās a British name constructed by shortening Thomasina (another popular pick among English parents), and it sounds cute enough to catch on here as well. The meaning is ātwin,ā so this would be an extra apt choice for the girl in a set of boy-girl twins, or any daughter who takes after her mother.
Tilly: A diminutive of Mathilda, the German girlsā name meaning ābattle-mightyā is a stand-alone choice British parents have been loving in recent years.Ā
Zara: This sweet British girlsā name sounds a bit more special than the ubiquitous Sara but itās just as easy to pronounce and spell. In English, it means āprincess,ā but the multicultural name has other meanings from Hebrew and Arabic, including āblooming flowerā and āGod remembers.āĀ
Gender-Neutral British Names
Ellis: This unisex baby name is of Welsh origin and is a favorite in Britain in recent years. It means ābenevolentā and is one of those flexible names that pairs well with most surnames and middles.Ā
Finlay: Itās the preferred British spelling of a Scottish/Irish name meaning āfair-haired heroā and we love it for both boys and girls.Ā Ā
Kenzie: For boys, this one is currently in the Top 1,000 in the UK, whereas parents in other parts of the world tend to prefer the longer versionāMackenzieāfor girls. Either is acceptable for a boy or a girl, and both options feel both fresh and storied.Ā Ā
Lennon: After John, or just because you love it, this precious British unisex baby name rounds out our list. It means āloverā in Irish and lends to easy nicknames and a lifetime of, well, love!
Final Thoughts onĀ British Baby Names
No matter if your babyās name derives from actual royalty...or simply rock royalty, there are so many British names to inspire you. But if these British baby names didnāt strike your fancy, take a look at our other favorite baby names:
Though picking the perfect a baby name is a big part of planning for your little oneās arrival, so is planning a baby shower and creating a baby registry. And, as youāre looking ahead to the big day, donāt forget to register for the ultimate baby gift: SNOO Smart Sleeper!
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