English celebrity names. The most beautiful British male names and their meanings

Until the eleventh century, English names served as the only source of personal identification; the English did not have patronymics. People were distinguished simply by name, and three old Anglo-Saxon names from that period - Edith, Edward and Edmund - have survived to this day.

Foreign names in England

Most of the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) names that have come down to us belong to the two-base ones: 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 a baptism ceremony. Ancient names were given to children depending on social status family. The Norman nobility bore Germanic names - Geoffrey, Henry, Ralph, Richard, Roger, Odo, Walter, William and from Brittany - Alan (Alan) and Brian (Brian).

The Normans proposed the idea of ​​forming Old English female names from male ones.- Patrick, Patricia, Paul, which are used in England to this day. Between 1150 and 1300 the number of names used began to decline rapidly. By the end of the fourteenth century, most of the male population had one of five names: Henry, John, Richard, Robert, William.

Women's names in the fourteenth century were also not very diverse: Alice, Anne, Elizabeth, Jane and Rose. Since a personal name could no longer individualize one or another member of society, the use of hereditary surnames began, for example, 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 residents still did not have their own surnames.

In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, New Testament biblical names came into fashion:

• Andrew
• John
• Luke.
• Mark.
• Matthew.
• Peter (Peter).
• Agnes.
• Anne.
• Catherine.
• Elizabeth.
• Jane.
• Mary

Common names in the 18th century in England were John, William and Thomas, and for women - Mary, Elizabeth and Anne. In the 19th century, male names were John, William and James, and female names were Mary, Helen and Anne. In the 20th century, English fashion for names changed significantly every ten years..

Popular English names of the last 500 years

The UK Office for National Statistics conducted an unusual English experiment in the field of family history. She examined more than 34 million British and Irish birth records from 1530 to 2005 and identified the 100 most popular male and female names.

English male names:

• John
• William.
• Thomas.
• George.
• James

English female names:

• Mary
• Elizabeth.
• Sarah.
• Margaret.
• Anna (Ann).

Rare and unusual names

Unusual English names were identified using data from the Office for National Statistics in England. Each name on the list below was identified in 2016 from child registration records in England. The rare case of the name being used, since it was given to no more than three newborns, confirms high degree uniqueness across the 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: "Pleasantness."
• 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: Traditional English surname.
• Jools. Meaning: "Descended from Jupiter."
• Marvelous. Meaning: wonderful, beautiful, wonderful. More traditionally, it is a Nigerian girl's name.

Current trends

Fashion trends in names are always in dynamic motion. New names were born, old ones returned from the distant past, regaining 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. The names of the royal family members Harry, William, Elizabeth, George, are especially popular among the people. In 2017, the UK National Statistical Service ONS published an annual report containing data on the names of newborns in 2016.

The boy's name Oliver leads the list, and the female name Amelia leads the list.. This is such a championship star couple occupies since 2013. Although in fact, many believe that in London the male name Muhammad is in first place. If you take a closer look at the list of the best baby names in England and Wales, this opinion seems to be true.

Muhammad is an Arabic name and has several spellings, so the name Muhammad appears several times in the statistics provided. Muhammad ranked 8th, Mohammed ranked 31st, Mohammad ranked 68th, with a total of 7,084. And the name Oliver was given to 6623 newborns, so obvious advantage Mohammed in front of Oliver. ONS representatives attribute this popularity to Muslim name in England with social changes in the country.

Ahead of ONS, the English website for parents BabyCentr released its official version of the 100 best names for children in 2017. The lists are compiled from a survey of more than 94,665 parents of newborns (51,073 boys and 43,592 girls). Olivia again took first place in the female names category. This year, the name Muhammad confidently surpassed the name Oliver, taking the leading position. The site also notes that in England they have begun to give more gender-neutral names, for example, the name Harley is called almost the same for male and female children.

Best English female names of 2017:

Best English male names of 2017:

Meanings of English names

Numerous life stories, research and theory 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 was noticed in ancient times.

English male names and their meanings

Meanings of English female names

1. Olivia. The name is in Latin oliva, meaning "olive".
2. Sofia (Sophia). The legends about her probably originated from the medieval "Hagia Sophia", meaning "Holy Wisdom".
3. Amelia. A mixture of the medieval names Emilia and Amalia. In Latin it means "industry" and "endeavor." Its Teutonic meaning is "protector".
4. Lily. In English, the meaning of Lily is: the lily flower is a symbol of innocence, purity and beauty.
5. Emily. Emily is a feminine given name, derived from the Roman feminine given name Aemilia. The Latin name Aemilia, in turn, may come from the Latin word aemulus (or from the same root as aemulus) - it means "rival".
6. Ava. Possibly from the Latin avis, meaning "bird". It may also be a short form of Chava ("life" or "living"), the Hebrew form of Eve.
7. Isla. The traditional usage is primarily Scottish, 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.
8. Isabella. Variant of Elizabeth meaning "dedicated to God" in Hebrew.
9. Mia. In Latin, the meaning of the name Mia is: desired child.
10. Isabelle. The Hebrew meaning of the name Isabel is: dedicated to God.
11. Ella. Meaning in English: Abbreviation of Eleanor and Ellen - beautiful fairy.
12. Poppy. This is a feminine 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.
13. Freya. In Scandinavia the meaning of the name is lady. Derived from the name Freya, the Scandinavian goddess of love and fertility and the mythological wife of Odin.
14. Grace. The English meaning of the word is "grace", derived from the Latin gratia, which means blessing of God.
15. Sophie. In Greek the meaning of the name Sophie is wisdom, wise.
16. Evie in Hebrew the meaning of the name Evie is life, living.
17. Charlotte. Charlotte is a feminine name, the feminine form of the masculine name Charlot, a diminutive of Charles. Of French origin meaning "free man" or "small".
18. Aria. Italian - "air". In music, an aria is usually a solo in an opera. In Hebrew it comes from Ariel, meaning lion of God, and its Teutonic origins are related to the bird.
19. Evelyn. In French: From a surname derived from the French Aveline, meaning hazelnut.
20. Phoebe. Feminine form of Greek phoibe (bright), which comes from phoibo (bright). Phoebe appears in Greek mythology as the name of Artemis, the goddess of the Moon. In poetry, Phoebe represents the moon.

Each of us received a name at birth. However, when we look at our lives, we wonder who we would be if our names were different.

Women's full names in England have their own distinctive feature. They consist of three parts, two of which are written with a hyphen, and a surname. The first name is the main one. The second is the average. The third is the surname. The main thing is the first name; it is this name, or a diminutive form of it, that a girl is called in life. The list of English female names is constantly growing, because any word can become a name, even the surname of a relative or a celebrity.

History of the origin of the English name

Initially, English names, like those of all other peoples, were a common nickname, consisting of two words - a noun and an adjective. They reflected the character of a person, his main features and characteristics. Further development led to the fact that people began to assign names (nicknames) to the girls born, reflecting the most desirable qualities that would predetermine and influence fate.

Original English female names

For England itself, truly English names are rare. Of the total, they occupy less than 10%. But this is not only 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 having English origin:

• Mildred - Mildred. Tender and strong.
• Alice - Alice. Translated it means "noble class".
• Alfreda - Alfreda. Wisdom, mind.
• Yvonne - Yvonne. Archer.
• Eloise - Eloise. A 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. Currently, in Britain, not all women's names are English; the list is constantly growing due to famous foreigners, after whom democratic Britons name their babies.

Names from Christian calendars, the Bible

The spread of Christianity in England greatly influenced women's names. At baptism, babies were named after saints and characters in the Bible. People reinterpreted these words in their own way, and new English female names began to appear. A list of them is given below:

• Mary - Mary. Serene. Derived from the Hebrew name Mary. This was the name of the mother of the Lord Jesus.
• Ann - Ann. Mercy, Grace. This name was the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel.
• Maryanne - Maryanne. Serene grace. This name combined two - Mary and Anne.
• Sarah - Sarah. Name Means "possessing power, princess."
• Sophia - Sophie. Wisdom. Came into English from Christianity.
• Katherine - Katherine. Purity. The name comes from Christianity.
• Eva - Eva. Life. It came from the Bible. That was the name of the ancestor of people.
• Agnes - Agnes. Innocent, immaculate. The name comes from Christianity.
• Susanna - Suzanne. 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 Church of England and gave their children new names, different from the usual ones. They were mostly of a rather strange nature, consisting of sentences. For example, The-Work-of-God Farmer, which means God's Work Farmer. But life defeated religious fanaticism. Ordinary people gave their daughters beautiful and new names:

• Daniel - Daniel. God is my judge.
• Sarah - Sarah. Bossy.
• Susan - Susan. Lily.
• Hannah - Hannah. Derived from the name 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 movement were forced to hide and went to Australia or North America.

American names

America was settled by people from different countries. Mostly people from the British Empire: British, Scots and Irish. Most of them were commoners and criminals fleeing persecution in their homeland. It was they who brought here the shortened form of names, which 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 residents of Britain, thousands of residents from all over Europe moved here, coming 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 at 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 - Suzanne. Little Lily.
• Margaret - Margaret. Pearl.
• Dorothy - Dorothy. A gift from 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 Caroline - princess.
• Ruth - Ruth. Friendship.
• Sharon - Sharon. Princess, plain.

English Catholics, Protestants, and Puritans brought their own rules for naming to America. They, just like in England, consist of three parts - the main, middle and surname. The British borrowed many American names.

New female names

In the 18th century, it appeared in England 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. Their list was supplemented by famous English writers. Jonathan Swift, William Shakespeare and others gave English women the following names:

• Stella - Stella. Star.
• Vanessa - Vanessa. Butterfly.
• Juliet - Juliet. Born in July.
• Ophelia - Ophelia. Exalted.
• Viola - Viola. Violet.
• Silvia - Silvia. Lesnaya.
• Julia - Julia. Girl with soft hair.
• Clara - Clara. Clear. Light.
• Pamela - Pamela. Wanderer. Pilgrim.
• Wendy - Wendy. Girlfriend.
• Candida - Candida. Clean. White.
• Clarinda - Clarinda. Light. Purity.
• Belinda - Belinda. Beautiful.
• Fleur - Fleur. Flower. Blooming.
• Sybil - Sybil. Prophetess. Oracle.

Beautiful female names

Every parent wants, first of all, for their child to be healthy and beautiful. The British choose euphonious and gentle names for their newborn daughters. They hope that the girl will have the character traits that the name denotes. Therefore, names are chosen that are sonorous and meaningful. If there is no such name, then the child can be called any word you like. The legislation allows this, which is why new beautiful English female names are appearing. The list is given below:

• Agata - Agata. Kind, good.
• Adelaida - 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 - Caroline. Princess.
• Melissa - Melissa. Honey.
• Miranda - Miranda. Amazing.
• 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 the clan, family, is secondary. English women's names and surnames are formed in the same way. 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 - Young.

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. The part is derived from the 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. Residents of Scotland use the prefix - Mac, which also means "son". For example, MacDonald - “son of Donald”, MacGregor - “son of Gregor”.

Some surnames have a professional connotation, that is, Stuart - “royal seneschal”, Pottinger - “cook who cooks the royal soup”. Surnames, like given names, can be given in honor of the place of residence; these can be the names of counties, countries, cities.

In this article we will analyze English male names and their meanings, tell you what men are called in England and what options are now popular. You will be able to become more deeply acquainted with the diversity of English names and learn a lot of new things about them.

For any person, a name is a unique business card. Of course, the beauty of sound is perceived differently by everyone, but each of the names hides an interesting story behind its appearance in the language and can tell a lot.

English name

The very structure of the English name differs from the Russian one. It does not have a middle name, but it can be a long chain. The basis is the name (personal name / first name) and surname (surname / last name). In addition, a child at birth may receive a middle name, which is often chosen in honor of other relatives and ancestors.

The appearance of the surname is also different from what we are used to. If in Russian we never confuse the last name and first name, then in English this is quite likely. We don’t always know exactly what is in front of us. For example, beautiful male English names George (George), James (James), Lewis (Lewis), Thomas (Thomas), Johnson (Johnson), Kelly (Kelly) and others can act as a surname. The most striking example of such a mixture is the writer Jerome Jerome, whose full name in English is Jerome Klapka Jerome.

There are also strategies for forming a surname from a given name. One of them is simply adding the -s indicator. In this case, the surnames look like the plural of one of the representatives of the clan: Williams (from William), Richards (from Richard), Roberts (from Robert). The second strategy is to add -son to mean "son", for example, Johnson (for John), Robertson (for Robert), Ericson (for Eric).

Male English names can be completely consonant with other vocabulary of the language. A pun in Oscar Wilde's play “The Importance of Being Earnest” is based on one of these cases. The name Ernest in English sounds the same as the word earnest (honest). And in the interweaving of the plot there is the idea that a person with the name Ernest is obliged to be honest.

The question of how to convey English male names in Russian is largely a matter of tradition. The composition of sounds in the two languages ​​differs, and it is not always possible to accurately reproduce a name in another language. IN different times Various rules were used: some are based on how the word is spelled, others - how it is pronounced. Hence the difference in the recording of the name William (William / William) or English surname Watson: In the classic translation of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, we are introduced to Watson, and modern bearers of the surname are translated as Watson.

What's popular

There is a fashion for English boys' names. Researchers use statistics and conduct surveys to find out which names are most common and successful.

The most popular in England are:

• Oliver - Oliver
• Jack - Jack
• Harry - Harry
• Jacob - Jacob
• Charley – Charlie
• Thomas - Thomas
• George - George
• Oscar - Oscar
• James - James
• William - William / William

However, for the US, the list of the most common male English names looks different:

• Noah - Noah
• Liam - Liam
• Mason - Mason
• Jacob - Jacob
• William - William / William
• Ethan - Ethan
• Michael - Michael
• Alexander - Alexander
• James - James
• Daniel - Daniel / Daniel

Popularity varies over time, and in the last century the most common names were different. A hundred years ago in England, the most common names were John, William and Thomas, which are still actively used today, as well as Connor and Kyle. And in America, Charles (Charles), David (David), Richard (Richard) or Joseph (Joseph) were much more popular than today.

Picking up beautiful names for boys in English, parents sometimes name their child after famous people or characters of any works. For example, after the resounding success of JK Rowling's books, many fans of the world she created chose the name Harry.

You can also trace the influence of famous people on the popularity of a particular name. For example, the name of actor Benedict Cumberbatch, rare for modern Britain, began to be called to children a little more often. The name Benedict itself came into English from late Latin and has the meaning “blessed.”

Abbreviated names

Abbreviated forms are very common in English. Often an abbreviated name is formed from the first letters of the full version. For example, from Edward is formed Ed (Ed), from Philip (Philip) - Phil (Phil). But there are also more significant differences between the original version and the one derived from it. So, the full name Anthony (Anthony) turns into Tony (Tony), and Bob (Bob) comes from Robert (Robert).

Another name variant construction is adding the ending -ie or -y. For example, from Frank (Frank) is formed Frankie (Frankie), Jack (Jack) - Jackie (Jackie), John (John) - Johnny (Johnny).

The shortened form can be used independently. For example, from Alexander (Alexander) the name Alex (Alex) spread. The beautiful names Henry (Henry) and Harry (Harry) are also options. Thus, Henry is used in Prince Harry's full name, but the common title is Prince Harry. It happens that the forms seem completely unrelated to each other. So, Jack is a variant of the name John, which then moved away from its source and became an independent name.

One short name can refer to several full forms. For example, for the already mentioned name Benedict, the shortened version looks like Ben. Although another source of the Ben form is the common Benjamin, whose most famous bearer was Benjamin Franklin.

Where did the name come from and what does it mean?

History of the British Isles, political and social influence reflected in the names. Looking at beautiful male names in English, you can find the most different roots: here are Latin sources, and biblical tradition, and the influence of Germanic tribes, and French borrowings. For example, the name Connor is Celtic, and is translated from Old Irish as “dog, wolf.” But Lewis (Lewis) came from French, where it looked like Louis (Louis).

Each name has its own story, where it came from and how it spread in the English language. For example, traditional biblical names have stuck in English: Adam, the first man in the Bible, or David, the king of ancient Israel.

Many forms survive from Old English and are widely used. Here are some traditional English male names and their meanings.

• The Old English name Edward (Edward) was formed from two elements: ead with the meaning “wealth, prosperity” and weard “guard”. There are many abbreviations for it: Ed, Eddie, Eddy, Ned, Ted, Teddy.
• In Old English Edgar (Edgar) the element ead “wealth” was also fixed. After the Norman Conquest it was forgotten for a while, but then regained popularity and is now known throughout the world.
• Traditional Anglo-Saxon names also include Alfred, Edmund, Harold and Oswald.

The Norman Conquest had an impact on English culture, and with it names that were not previously common came into the language.

The Normans brought the name William to England, which became one of the most famous English names and does not lose its popularity. This name was borne by the first Norman king of England - William the Conqueror (William the Conqueror). The meaning is made up of two German words: wil “will, desire” and helm “helmet, protection”.

A clear connection with the Norman tribes is visible in the English name Norman. It translates as “northern man”: that’s what the Vikings were called. From this word comes the name of the northern region of France, the area where the Vikings landed - Normandy.

There are other beautiful male English names with Norman roots:

• Arnold: Germanic name brought by the Normans, translated as "power of the eagle"
• Frederick: Means "peaceful ruler" and is abbreviated as Fred, Freddie, Freddy
• Robert: means "bright glory." It immediately became popular among the population of England and continues to remain widespread in English culture. Its abbreviations: Rob, Robbie, Robby, Bob, Bobbie, Bobby.

English is also influenced by Latin. Greek names often came into English through Latin.

• Gregory (Gregory): in Latin it had the form Gregorius, and from Greek it was translated as “vigilant”. It can be found in the abbreviated form Greg.
• Basil (Basil): Greek name, which means "king".
• George: means "farmer, one who works the land."
• Later the Greek name Christopher (Christopher) is translated as “carrying Christ within himself.” In early Christianity it could be used as a metaphor and refer to a person of faith.
• Philip (Philip) in Greek meant “friend of horses.” In English, the name Philip spread already in the Middle Ages, brought from southern Europe.
• The name Martin has direct Latin roots and comes from the name of the god of war, Mars.

There are a huge number of beautiful names in Russian culture. Among them there are those who have been calling children for hundreds of years (Alexander, Georgy, Ivan), but the fashion for them does not go away. There are also those who have already sunk into oblivion, although lately ancient Slavic names are again at the peak of popularity. However, there are parents who believe that the most beautiful names for boys are English ones, 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 named immediately after his birth, without even knowing him at all as a person. Having given the child the name Alan, the parents wanted the boy to become handsome in adulthood, Frankie to become free, and Skyler to become a protector. English-language names, like the names of people among the Slavic peoples, often had a purely religious character, and in the old days - completely pagan:

• Gabe is a strong man who belongs to the Lord.
• Dustin is a stone belonging to Thor.
• Denis is the one who worships Dionysus.
• Elric, Elroy, Ellgar, Oliver are names associated with elves.
• Saiga - 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, modifications of them, 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 clergymen drew very beautiful names for boys from the Bible - Samuel, Benjamin, Abraham. Many holy fathers invented and proper names for the offspring of his parishioners. Over time, they became popular, and many people still use them today. 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 is the one who is like God.
• Matthew is God's gift.
• Christopher, Keith - follower of Jesus Christ.
• Zachary is not forgotten by God.
• Joshua - salvation is in God.
• Devin, Devon is a parishioner.

It is curious that when the Catholic Church dominated in England, it was customary to name children after specific biblical heroes, but with the spread of Protestant sentiment in the country, the semantic vector put into the name took on a new direction. In those days, the church demanded submission and humility from its wards, therefore the English clergy selected names for boys accordingly (Benedict - blessed, Amedeus - the one who loves God, Timothy - the one who honors 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 were truly revered in this country. The fate of the winner was predicted for the boys from birth. It is possible that the names predicting military glory for their sons were given not by mothers, but by fathers, however, the list included: William, which means “helmet”; Walter is the lord of the host; Fergus - strong-willed; Herb, Harvey - fighter against the bad man; Andy is a warrior.

Eat big list beautiful and sonorous English names for boys that incorporate peaceful activities - agriculture, crafts, farming, helping people:

• Ernest is the one who fights death, perhaps a healer, a healer;
• Eustace - harvest, fertility;
• Harper is a harp player;
• Philip is a horse breeder, one who loves horses;
• Peter is a stone;
• Leslie - oak grove.

It is curious that many of these names can only conditionally be called English. Most of them originated from other areas, were the result of a mixture of cultures and, if you look closely, the most popular of them are also in our language, they just sound a little different.

What do you call the ship...

Another interesting fact about the Western world in general, and about England in particular, is the custom of giving 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. To be fair, 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 at a completely official level can be called a diminutive name, neglecting full recording specified in the documents.

IN Western countries There is a peculiar classification of names according to order - first and second name, surname. And if it is not customary to change the latter, the baby inherits it from the parents in an unchanged form, then the child can be given absolutely any name by law. This could be something from the generally accepted list, it could be the surname of a person important to the family (historical figure, political figure, football player, etc.) or a diminutive form of the name, a flower, a fruit, or in general any word you like.

In most cases, moms and dads are reasonable and call their offspring normal names or insert their fantasies at the end of the name sequence, but there are crazy people who write down their children as Thank-God Penniman, Rise-Quickly Stringer, or If-Christ-Wouldn't-Die- For-You-Would-Be-Cursed Barebone.

In the history of Russia (in the USSR) there was also a fashion for names of this kind, although in a slightly different vein - children were called Pobeda, Oktyabrina, Leninid.

Top male names from England

Cases like this are not only historical fact, which has come down to us since the times of Puritan England of the last millennium. Nowadays, some parents also manage to ruin their child’s life immediately after birth. How else can you say about a father who named his son not John (a name quite suitable for any boy), but Bus No. 16?

It is quite predictable that when a person reaches adulthood, at the first opportunity he will register himself under a new pseudonym. Among the most popular English-language names of past years are Jack, Michael, John, Alan, Oliver, Thomas, William, Harry (a name about which you can read in more detail below), Daniel, Matthew.

Dear John

There are names that are truly popular in all corners of the globe; they carry the same interpretation and sound slightly different, although they have a common origin. The most common are John, Ivan, Jean, Jan, Hans. John is not inferior to him - a name that can be translated from the Hebrew dialect as “God's mercy.” They called it many people. Among the Christian great martyrs there are more than fifty saints, and there are many Johns in the world. This name was proudly worn by kings, kings, lords and simple peasants. It is no less popular among modern famous personalities - John Tolkien, John Lennon, John Kennedy.

Magic guy

The name Harry is not particularly typical for our ears, at least it was so before the appearance of the famous book about a young wizard whose name was that. Harry is interpreted from ancient German as “courageous.” Men with this name are credited with many vices, but also no less talents. On the one hand, they are considered liberated, purposeful and charismatic individuals, on the other hand, intolerance and passion prevent them from succeeding one hundred percent in life.

One can argue with such an opinion, because among the owners of this name there are very influential, famous and, of course, successful people, 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 is deciphered - “ ancient Slav" Esotericists and numerologists believe that if you name a boy Alan, he will definitely succeed in life. He will be helped in this by his remarkable fortitude, developed intelligence and talents, which providence generously rewards children with that name. This theory is proven 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 the children of famous people experience a special share of curiosity. Thus, in the Western media, the greatest fuss is always caused by what show business stars or important government figures will call their offspring. Is it worth remembering with what impatience the decision of the British royal family was awaited when the couple Charles and Kate had their first child, George Alexander Louis.

It is almost impossible to find a simple and uncomplicated name (Bill, Jack or Fred) among star children. Born into unusual families, they must 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, they are definitely guaranteed attention.

It is customary to give names to children after birth, but parents come up with them long before their babies are born. When choosing a name for their future daughter, parents consider various aspects: combination of letters, euphony, meaning of the name and even its influence on a person’s fate. Each couple tries to come up with something special and unique.

Research conducted by various historians has revealed the fact that the earliest English names were derived from words (nouns and adjectives) that existed in Old English. It was not the person’s name that carried a special meaning, but his nickname.

The situation with names changed dramatically after the conquest of England by the Normans. There was a rapid replacement of English names with Norman ones. Today, only a small part of the British have truly English names.

It is also noteworthy that there are very few old native English names. They have almost never reached our days. The vast majority of them were borrowed from cultures such as Hebrew, Ancient Greek, Celtic, Norman, etc. At that time, people received long and short names that praised the gods, the forces of nature and any human qualities.

In the 16th century in England, old English female names, mentioned in the Old and New Testaments, were quite common. Among them are the following:

• Mary is a derived form of the Hebrew name Mary. This ancient name has very beautiful meaning- “serene”;
• Anna - named after the mother of the prophet Samuel. Translated as "grace";
• Maryann is a combined name of Mary and Anne;
• Sarah is named after Abraham's wife. The meaning of this name is “mistress.”

The influence of literature on the formation of names

Writers also played a huge role in the emergence of new female names. It is thanks to literature that such rare female names as Sylvia, Ophelia, Stella, Jessica, Vanessa, Julia, Juliet, Jessica and Viola appeared in the English language.

Among other things, literary works contained many Old English names. Among the beautiful female names there are old names, borrowed from other languages. Names of similar origin include: Anita, Angelina, Jacqueline, Amber, Daisy, Michelle and Ruby. And this is not the entire list.

Popular English female names

Name fashions, like many other aspects of life, come and go. Some are quickly forgotten, forever, while others return from time to time - usually in their original form, but sometimes in a new interpretation.

According to data from the UK National Statistics Service, the most popular names in recent years there have been Olivia, Emma and Sophie. A list of 30 other popular English girl names is given below:

1. Olivia
2. Sofia
3. Isabel
4. Charlotte
5. Emily
6. Harper
7. Abigail
8. Madison
9. Avery
10. Margaret
11. Evelyn
12. Edison
13. Grace
14. Amelie
15. Natalie
16. Elizabeth
17. Scarlet
18. Victoria

Successful names and not so successful ones

It has long been known that a person’s name largely determines his destiny. Psychologists from all over the world are actively working on this issue, conducting various studies, observations and surveys. As a result, the success rate of individuals named by one name or another also has a strong impact on the popularity of the name itself.

Thus, one of the surveys conducted in Great Britain showed what British names are recognized by the residents of Foggy Albion as the most successful, and which - on the contrary. The survey results are shown in the table below.

Rare English female names and their meanings

There are many names that remain outside the popularity rankings, being the least used. The so-called “outsider names” include:

• Annik - benefit, grace
• Allin - bird
• Amabel - attractive
• Bernays - bringing victory
• Bambi is a child
• Bekkai - the one who lures into a trap
• Bets is my oath
• Willow - willow
• Gabby - strength from God
• Dominic is the lord's property
• Jojo - multiplying
• Delours - melancholy
• Jewel - a precious stone
• Georgina - peasant girl
• Elayn - bird
• Kiva - beautiful
• Kelly - blonde
• Lukinda - light
• Lalaj - babbling
• Morgan - sea circle
• Marley - favorite
• Melissa - bee
• Mackenzie is a beauty
• Mindy the black snake
• Meagan is a pearl
• Penelope - the cunning weaver
• Poppy - poppy
• Rosaulin - a gentle mare
• Totti - girl
• Phyllis - tree crown
• Heather - heather
• Edwena - wealthy friend

The most beautiful female English names

The beauty of the name and its euphony are of great importance for girls and women. All my life I will associate her with the name given to her by her parents. There is no dispute about taste, and if one person likes the name Amelia or Elizabeth, then another may be annoyed by it. However, there is a ranking of names that most people think are the most beautiful.

Unusual female English names

Ordinary people rarely wear unusual names. After all, when choosing a name for a child, many parents are guided not only by their own preferences, but also think about ensuring that their child does not become an object of ridicule among children. But celebrities have their own opinion on this matter; they choose strange female and male names, guided only by their imagination and the desire to attract as much attention as possible.

Scout-Larue and Tallupa-Bell - that's what Bruce Willis called his youngest daughters. And these are no less than the nicknames of your favorite horses that won at the races.

Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple, which is how the name Apple is translated into Russian.

Rapper 50 Cent named his son Marquise, ignoring male English names.

Singer David Bowie ignored all the famous English names for boys and named his son Zoe, simply considering the combination Zoe Bowie funny.

Beyoncé and her husband Jay-Z named their daughter Blue Ivy, which means “blue ivy.”

Actress Milla Jovovich's daughter's name is Ever Gabo. The second part of the name is the first syllables of the names of Mila’s parents - Galina and Bogdan.

The name of the daughter of American rock musician Frank Zappa is Moon Unit, which means “Moon Satellite”.

Summer Rain is the name singer Christina Aguilera came up with for her daughter. Translated from English it means “Summer Rain”.

Some people, immersed in the world of their favorite films and TV series, and cannot imagine their life without them, name their children not only in honor of their favorite heroes and actors, but also use ordinary words that are not proper names.

This is how a completely new female name appeared - Khaleesi, a word from the popular series “Game of Thrones”, which meant the title of one of the heroines, synonymous with queen or queen. Today, there are already 53 girls in the world with this name.

Human imagination knows no bounds, so new male and female names will appear in the world again and again. Some of them will catch on and become popular, while others will be heard a little and be forgotten.