Unusual foreign names for girls. English name for a girl - which one do you like?

A well-known proverb says: “Whatever you name a ship, that’s how it will sail.” The same thing happens in human life, since a name can not only endow a child with certain character traits, but also influence his fate. Modern parents pay attention to everything foreign, so they prefer to name their children in accordance with foreign trends.

How can a name affect one's destiny?

What to name a child is a question that worries parents from the first days of a mother’s pregnancy. It has been proven that a name directly affects a person’s destiny. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the translation and consonance with the surname and patronymic. Many modern parents like beautiful foreign ones. If your daughter becomes Angelina, Sandra, Zemfira, Lilian or Teresa, she will always stand out in the crowd and will be able to make a career for herself as an actress or singer.

5 beautiful international names for girls

Sarah. This name is found in almost any nation, since when translated it means “lady”, “princess”, “noble”. What parent wouldn't agree to predestine his daughter? good fortune and a secure future?

Alina. When named like this, they give a new name “Alla”. Translated, it means, according to the first version - “noble”, according to the second - “other”.

Angelina. By naming your daughter this way, you will give her an angelic character, since the word “angel” is at the core. Angelina Jolie, the most famous owner of this name, fully lives up to it.

Eve. The name of the first woman will have a positive effect on the fate of your daughter, if you want to call her that. Translated, Eve means “life giver.”

Rose. There are often beautiful foreign names for girls in the world - modern and outdated, which are somehow related to flowers. By naming your daughter Rose, you will convey to your daughter the fragility and confidence of this plant.

The most beautiful female foreign names for all letters of the alphabet

Sometimes mothers and fathers strive to name their child, taking into account the consonance with the surname and patronymic. A certain combination of sounds can affect not only the character, but also the fate of the child. The list contains beautiful names for girls (foreign) and their meaning for all letters of the alphabet.

A. Aelita (“airy”).

B. Bella (“beautiful”).

V. Vivien (“alive”).

G. Gloria (“glory”).

D. Dominica (“belonging to the Lord”).

E. Eve (“life”).

J. Jasmine (“gift of the gods”).

Z. Zemfira (“air”).

I. Irene (“peace”).

K. Kayla (“fair”).

L. Lilian (“lily”).

M. Melanie (“dark”).

N. Nicole (“victor of nations”).

O. Olivia (“olive”).

P. Penelope (“faithful wife”).

R. Regina (“queen”).

S. Sandra (“protector of people”).

T. Teresa (“protector”).

W. Ursula (“bear”).

F. Phillipina (“who loves horses”).

H. Chloe (“young escape”).

C. Cecilia (“blind”).

Ch. Chulpan (“morning star”).

S. Charlotte (“man”).

E. Emma (“precious”).

Yu. Justina (“fair”).

Ya. Yasmina (“jasmine”).

The most beautiful foreign names for girls (list with translation)

Britney. This is what Americans call their babies in honor of their favorite pop singer Britney Spears. Translated, the name means “little Britain.”

Kimberly. Girls named this way are called upon to win always and everywhere, since the name means “leader” when translated.

Jessica.“Stronger, higher, faster” is the motto of all the girls named after the most beautiful actress in the world. Jessica Alba has not only exceptional appearance, but also positive personal qualities such as sincerity, kindness, and reliability.

Pamela.“Sweet as honey” - this is the meaning behind this name. You can see this by looking at the magnificent actress and fashion model Pamela Anderson.

Tiffany. Not the most popular, but very beautiful female name, which means “manifestation of God.” After the release of the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 1961 with Audrey Hepburn in leading role it has become widespread in Europe and America.

Charlotte. This name has been given to the greatest women in history; according to statistics, it ranks 10th on the list of “the most beautiful foreign names for American girls.”

Marilyn. After the popularity of the famous blonde blossomed in the world, girls began to be called this name very often. Marilyn Monroe was talented, but closed, so you should think a thousand times whether you should pass on these character traits to your daughter.

The most beautiful Russian ones for girls (list with translation)

Zhanna. The baby will be a real gift for parents, since the name means “God's mercy” in translation. This is what fans of Zhanna Friske’s work might call their daughter.

Angelina. Translated from means “messenger,” but the obvious root “angel” will be reflected in the daughter’s character, which will truly be angelic.

Victoria. This is what girls are called in the West and in Russia. Translated, this royal name means “victory.”

Evelina. The name is believed to be a form of the name Eve. Based on the translation from Hebrew - “ life force"- we can conclude that a girl named like this will grow up active and healthy.

Snezhana. Let the root “snow” in this name not scare young parents: despite the translation - “snowy” - a girl named so will grow up active, but balanced.

Pauline. Translated, the name means “solar” and “sent to Apollo.” Typically, girls named this way are distinguished by their activity and determination from childhood.

Names for girls in the language of love

If you are expecting a daughter, imagine for a moment what kind of character and behavior you want to give her. When considering the most beautiful names for girls (foreign), pay attention to French, since the language itself is beautiful, melodious and romantic. You can name your daughter Aurora, Beatrice, Vivian, Gabriella, Julian, Jacqueline, Ines, Claudina, Lucinda, Melissa, Nicole, Odile, Penelope, Roberta, Suzanne, Florence, Chloe, Charlotte or Edith. By the way, according to sociological surveys, French names are considered the most beautiful and melodic.

Star pick

Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband knew that they were going to have a girl, so they made their choice right away. Parents are familiar with biblical story, so they named the girl in honor of the fatal fruit - Apple (English - “apple”).

Julia Roberts also gave her daughter the delicious name Hazel (English - “nut”).

Jessica Alba, the most charming actress and caring mother, named her daughter Marie Honor. By the way, the second part translated from English means “honor”.

The director decided to continue family tradition Call children names starting with the letter “R”. So, he named his four sons and daughters Rocket, Racer, Rabel and Rogue. As you can see, the choice of Hollywood stars is very original, and ordinary citizens rarely decide to follow their example. However, there are beautiful foreign names for girls and boys that are more popular.

Steven Spielberg's daughter is named Sasha, Jennifer Lopez's twins are Max and Emma; Lionel Richie called his favorite Sofia, John Travolta named Ella, Dustin Hoffman called Alexandra, Jeff Gordon called Ella Sofia. Zoya - Leni Kravitz, Natalya - Kobe Bryant. All these “Western” names are also popular in Russia, so many people wonder about their origin.

What can the time of year say?

The tendency to name a child according to the month in which he was born comes from ancient times. Beautiful foreign names for girls, chosen in honor of the season in which they were born, will allow you to fully reveal your character and influence your destiny.

“Julius” and “Julia” have etymological similarities with the second summer month - July. August (Augustine) and Augusta (Augustina) are less common names used to call children mainly in Russia. The revolution in 1917 brought about fundamental changes in people's lives. The fashion of naming children October and Oktyabrina appeared almost a hundred years ago and is connected precisely with this event. Noyabrina and Dekabrina are the names of girls born in these months.

Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt named her daughter Autumn - this is how “autumn” sounds in English. The choice of the star mother is not accidental, because the baby was born on September 28. Martha and April, beautiful for girls, are very common in Europe and America. Obviously, the name Maya also comes from the month of spring.

A resident of Arkhangelsk distinguished himself with originality, who has difficulty changing his passport. Andrei Valentinovich Khristoforov changes his name 12 times a year and chooses a name in honor of the corresponding month, and a middle name in honor of the season. So, he was October Osenievich, December Zimnievich. The man admits that he would like to name himself after the day of the week and change his name every day, but the registry office employees would hardly make a concession to him.

Fashion for different names is gradually changing. At a certain period, some names necessarily become popular. A very important step in life is choosing a name for a child. A name is given for life, so its choice and meaning requires careful study.

The main thing in the article

How to choose a beautiful modern name for a girl?

Nowadays it is fashionable to call girls in a foreign way: Nicole, Evelina, Jacqueline. Such names sound quite modern and beautiful. If such a name does not correspond to the patronymic and surname and looks ridiculous in such a combination, you should not condemn the child to such difficulties in the future. Also, your daughter may not be ready for such an unusual name and may be embarrassed by it in the future. But definitely rare name will make the child stand out from other boring names.

Old Russian names have also gained popularity: Vasilisa, Praskovya, Pelageya. These are names with old school and energy, they sound quite solemn. When choosing old Russian name For your daughter, look at shortened versions of such names. This will help avoid embarrassment when children in kindergarten are teased with Palazhki and Vaska.

Picking up modern name, try to choose one that is easy to pronounce.

Modern Russian names for girls

Having settled on the choice of Russian names, you should pay attention to universal names that mean feelings: Love, Faith and Hope.
Choose a name for your princess based on the time of year of your baby: a winter baby can be called Snezhanaya, autumn - Golden, summer - Augusta, spring - Maya.
Most popular Russian names are:

  • Sofia
  • Victoria
  • Varvara
  • Daria
  • Maria
  • Catherine
  • Elizabeth
  • Anastasia
  • Pauline
  • Hope
  • Love
  • Veronica.

Most of these names do not have Russian roots, but they have taken root among us and have been popular for a long time.
Popular Old Russian names :

  • Pelagia
  • Ustinya
  • Darina
  • Miroslava
  • Vasilisa
  • Yesenia.

Find out more about the meanings of female Old Russian names from our article.

Rare and unusual female names

Many parents want to emphasize the individuality of their child and distinguish him from other children with an unusual name.

  • When choosing a name for your daughter, remember that she will live with it all her life. Try to choose one of the rare names that are typical for your country of residence and nationality.
  • Study the diminutive version of the name you like; it should not hurt your ears. You should definitely like the diminutive version, because that’s what your daughter’s peers and relatives will call you.
  • Study the meaning of the name, because it can influence fate. It will be unpleasant to find out that the meaning of your girl’s beautiful name is “lame” or “sad.”
  • Analyze the list of popular names over the past few years. Perhaps the rare name you chose for your child has not been that name for a long time.

Examples unusual old Russian names :

  • Bozena
  • Vesnyana
  • Veroslava
  • Zlatislava
  • Darena
  • Lyubomir
  • Miloslava
  • Stanislava
  • Slav
  • Tsvetana.

Foreign names will also sound unusual:

  • Dominica
  • Beatrice
  • Gloria
  • Cassandra
  • Ariadne
  • Mirabella
  • Medina
  • Flora.

Unusual names , which in the last few years had to be registered by the registry office:

  • Golub
  • Rosiyana
  • Byzantium
  • Ocean
  • Cherry
  • Cassiopeia
  • Kupava.

Beautiful female names by month according to the church calendar

It has long been customary among Orthodox believers to name a child in honor of the memory of the saint who falls on the child’s birthday. Take a closer look at the church calendar, you might like a name that coincides with your daughter’s birth month.
IN January The memory of saints who help those in need, who are persistent and brave, is honored.

  • Anastasia
  • Tatiana
  • Maria
  • Sofia
  • Melania
  • Vasilisa.

February- a month in which the memory of women who know how to balance their character is honored.

  • Rimma
  • Vasilisa
  • Ksenia
  • Pelagia
  • Svetlana
  • Sofia.


IN March modest and submissive girls are born, but according to the calendar it is possible to award a daughter with a strong name:

  • Marianne
  • Irina
  • Varvara
  • Alexandra
  • Antonina
  • Daria
  • Hope
  • Nika.

U April Girls are usually stubborn and strong in nature. Therefore, it is best to choose soft names from the calendar:

  • Svetlana
  • Maria
  • Pauline
  • Lydia.

To hardworking girls born in May, the following names are suitable:

  • Elizabeth
  • Ulyana
  • Juliana
  • Faina
  • Taisiya.


IN June, wanting to reward her daughter not only beautiful name, but also a reliable patroness, pay attention to these names:

  • Valeria
  • Christina
  • Elena
  • Pelagia
  • Maria.

For July According to the church calendar, there is the following list of names for daughters:

  • Olga
  • Zhanna
  • Marina
  • Margarita
  • Elizabeth
  • Juliana.

A girl will grow up decent and honest if she August you will choose her name from the calendar:

  • Angelina
  • Christina
  • Irina
  • Daria
  • Elena.


The calendar has a fairly wide selection for girls born in September:

  • Sofia
  • Hope
  • Love
  • Lyudmila
  • Tatiana
  • Natalia
  • Raisa.

There is a good selection of female names in church calendar behind October:

  • Maria
  • Veronica
  • Pelagia
  • Maria
  • Taisiya
  • Hope
  • Zinaida
  • Zlata.

If you are having difficulty choosing a name for your daughter, November Saints will help solve this problem:

  • Elizabeth
  • Anastasia
  • Neonilla
  • Seraphim
  • Olga
  • Elena.


In the first month of winter, December, honor such saints:

  • Tatiana
  • Catherine
  • Varvara
  • Margarita
  • Anfisa.

Foreign female names in Russian style

Most names have the same origin, usually Greek, Hebrew and Latin, but they are translated into other languages.

  • Popular name Maria, which has Jewish roots, is quite common among us. In England it is - Mary, in France - Marie.
  • English name Elizabeth and German Lizhen translated as Elizabeth.
  • French Julie and Italian Juliet they will become in the Russian way Julia.
  • Spanish Catarina, English Catherine- this is ours Katerina.
  • Spanish and Italian Lucia(translated as “light”) - an analogue of the name Svetlana.
  • Similar to an English name Dolly in Russia - Daria, A BarbaraVarvara.
    Almost everything foreign names have analogues in Russian.

Beautiful Tatar female names

The meanings of Tatar names are mainly divided into those denoting certain features:


Beautiful Muslim female names

Female Muslim names are quite popular among other nations due to their beautiful sound and meaning.

  • Alsou – pink-faced
  • Aliya – sublime
  • Aisha - life
  • Amira - princess
  • Amina - faithful
  • Leile - night
  • Maram - aspiration
  • Nadira - rare
  • Rashida - walking right
  • Halima - patient
  • Zukhra - morning star
  • Malika - queen
  • Rahima - merciful
  • Samia - precious
  • Farida is unique
  • Firuza – light
  • Habiba - beloved
  • Yasmina - similar to jasmine.

Beautiful Kazakh female names

If you want to give your daughter any qualities, then you need to know what the name means. Kazakh names, in addition to native Kazakh ones, include names from Arabic, Russian, Persian and other languages. Each female Kazakh name has its own unique meaning, mainly pleasant and necessary meanings in life, character traits.

  • Ademi - graceful
  • Azhar – pretty
  • Aigul - moon flower
  • Alma - apple
  • Balzhan – sweet, smart
  • Balym - my smart girl
  • Gulnaz – graceful
  • Dameli - reliable
  • Zhanar - sparkle in the eyes
  • Kunsulu is a ray of sunshine.

Modern Armenian female names

For Armenians, a newborn girl is, first of all, a future mother, so the name should mean care, purity, and warmth. Many female names come from the names of pagan goddesses. Anahit– mother goddess, goddess of motherhood and war – Nane, Astghik- goddess of beauty and love. There are a lot of names derived from the names natural phenomena, plants and celestial bodies: Suzanne– lily, Lusine- moon, Garunik- spring. Many female names are formed from male names with certain endings added. The ending “ui” represents the feminine principle - masculine Tigran + ui = feminine Tigranui. The ending “uht” is translated as daughter and holy oath. Vormizd's daughter will Wormizduht. The most euphonious modern Armenian names:

  • Anush – means “sweet”
  • Hasmik – jasmine
  • Arevik - sunshine
  • Gayane - earthly
  • Zara - gold
  • Zarui - Priestess of the Fire Temple
  • Mariam – Maria
  • Naira – free
  • Nana - mother
  • Narine - wife
  • Ruzanna – rose
  • Siranush - love
  • Ermina is courageous, dear.

List of the most beautiful female modern names

The most popular and beautiful names:

  • Anastasia
  • Milan
  • Angelina
  • Valeria
  • Christina
  • Yesenia
  • Arina
  • Marina
  • Svetlana
  • Snezhana
  • Zlata
  • Siyana
  • Regina
  • Pauline
  • Lilith
  • Pelagia
  • Emilia
  • Elina
  • Violet.

Meanings of the most beautiful female names

Anastasia– from Greek “resurrected”, “immortal”.
Milan– Slavic name, means “sweetheart”.
Angelina– from the Greek “angelos” - angel.
Mia– Swedish origin, meaning “rebellious.”
Valeria– from the Latin “strong”.
Christina– from Latin - “Christian”.
YeseniaSlavic meaning"autumn".
Anna- translated from Hebrew as “brave”, “gracious”.
Marina– has a Latin origin “sea”.
Svetlana– from the Slavic “bright”, “pure”.
Snezhana- from the Slavic “snowy”.
Thea– from Greek “goddess”.
Zlata- from the Slavic “golden”.
Nika- from the ancient Greek “victory”.
Regina– translated from Latin – “queen”.
Pauline– from the Greek “solar”.
Eve– is of Hebrew origin, meaning “life-giving.”
Pelagia- from the Greek “sea”.
Violet– from Latin means “violet”.

Whatever you name your child, let reason and common sense guide you in your search for a name. Harmonizing with the surname and patronymic, having good value a name that suits the child and parents is the best choice. Remember that your daughter will live with him all her life, so be responsible when choosing a beautiful name.

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.

The results of research conducted by various historians have revealed the fact that the very first English names were derived from words (nouns and adjectives) that existed in ancient times. English language. 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 - the combined names 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.

Besides everything else literary works kept 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 V last years became 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 - 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 have a very 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, another may be annoyed by it. However, there is a ranking of names that most people think are the most beautiful.

Names in Russian Names in English
Agatha Agata
Agnes Agnes
Adelaide Adelaida
Alice Alice
Amanda Amanda
Amelia Amelia
Anastasia Anastasia
Angelina Angelina
Anna Ann
Ariel Ariel
Barabara Barbara
Beatrice Beatrice
Bridget Bridget
Britney Britney
Gloria Gloria
Deborah Debra
Diana Diana
Dorothy Dorothy
Camila Camilla
Caroline Caroline
Cassandra Cassandra
Catherine Katherine
Constance Constance
Christina Christine
Olivia Olivia
Cecilia Cecil
Cheryl Cheril
Charlotte Charlotte
Eleanor Eleanor
Elizabeth Elizabeth
Emily Emily
Esther Ester
Evelina Eveline

Unusual female English names

Ordinary people rarely wear unusual names. After all, many parents, when choosing a name for a child, are guided not only by their 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.

Until the eleventh century, English names served as the only source of personal identification; the English did not have patronymic names. 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 families. 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 times 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.

Modern tendencies

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 star couple has held this championship 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 (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. Is 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.

Popular male names

  • Charlie.
  • Daniel.
  • Joseph.
  • Matthew.
  • Ryan.
  • Robert.
  • Richard.
  • Jonathan.
  • Ethan.
  • James.
  • Name Henry is an English name derived from the Old German name Henry. The name Henry means "lord of the house, master" or "lord of the court."

The name Henry sounds different in different corners peace. For example, in England it is Hank, Harry, in Germany it is Henrik, in France it is Henri, and in Portugal it is Enrique or Enrico.

  • Name Oliver comes from Germanic roots. It was formed due to the differentiation of the ancient Germanic name Albheri, which means “fairy army” or “elven army”.

Since the word elf has no precise explanation other than “bright” and “he who shines,” the name Oliver can also be interpreted as “white army” and “protector” or “protector of the army.”

In addition, the name Oliver is often described as "willing good", "inclined to good", "true", "loyal to the people", since all these qualities are attributed to the warrior.

  • Adam is a Hebrew name that literally means “made of red clay” and “man.” Since this name belonged to the very first person, in many Orthodox, Catholic and Jewish countries it is revered and considered sacred. For example, according to Kabbalah, the name Adam is considered the father of all people and the first vice of Achilles.
  • Name Harry takes its roots from the Old French name Henry. The name Harry has a pair called Harriet or Harriet, which are often names used by girls in England.
  • Name Thomas originates from the Aramaic name Thomas, which means "twin". The name Thomas is more European name Thomas, which has undergone changes. The name Thomas has such short forms: Tom, Tommy, Tomo and others.

Thomas is usually very level-headed and serious, loving to interact with people. Thomas is in no hurry to accept important decisions, because it does not welcome rush and fuss. He is an emotional and creative, independent and understanding person. In addition, Thomas is prone to introspection and tries to avoid quarrels.

  • Name Jeremiah is an English transformation of the Hebrew name Jeremiah, which can be translated as “God will exalt” or “God will present.”

The very name Jeremiah is of biblical origin. In this book, Jeremiah is described as one of those who was a prophet.

The name Jeremy has the following short forms: Jay, Jeri, Yeri and others.

Jeremy is precise and smart. He can easily persuade and has good intuition. Jeremy is also outgoing, loves people and presents himself as a balanced, reliable person.


The name Christian has the following short forms: Christo. Chris, Keith, Christy and others. He also has a paired female name - Kristana (Christina).

Christian is prone to abstract thinking, has excellent memory and a special sense of tact. It is pleasant to carry on a conversation with Christian, since he has the makings of a psychologist. Christian is always shy and delicate. In any situation, he maintains a majestic calm.

  • Name Tyler– English. It takes its roots from the name of the tailor's profession, which is written as "tailor". In the US, Tyler can also be either a surname or a given name for a woman or a man.

Tylor has the following short forms: Tai, Lo, Tay, Tey.

Taylor takes active position in life, likes to be independent and decisive. At the same time, it can combine selfishness and loneliness, secrecy and reticence.

  • Name William comes from a combination of the Old German words “willio” (strong-willed) and “helm” (protector), so Wilhelm can be interpreted as “resolute defender”, or “one who protects”.
    Wilhelm grows up to be a rather emotional child who really needs to receive the attention of the people around him. He wants to be loved and loved and the best among his peers.

With age, Wilhelm's character becomes stronger and more decisive. He becomes bold and can occupy management positions. Wilhelm is a good family man, he loves honesty and has a good understanding of people.

  • Name Daniel Hebrew, biblical origin. This name is translated as “our judge,” “man of justice,” or “God’s court.” Also, the prophet Daniel had this name, which is translated as “my judge God” or “God is the judge.”
  • Name Charlie or Charles is the English variant German name Karl, which is interpreted as “man”, “spouse”. From the name Karl comes the word king.
    The name Charlie has the following short forms: Chas, Chuck, Chip, Carly.
  • Name Marseilles or Markel arose from the Roman nickname Marcellus, which originated from the name Marcus. The name Marcus itself takes its roots from the name of the god Mars, who was revered as the god of war, so this name is interpreted as “warlike,” “devoted to Mars.”
  • Name Joseph - it is a Catholic name. It is a modification of the name Joseph and means “God will reward” or “God will increase.” In European languages, there are female pairs for the name Joseph: Josephine, Yuzefa, Josefa and others.
  • Name Matthew is a completely European name, which is most often used by English-speaking peoples in Great Britain, Australia and Canada. It is a variant of the name Matthias, meaning "God's gift." Matthew is always curious and has a lot of interest in science and culture. Matthew has a rare intelligence, often analyzing himself and others, exploring everything around him.

Matthew can be mysterious and secretive, he is capable of committing rash acts.

  • Name Ryan- This English word, which takes its roots from the anglicized form of the Irish word Ó Riain. In translation, Raine means “royal”. IN Irish this name is often explained as "little king".
  • Name Robert has ancient Germanic roots and means “one who shines with glory” or “lasting glory.” The name Robert is very popular in all English-speaking nations.

There are never any problems communicating with Robert, as he is optimistic and can support any topic. Robert has a level-headed personality and is often drawn to people with an adventurous streak.

  • Name Richard comes from Proto-Germanic and means: “one who is a leader” or “brave.” In different European countries the name Richard will be pronounced differently. For example, in Germany it will be heard as Richard, in France - Richard, in Spain - Ricardo.
  • Name Jonathan is of Hebrew origin. The Bible describes several characters named Jonathan or Jonathan. Translated from Hebrew, the name Jonathon sounds like “God bestowed.”
  • Name Ethan– Jewish. It comes from the Hebrew name Etan, which meant “constancy” or “immutability.” In addition, Ethan translated from Hebrew means “mighty,” “strong,” “possessing strength.”
  • Name James is the English version of the biblical name Jacob, which in Hebrew means “one who follows in the footsteps.” In different countries, the name Jacob has its own pronunciation options. In Spain - Santiago, in France - Iago, Jacob, Jaco, in Italy - Giacomo.
  • August - from Latin “great”.
  • Konon – from Latin “smart”.
  • Karl – from the ancient German “daredevil”.
  • Luke – from Latin “he who brings light.”
  • Mark - from Latin “beating, strong.”
  • Oscar – from ancient Greek “divine”.
  • Orestes - from ancient Greek “one who grew up in the mountains.”
  • Plato - from the ancient Greek “broad-shouldered”.
  • Rashid - from Arabic “one who walks the right path.”
  • Theodore - from Arabic "God's gift."
  • Farhat – from Arabic “one who understands.”
  • Feeder – from Latin “good student”.
  • Edgar – from German “the one who guards the cities.”
  • Edwin - from German “bringer of victory.”
  • Ernest - from German “strict” or “serious”.
  • Eldar - from Arabic “gifted by God.”
  • Albert - from the ancient German “pure blood, noble.”
  • Aladin - from Arabic “believer, exalted.”
  • Askold - from Scandinavian “having a golden voice.”
  • Bruno – from ancient German “dark man”.
  • Hamlet - from German “double” or “twin”.
  • Gustave - from ancient German “one who advises the military.”
  • Jamal – from Arabic “beautiful person”.
  • Elisha - from Hebrew “save all living things.”
  • Kamal – from Arabic “perfection”.
  • Roots - from the Latin “dogwood berry”.
  • Murad – from Arabic “desired goal”.
  • Muslim means “conquering” in Arabic.
  • Nathan - from Arabic “the one whom God gave.”
  • Otto – from German “owning”.

When choosing a name, it is necessary not only to rely on its sound, but also to know exactly what it means, because it is the name that determines what life path a person will go.