British Names
British names have a quiet confidence that Americans love. Some, like George, Arthur and Florence, have been used for a thousand years and are suddenly back in fashion; others come from the Celtic corners of the island — Scottish Eilidh, Welsh Seren, Cornish Morwenna — and sound fresh anywhere.
We’ve gathered 80 names that feel unmistakably British, from current favorites in England and Wales to royal classics and surnames. For full lists, see British boy names, British girl names and British last names, or zoom in on Scottish names.
British Names: browse all lists
Popular British baby names today
These names have been among the most registered in England and Wales in recent years, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Several, like Arthur and Florence, are much rarer in the US.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Olivia | Olive tree; popularized by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night | Girl |
| Amelia | Germanic, “work” | Girl |
| Isla | From the Scottish island of Islay | Girl |
| Lily | The lily flower | Girl |
| Ava | Possibly a form of Eve, or Germanic | Girl |
| Freya | Old Norse, “lady” | Girl |
| Florence | Latin, “flourishing” | Girl |
| Isabella | Form of Elizabeth, “God is my oath” | Girl |
| Evie | Diminutive of Eve, “life” | Girl |
| Sophia | Greek, “wisdom” | Girl |
| Oliver | Olive tree | Boy |
| George | Greek, “farmer” | Boy |
| Noah | Hebrew, “rest, comfort” | Boy |
| Arthur | Celtic, possibly “bear” | Boy |
| Leo | Latin, “lion” | Boy |
| Oscar | Irish, “deer lover” | Boy |
| Theodore | Greek, “gift of God” | Boy |
| Freddie | From Frederick, “peaceful ruler” | Boy |
| Archie | From Archibald, “genuine and bold” | Boy |
| Harry | Medieval English form of Henry, “home ruler” | Boy |
Royal British names
Royal names rise and fall with every coronation and christening. If you love this style, browse our royal boy names and king names.
| Name | Meaning | Royal namesake |
|---|---|---|
| Charles | Germanic, “free man” | King Charles III |
| William | Germanic, “resolute protector” | Prince William; William the Conqueror |
| Edward | Old English, “wealthy guardian” | Edward the Confessor; Prince Edward |
| Elizabeth | Hebrew, “God is my oath” | Elizabeth I and Elizabeth II |
| Victoria | Latin, “victory” | Queen Victoria |
| Anne | Hebrew, “grace” | Queen Anne; Princess Anne |
| Henry | Germanic, “home ruler” | Henry VIII |
| Louis | Germanic, “famous warrior” | Prince Louis |
| Charlotte | Feminine of Charles, “free” | Princess Charlotte |
| Catherine | Greek, possibly “pure” | Catherine, Princess of Wales |
| Alfred | Old English, “elf counsel” | Alfred the Great |
| Albert | Germanic, “noble, bright” | Prince Albert |
| Margaret | Greek, “pearl” | Princess Margaret |
| Beatrice | Latin, “she who brings happiness” | Princess Beatrice |
| Eugenie | Greek, “well-born” | Princess Eugenie |
Scottish, Welsh and Cornish names
Britain isn’t only England. These names come from Gaelic, Welsh and Cornish — see more in Welsh names and Scottish girl names.
| Name | Pronunciation / meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Hamish | HAY-mish; Gaelic form of James | Scottish |
| Fraser | Scottish clan surname | Scottish |
| Ewan | YOO-an; possibly “born of the yew” | Scottish |
| Eilidh | AY-lee; Gaelic form of Helen | Scottish |
| Ailsa | From Ailsa Craig, an island in the Firth of Clyde | Scottish |
| Iona | The Hebridean island, cradle of Scottish Christianity | Scottish |
| Rhys | REES; “ardor, enthusiasm” | Welsh |
| Dylan | Welsh, “son of the sea” | Welsh |
| Gethin | GETH-in; “dark, swarthy” | Welsh |
| Carys | KAR-is; “love” | Welsh |
| Seren | SEH-ren; “star” | Welsh |
| Bethan | Welsh pet form of Elizabeth | Welsh |
| Morwenna | mor-WEN-a; “maiden” | Cornish |
| Kerensa | keh-REN-za; “love” | Cornish |
| Jago | JAY-go; Cornish form of James | Cornish |
| Tristan | Hero of the Cornish legend of Tristan and Iseult | Cornish / Breton |
Vintage English names making a comeback
Britain loves a “grandma and grandpa” name. Many of these are thriving again in UK nurseries — explore more in vintage girl names.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Alice | Germanic, “noble” | Girl |
| Edith | Old English, “rich in war” | Girl |
| Mabel | From Amabel, Latin “lovable” | Girl |
| Ada | Germanic, “noble” | Girl |
| Violet | The violet flower | Girl |
| Winifred | Anglicized Welsh Gwenfrewi, “blessed reconciliation” | Girl |
| Cecily | English form of Cecilia, from a Roman family name | Girl |
| Nancy | Pet form of Anne | Girl |
| Hattie | Pet form of Harriet, “home ruler” | Girl |
| Rupert | Germanic, “bright fame” | Boy |
| Percy | From the Norman surname Percy | Boy |
| Stanley | Old English, “stony meadow” | Boy |
| Bertie | Pet form of Albert or Herbert, “bright” | Boy |
| Nigel | From Neil, Gaelic “champion” | Boy |
| Clive | Old English, “cliff” | Boy |
Classic British surnames
Britain’s commonest surnames mostly describe a job, a father’s name or a place. Our full list of British last names covers 100+.
| Surname | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Smith | Metalworker, blacksmith | Occupation |
| Jones | Son of John | Patronymic (Welsh) |
| Williams | Son of William | Patronymic |
| Taylor | Tailor | Occupation |
| Brown | Brown-haired or brown-skinned | Nickname |
| Davies | Son of David | Patronymic (Welsh) |
| Evans | Son of Evan (Welsh John) | Patronymic (Welsh) |
| Wilson | Son of Will | Patronymic |
| Thomas | From the given name, “twin” | Patronymic |
| Roberts | Son of Robert | Patronymic |
| Wright | Craftsman, builder | Occupation |
| Walker | Cloth fuller who “walked” wool | Occupation |
| Green | Someone who lived by the village green | Place |
| Hughes | Son of Hugh, “mind, spirit” | Patronymic (Welsh) |
How to choose a British name
- Look at UK data, not just US charts. Names like Arthur, Freddie and Florence rank much higher in England than in America, so they feel distinctive in the US.
- Know the regional flavor. A Welsh name like Gethin or a Cornish one like Jago signals a specific corner of Britain — lovely if you have family ties there.
- Embrace the nickname. British naming culture loves a pet form: Alfred to Alfie, Albert to Bertie, Harriet to Hattie.
- Check the spelling. Gaelic and Welsh names (Eilidh, Rhys) may need spelling out in the US. Decide if that’s charming or tiresome for you.
- Pair with a classic surname. British-style double-barrel or surname middle names (e.g. “Florence Mabel”, “George Fraser”) are very on-trend; see last names that are first names.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular British name?
In recent ONS data for England and Wales, Olivia and Amelia lead for girls, while Muhammad, Noah, Oliver and George are at the top for boys.
What are traditional British boy names?
George, William, Edward, Henry, Arthur, Alfred and Charles are quintessentially British and have been used for centuries.
What names are considered posh in Britain?
Names like Rupert, Hugo, Tarquin, Araminta, Beatrice and Cressida are often associated with the British upper classes.
Is Isla a British name?
Yes. Isla is Scottish, taken from the island of Islay (pronounced “EYE-la”), and has been a top 10 girl name in the UK for years.
What is the most common surname in the UK?
Smith is the most common surname in the United Kingdom, followed by Jones, Williams, Taylor and Brown.