Here we have the most popular and more unique British baby names for boys and girls â for king and country!
British names today are a mix between the traditional and the new.
Youâll find many names which have been around for hundreds of years, and also some that have only shot to fame more recently.
However, all of them have deep meaning and are worth considering for your baby.
For those looking to go for the more traditional, youâll find names that would be shared with kings, queens, princes, and princesses from yesteryear.
If more modern is your focus, then youâll find examples of some of the most popular names in Britain today.
Whether you are looking for a name for a boy or a girl, letâs explore some of the top British baby names.
In this article: đ
- What are unique British names?
- What is a classic British name?
- What is the rarest British baby name?
- Traditional British names for boys
- Traditional British names for girls
- What are some fancy British names?
- What are some cool British names?
- Gender-neutral British names
What are unique British names?
First, letâs have a look at some of the more unique names.
Whether youâre looking for a unique nickname for your child or something more formal, these British names will give them a head start in life!
One for baby boys and one for baby girls:
- Jesse: This boyâs name has been growing in popularity recently but is still relatively rare. Jesse originates in Hebrew and means âthe lord exists.â
- Darcy: One of the more unique British baby girl names, Darcy has roots in Ireland but is now growing in popularity in Britain. This name would be a good choice for literary fans, with it appearing in Jane Austenâs Pride and Prejudice.
What is a classic British name?
Now for some other common British names for your little one, for boys and girls.
For the traditionalists, George would be a perfect name for your little prince (if itâs good enough for William and Kate!).
Noah and Jacob are Biblical names that have been extremely popular recently.
For little girls, Emily is a beautiful traditional name, whereas Amelia is a more modern name that has fast become one of the most popular English baby girl names.
Youâll notice that, much like the other British names in this list, a lot of inspiration comes from elsewhere in Europe, as many names with British origins arenât quite as popular as they used to be.
What is a very British boy name?
Letâs start with some common British names for boys:
- George: Meaning âfarmerâ in Greek.
- Harry: Meaning âhome rulerâ in German.
- Jack: Meaning âGod is graciousâ in English.
- Jacob: Meaning âsupplanterâ in Hebrew.
- Noah: Meaning ârestâ in Hebrew.
- Charlie: Meaning âfree manâ in German.
- Thomas: Meaning âtwinâ in Hebrew.
- Oscar: Meaning âdeer loverâ in Irish Gaelic.
- William: Meaning âresolute protectorâ in English.
What is a popular British male name?
In recent years, one British baby boy name has regularly been the most popular:
- Oliver: Oliver has roots in Latin meaning âolive treeâ, and in old Norse meaning âdescendantâ.
As these two cultures mixed in old Britain, Oliver became a popular name thatâs endured centuries.
However, it has shot to the top of the list in modern-day and is always one of the most popular British baby boy names every year.
What is a very British girl name?
And letâs dive into UK girl names!
Here are some other popular British names for girls:
- Amelia: Meaning âindustriousâ in Latin.
- Emily Meaning ârivalâ in Greek.
- Isla: Meaning âislandâ in Spanish.
- Ava: Meaning âvoiceâ in Hebrew.
- Jessica: Meaning âGod beholdsâ in Hebrew.
- Ella: Meaning âsheâ in French.
- Isabella: Meaning âshe is beautifulâ in Italian and Spanish.
- Poppy: After the bright red flower.
- Sophia: A popular British name meaning âwisdomâ in Greek.
What is a popular British female name?
Weirdly enough, just as Oliver is the most popular British name name, you can probably guess what the most popular British name for girls is:
- Olivia: Always top of the charts when it comes to popular British girlsâ names, Olivia means âoliveâ.
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What is the rarest British baby name?
If popular is not your thing and youâd like something a bit more unique, then check these names out; they are very rare and could be a unique gift for your little one.
Rare British names for boys
First up, some of the more uncommon British boy names for your little prince:
- Bartholomew: Meaning âson of the earthâ in Hebrew.
- Griffith: Meaning âstrong lordâ in Welsh.
- Jones: Meaning âson of Johnâ in English and Welsh.
- Tobiah: Meaning âGod is goodâ in Hebrew.
- Wilbert: Meaning âwill and brightly famousâ in German and English.
Rare British names for girls
How about some of the most unique British girl names?
- Blanche: Meaning âwhiteâ in French.
- Dominique: Meaning âof the Lordâ in French and Latin.
- Kirsten: Meaning âfollower of Christâ in Latin and Scandinavian.
- Mildred: Meaning âgentle strengthâ in English.
- Odessa: Meaning âwrathfulâ in Russian and Ukrainian.
Traditional British names for boys
If you want to keep things classical, here are some of the best traditionally British boysâ names:
- Aaron: Meaning âmountain of strengthâ in Hebrew.
- Adam: Meaning âson of the red earthâ in Hebrew.
- Albie: Meaning âbrightâ in German.
- Alfie: Meaning âelf counselâ in Old English.
- Archie: Meaning âgenuineâ in Scottish.
- Clive: Meaning âcliffâ in English.
- Daniel: Meaning âGod is my judgeâ in Hebrew.
- David: Meaning âbelovedâ in Hebrew.
- Elijah: Meaning âthe Lord is my Godâ in Hebrew.
- Finley: Meaning âfair courageous oneâ in Irish.
- Frankie: Meaning âfree manâ in Latin.
- Gabriel: Meaning âGod is my strengthâ in Hebrew.
- Harvey: Meaning âblazing ironâ in Old English.
- Henry: Meaning âhouse rulerâ in German.
- Hugh: Meaning âmindâ in Irish.
- Hugo: Meaning âmindâ in German.
- Joseph: Meaning âhe will addâ in Hebrew.
- Joshua: Meaning âGod is salvationâ in Hebrew.
- Lewis: Meaning âfamous warriorâ in German.
- Liam: Meaning âstrong-willed warriorâ in Irish.
- Logan: Meaning âlittle hollowâ in Scottish.
- Louie: Meaning âfamous warriorâ in German and French.
- Lucas: Meaning âbringer of lightâ in Latin.
- Matthew: Meaning âgift of Godâ in Hebrew.
- Michael: Meaning âlike Godâ in Hebrew.
- Nathan: Meaning âgift of Godâ in Hebrew.
- Reggie: Meaning âroyaltyâ in English.
- Ronnie: Meaning ârulerâ in German.
- Stanley: Meaning âstony meadowâ in Old English.
- Teddy: Meaning âwealthy protectorâ in French.
- Toby: Meaning âGod is goodâ in Hebrew.
- Tommy: Meaning âtwinâ in Greek.
Traditional British names for girls
Now for some of the more traditional British names for girls, rooted in British culture and history.
Take your pick from these old British girl names:
- Abigail: Meaning âfatherâs joyâ in Hebrew.
- Adele: Meaning ânobleâ in German.
- Alice: Meaning ânobleâ in Old French.
- Amelie: Meaning âindustriousâ in Latin.
- Anna: Meaning âgraceâ in Hebrew.
- Annabelle: Meaning âgraceful and beautifulâ in Hebrew and French.
- Bethany: Meaning âhouse of figsâ in Hebrew.
- Clara: Meaning âfamousâ in Latin.
- Daisy: For your sweet little flower.
- Doris: Meaning âgift from the seaâ in Greek.
- Dorothy: Meaning âgift of Godâ in Greek.
- Edith: Meaning ârichesâ in Old English.
- Ellie: Meaning âsheâ in French.
- Eloise: Meaning âfamous warriorâ in German.
- Elsie: Meaning âfamous warriorâ in German.
- Emma: Meaning âwholeâ in German.
- Evelyn: Meaning âdesiredâ in English.
- Evie: Meaning âlifeâ in Latin.
- Georgia: Meaning âfarmerâ in Greek.
- Grace: She is beauty, she isâŚ
- Hannah: Meaning âgraceâ in Hebrew.
- Harriet: Meaning âhome rulerâ in German.
- Heather: After the soft purple flower.
- Heidi: Meaning ânoble kindâ in German.
- Hollie or Holly: A perfectly festive Christmas baby name.
- Iris: Meaning ârainbowâ in Greek.
- Isabelle: Meaning âpledged to Godâ in Hebrew.
- Julia: Meaning âyouthfulâ in Greek.
- Karen: Meaning âpureâ in Danish.
- Katie: Meaning âpureâ in Greek.
- Kelly: Meaning âbright-headedâ in Gaelic.
- Leah: Meaning âdelicateâ in Hebrew.
- Lilly or Lily: After the white flower of peace.
- Lucy: Meaning âlightâ in Latin.
- Maisie: Meaning âpearlâ in Scottish.
- Maria: Meaning âof the seaâ in Latin.
- Martha: Meaning âladyâ in Aramaic.
- Mia: Meaning âbelovedâ in Egyptian, and âmineâ in Italian.
- Millie: Meaning âgentle strengthâ in Latin.
- Molly: Meaning âstar of the seaâ in Irish.
- Natasha: Meaning âborn on Christmas dayâ in Russian.
- Penelope: Meaning âweaverâ in Greek.
- Rose: For the flower of love and compassion, the rose.
- Sara: Meaning âprincessâ in Hebrew.
- Sarah: Meaning âprincessâ in Hebrew.
- Sofia: Meaning âwisdomâ in Italian.
- Sophie: Meaning âwisdomâ in Greek.
- Summer: For a baby born in the summer sun.
- Violet: After the purple flower.
- Willow: Why not plant a willow tree when your babyâs born with this moniker?
- Zara: Meaning âradianceâ in Arabic.
- Zoe: Meaning âlifeâ in Greek.
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What are some fancy British names?
Want to embrace the poshness of British culture?
How about these super-fancy British names:
Fancy British names for boys
Letâs start with some awfully posh British boyâs names:
- Afton: Meaning âafternoonâ in Scottish. Also the name of a Scottish river.
- Albert: Meaning ânobleâ or âbrightâ in German.
- Alexander: Meaning âdefender of menâ in Greek.
- Alfred: Meaning âelf counselâ in Old English.
- Arthur: Meaning âbearâ in Old English.
- Benedict: Meaning âblessedâ in Latin.
- Benjamin: Meaning âson of the right handâ in Hebrew.
- Caspian: Meaning âwhiteâ in English.
- Charles: Meaning âfree manâ in Old English.
- Cyril: Meaning âlordâ in Greek.
- Edmund: Meaning âwealthy protectorâ in Old English.
- Edward: Meaning âfortunateâ in Old English.
- Francis: Meaning âfree manâ in Latin.
- Frederick: Meaning âpowerful peaceful rulerâ in German.
- Gideon: Meaning âone who cuts downâ in Hebrew.
- Harold: Meaning âarmy rulerâ in Scandinavian.
- Louis: Meaning âfamous warriorâ in German.
- Reginald: Meaning âkingâ in English.
- Roman: Meaning âstrongâ in Hebrew.
- Ronald: Meaning ârulerâ in German.
- Samuel: Meaning âGod has heardâ in Hebrew.
- Sebastian: Meaning âvenerableâ in Greek.
- Theodore: Meaning âGodâs giftâ in Greek.
Fancy British names for girls
And now for some fancy British names for your little princess:
- Adelaide: Meaning ânoble kindâ in German.
- Alicia: Meaning ânobleâ in Old French.
- Althea: Meaning âhealerâ in Greek.
- Arabella: Meaning âyielding to prayerâ in Latin.
- Aria: Meaning âsongâ in Latin.
- Beatrice: Meaning âblessedâ in Latin.
- Cecilia: Meaning âblindâ in Latin.
- Charlotte: Meaning âfreeâ in French.
- Cicely: Meaning âblindâ in Latin.
- Darcie: Meaning âdark-hairedâ in Irish.
- Deborah: Meaning âbeeâ in Hebrew.
- Edwina: Meaning ârich friendâ in Old English.
- Eleanor: Meaning âshining lightâ in Greek.
- Eliza: Meaning âGod is satisfactionâ in Hebrew,
- Elizabeth: Meaning âmy God is an oathâ in Hebrew.
- Emilia: Meaning âhard-workingâ in Latin.
- Florence: Meaning âblossomingâ in Latin.
- Francesca: Meaning âfreeâ in French.
- Nancy: Meaning âgraceâ in Hebrew.
- Regina: Meaning âqueenâ in English.
- Thea: Meaning âgoddessâ in Greek.
- Victoria: Meaning âvictoryâ in Latin.
What are some cool British names?
If youâre after British names that sound cool or have badass meanings, take a peek at these:
Cool British names for boys
So your boy can strut his stuff on the playground, cool and confident:
- Aiden: Meaning âlittle fireâ in Irish.
- Alistair: Meaning âdefender of the peopleâ in Scottish.
- Arlo: Meaning âfortified hillâ in Old English.
- Austin: Meaning âgreatâ in Latin.
- Caleb: Meaning âwhole-heartedâ in Hebrew.
- Denzel: Meaning âfertileâ in Cornish.
- Dexter: Meaning âfortunateâ in Latin.
- Ellis: Meaning âkindâ in Welsh.
- Ethan: Meaning âstrongâ in Hebrew.
- Griff: Meaning âfierceâ in Welsh.
- Isaac: Meaning âone who laughsâ in Hebrew.
- Jackson: Meaning âchild of Jackâ in English.
- Jake: Meaning âsupplanterâ in Hebrew.
- Jamie: Meaning âsupplanterâ in Hebrew.
- Jason: Meaning âhealerâ in Greek.
- Jasper: Meaning âtreasurerâ in Persian.
- Jaxon: Meaning âchild of Jackâ in English.
- Jenson: Meaning âchild of Jensâ in Scandinavian.
- Leo: Meaning âlionâ in Latin.
- Leon: Meaning âlionâ in Latin.
- Luke: Meaning âbringer of lightâ in Greek.
- Mason: Meaning âstone-workerâ in English.
- Reuben: Meaning âbehold, a sonâ in Hebrew.
- Ryan: Meaning âlittle kingâ in Irish.
- Theo: Meaning âGodâs giftâ in Greek.
- Tyler: Meaning âtile makerâ in English.
- Zachary: Meaning âGod remembersâ in Hebrew.
Cool British names for girls
Now for trend-setting cool British names for girls:
- Aisha: Meaning âalive and wellâ in Arabic.
- Amber: Meaning âorange-yellowâ in English.
- Bella: Meaning âbeautifulâ in Spanish and Italian.
- Chloe: Meaning âbloomingâ in Greek.
- Erin: Meaning âpeaceâ in Irish.
- Eva: Meaning âlifeâ in Latin.
- Freya: Meaning ânoble womanâ in Norse.
- Imogen: Meaning âmaidenâ in Celtic.
- Jasmine: Meaning âgift from Godâ in Persian, also a fragrant flower.
- Lacey: Meaning âbraidâ Old English.
- Layla: Meaning ânightâ in Arabic.
- Lexi: Meaning âdefender of menâ in Greek.
- Lola: Meaning âsorrowsâ in Spanish.
- Lottie: Meaning âfreeâ in French.
- Maryam: Meaning ârebelliousâ in Hebrew.
- Matilda: Meaning âbattle-mightyâ in German.
- Maya: Meaning âdreamâ in Sanskrit.
- Megan: Meaning âpearlâ in German.
- Mila: Meaning âmiracleâ in Italian.
- Phoebe: Meaning âbrightâ in Greek.
- Ruby: Meaning âredâ in English.
- Sadie: Meaning âprincessâ in Hebrew.
- Scarlett: Meaning âredâ in English.
- Sienna: Meaning âburnt orangeâ in English.
Gender-neutral British names
If youâre not sure what sex your baby will be, or you want something more flexible and nonbinary, try these gender-neutral British baby names for boys, girls, and they-bies:
- Alex: Meaning âdefender of menâ in Greek.
- Blake: Meaning âblackâ in Old English.
- Bobby: Meaning âbright fameâ in German.
- Carter: Meaning âtouristâ in Gaelic.
- Dylan: Meaning âchild of the seaâ in Welsh.
- Elliot or Elliott: Meaning âthe Lord is my Godâ in Hebrew.
- Ezra: Meaning âhelpâ in Hebrew.
- Felix: Meaning âhappyâ in Latin.
- Freddie: Meaning âpowerful peaceful rulerâ in German.
- Harley: Meaning âmeadowâ in Old English.
- Harper: Meaning âharp-playerâ in English.
- Harrison: Meaning âchild of Harryâ in English.
- Ivy: Another Christmas baby name.
- James: Meaning âsupplanterâ in Hebrew.
- Jayden: Meaning âGod will judgeâ in Hebrew.
- Jude: Meaning âpraisedâ in Greek.
- Kai: Meaning âseaâ in Hawaiian.
- Luca: Meaning âbringer of lightâ in Latin.
- Madison: Meaning âchild of Matthewâ in Old English.
- Max: Meaning âgreatestâ in Latin.
- Ollie: Meaning âolive treeâ in English.
- Riley: Meaning âvaliantâ in Gaelic.
- Robyn: After the red-breasted bird.
- Rory: Meaning âred kingâ in Irish.
There you have it â our ultimate list of British baby names!
We hope youâve found some inspiration here, and that youâll be able to find a name thatâs perfect for your little peanut.
For more ideas on the best baby names for your little one, why not ask the mamas of Peanut?