212 English Boy Names That Never Go Out of Style (With Meanings)

Choosing the perfect name for your little one can be a daunting task. Whether you’re looking for something timeless, cool, or something with a bit of a twist, you’re sure to find one that's your cup of tea… From classic English names with centuries of history, to modern and unique names, we’ve got something for everyone.

So here are the best traditional and cool English boy names and their meanings to help you find just the right fit for your little gentleman.

In this article: 📝

What is a good English name for a boy?

English names are all over the world. Yet, the best place to find English names for boys? England, of course. The home of the Queen, afternoon tea, and those big red buses.

Here are the most popular English baby boy names as of 2021 (2022 data isn’t ready quite yet, so we have to practice some of that English patience we’ve heard so much about. While they’re not all traditionally English, they’re certainly popular around the world!

1. Noah: He’s made a big comeback in recent years. Of course, it’s a name that originates in the Bible – so it isn’t strictly English.
2. George: Could you get more English? George comes from the Greek word for “farmer”, actually, but it is a long favorite in the UK.
3. Oliver: A name that’s been the most popular in England and Wales for years. It actually means “olive tree planter”, but it does make for a beautiful English male name.
4. Muhammad: Muhammad means “praised”. Another name that has become much more popular in England recently.
5. Arthur: An English male name that traces its roots to the fabled king. It has a real nobility to it.
6. Leo: From the Latin word for “lion”, Leo has become one of the coolest English names in recent years.
7. Harry: From an ancient king to perhaps the world’s most famous prince. A beautiful name – and oh-so British.
8. Oscar: A name of Irish origin, Oscar means “deer friend”. These days, it has a very classy ring to it.
9. Henry: For the ruler of the house ‒ that’s just what it means, in Old German.
10. Theodore: Seriously, how cute is Theo as a nickname? Adore. Plus, Theodore means “gift from God” in Greek, because your little dude is the best kind of present.

What is a very British boy name?

Let’s stick with the more popular English boy names ‒ here are the rest of the top 100 in England as of 2021:

11. Freddie: Meaning “peaceful ruler” in German.
12. Jack: Meaning “God is gracious” in English.
13. Charlie: Meaning “free man” in German. Perhaps your little one will have an independent streak when he grows up?
14. Theo: Meaning “gift from God” in Greek.
15. Alfie: Meaning “elf wisdom” in Old English.
16. Jacob: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
17. Thomas: Meaning “twin” in Hebrew.
18. Finley: Meaning “fair-haired courageous one” in Irish.
19. Arlo: Meaning “fortified hill” in Old English.
20. William: Meaning “resolute protector” in English.
21. Lucas: Meaning “light” in Latin.
22. Roman: Meaning “from Rome” in Latin.
23. Isaac: Meaning “one who laughs” in Hebrew.
24. Teddy: Meaning “gift from God” in Greek.
25. Tommy: Meaning “twin” in Hebrew.
26. Alexander: Meaning “defender of men” in Greek.
27. Edward: Meaning “wealthy protector” in Old English.
28. James: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
29. Luca: Meaning “light” in Latin.
30. Joshua: Meaning “God is salvation” in Hebrew.
31. Albie: Meaning “white” in Latin.
32. Mohammed: Meaning “praiseworthy” in Arabic.
33. Max: Meaning “greatest” in Latin.
34. Elijah: Meaning “Yahweh is my God” in Hebrew.
35. Reuben: Meaning “behold, a son” in Hebrew.
36. Sebastian: Meaning “venerable” in Latin.
37. Jude: Meaning “praised” in Greek.
38. Mason: Meaning “stoneworker” in English.
39. Rory: Meaning “red king” in Gaelic.
40. Louie: Meaning “famous warrior” in French.
41. Benjamin: Meaning “son of the right hand” in Hebrew.
42. Ethan: Meaning “enduring” in Hebrew.
43. Adam: Meaning “son of the earth” in Hebrew.
44. Hugo: Meaning “intellectual” in German.
45. Joseph: Meaning “God will give” in Hebrew.
46. Reggie: Meaning “king” in Latin.
47. Ronnie: Meaning “ruler” in Norse.
48. Louis: Meaning “famous warrior” in French.
49. Harrison: Meaning “son of Harry” in English.
50. Ezra: Meaning “helpful” in Hebrew.
51. Jaxon: Meaning “son of Jack” in English.
52. Logan: Meaning “hollow” in Scottish.
53. Daniel: Meaning “God is my judge” in Hebrew.
54. Zachary: Meaning “God remembers” in Hebrew.
55. Samuel: Meaning “God has heard” in Hebrew.
56. Albert: Meaning “noble, bright, and famous” in German.
57. Dylan: Meaning “son of the sea” in Welsh.
58. Hudson: Meaning “son of Hugh” in English.
59. Frederick: Meaning “peaceful ruler” in German.
60. Hunter: Pretty self-explanatory!
61. David: Meaning “beloved” in Hebrew.
62. Frankie: Meaning “free man” in German.
63. Jesse: Meaning “God exists” in Dutch.
64. Toby: Meaning “God is good” in Hebrew.
65. Rowan: Meaning “red-haired” in English.
66. Grayson: Meaning “son of the gray-haired one” in English.
67. Oakley: Meaning “oak forest” in Old English.
68. Felix: Meaning “lucky” in Latin.
69. Riley: Meaning “valiant” in Gaelic.
70. Carter: Meaning “cart driver” in English.
71. Bobby: Meaning “bright fame” in German.
72. Finn: Meaning “fair” in Irish.
73. Alfred: Meaning “elf counsel” in German.
74. Michael: Meaning “who is like God” in Hebrew.
75. Blake: Meaning “dark or black” in Old English.
76. Gabriel: Meaning “man of God” in Hebrew.
77. Jasper: Meaning “treasurer” in Persian.
78. Mohammad: Meaning “praiseworthy” in Arabic.
79. Sonny: Meaning “son” in English.
80. Stanley: Meaning “stony meadow” in Old English.
81. Otis: Meaning “wealth” in Norse.
82. Caleb: Meaning “faithful” in Hebrew.
83. Milo: Meaning “dear” in Slavic.
84. Ralph: Meaning “wolf-counsel” in Old English.
85. Liam: Meaning “resolute protector” in Irish.
86. Chester: Meaning “walled town” in Latin.
87. Elliot: Meaning “the Lord is my God” in Hebrew.
88. Ellis: Meaning “kind” in Welsh.
89. Yusuf: Meaning “God increases” in Hebrew.
90. Charles: Meaning “free man” in German ‒ a kingly name.
91. Rupert: Meaning “fame bright” in German.
92. Kai: Meaning “sea” in Hawaiian.
93. Harvey: Meaning “battle worthy” in Celtic.
94. Brody: Meaning “ditch” in Irish.
95. Nathan: Meaning “gift from God” in Hebrew.
96. Jackson: Meaning “son of Jack” in English.
97. Leon: Meaning “lion” in Greek.
98. Ibrahim: Meaning “father of many” in Arabic.
99. Tobias: Meaning “God is good” in Hebrew.
100. Archie: Usually a nickname for Archibald, Archie means “genuine” and “bold” ‒ for the baby boy who’s sure to go far.

Cool English boy names

These good boy names have fallen out of popularity a little, but they’re still in the top 1,000:

101. Dean: Meaning “valley” in Old English.
102. Harley: Meaning “hare's meadow” in Old English.
103. Jake: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
104. Jayden: Meaning “God will judge” in Hebrew.
105. Jenson: Meaning “son of Jens” in Norse.
106. Kane: Meaning “little battler” in Irish.
107. Luke: Meaning “light-giving” in Latin.
108. Matthew: Meaning “gift of God” in Hebrew.
109. Ollie: Meaning “olive tree” Latin.
110. Philip: Meaning “horse friend” in Greek.
111. Ryan: Meaning “little king” in Irish.

Boy names after English places

112. Albury
113. Alton
114. Arun
115. Ashford
116. Ashton
117. Bodmin
118. Bolton
119. Bradford
120. Brent
121. Bristol
122. Brixham
123. Bromley
124. Broxtowe
125. Bude
126. Burton
127. Buxton
128. Camden
129. Carlisle
130. Carlton
131. Crewe
132. Croydon
133. Derby
134. Devon
135. Dudley
136. Easton
137. Eldon
138. Ely
139. Fowey
140. Hamilton
141. Harlow
142. Harrow
143. Hastings
144. Helston
145. Kendal
146. Kensington
147. Kent
148. Keswick (Pronounced kes-ik)
149. Kingston
150. Leicester (Pronounced lester)
151. Lewes
152. Leyton or Leighton
153. Lincoln
154. London
155. Lynton
156. Marlow
157. Matlock
158. Merton
159. Morpeth
160. Penryn
161. Penzance
162. Preston
163. Ramsey
164. Romsey
165. Rye
166. Ryde
167. Sheldon
168. Trent
169. Truro
170. Walton
171. Warwick
172. York

What are English old-fashioned boy names?

Perhaps you’re looking for something a little more classic. If that’s you, some ancient English names might be exactly what you need. Here are 13 Old English names of Anglo-Saxon origin:

173. Aethelred: One of the great kings of Wessex. For some bonus names: his dad was Aethelwulf and his brother Aethelbert, while his sons were known as Aethelwold and Aethelhelm. Very Ye Olde English, but it does give you some more options to mull over.
174. Cenric: It’s the old form of Kendrick, meaning something like “bold ruler”. You don’t get a more classic English name.
175. Cuthbert: Meaning “brilliant, bright, or famous”, Cuthbert had a resurgence in the 19th century. It’s not so common today, but perhaps it should be.
176. Cynebald: Another ancient English name, it means “royal and bold”.
177. Dunstan: It means, simply, “stony hill”, but it has an elegant ring to it.
178. Edgar: It’s fallen out of use a little, but we think it’s really got something!
179. Edmund: Edmund means “prosperous protector”. A great alternative to Edward.
180. Godric: “Good ruler”, a noble name straight out of the Middle Ages.
181. Godwin: This has the lovely meaning: “good friend”.
182. Osmund: Of Scandinavian root, a noble name combining the words for “God” and “protection”.
183. Oswald: More of a surname these days, it means “divine power”. Like the other Old English names, it has a real strength to it.
184. Wulfric: If nature names like Wolf and Bear aren’t your thing, you can go for a more classic English name: Wulfric.
185. Wynnstan or Wynstan: It means “joy stone” – and is actually an alternative spelling for Winston.

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What are some unique British boy names?

Meanwhile, if you wanted something a little more recent, but still with a classic resonance, you could try one of these names straight out of the 19th century. Yep, people really were called Lancelot – and, nope, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t choose that name for your little one now, for something a bit more unique:

186. Absalom: Meaning “father of peace” in Hebrew.
187. Amos: Meaning “carried by God” in Hebrew.
188. Ansell: Meaning “God's protection” in Old English.
189. Archibald: Meaning “genuine and brave” in German.
190. Bartholomew: Meaning “son of furrows” in Aramaic.
191. Clement: Meaning “merciful” in Latin.
192. Cornelius: Meaning “horn” in Latin.
193. Crispin: Meaning “curly-haired” in Latin.
194. Dennis: Meaning “follower of Dionysus” in Greek mythology.
195. Gideon: Meaning “great destroyer” in Hebrew.
196. Horatio: Meaning “timekeeper” in Latin.
197. Humphrey: Meaning “peaceful warrior” in Old German.
198. Isaiah: Meaning “God is salvation” in Hebrew.
199. Jeremiah: Meaning “God will raise” in Hebrew.
200. Jonas: Meaning “dove” in Hebrew.
201. Josiah: Meaning “God has healed” in Hebrew.
202. Lancelot: Meaning “servant” in French.
203. Lazarus: Meaning “God has helped” in Hebrew.
204. Marcus: Meaning “dedicated to Mars” in Latin.
205. Owen: Meaning “youthful” in Irish and Welsh.
206. Peregrine: Meaning “traveler” in English.
207. Russell: Meaning “red-haired” in Norse.
208. Seth: Meaning “appointed” in Hebrew.
209. Silvester: Meaning “wild” in Latin.
210. Theoderick: Meaning “powerful ruler of the people” in Old German.
211. Tristan: Meaning “sad” in Welsh.
212. Tristram: Meaning “noise” in Welsh.

Found an English boy's name (or two) you like? We sure hope so! And if not, why not ask the mamas of Peanut?

Psst… If you’re wondering what are cool names for a boy? You can find loads of ideas in our list of cool baby boy names. Thank us later!