Cool English names for men. Complete list of English female names: features, meaning and characteristics

In this article you will read about what beautiful and sonorous British male names there are. The list is quite long. It can be boring to read. Therefore, we have grouped the names according to their origin. First of all, it should be said that the British have a rather strange system of naming children. If in other nations surnames are formed from given names (Ivanov, Petrenko, Mikulsky, etc.), then in Britain a surname can turn into a given name. This may seem strange: as if some person’s name was Volkonsky, Nikolai Onegin.

All Englishmen have two names. The first they try to give is Christian. The second (middle name) often mentions the parent's name. But it doesn't have to be a middle name. Another oddity of British name creation is the inclusion of diminutive and children's names in passports. Tony (let's remember Blair) is adjacent to his complete analogue Anthony, and Bill is adjacent to William.

Names derived from surnames

Until the beginning of the nineteenth century, proud English feudal lords were very keen to emphasize the nobility of their origin. This was especially true for the lateral branches of the genus. Therefore, parents gave their sons the surname of their founding ancestor as a name. As an example, we can cite the main character of Pride and Prejudice, a novel by Jane Austen. His name is Fitzwilliam Darcy. Both names come from surnames. Fitzwilliam means "son of William" and hints at English origins. The noble surname Darcy was first spelled d'Arcy. She showed that the family came from a Norman town. Darcy, Jefferson, Madison and Calvin are British male names derived from surnames. The latter glorifies the founder of the religious Protestant movement, Jacques Calvin.

A truly free country

Not only in Britain, but also in the USA, Canada and other English-speaking countries, along with full names, diminutive versions can also be written into passports. In general, the legislation regarding registration is more than liberal. Parents can name their child not only by name, but also by any word they like. The extravagance of parents gives rise to quite unusual British names: men's Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ), Brooklyn (that's what the Beckhams named their son - after the area of ​​New York where the boy was born) and women's Pixie (elf) and even Vista Avalon, in honor of the computer Windows applications Vista. The Newborn Registration Law does not limit citizens not only in the quality, but also in the number of names for their children. The Oathway footballer, whose parents were keen Queen Park Rangers fans, named him after all eleven players.

Catholics and Puritans

Previously, until the eighteenth century, church calendars alone were the source from which parents could draw inspiration to name their offspring. But it must be said that such common names throughout the Christian world as John, James, Peter, Matthew, Paul, etc., received their pronunciation in England. They began to sound respectively like John, Jack, Peter, Matthew, Paul. taken from the New Testament, John received many variations in medieval England. These are British male names such as John, Jonn, Jan and the diminutives Jakin and Jenkin. Beginning in the late sixteenth century, Protestants, called Puritans, turned to the Old Testament for inspiration. Names that were previously used only by Jews came into fashion: David, Samuel, Abraham, Benjamin, Enoch.

Huguenot virtues

The idea that a name “encodes” a person’s character and even destiny also existed in England. Puritan name-making immediately adopted Protestant virtues. It mainly affected girls. Mercy and Charity (mercy), Verity (truth), Chastity (purity) have become fashionable and still exist. Puritanical British male names were often long and not entirely euphonious. Prosper-the-Werk (Successful in Work), Jeremiah (Ordained by God) and Gotreward (God's Reward) are a few that are still used today. But female “godly” names are in great demand. Probably because of the euphony.

Vintage British male names

England gave the world its saints and great martyrs. Their names were included in the calendar of the local Church, and until the eighteenth century they were rarely used abroad. This, of course, is Eduard - the “Keeper of Happiness”. Now along with this full form The diminutive version is also used - Ted. William the Conqueror left his memory in his descendants. In Britain his name became William. The English did not forget that they were descended from the Celts, northern French and Germanic tribes. Here are some old British male names and their meanings. Alan - in Breton “beautiful”, Albert - in ancient German “bright”, “noble”, Archibald - “brave”, Arnold - “strong as an eagle”. But the name Arthur has Celtic roots. It, like the German Bernard, means “bear”. Bertrand is "fair", Brandon is "tall", Ernest is "zealous", and Brian is "one who is worthy of respect." Doric is "powerful" while Donald is "peaceful". The name Charles, very common in England, is of Old Germanic origin. It means "courageous."

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: the combination of letters, euphony, the 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 carried out by various historians have revealed the fact that the very first 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, praising the gods, the forces of nature and any human qualities.

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

  • Mary is a derived form of Jewish name Maria. This ancient name has a 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

Fashion for names, like many others life aspects, comes and goes. 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 recent 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 fate. 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 an impact strong influence on the popularity of the name itself.

Thus, one of the surveys conducted in Great Britain showed which British names were 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 value 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 tastes, 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 have 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.

Daughter's name American rock musician Frank Zappa - 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, which 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 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 the high degree of uniqueness across the entire 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 - Arabic name and has several spellings, so in the statistics given the name Muhammad appears several times. Muhammad ranked 8th, Mohammed ranked 31st, Mohammad ranked 68th, with a total of 7,084. And the name Oliver was given to 6,623 newborns, so Mohammed has an obvious advantage over Oliver. Representatives of the ONS associate such popularity of a Muslim name in England with social changes in the country.

Ahead of ONS, the English website for parents BabyCentr released its official version 100 best names for children. 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 definitely not the only power in life, which forces a person to develop in a certain way and become a person, but the importance of the 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 Latin word aemulus (or from the same root as aemulus) - this 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. Traditionally used mainly in Scottish usage, derived from Islay, which is the name of the island west coast 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. 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 phoib (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.

Names in English are a mixture of modern and ancient names, closely intertwined with each other. The British, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, and many others live in the United Kingdom. It is for this reason that the most unusual names are found in the English language.

Before the adoption of Christianity, the tribes living in Great Britain had strange and complex names. The arrival of the Catholic faith was the end for the old names. In those days children were called biblical names, paying tribute to religion. However, this did not last long. In the 16th century, Catholicism gave way to Protestantism, leaving no room for the old laws.

Female names

Female English names are distinguished by their beauty and brevity. The following is a list of some popular and common English names. These names are considered the coolest among English names and are especially popular.

  • Amelia – Amelia
  • Emily – Emily
  • Emma – Emma
  • Olivia – Olivia
  • Grace – Grace
  • Scarlett – Scarlett
  • Charlotte – Charlotte
  • Sofia – Sophia
  • Freya – Freya
  • Millie

Most English girl names have a specific meaning. English names have different meanings. It is believed that a person's name influences his future fate. Among the beautiful English names, there are some endowed with a special meaning. Below are some simple examples.

  • Adelaide – honest, noble.
  • Alice – noble.
  • Amelia – hardworking.
  • Anastasia – resurrected.
  • Arya – honest.
  • Veronica – brings victory.
  • Viola – violet.
  • Gwyneth – happy.
  • Jennifer (Jennifer) – witch, sorceress.
  • Dorothy is a gift from God.
  • Zoe – life-giver.
  • Camilla – servant of the Gods.
  • Linda is wonderful.
  • Natalie – born on Christmas Eve.
  • Sandra – protector of men.

The following video presents the 50 most popular British girl names with pronunciation:

Male names

Male English names are distinguished by their simplicity and brevity. The ranking of English names for boys does not change so quickly. Most of them remain popular for several years. The following is a list of popular English names for men.

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

English names for boys also have different meanings. By giving children a certain name, parents try to put into this action secret meaning. Below are some basic examples.

  • Alan – wonderful
  • Arthur – warrior, brave
  • Benedict - blessed by God
  • Harry (Harry) – ruler
  • Jacob – warrior, invader
  • Gerald – ruler
  • Zander – defender
  • Keith – follower of God
  • Louis - brave warrior
  • Michael – a man from God
  • Nigel – winner
  • Owen - Blessed Child
  • Parker – guard
  • Ray - sage
  • Scott - a man from Scotland

The following video presents the 50 most popular British male names with pronunciation:

Rare names

Some names are not popular in English. Most of the rare English names have long gone out of fashion and lost relevance. The following names are among the rare ones.

  • Eli (Eli) – animal, bird
  • Mackenzie – beauty
  • Annick – beneficial
  • Penelope – cunning
  • Morgan – sea
  • Phyllis – tree

Perhaps the reason is that the names have long lost relevance and ceased to sound. They are not among the famous English names such as George, Charlotte or Harry.

Grammatical aspect

Studying English language, students think about the grammatical part of the question. In most cases, names in English are used without an article. It should be remembered that in normal situations, people's names are used without an article. For example:

Avril Lavigne was born in Canada - Avril Lavigne was born in Canada.

If the speaker tries to point out specific person, must be consumed definite article. For example:

The Amanda Smith I’m talking about works at school – Amanda Smith, about whom we're talking about, works at school.

In case of complete unknown and uncertainty, the indefinite article should be used.

A Scarlett is searching for you – Some Scarlett is looking for you.

Writing rules

When learning English, people often wonder how exactly they should write Russian names in English. Please remember that first and last names are not translated. When you meet Mr. Gray or Mrs. Brown, don't think about translating their last names.

Don't try to find an analogue own name, as in the case – Anna – Ann; or Elena – Helen. It is recommended to simply write your name in Latin. When wondering how to write names in English, you can use the following examples. For example:

Dmitry – Dmitry
Irina – Irina
Elena – Elena
Andrey – Andrey

Such a scheme will not cause any particular difficulties and will help to avoid embarrassment when trying to write Russian names in English.

Fun Facts

Gloucestershire airport in England used to blast Tina Turner songs on the runways to scare birds away.

Women's full names in England they 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 attribute 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. From total number 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 to the Anglican Church and gave their children new names that were different from the usual ones. They mostly were 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 in 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. The 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.