English Baby Names
Explore 2493 english names, each with its own meaning, history, and pronunciation. Find one that carries the stories you want your child to grow up with.
English names form the largest body of names in our index. They run from Old English roots (Edward, Alfred, Mildred) through Norman-French imports (Richard, William, Rose), biblical names anglicised through centuries of use (James, Mary, John), and a growing modern lineage of place-and-nature names (Willow, Brooke, Hudson).
A short history
The English naming tradition is famously layered. Old English names (Edwin, Edith, Alfred) survived the Norman Conquest in smaller numbers and returned in the Victorian revival. Norman names (William, Henry, Richard) became the aristocratic backbone after 1066. Biblical names were anglicised and spread widely through Reformation-era England. Puritan virtue names (Patience, Hope, Grace) added a distinct 17th-century layer.
Naming traditions
Middle names became common in England from the 18th century onwards, often preserving a mother's maiden name or honouring a godparent. Double middle names are now standard. Sibling sets in England tend towards soft internal matching rather than thematic locking (e.g. George and Charlotte rather than Grace and Hope).
Sound and style
English names span every syllable count, every sound pattern, and every register. The current mood favours short classics (Jack, Max, Leo, Ava) and nature-led picks (Willow, Hazel, Rowan). English is also the most 'sibling-set friendly' naming tradition because its breadth accommodates almost any pairing.
Paz
“Peace and golden serenity”
Paz is a compact and beautiful name that carries the universal aspiration of peace, used across Spanish, Hebrew, and English-speaking cultures. Its single-syllable strength and clear meaning give it a modern, minimalist appeal that resonates with contemporary naming trends. The name has a warm, international character that feels both ancient and fresh.
Pearce
“Rock, stone”
Pearce is an Anglo-Norman form of Peter, itself derived from the Greek petros meaning rock or stone. It developed as a surname in medieval England and Wales before re-emerging as a given name. The name carries a sense of solidity and quiet strength, with a spelling that distinguishes it from the more common Pierce.
Pearl
“Precious gem”
Pearl takes its name directly from the lustrous gemstone formed within molluscs, long prized for its natural, understated beauty. As a given name it became fashionable in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, when jewel names such as Ruby, Opal, and Beryl were all in vogue. After a long period of decline, Pearl has made a confident and charming comeback, appealing to parents seeking vintage names with warmth and substance. The name carries a sense of quiet elegance, natural rarity, and enduring value.
Pearse
“Rock-solid steadfast strength”
Pearse is an anglicised spelling of the surname and given name Piers, rooted in the medieval English tradition of adapting Norman French names. It has been used both as a surname and a first name across Britain and Ireland. The name evokes a sense of solidity and reliability, qualities long associated with its etymological root.
Pebble
“Small smooth water-worn stone”
Pebble is an unconventional given name drawn directly from the English common noun, belonging to a tradition of nature-inspired word names. Its appeal lies in its gentle, rounded sound and the imagery of smooth river stones. While rare as a personal name, it fits within the modern trend of choosing distinctive, nature-connected names for children.
Peggy
“Pearl”
Peggy is a medieval English diminutive of Margaret, which traces back through Old French and Latin to the Greek 'Margarites', meaning pearl. The rhyming shift from Meg to Peg, and the addition of the familiar '-y' suffix to give Peggy, was characteristic of medieval English nickname formation. The name has a spirited, plucky character that makes it feel both warmly vintage and full of energy. After decades of being associated exclusively with mid-twentieth century Britain and America, Peggy has been enthusiastically revived as a fashionable choice for modern babies.
Pelham
“Homestead of Peola's people”
Pelham originated as a locational surname from several villages in England, most notably in Hertfordshire. It was transferred to use as a given name following the common English practice of adopting aristocratic surnames as first names. The name has a distinctly patrician quality and was especially fashionable in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Pemba
“Green island of natural abundance”
Pemba is primarily known as the name of a beautiful island off the coast of Tanzania, and has been adopted as a given name by English speakers drawn to its melodic sound and exotic geography. The name sits within a broader tradition of using place names as personal names. Its soft syllables and vivid geographical associations give it an appealing freshness.
Pemberley
“Grand estate of romantic aspiration”
Pemberley gained fame as the magnificent fictional estate of Mr Darcy in Jane Austen's 1813 novel 'Pride and Prejudice', and its use as a given name is almost entirely rooted in that literary legacy. It has a stately, lyrical quality that appeals to readers who love Austen's work. The name carries associations of elegance, landscape beauty, and romantic aspiration.
Pemberton
“Farmstead near Pendle Hill”
Pemberton is a village in Greater Manchester, England, and the surname derived from it has been used as a given name in the English-speaking world since the nineteenth century. It carries a robust, somewhat old-fashioned charm that fits within the trend for reviving vintage surname-names. The name has both British and North American currency through notable bearers.
Pembroke
“Headland”
Pembroke is derived from the Welsh place name for Pembroke in south-west Wales, which itself comes from the Welsh 'pen' meaning head or headland, and the Old English or Old Norse 'bro' meaning bridge or land. As a given name it is exceptionally rare, carrying a distinctly aristocratic and Welsh character. It is associated with the earldom of Pembroke, one of the oldest and most distinguished titles in British peerage.
Pendle
“Ancient Lancashire hill with dark history”
Pendle is a place name from Lancashire, England, carrying deep historical resonance as the site of the 1612 Pendle Witch Trials, one of the most famous witch trials in English history. Used as a given name, it appeals to those drawn to English landscape and history. Its short, punchy sound gives it a modern usability despite its ancient roots.
Pendleton
“Moorland farmstead near Pendle”
Pendleton is both an English village near Manchester and a small city in Oregon, USA, and the surname derived from the English original has been used as a given name in America since the nineteenth century. It has a strong, distinguished sound and a history of use among prominent American families. The name balances rugged associations with a polished, formal quality.
Penfield
“Open land with an animal enclosure”
Penfield is a surname of English toponymic origin that has been used as a given name, particularly in North America where the surname was carried by early settlers. It has a clean, distinguished sound and a grounded, pastoral quality. The name is associated with intellectual achievement through its most famous bearer.
Penley
“Woodland clearing near an enclosure”
Penley is a village in Wales near the English border, and its surname form has occasionally been used as a given name in English-speaking families. The name has a gentle, lyrical quality owing to its soft sounds and nature-connected meaning. It sits comfortably alongside other English place-name surnames repurposed as given names.
Penn
“Enclosure or hilltop dweller”
Penn is a crisp, single-syllable name with deep English roots, historically associated with the Penn family of Pennsylvania fame. It carries a quiet strength and understated elegance that has made it appealing as both a surname and a given name. Its brevity gives it a modern, confident feel while retaining strong historical ties.
Pennant
“Headland or hilltop promontory”
Pennant is a rare and distinctive given name with deep Welsh-English roots, historically used as a surname in Wales. It evokes imagery of victory banners and championship flags, lending it a bold, triumphant character. Though unusual as a first name, it has a strong, memorable quality that sets it apart.
Penney
“Distinctive spelling of Penny, weaver or coin”
Penney is a warm, approachable name that carries the cheerful charm of Penny while offering a slightly more distinctive spelling. It has been used as both a given name and surname in English-speaking countries, lending it a familiar yet individualistic feel. The name suits a friendly, grounded personality.
Penny
“Weaver, or the smallest coin”
Penny is a bright, cheerful name that surged in popularity during the mid-20th century and has retained a timeless, down-to-earth appeal. It is associated with warmth, practicality, and a no-nonsense friendliness that resonates across generations. The name appears widely in popular culture, cementing its place as a beloved English classic.
Pennyroyal
“Aromatic royal herb of the mint family”
Pennyroyal is an extraordinarily rare given name drawn from the aromatic herb of the mint family, known for its strong scent and long history in folk medicine. As a name it carries a distinctly botanical, unconventional character, earthy, fragrant, and deeply rooted in the natural world. It suits parents drawn to nature names with historical depth.
Penrhyn
“Headland or coastal promontory”
Penrhyn is a stately, place-derived name with strong Welsh-English aristocratic associations, most notably connected to Penrhyn Castle in Gwynedd, Wales. Its melodic, multi-syllable form gives it a dignified, almost noble character unusual among English given names. It remains rare as a personal name, making it a bold and geographically distinctive choice.
Penrose
“Top of the heath or heathland headland”
Penrose is a Cornish place name used as a given name. It derives from the Cornish words pen meaning head or top and ros meaning heath, promontory, or spur of land. The name therefore means the top of the heath or headland above the moorland. There are several places called Penrose in Cornwall, and the name has a long history as a Cornish surname. As a given name it is exceptionally rare, but it carries an intellectual and aristocratic quality that has attracted a small number of adventurous parents.
Peony
“Flower of healing and good fortune”
Peony is a lush, romantic floral name that has been used in English-speaking countries as a given name since the Victorian era, when flower names enjoyed great popularity. The peony itself is one of the most opulent of garden flowers, symbolising good fortune, honour, and compassion in both Western and Eastern traditions. As a name it projects a gentle, refined beauty.
Pepper
“Bold and spicy in character”
Pepper is a vivacious, modern given name drawn from the beloved spice, used for both boys and girls in English-speaking countries. It carries a playful, energetic character, zesty, warm, and a little fiery, making it a popular choice among parents seeking an upbeat nature-inspired name. Its rise in usage mirrors the broader trend of spice and food names entering the given-name lexicon.
Perceval
“Pierce the valley; Grail knight of French Arthurian romance”
Perceval is a name of debated etymology, first appearing in Chretien de Troyes's late twelfth-century Arthurian romance. The most appealing folk etymology interprets it as a compound of the Old French percer, to pierce, and val, valley, giving pierce the valley, a name suggestive of bold adventure. Some scholars alternatively propose a Celtic origin, perhaps from Welsh Peredur, meaning hard spears.
Percival
“Pierce the vale”
Percival is an Arthurian name traditionally interpreted as 'pierce the vale,' suggesting one who breaks through into hidden or sacred territory. It carries connotations of questing, discovery, and noble purpose.
Percy
“Pierce the valley”
Percy derives from the Norman French surname Percy, which referred to a place in Normandy. The place name is thought to come from a Gaulish personal name combined with a suffix denoting an estate. As a given name it became strongly associated with the aristocratic Percy family of Northumberland, one of England's most powerful medieval dynasties. It has recently undergone a fashionable revival as a vintage boys name with charm and spirit.
Perdita
“Lost”
Perdita is a Latin-derived name meaning lost or the lost one, coined by William Shakespeare for the heroine of The Winter's Tale, written around 1610. In the play, Perdita is a princess abandoned as a baby and raised by a shepherd, only to be found and restored to her rightful place. Despite its melancholy literal meaning, the name carries a romantic and literary quality, associated with innocence, resilience, and ultimate redemption. It has been beloved by parents with a taste for the unusual and the Shakespearean ever since.
Peregrin
“Wandering pilgrim or traveller”
Peregrin is an old English given name rooted in the Latin word for pilgrim or wanderer. It evokes the image of someone on a spiritual or physical journey, and carries a noble, literary quality. The name is rare today, which gives it a distinctive and timeless appeal.
Peregrina
“Female pilgrim or wanderer”
Peregrina is an elegant and uncommon name with deep Latin roots, used across English and Romance language traditions. It carries a sense of wandering grace and spiritual depth, historically associated with pilgrimage and discovery. The name remains a rare and sophisticated choice with a rich etymological heritage.
Discover thousands of names in the app
Swipe through names, match with your partner, and find the perfect name together. Privacy-first, always.