Unique British Names
by Team NameslistPosted on: April 7th, 2023Picking your baby's name is a treasured chore. Most parents spend hours hunting for a name that's distinctive, full of significance, and holds memory value. Struggling for ideas? Pour over the UK's reservoir of unique British baby names.
Classic British names like Olivia and Oliver have crossed the ocean to the US. However, there lies a wealth of unexplored gems. From enduring monikers such as Beatrix and Eamon to modern variants like Saskia and Rafferty, the UK's pool is vast.
What's unique about these names? They often trace back to medieval times or reference popular historical or royal figures. While such names may seem odd to American ears, they've remained beloved in Britain for many years.
Delighting in the sounds, these names ooze grace and worldly appeal. They stand out amongst average names. If you're after a Celtic-inspired name or a nod to a favorite Shakespeare play, you might just stumble upon your baby's perfect British name. So let's take a look at some noteworthy and unusual baby names that originate from the UK!
- Martin
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: God of war, Warlike and Warring
- Namesakes: Martin Short (Movie Actor) , Director, Martin Scorsese
- Hector
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Anchor and Steadfast
- Namesakes: TV Actor, Hector Elizondo, Soccer Player, Hector Bellerin
- Keanu
- Origin: Hawaiian
- Meaning: Cool mountain breeze
- Namesakes: Movie Actor, Keanu Reeves, Keanu Neal (Football Player)
- Vesperia
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Eveningstar
- Albane
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: White
- Dion
- Origin: Greek, Modern invented name and French
- Meaning: Follower of Dionysus and Daughter of heaven
- Namesakes: Dion Phaneuf (Hockey Player) , Soccer Player, Dion Dublin
- Tegan
- Origin: Welsh and Irish
- Meaning: Loved one, Attractive and Darling
- Namesakes: TV Actress, Tegan Moss, Tegan Martin (Pageant Contestant)
- Calvin
- Origin: French and Latin
- Meaning: Bald and Hairless
- Namesakes: Calvin Johnson (Football Player) , Calvin Harris (DJ)
- Isadora
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Gift of Isis
- Namesakes: Choreographer, Isadora Duncan, Gospel Singer, Isadora Pompeo
- Jaxson
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Son of Jack
- Namesakes: Basketball Player, Jaxson Hayes
- Penelope
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Weaver
- Namesakes: Movie Actress, Penélope Cruz, Penelope Wilton (TV Actress)
- Marlene
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Woman from Magdala, Marshy meadow and Variation of Magdalene
- Namesakes: Marlene Favela (TV Actress) , Marlene Lufen (TV Show Host)
- Lincoln
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Home by the pond, Town by the pool and Settler by the lake
- Namesakes: Lincoln Lewis (Soap Opera Actor) , American writer, Lincoln Kirstein
- Paige
- Origin: French and English
- Meaning: Young servant and Page to a lord
- Namesakes: TV Actress, Paige Hurd, Paige Turco (TV Actress)
- Hawthorne
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Where hawthorn trees grow
- Namesakes: Hawthorne James (American, Actor)
- Damian
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Subdue, To tame and Tamer
- Namesakes: Damian Lewis (TV Actor) , Reggae Singer, Damian Marley
- Finnley
- Origin: Irish and Scottish
- Meaning: Hero, Blond warrior and Fair-haired courageous one
- Ysadora
- Origin: Latin and Greek
- Meaning: Gift of Isis
- Kestrel
- Origin: English and Bird name
- Meaning: Soars
- Namesakes: Kestrel (Marvel Comics), born 1970, Kestrel Berkeley Boyle
- Raven
- Origin: Word, Word name, animal name and British
- Meaning: A large black bird, Dark haired and Wise
- Namesakes: TV Actress, Raven Goodwin, Raven De La Croix (American actor)
- Bramwell
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Broom well
- Raine
- Origin: Latin, Hebrew, French, Slavic, Word name, nature name, German and Sanskrit
- Meaning: Queen, She is singing and Pure
- Namesakes: Model, Raine Michaels, Raine Maida (Rock Singer)
- Jude
- Origin: Latin, Hebrew and Greek
- Meaning: Praised
- Namesakes: Movie Actor, Jude Law, Movie Actor, Jude Ciccolella
- Vivienne
- Origin: Latin and French
- Meaning: Life, Lively and Living
- Namesakes: Fashion Designer, Vivienne Westwood, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt (Movie Actress)
- Ysabelle
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: God is my oath
- Malcolm
- Origin: Scottish
- Meaning: Devotee of St. Colomba
- Namesakes: Malcolm X (Religious Leader) , Movie Actor, Malcolm McDowell
- Rhiannon
- Origin: Welsh
- Meaning: Goddess, Great queen and A mythological nymph
- Namesakes: Movie Actress, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, TV Actress, Rhiannon Fish
- Francina
- Origin: Latin and English
- Meaning: From France
- Namesakes: Francina Díaz Mestre, Spanish politician, Francina Armengol Socías
- Imogen
- Origin: Irish and Celtic
- Meaning: Maiden, Image and Last born
- Namesakes: Pop Singer, Imogen Heap, TV Actress, Imogen Poots
- Jocelynne
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Joyous, A member of the German tribe and The Gauts
- Orlaith
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Golden princess
- Ysanne
- Origin: Hebrew and Modern invented name
- Meaning: Grace or favor
- Zinnia
- Origin: German, Flower name and Latin
- Meaning: Flower from the aster family and Colorful flowers
- Namesakes: born 1970, Zinnia Joanne Pelly, Model, Zinnia Kumar
- Leif
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Heir, Descendent and Descendant
- Namesakes: Leif Garrett (TV Actor) , Leif Ove Andsnes (Pianist)
- Tallulah
- Origin: Native American and Irish
- Meaning: Leaping water and Lady of abundance
- Namesakes: Movie Actress, Tallulah Bankhead, Tallulah Greive (TV Actress)
- Ysabel
- Origin: French and Spanish
- Meaning: Consecrated by God
- Namesakes: Ysabel Jordan (Family Member) , Ysabel Ortega (TV Actress)
- Brooke
- Origin: British and English nature name
- Meaning: Water and Small stream
- Namesakes: Brooke Shields (Movie Actress) , Brooke Hogan (Reality Star)
- Reign
- Origin: American, Word name and Irish
- Meaning: Rule, Ruler and Sovereign
- Namesakes: TV Actress, Reign Edwards, Reign Disick (Family Member)
- Caius
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Rejoice and Variation of Gaius
- Namesakes: Caius Gabriel Cibber (British artist) , Chieftain, Arminius
- Jones
- Origin: Hebrew, Welsh and English
- Meaning: John's son, God is gracious and God's grace
- Namesakes: badminton player, Jones Ralfy Jansen
- Meadow
- Origin: American and Nature name
- Meaning: Vegetation and Grass
- Namesakes: Movie Actress, Meadow Williams, Celebrity Baby, Meadow Rain
- Xaviera
- Origin: Basque
- Meaning: Or new house, Splendid and Bright
- Ailith
- Origin: British
- Meaning: Seasoned warrior
- Derwent
- Origin: British
- Meaning: Gifted friend
- Persephone
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Bringer of death
- Namesakes: Popularity of Persephone as a baby name
- Carmine
- Origin: Latin, Hebrew and Spanish
- Meaning: Vivid red, Garden or field of fruit and Song
- Namesakes: Carmine Giovinazzo (TV Actor) , Carmine Appice (Drummer)
- Darian
- Origin: Persian
- Meaning: Rich, Wealthy and King
- Namesakes: Darian Durant (Football Player) , TV Actor, Darian Barnes
- Wolf
- Origin: Animal name and German
- Meaning: Wolf strife
- Namesakes: Wolf Blitzer (TV Show Host) , Guitarist, Wolf Hoffmann
- Quentin
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Fifth
- Namesakes: Quentin Tarantino (Director) , Basketball Player, Quentin Richardson
- Bryony
- Origin: Greek and Latin flower name
- Meaning: Climbing plant, To sprout and Vine with small blossoms
- Namesakes: Bryony Gordon (Journalist) , TV Actress, Bryony Hannah