Unique English Names
by Team NameslistPosted on: April 8th, 2023Picking the ideal name for a newborn is no easy feat. It often involves flipping through numerous lists and websites, searching for something special and uncommon. While well-known names like Emma and Liam reign supreme, some guardians prefer more rare names that show their personal style and passions. For those wanting to go beyond the general crowd, we have a collection of some of the most unique English baby names.
Names inspired by nature like Clover and Sage or taken from literature like Atticus and Darcy, these selections will help your offspring be distinct. Some parents might choose to tribute their beloved musicians or artists with names like Bowie or Lennon. Meanwhile, some may prefer historically significant names, like Galileo or Amelia Earhart.
Though there might be minor issues with an unusual name - like constant mispronunciations or odd reactions from others - many guardians feel a unique name adds individuality and creativity to their child's identity. After all, doesn't everyone love a name that sparks conversation and interest? Whether you're inclined towards fanciful names like Luna or bold picks like Onyx, this compilation is bound to inspire naming ideas for your baby.
- Burleigh
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Boundary line, Knotted wood and Meadow with knotty-trunk trees
- Namesakes: Burleigh Smith, Popularity of Burleigh as a baby name
- Holmes
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Careful, From the island in the river and Lakeside hill
- Namesakes: Holmes Herbert (English actor) , Holmes Osborne (American actor)
- Cranston
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: The crane town and Settlement of cranes
- Norman
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Man from the north, Northerner and Norseman
- Namesakes: Norman Wisdom (Movie Actor) , Movie Actor, Norman Reedus
- Tessie
- Origin: Greek, English and Spanish
- Meaning: Reaper, Fourth-born and Late summer
- Namesakes: American actor, Tessie Santiago, Actress, singer, Tessie O'Shea
- Nick
- Origin: English, Latin and Greek
- Meaning: Victorious people
- Namesakes: Nick Cannon (TV Actor) , Nick Lachey (Pop Singer)
- Beal
- Origin: English and French
- Meaning: Fair and Handsome
- Cuthbert
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Famous, Brilliant and Bright
- Namesakes: Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood (Royal Navy admiral) , Cuthbert Alport, Baron Alport (British politician)
- Sherwood
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Luminous wood and Bright forest
- Namesakes: TV Producer, Sherwood Schwartz, Sherwood Anderson (Novelist)
- Frost
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Freezing
- Namesakes: Frost (Norwegian musician)
- Lathan
- Origin: place name and British
- Meaning: Meadow settlement and From the leek farm
- Namesakes: Young Lay
- Kit
- Origin: Greek, English, Latin and Danish
- Meaning: Little cat, Pure and Bearing Christ
- Namesakes: Kit Harington (TV Actor) , Kit Hoover (TV Show Host)
- Alvina
- Origin: British, English and Latin
- Meaning: Wise companion, Elf and Friend
- Namesakes: Alvina Krause
- Deanna
- Origin: British, Hebrew, Latin and English
- Meaning: Valley or church leader, Judgment and Divine
- Namesakes: Deanna Durbin (Movie Actress) , Deanna Russo (Soap Opera Actress)
- Craven
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Garlic place
- Namesakes: British politician, Craven Berkeley
- Hill
- Origin: English, Latin, Greek and British
- Meaning: Person who lived on a hill and Cheer
- Namesakes: Hill Harper (actor)
- Kelton
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Beautiful island, Town of the keels and Shipping harbor
- Darrow
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Spear
- Cordell
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Cord, Rope and Maker
- Namesakes: Cordell Hull (Politician) , Guitarist, Cordell Jackson
- Kipp
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Christ bearer and From the pointed hill
- Namesakes: American actress, Kip, Actress, Kipp Hamilton
- Norma
- Origin: Latin and English
- Meaning: Norsewoman, Model and The standard or norm
- Namesakes: Norma Shearer (Movie Actress) , Movie Actress, Norma Talmadge
- Pepper
- Origin: Latin, English, Sanskrit and German
- Meaning: Relating to the spice and Berry
- Namesakes: Football Player, Pepper Johnson, Pepper Kester (American, Actress)
- Houghton
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Place in an enclosure, Hill and Settlement on the headland
- Oswald
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Divinely powerful
- Namesakes: Politician, Oswald Mosley, Oswald Avery (Doctor)
- Burton
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Fortress, Bright flame and Fortified settlement
- Namesakes: Pop Singer, Burton Cummings, Metal Singer, Burton C. Bell
- Alton
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Old town
- Namesakes: Alton Brown (Chef) , Alton Adams (Composer)
- Clint
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Fenced settlement and Hill
- Namesakes: Country Singer, Clint Black, Clint Walker (Movie Actor)
- Gypsy
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Gypsy, Wanderer and Bohemian traveler
- Banner
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Flag bearer
- Magdalene
- Origin: English and Hebrew
- Meaning: Variation of Magdalene, A woman from Magdala and High tower
- Namesakes: Magdalene French (died 1683) , Actress, singer, Marlene Dietrich
- Clem
- Origin: Latin, English and French
- Meaning: Giving mercy, Merciful and Feminine variation of Clemens
- Namesakes: Clem Burke (Drummer) , Soul Singer, Clem Curtis
- Sheffield
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Crooked meadow
- Namesakes: Sheffield Neave
- Dottie
- Origin: English and Greek
- Meaning: Gift of God
- Namesakes: Dottie West (Country Singer) , Dottie Peoples (Jazz Singer)
- Beck
- Origin: English, Hebrew and German
- Meaning: Small stream and Brook
- Namesakes: Beck Bennett (TV Actor) , Beck (Rock Singer)
- Culver
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: Dove
- Moore
- Origin: Gaelic
- Meaning: Bog, Open land and Moorish
- Namesakes: Moore Marriott (Comedy actor)
- Treena
- Origin: Scandinavian and English
- Meaning: Perfect, Fire and Full of spirit
- Hammond
- Origin: Danish, English and German
- Meaning: From Hamlet and Home
- Namesakes: Hammond Johnson, Hamond (Sound engineer)
- Webb
- Origin: British
- Meaning: Weaver
- Namesakes: Country Singer, Webb Pierce, Golfer, Webb Simpson
- Denham
- Origin: English, Word name and British
- Meaning: Home of the Danes and Village in a valley
- Namesakes: Denham Brown
- Ward
- Origin: English, British and German
- Meaning: To guard, Watchman and Protector of the home
- Namesakes: Ward Bond (TV Actor) , Ward Horton (Movie Actor)
- Ramsay
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Ram's land and Garlic island
- Burl
- Origin: English and French
- Meaning: Knotty wood, Tuft of wool and Butler
- Namesakes: Burl Barer (American writer) , Burl Cain (American penologist)
- Cedar
- Origin: Latin, Word name, French and English
- Meaning: Cedar tree
- Namesakes: Pianist, Cedar Walton
- Calder
- Origin: Scottish and English
- Meaning: Stream, Rough waters and Lives near stony river
- Namesakes: Calder Willingham (American writer)
- Milton
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: From the mill town
- Namesakes: TV Actor, Milton Berle, Milton Nascimento (Songwriter)
- Sherwin
- Origin: English and British
- Meaning: Wool cutter, Bright friend and Swift runner
- Namesakes: Figure skater, Sherwin Badger, American economist, Sherwin Rosen
- Barker
- Origin: British
- Meaning: Occupational tanner
- Sunshine
- Origin: Word name and British
- Meaning: Sunshine
- Namesakes: Sunshine Cruz (TV Actress) , Sunshine Dizon (TV Actress)
- Henderson
- Origin: British and English
- Meaning: House ruler and Son of Henry
- Namesakes: Henderson Forsythe (Soap Opera Actor) , Henderson Walker