British Baby Names

UK Birth Announcements 25/1/21-31/1/21

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. No official surnames are included; any name ending in a surname is actually a middle name. 

 

Boys:

Arlo James

Caspar Constantine Boothby (Cosmo Rafael Brooke)

Clyde John

George Michael St John

Harry Felix

Hunter

Jacob Falcon (Ottilie)

Jago Aidan

Luke (Haydn)

Max Paul

Wilfred Humphrey

 

Girls: 

Alice Florence Yolande (Elizabeth "Eliza" Catherine Rose)

Anna Jane (Charlie Thomas)

Beatrix Mary Joy (Gracie, Evey-Jane, Nicolle & Matilda Victoria Louise)

Callie Naya (Alfie-Oscar)

Charlotte Grace

Eithne Jenny Gillian

Evelyn Anne

India Ottilie Rose 

Isabella Rose Elizabeth

Khloe Margoux Louise

Ophelia Isabelle (Ottilie)

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online. 

 

Name Help: A Sister for Mila

 

Shelley is expecting her second daughter imminently—a little sister for Mila Rose. 

Shelley writes: "We struggle with names as we are both teachers so most names remind us of certain children! We chose Mila for our first as neither of us had ever taught a Mila but we didn't think it was too unusual either.

This time the only name we have is Avie. We thought a shorter name might go better with Mila's name, we liked the Ava, Eva, Isla type names but they're too common. The other name we had on Mila's list was Aoife as partner's grandad was Irish but decided it would give her problems throughout life as most people would mispronounce it.

Apart from that we really don't have any type of preferences, I'd mainly say different but not odd if that makes sense!"

 

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Different but not odd is so a common request for a name, you'd think I would have a pre-populated list. However, that can apply to so many names -- from just fallen out of fashion names like Caitlin to "sounds similar" names like Arla. For you, I've opted mostly for sound based on your current list that are all around Mila's popularity point or lower.

 

Alba – The word in many Romance languages meaning "dawn" which is both an ancient and modern choice.

Amaya – Both a Basque name meaning "the end, final" and a Sanskrit word meaning “free from deceit”.

Aria – Sweet Aria is both a musical term from the Italian for "melody" and a Sanskrit name meaning "honourable, noble".

Aubrey – A medieval unisex name, the feminine original form of which was Alberada (alb "elf" and radi" counsel, advice") the same meaning as Alfred. Aubrey is rising for girls in the UK (now #223) thanks to influence from America – where it has been in the top 50 for girls since 2008.

Avery – A longer alternative for Avie, Avery is another highly popular American favourite which is beginning to turn heads over here as well. Avery is descended from Alfred, sharing the same meaning as Aubrey.

Cleo – Striking but familiar, Cleo has an early 20th-century vintage jazz-era vibe.

Eden / Edie – Eden, meaning "paradise" in Hebrew, and Edie, a diminutive of Edith, are both sleek and slimline choices just under the top 100.

Esme – Meaning essentially "beloved", Esme is a sweet gem which compliments Mila beautifully.

Everly – Another Eva/Avie alternative to consider is rising Everly (currently #238), also spelt Everleigh and Everley.

Keeva – The Anglicised spelling of Irish name Caoimhe meaning "gentle, kind". While some might prefer to retain the indigenous spelling, the likes of Bridget, Aidan, Connor, Erin, Finley etc (all Anglicised forms) show that they still retain their Irish charm.

Luna – The Roman personification and goddess of the moon makes Luna an ancient gem with modern appeal.

Lyra – Both an astronomical and musical name which is gaining a rising profile in Britain but still below the top 100.

Maeve – Sweet Irish Maeve has a bold and beautiful namesake in mythology and is a familiar modern choice. A less common alternative is Maeva which means "welcome" in Tahitian and is currently popular in France.

Nova – Vintage Nova is hitting all the right notes currently having risen from obscurity to now just within the top 200 and rising.

Orla – An Irish gem meaning "golden ruler" which has none of the usual pronunciation issues.

Piper – Made famous from the series Charmed, Piper is in a similar style to popular Harper but ranks just within the top 200.

Pippa – Bouncy Pippa is familiar and has longevity, yet ranks just below the top 100.

Reeva – An alternate spelling of Riva, itself a diminutive of the Rivka, the Modern Hebrew form of Rebecca. It ranks at #334 and is on the rise.

Sadie – A bubbly vintage short form of princessly Sarah , ranking at #142.

Thea – Sleek and chic and a great compliment to Mila, Thea is striking and familiar at the same time.

Zara -  Royal Zara is streamlined and classy with plenty of sass. Ranking at #66 and having sat in the bottom half of the top 100 for nearly two decades, it really is a familiar but not too common choice.

 

I hope this will help spark renewed inspiration for girls' names. Good luck with settling on the perfect name for your new family addition. 

 

Name Help: Baby Boy Name Needed

 

Emma is expecting a little boy and is struggling to find a name both her and her partner can compromise on.

Emma writes: "We are struggling to find a name that we both love. Babies surname [sounds like a body part] - this in itself presents a problem as some names actually sound like diseases. 

So far, my partner is pretty set on Tommy or Jack. I don't mind either but my reservations are that Jack is a little boring and being a teacher, Tommy T. sounds like he is trouble with a capital T. 

 

I love the name Sonny but my partner dismissed it straight away. He won't go for anything even slightly quirky. 

 

Other names we have thrown around and both quite liked include Billy, Leo and Archie. 

 

Names that we can't really include (due to friends etc) include Albie (which I love), Reuben, Oscar and Alfie. 

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As a teacher myself who named her son with a partner who had a differing taste in names, I can completely relate to your dilemma -- I've been exactly there myself! I think people assume that teachers will go for unusual names to avoid using names of pupils, and yet most of my colleagues actually went with top 50 names. I think the key is our perception of the name (which often is influenced by the children we have taught) rather than the popularity of the name. 

As your partner has quite conservative/popular tastes, I've opted for names that hopefully strike an easy balance and won't be instantly dismissed. 

 

Arlo – Part Leo with a dash of Sonny's style. Arlo is a trendy name which is starting to turn heads.

Austin – A name that sounds modern but has a long history of use since the Middle Ages. 

Brody – Brody (or Brodie) is a breezy Scottish name which matches up the sounds of Billy-Archie-Sonny on your list.

Charlie – Classic and down to earth like Jack with a timeless and friendly quality.

Dylan – Dylan can be considered a 'modern classic' as it still feels fresh even after decades of use.

Evan – Sleek and grounded, Evan is a familiar name that still retains its intrigue. 

Harvey –  A half-way house between cheeky Tommy and cheery Sonny with the same vintage charm.

Jackson – If Jack cannot be shaken from your partner's mind, you could spice it up a little by opting for Jackson (or Jaxon). Even better, either Jack or Sonny (or both!) can be used as nicknames!

Jake – Close to Jack but much less common is breezy Jake currently ranking at #80.

Jamie – A Jack-Archie-Tommy hybrid is charming Jamie. It is familiar but now feels a little bit different when you encounter one.

Jude – Another Jack alternative to consider is sleek Biblical Jude.

Lewis – A classic name, used by royalty, since the Middle Ages that still feels fresh and modern.

Luke – This is another name that I would call a 'modern classic'. It's sweet and friendly but, as it now ranks at #100, it isn't too common.

Owen – A perennial name which has been in use for centuries but still feels fresh for a modern baby.

Rory – Sharing Tommy's cheeky chappy vibe, Rory makes a great 'somewhat common' name choice.

Stanley – With its vintage vibe, Stanley feels right at home alongside Peaky Blinder inspired Tommy. 

Teddy – A great Tommy alternative with the same fun, vintage feel.  

Theo – As you like Leo, Theo is an obvious alternative with plenty of style.

Toby – Another Tommy-Sonny blend in terms of style. Toby is fun and friendly and down to earth.

 

 

UK Birth Announcements 18/1/21-24/1/21

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. No official surnames are included; any name ending in a surname is actually a middle name. 

 

Boys:

Fiennes Albert Wykeham Charles - dad is Hon Fiennes "Alexander" Wykeham Martin Cornwallis, son of 4th Baron Cornwallis.

Freddie John

George Arthur

George Arthur

Rémy Martin (Dexter)

Samuel Freeman

 

Girls: 

Arabella Christine (Evelyn Elizabeth)

Catinka Eugenie Mia (Cara Bridget Anna & Cressida Thiela Patricia)

Cecilia Jemima Jean (Wilfred Barnaby Charles & Constance Cordelia Rose)

Charlotte "Lottie" Joan (Alice)

Cosima Louise Cecilia 

Isabel Scarlet Beatrice 

Lucy Patricia

Mia

Nova Stella Antonia (Inigo)

Ottilie Jay (Florence Louisa Annie)

Pandora Cleo Florence

Scarlett Katherine Florence

Tamsin Mary

 

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online. 

 

UK Birth Announcements 11/1/21-17/1/21

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. No official surnames are included; any name ending in a surname is actually a middle name. 

 

Boys:

Arthur

Arthur Karl Ludwig

Blair David Hugh (Katie Mary & Alison Margaret Jean)

Noah

Noah Hunter

Raphaël John Perrin

Roman Myles

Ted Albert (Benjamin "Ben" Frank)

Zachary (Josie)

 

Girls: 

Beatrice Mary Elizabeth

Beatrix Venetia

Daisy Celia (Frank William & Cosima Dora)

Eleanor Annabelle Ilse (Thomas Nicholas)

Freya Emma (Nina Honor)

Jemima Margaux Cordelia (Bertie)

Nina Catherine

Phoebe Nancy (Murray)

 

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online. 

 

Name Help: A Brother for Rosa

 

Martha is expecting her second baby -- a brother for her daughter Rosa. 

Martha writes: "I think because we assumed our next baby would also be a girl - and had a name picked out (Pearl Ava Adelaide) - but, as it’s actually a boy, we are now on the back foot! We are a British and Chinese / Scottish couple living in London.

We have some names we like but aren’t 100% certain or agreed on: Levi, Sterling (these two are my favourites), Vincent (my husband’s favourite), Sid and Fyfe so would be very grateful for any inspiration!

We also quite like Ray, Rudy and Spike - though we’re keen to avoid two names beginning with R so these will probably feature in the middle.

Names we like but can’t go for: Ezra, Leo, Patrick, Miller.

Names people have already suggested and we’re not that keen on: Finn, Flynn, Otto, Fox, Rory, James, Arthur, Archie, Max, Milo, Oscar.

We also want to avoid anything super classic like Henry, William or Edward."

 

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I love your quirky vintage style! I have to say, not repeating an R initial was so hard because there just seem to be so many R names that fit your style, but I do understand not wanting to repeat an initial. I like the Scottish vibe running through your picks, so for reference, I have listed the Scottish popularity as well as England and Wales (E&W). 

Asa - As you have mentioned Levi and Ezra, perhaps you would like sleek Biblical Asa. It ranks at #663 in England and Wales (E&W).

Bruno – Quirky Bruno has been rising across Britain in the last few years. It now ranks at #384 in E&W and #296 in Scotland.

Calvin –  This friendly retro surname-first name ranked in the Scottish top 100 from 2009 to 2017 and was #116 in 2019. In E&W it ranks at #575.

Clyde – Taken from the River Clyde in Scotland, Clyde has a great vintage vibe thanks to its use in the 19th century. 

Cyrus – A kingly name which ranks at #707 in E&W.

Digby –  A preppy peerage surname which has seen plenty of use as a given name. It currently ranks at #1030 in E&W.

Douglas – A Scottish place name-turned-surname-turned-first name. Douglas has a solidly vintage Scottish vibe with easy nicknames Doug and Dougie.

Eric – Popular in Scotland from the 17th century, and a popular flapper name, Eric ranked at #126 in E&W and #278 in Scotland.

Fergus – This affable Gaelic name meaning "man of vigour" has been in the top 200 of Scotland since 1974. In 2019, it ranked #136 in Scotland and #541 in E&W.

Fletcher – A preppy-cool surname which brings to mind medieval archers. It ranks at #293 in E&W and #355 in Scotland.

Fraser – A Scottish clan name which has ranked in the Scottish top 100 since at least 1950. In 2019, it ranked #79 in Scotland and #240 in E&W.

Harris – Harris is an English surname derived from Harry, but it is also the name of the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. As such, it has been in the Scottish top 100 since 2004 and currently ranks popularly at #5. It is #290 in E&W.

Keir / Kerr – Both Keir and Kerr are Scottish surname-first names derived from a Scottish place name. Kerr ranks at #204 and Keir at #216 in Scotland. Keir ranks at #1518 in E&W and Kerr is unranked. 

Kenneth – Scottish Kenneth is a medieval kingly name, revived by Sir Walter Scott. Ken is found as the Chinese 肯 (ken). 

Lennox – A Scottish placename which is now a stylish first name, ranking #388 in England and Wales. 

Mac / Mack – Sid, Ray, Spike and Fyfe on your list reminds me of streamlined Mac(k). Mac and Mack rank at #1506 and #1587 respectively in E&W, though they rank at #233 and #355 in Scotland. Mac(k) can be used alone of as a nickname for Cormac, Magnus, Macauley or any Mac- surname.

Murray – A surname derived from Moray in Scotland. It has ranked in the Scottish top 100 since 1994 and ranks at #1316 in E&W. 

Sol – Sometimes short for Solomon, Sol is also a name in its own right, as the Latin word for "sun" and the name of the Roman sun god. It ranks at #952 in E&W. In  a similar style is Biblical Saul at #1001.

Sonny – A retro diminutive with a sweet boyish charm. It ranks at #103 in E&W. 

Winston – An English surname-first name with plenty of vintage charm. It ranks at #616 in E&W. 

Woody – A short form of Woodrow or simply a nickname taken from wood. Harrelson and Toy Story have made it accessible and it currently ranks at #362.

 

UK Birth Announcements 4/1/21-10/1/21

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. No official surnames are included; any name ending in a surname is actually a middle name. 

 

Boys:

Albert "Bertie" Mombo (Isla Acacia, Ottilie Elizabeth & Emilia Anne)

Angus Lyndall Patrick

Edward Thomas Carmichael (Henrietta Ann Towry)

Jayden James

James Nairn

Magnus Theodore

Oliver

Oscar James Edward

Theodore Wallace Stephen

Thomas Gabriel (Mia)

 

Girls: 

Abigail Zara (Elliot William)

Bonnie Nona

Felicity Catherine Hero (Harriet Audrey Lerryn)

Freya Iris

Isobel Vivienne (Jack Adrian Alexander)

Loa Anne (Thomas)

Lydia Jean Elizabeth (Isobel)

Lyra Julia (Albert)

Tillie Rose

 

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online. 

 

Bridgerton Names: Reality or Fantasy?

 

Want to know how realistic the names in Bridgerton are? Check out my new post over at Nameberry! 

UK Birth Announcements 28/12/20-3/1/21

Below is a round-up of the birth announcements from British newspapers. Sources include a national paper (The Telegraph, The Times) and a broad range of local newspapers from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Sibling names are in brackets. No official surnames are included; any name ending in a surname is actually a middle name. 

 

Boys:

Caspian Aubrey Peregrin (Leander Francis Bertram)

Harry Robert

Ralph Hector

Rupert William Oswald (Frederick Arthur Maurice)

Sebastian Edward Moses (David Alan Olaf & Verity)

Theodore Ernest William

 

Girls: 

Annabelle Charlotte

Astrid Felicity (Alfred Willis)

Cecily Mary Helen (Augustine Joseph Mostyn)

Charlotte Avril Alethea 

Sophie Elizabeth Grace (Alice Catherine Sophia)

 

Twins:

Gray Clancey & Elwood Clancey 

 

I cross-reference older BAs to find the full names of the siblings, however often they are missing (especially the eldest siblings, or for half-siblings) which explains why you will sometimes see something like: George Henry (Lucy, Emma & Jack Arthur). "Lucy" and "Emma" may well have middle names as well; I simply cannot find them online.