American female names in English. british girl names

English female names are very popular not only in English-speaking countries, but all over the world. Some of them are used in their original form, some are transformed and adjusted to the norms of a particular language. But the meaning and origin of the name always remain the same.

If you are interested in English culture or are looking for a beautiful and unusual name for your daughter, this article will provide you with a lot of useful information.

English female names and their meanings

The name of a person most directly affects his fate. Therefore, it will be very useful to know what a particular name means before choosing it for yourself or giving it to your beloved child. The following list of English female names and their meanings will help to understand this issue:

It is noteworthy that very little has survived to this day. The vast majority was borrowed from other cultures: Hebrew, Ancient Greek Celtic, Norman, etc. At that time, people received names that praised the forces of nature, gods, and any human qualities.

Therefore, the meanings of names can be unusual and even ridiculous for a modern person. For example, the popular name Rachel today means "lamb" or "little sheep."

After Christianity came to Europe, the list of English names included the names of biblical characters (Sarah, Agnes). Many names are associated with the occupation of a person (Bailey is a sheriff's assistant; Abella is a shepherdess). Sometimes the abbreviated version of the name becomes an independent unit, for example, Victoria - Wiki; Rebecca - Becky; Angelina - Angie.

Popular English female names

Name trends come and go. Some previously are forgotten forever, and some return from time to time - often in their original form, but sometimes in a new interpretation.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics, the most popular female names are Olivia, Emma and Sophie.

Top 30 English female names are presented below:

Very often, fashion series or films influence the degree of popularity of a particular name.. For example, the name Arya, which is in 24th place in the ranking of popular female names in the UK in 2014, was named one of the main characters of the popular TV series Game of Thrones.

Also suddenly the names of other heroines of this series - Sansa, Brienne, Kaitelyn and Daenerys - began to be used frequently.

The name Isabella (Bella) was rarely used until recently. A new life was given to him by the heroine of the Twilight saga, Bella Swan. The first part of the film was released in 2008, and since that time the name Isabella has been annually among the most popular English female names.

And how many girls today bear the name of Harry Potter's faithful friend - Hermione! Until recently, this name was considered obsolete, but the popularity of the book and its film version have given it new life.

The success rate of name bearers also greatly influences the popularity of the name itself. A survey conducted in the UK showed which owners of which names the inhabitants of Foggy Albion consider the most and least successful. The survey results are shown below.

As you can see, simple girls with short and mediocre names are less successful than their rivals, whose names are full and aristocratic. Interestingly, the name Elizabeth is the leader in the list of the most successful names, while its abbreviated form - Lisa closes the ranking of the least successful.

We often like to imagine how we would be called in English. For example, Elena - Helen, Eugene - Eugene, Mikhail - Michael, etc. English names are very different from ours. Sometimes, it is even difficult to understand a male or female name in front of you.

If we talk about names in the US and UK, then they consist of personal name(personal name, first name, given name) and surnames(surname, last name, family name). The personal name is given at birth, while the family name is inherited as a common name for the family. The child can also be given a middle or middle name (middle name). This is an optional name element. A second name can be given in honor of a saint, relative, family friend, famous person, etc. In writing, the middle name is usually omitted or abbreviated to the initial.

If the son's name is exactly the same as the father's name, the word "Junior" (younger) can be added to the son's name, and "Senior" (senior) to the father's name, to make it easier to distinguish between them.

Popular English female names

Popular English male names

Popular English surnames

Bearers of the surnames Jones (Jones), Smith (Smith), Williams (Williams), Black (Black), Wilson (Wilson) according to statistics, more than a million. Below is a list of other popular surnames in the UK and US.

When the British Bureau for National Statistics published its annual report for 2014, an interesting fact caught the attention of experts: more and more parents are choosing a name for newborns influenced by pop culture, and above all modern TV series.

The growing popularity of the Game of Thrones movie epic has given rise to a whole galaxy of new names - in the real, not fictional world. The character of Emilia Clarke gave a start to life to two names at once: title), and 9 more were given the name Daenerys (Daenerys).The name Arya Stark turned out to be even more popular: 244 families chose the name Arya for their daughters, but only 6 girls were named Sansa (Sansa).

British boys were also not spared by the new fashion: 2014 was a fruitful year for Tyrions (17) and Theons (18) - for comparison, in 2013 there were 6 and 11, respectively.

But Game of Thrones isn't the only show to inspire Britain's new parents. "Downton Abbey" revived a dozen names popular at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Since the launch of the movie saga in 2010, the names Rose, Cora, Violet and Edith have grown in popularity. Hollywood is not far behind: the Disney cartoon “Frozen” sparked interest in the old-fashioned but charming name Elsa.

Fans of "Sherlock" also contribute to the "nominal statistics". And although no one was named Sherlock in 2014, 132 little Britons were named Benedict.

Meanwhile, heading the list of the most popular names in England and Wales Oliver (Oliver) and Amelia (Amelia) - however, as in previous years.

10 most British male names

Alastair, Alistair, Alistair - Alastair, Alistair

Meaning: protector

Scottish equivalent of the Greek name Alexander.

Fergus

Meaning: strong

A Scotch-Irish name, rather old-fashioned but colorful.

Crispin - Crispin

Meaning: curly (lat.)

Saint Crispin, the patron saint of shoemakers, is mentioned in Shakespeare's play Henry V. A beautiful English name, and most importantly, a rare one.

• If we are talking about Henry the Fifth, we strongly recommend watching the 1989 English film "Henry V: The Battle of Agincourt" with Kenneth Branagh in the title role. An amazingly dramatic film that is useful to watch in the original.

Ellis — Ellis

Meaning: benevolent

No, this is not a female name: Ellis is the Welsh version of the male Greek name Elias.

• Fun fact: Emilia Brontë wrote her Wuthering Heights under the pseudonym Ellis Bell.

Piers

Meaning: stone

Pierce is the first variant of the Greek name Peter to reach the English-speaking world at the time of the Norman invasion. Among the famous Pierces are Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan, the lead actor in four Bond films.

Conall - Conall

Meaning: strong wolf

The Scottish name Conall is a variant of the name Connor. Wolves hunt in packs - choosing this name, parents must hope that their offspring will always be surrounded by friends.

Kenzie

Meaning: fair-skinned

And although the meaning of this name refers to the color of the skin, Kenzi boys are often endowed with a special inner light that distinguishes them from their peers.

Euan, Ewan

Meaning: born of a yew tree; youth

Scottish version of the name John. Judging by Ewan McGregor, the owners of this name are very talented, but at the same time modest.

Lachlan

Meaning: Warrior from the Scottish lands

The most Scottish name imaginable. You should not be surprised if this child prefers a Scottish kilt to trousers from childhood.

10 most British female names

Amelia - Amelia

Meaning: work

The most popular British name of the previous year, in fact, is not a name at all. This word is a hybrid of the Latin Emilia (Emilia) and the German Amalia (Amalia), and the letter e in the middle of the word symbolizes good old England (England) :)

Gladys

Meaning: country; people

Welsh name, equivalent to Claudia (Claudia).

Myrtle - Myrtle, Myrtle

Meaning: bush

Someone somewhere in the mists of time decided to name his newborn daughter in honor of a flowering bush - anything can happen. Surprisingly, the name stuck and became quite popular in Britain.

Frideswide

Meaning: peaceful, calm

The name comes from the Old English Friðuswiþ, combining the words frið (peace) and swiþ (strong). Therefore, little Fridesvids (no matter how unusual this name may seem) show an enviable firmness of character with outward calm. Just like Saint Frideswide (by the way, a princess) who lived in the 8th century and founded the Church of Christ in Oxford.

Note: To be honest, this name is, of course, quite rare these days. But in the days of Queen Elizabeth, it was in the top 50 most popular female names.

Agatha - Agatha

Meaning: good, respectable

Agathos means "good" in Greek, which is why Agathos are good girls (literally). The name migrated to England in the 11th century with the Normans who venerated Saint Agatha, who lived in the 3rd century and was probably a very good girl. And then there is Agatha Christie - a very, very good girl.

Olivia - Olivia

Meaning: olive

The female version of the male name Oliver (Oliver), meaning an olive seller or just an olive, an olive. Some names do not need to look for subtext.

Boadicea (Boudicca)

Meaning: victory

The militant Boudicca is the queen of the Briton tribe of the Iceni, who raised an uprising against the Romans (the events are mentioned in the Annals of Tacitus). And although the uprising was crushed, the name of the warrior has survived for centuries.

Edith - Edith

Meaning: riches obtained in battle

The Old English word ead means riches or blessing, and gyth means struggle. A girl named by this name will excel in martial arts. An interesting fact: the wife of William the Conqueror was also called Edith. Edith the Conqueror :)

Nora - Nora

Meaning: honesty, nobility

Most likely, this name comes from the Latin honora, from which the English word honor (honesty, nobility, honor, recognition) was also formed.

Ada

Meaning: noble birth

Perhaps a variant of the name Ida (Ida), which has Old Germanic roots and means "industrious". This name was also brought to Britain by the Normans and gained popularity in the 19th century thanks to the poet Alfred Tennyson, who named the heroine of his poem "The Princess" like this. Among the famous, Hell is the daughter of another poet (namely, Byron), who is considered the world's first programmer. And one of the first programming languages ​​is called "Ada" - it is in her honor.

It is doubly difficult for the British to choose a name for a girl, since British girls' names consist of two first name and middle name. Important, of course, is the first name, since it is a personal name. It should be noted that the fashion for British girl names is changing every year, as there is an active mixing of several cultures, which was not the case in past centuries.

In 18th century Britain, the most popular female given names were Elizabeth, Mary and Anna. Almost every third newborn was named either Mary or Anna. At the same time, such female British names as Mary, Anna almost do not lose their popularity. Even now they are often used. But choosing the name of the girl, parents must understand that by doing so they determine her fate. If you want to have a girl with a warlike character, then we advise you to call her Alexa or Alexandrea, that is, the defender of humanity. And the names Gabby and Brill have a meaning - strong from God. The British name Claribel means bright and beautiful. When choosing a name, do not forget to take into account the consonance with the surname, while the name should be light and pleasant. Parents often make this mistake by calling their children complex names. As a result, the child has a difficult fate or a difficult character. Our list of British girl names will help you when choosing.

British girl names:

Aion - island

Loris - sadness

Aleta is true

Lou is a famous warrior

Alexa - protector of humanity

Maybelline is attractive

Aliz - noble look

Misi - pearls, honey bee

Amaranth - not disappearing

Madonna is my lady

Allin - bird

Margot - pearl

Annis - chaste, saint

Martha - lady

Alexandrea - protector of humanity

Mackenzie - pretty

Anetta - usefulness, grace

Morine - Beloved

Adrina - from Hadria

Makei - a gift from God

Alberta - bright nobility

Madeline - from Magdala

Annali - graceful meadow

Merrilin - beloved, lake

Azalea - dry

Monat - little noblewoman

Blanda - care

Modi - mighty in battle

Brianna - strength

Melloni - black, dark

Brill - strong from God

Melissa - honey bee

Bailey - Sheriff's Deputy

Monta - a sharp hill

Bekkai - luring into a trap

Nicolet - victory of the people

Bet - god - my oath

Nevaeh - heaven

Brooklyn - stream, stream

Natil - birthday

Bessie - god is my oath

Omega is the last child

Briar - thorny shrub

Prunella - a small plum

Britney - Little Britain

Prudence - careful

Belind is a beautiful snake

paisley - church

blondie - blonde

petunia - petunia

Belita - a bit of beauty

Rhona - wise ruler

Vega - fallen, attacking

Roxane - dawn

Wilma - helmet

Romei - rosemary (herb)

Winnie - holy agreed

Rebeccann - trapping

Valerie is strong

Rhona - wise ruler

Willow - willow

Rena - born again

Vanessa - revealed

Roni - bringing victory

Vendaya - girlfriend

Rose - raising

Ghislaine - pledge

Ruby - contemplative

Gaea - earth

Rinna is a maiden

Gabby is strong from God

Sarahjin - princess

Jonel - good god

Sam - Listening to God

Dorinda - a gift

Sabina - sweet

Destiny - destiny, prosperity

scarlet - scarlet

Jessa - god sees

Sammaya - God listened

Jewell is a gem

Starla is a star

Demi is an earth mother

Steph - crown

Divina - similar to a goddess

Sage - sage

Dewan - parishioner

Sayanna - to be old

Jazmine - jasmine flower

Celeste - heavenly

Jonah - good god

Sandy - Sunday

Desiri - Desired

Titania - from the titans

Justice - justice

Thea is a gift from God

Joanne - good god

Tessie the reaper

Gilbertine - pledge

Twila - dusk

George the peasant

Trisha - noblewoman

Dalinda - noble snake

Terry the reaper

Dolores - sadness

Teresa the reaper

Josie - multiplying

Temple - temples

Georgina - peasant woman

Tessa the reaper

Desira - desired

Tiler - roof

Yerline - noblewoman, princess

Teri the reaper

Janine - good god

Tibby - gazelle and bold

Zavanna - savannah

Tamsen - twin

Ilana - tree

Tresha - noblewoman

Indi - the land of the Hindus

Unag - hunger

Yvon - yew tree

fern - fern

Eline - bird

Flower - flower

Zella - zealous

Felicia - Lucky

Coretta - maiden or gorge

Flossy - flower

Kiseli - blind

Haven - shelter, refuge

Kaylin - girl

Hortens - garden

Kitty - immaculate, chaste

Hanna - kind, merciful

Claribel - bright and beautiful

Cheris - cherry

Karon - to love

Chelsea - landing place

Kayleigh is weird

Chantale - stone place

Katya - immaculate, chaste

Cherise - cherry

Kerry - Kiara's people

Cheryl - beloved

Connie - steady

Shanna - lily

Capucaine - nasturtium

Sha - like a hawk

Kelly - blonde

Shavon - good god

Curry is a man

Shari - beloved

Colleen - girl

Sharron - plain

Corrie is a maid

Shevone - good god

Courtney - short nose

Chanel - good god

Keita - forest

Shena - good god

Kira - like the sun

Eivise - bird

Kaylich is weird

Ethel - noble

Caitlynn - Immaculate

Eldred - ancient meeting

Cameron - curved nose

Erma - whole

Lolly - babbling

Ezelinda - noble snake

Lilly - lily

Emmaya - whole, whole

Fox - god - my oath

Amy is very much loved

Latina - happiness

Elanor - light of the star

Lukinda - light

Ashley - Ash Grove

Lakeshia - cinnamon tree

Edwena - rich friend

Leontine - like a lion

Eugenia - well born

Lola - sadness

Yula - courteous

Letty - happiness

Eunice is a good win

Women's full names in England have their own distinctive feature. They consist of three parts, two of which are written with a hyphen, and surnames. The first name is the main one. The second is the average. The third is the last name. The first name is the main one, it is by him or by a diminutive form from him that a girl is called in life. The list of English female names is constantly updated, because any word can become a name, even the surname of one of the relatives or a celebrity.

History of the origin of the English name

Initially, English names, like 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 signs. Further development led to the fact that people began to attribute names (nicknames) to born girls that reflect the most desirable qualities that would predetermine and influence fate.

Native English female names

For England itself, true English names are rare. They account for less than 10% of the total. But it's not just 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 of English origin:

• Mildred - Mildred. Delicate and strong.
• Alice - Alice. It means "noble class" in translation.
• Alfreda - Alfreda. Wisdom, mind.
• Yvonne - Yvonne. Archer.
• Eloise - Eloise. 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 female names are English, the list is constantly growing due to famous foreign women, after whom democratic Britons name their babies.

Names from Christian calendars, Bibles

The spread of Christianity in England greatly influenced women's names. At baptism, babies were named after saints and characters in the Bible. The people twisted these words in their own way, so new English female names began to appear. A list of them is given below:

• Mary - Mary. Serene. It comes from the Hebrew name Maria. That was the name of the mother of the Lord Jesus.
• Ann - Ann. Grace, Grace. This name was the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel.
• Maryanne - Maryann. Serene grace. This name united two - Mary and Ann.
• Sarah - Sarah. Name Means "powerful princess".
• Sophia - Sophie. Wisdom. Came to English from Christianity.
• Katherine - Katherine. Purity. The name comes from Christianity.
• Eva - Eve. Life. Came from the Bible. That was the name of the progenitor of people.
• Agnes - Agnes. Innocent, immaculate. The name comes from Christianity.
• Susanna - Susanna. 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. For the most part they were of a rather strange character, consisting of sentences. For example, The-Work-of-God Farmer, which means God's Work Farmer. But life has conquered religious fanaticism. Ordinary people gave their daughters beautiful and new names:

• Daniel - Daniel. God is my judge.
• Sarah - Sarah. Imperious.
• Susan - Susan. Lily.
• Hannah - Hannah. It came from the name of 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 trend were forced to hide and went to Australia or North America.

American names

America was settled by immigrants from different countries. Mostly immigrants from the British Empire: British, Scots and Irish. Most of them were commoners and criminals who fled from persecution in their homeland. It was they who brought here a shortened form of names that 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 inhabitants of Britain, thousands of people from all over Europe moved here, who came 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 - Susanna. Little Lily.
• Margaret - Margaret. Pearl.
• Dorothy - Dorothy. Gift of the gods.
• Nancy - Nancy. Grace.
• Karen - Karen. Generous.
• Betty - Betty. Oath to the Gods.
• Helen - Helen. Sunshine.
• Sandra - Sandra. Male protector.
• Carol - Carol. Derived from Karolina - princess.
• Ruth - Ruth. Friendship.
• Sharon - Sharon. Princess, plain.

English Catholics, Protestants, Puritans brought their own rules to America, according to which names were given. They, as well as in England, consist of three parts - the main, middle and surname. Many American names were borrowed by the British.

New female names

In the 18th century, a new tradition appeared in England to give children a middle (middle) name. It brought back to life Old English and Gothic names such as Matilda, Diana, Emma. New beautiful English female names have also appeared. Their 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 - Sylvia. Lesnaya.
• Julia - Julia. Girl with soft hair.
• Clara - Clara. Clear. Light.
• Pamela - Pamela. Wanderer. Pilgrim.
• Wendy - Wendy. Friend.
• Candida - Candida. Net. White.
• Clarinda - Clarinda. Light. Purity.
• Belinda - Belinda. Beautiful.
• Fleur - Fleur. Flower. Blooming.
• Sybil - Sybil. Prophetess. Oracle.

Beautiful female names

Every parent wants, above all, their child to be healthy and beautiful. For their newborn daughters, the British choose euphonious and gentle names. It is hoped that the girl will have those character traits that the name denotes. Therefore, the names are chosen sonorous and with meaning. If there is no such name, then the child can be called any word you like. Legislation allows this, so new beautiful English names for women appear. The list is given below:

• Agata - Agatha. Good, good.
• Adelaide - 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 - Carolina. Princess.
• Melissa - Melissa. Honey.
• Miranda - Miranda. Delightful.
• 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 a clan, family, is secondary. In the same way, English names and surnames are formed for women. 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 - Jung.

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. Part is formed from 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. The people of Scotland use the prefix - Mac, which also means "son". For example, MacDonald is "Donald's son", MacGregor is "Gregor's son".

Some surnames have a professional connotation, that is, Stuart - "royal seneschal", Pottinger - "the cook who cooks the royal soup." Surnames, like first names, can be given in honor of the place of residence, these can be the names of counties, countries, cities.