English names starting with a. Unusual male and female English names and their meanings

The history of American names and surnames has evolved over several centuries. In them you can trace the traditions of many countries and peoples who moved to these places. Thanks to the large flow of immigrants, over a long period of time a general culture countries and names and surnames changed, acquiring new forms of sound.

Many common American names have their origins in Greek, Italian, Latin, even ancient Germanic origins. IN modern world are becoming extremely popular in America rare names, which are obtained by abbreviating historical places, surnames famous people, there are even combinations of several names into one big one.

The origins of American names can be divided into the following groups:

1. Names whose meanings are associated with the outlines of a person’s character (cheerful, brave, courageous) have gained most popularity;
2. names related to the names of animals, flowers, trees, natural phenomena;
3. names meaning different professions;
4. names of a religious nature taken from the Bible.

List of the most popular American male names

America is a colonial country; depending on the state, the overall popularity of names differs significantly from each other. In the Spanish villages of Federico (Federico), in the Irish regions - Patrick (Patrick), in the Italian - Paulo (Paulo).

When choosing a name for a newborn, Americans give great importance two main principles in your choice:

• the name should sound beautifully with the surname, as one whole;
• another main point - secret meaning name and its origin.

Respecting your ancestors and family traditions, many families name their children in honor of their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. If several family members have one name, the prefix “senior” or “junior” is placed at the beginning of the name for a specific person.

Currently, Americans are trying to add special uniqueness (originality) to the names of their children, choosing their favorite car brand, favorite political figure, or favorite city for the name. In such a situation, the choice falls on the most unexpected objects. You can meet children named Lexus, Madison, Infinity.

Americans have old tradition associated with names - give to a child double name. For example: Anna-Maria (Anna-Maria), John-Robert (John-Robert), Matthew - William (Matthew-William). Explaining this by saying that as the child grows up, he will be able to choose a name to his liking.

The most popular American names today

• Ethan (Ethan) - from English, “durable.”
• Kevin (Kevin) – from Irish, “beautiful”, “cute”.
• Justin (Justin) - from English, “fair”.
• Matthew (Matthew) - from English, “gift of God,” “God’s man.”
• William (William) - from English, “desired.”
• Christopher (Christopher) - from English, “follower of Christ.”
• Anthony (Anthony) - from English, “invaluable”, “competing”.
• Ryan (Ryan) - from Arabic, “little king.”
• Nicholas (Nicholas) - from French, “conqueror of nations.”
• David (David) - Hebrew, “beloved”, “beloved”.
• Alex (Alex) – from Greek, “protector”.
• James (James) - from English, “invader”.
• Josh (Josh) – Hebrew, “god, salvation.”
• Dillon - Welsh origin, "big sea".
• Brandon (Brandon) - from German, “prince”.
• Philip (Philip) - from Greek, “horse lover.”
• Fred (Fred) - from English, “peaceful ruler.”
• Tyler (Tyler) – from English, “stylish”.
• Caleb (Caleb) - from Hebrew, “loyal, brave.”
• Thomas (Thomas) – Polish, “twin”.

List of common American surnames

They acquired their modern appearance over many years. Over time, they changed significantly. There has always been a large influx of refugees and migrants into American cities.

In order not to differ from local residents Without attracting much attention to themselves, the settlers deliberately modified and shortened their surnames in the local American way. main feature The surnames of US residents consist in the regular mixing of different nations and peoples.

List of the most famous names in America they open Smith (Smith), Williams (Williams), Jones (Jones), Wilson (Wilson). According to statistics, there are well over a million registered owners of such surnames.

Less known American surnames, but popular:

• Johnson (Johnson).
• Brown (Brown).
• Walker (Walker).
• Hall (Hall).
• White (White).
• Wilson (Wilson).
• Thompson (Thompson).
• Moore (Moore).
• Taylor (Taylor).
• Anderson (Anderson).
• Thomas (Thomas).
• Jackson (Jackson).
• Harris (Harris).
• Martin (Martin).
• Young (Yang).
• Hernandez (Hernandez).
• Garcia (Garcia).
• Davis (Davis).
• Miller (Miller).
• Martinez (Martinez).
• Robinson (Robinson).
• Clark (Clark).
• Rodrigues (Rodrigues).
• Lewis (Lewis).
• Lee (Lee).
• Allen (Allen).
• King (King).

A person’s name is an integral part of his personality, so many parents take a very responsible approach to choosing a name for their child. Every name has a unique sound and meaning, and English names are no exception. Names, like the language itself, can undergo changes over time and adapt to the norms of the language into which they are transferred or translated. English female names are beautiful in their own way. In this article you can get acquainted with the meanings of some of them.

Nowadays, there are few original English names left: many names were borrowed from Celtic, Norman, Hebrew, Greek and other cultures. Names praising the power of the gods, the forces of nature, and the individual qualities of a person’s character were common in the past. And as a result, the meaning of ancient names may be unusual for modern people.

After the arrival of Christianity in Europe, the names of biblical characters became common: Sarah, Agnes, Mary. A certain type of human activity is also reflected in the names: Abella is a shepherdess, Bailey is a sheriff’s assistant.

Sometimes a shortened version of a name becomes an independent name, for example, Victoria - Vicky; Rebecca - Becky; Angelina - Angie.

Popular English female names

Fashion is a passing and recurring phenomenon. The fashion for names is no exception. According to the UK Office of National Statistics, the most popular female names are Olivia, Emma and Sophie.

The top 10 English female names are presented below:

1. Olivia
2. Emma.
3. Sofia
4. Isabel
5. Charlotte
6. Emily
7. Harper
8. Abigail

The entertainment industry, and specifically cinema, also has an impact on the popularity of names. Thanks to the Game of Thrones series, the following names have become popular among the British: Arya (24th place in the ranking of popular female names in Great Britain in 2014), Sansa, Brienne, Catelyn and Daenerys.

The name Isabella was given new life by the heroine of the Twilight saga, Bella Swan.

At first glance, the name Hermione seems outdated, but thanks to the film adaptation of the Harry Potter book series, this name seems to have acquired a “second life.”

The status of the bearer of the name also affects the prestige of the name itself. According to the results of a survey conducted in Great Britain, the most and least “successful” female names were identified among the residents of Foggy Albion.

The most successful female names

1. Elizabeth
2. Caroline
3. Olivia
4. Amanda

Less successful female names

1. Julia
2. Emily

As we can see from the above results, the full forms of the name sound more aristocratic and sublime, which gives weight to their bearers, while simpler names are associated with “simpler” girls. Despite the fact that Lisa is a shortened form of the name Elizabeth, nevertheless, the full form of the name took the leading position in the ranking, while the shortened form is not popular.

Rare English female names

The names below are not even temporarily popular in the ratings. Named outsiders include:

It is likely that the unusual sound of the name, its meaning and cacophony are the reasons for the rare use of the name. However, the combination of euphony and meaning in no way guarantees the popularity of the name in the modern world. For example, the original English name Mildred, in different sources means “noble” or “gentle strength,” despite its euphony and meaning, is not popular today.

Beautiful English female names

The beauty of a woman can be compared to a flower, and her name to its fragrance. Therefore, the euphony and beauty of a name is very important for a woman. Despite the fact that everyone's tastes are different, there are still names that sound beautiful to most people:

• Agatha
• Agnes
• Adelaide
• Alice
• Amanda
• Amelia
• Anastasia
• Angelina
• Ariel
• Barbara
• Beatrice
• Bridget
• Britney
• Gloria
• Diana
• Deborah
• Dorothy
• Caroline
• Cassandra
• Constance
• Christina
• Catherine
• Olivia
• Cecilia
• Charlotte
• Cheryl
• Evelina
• Eleanor
• Elizabeth
• Emily
• Esther

Unusual names of celebrity children

Unusual names among ordinary people are quite rare, because when choosing a name for a child, parents try to choose a name that is attractive, in their opinion, without risk to the unborn child.

To attract attention to their person, celebrities do the opposite, because a child’s name is another way to stand out. But can the exclusivity of a name compensate for its meaninglessness?

Such inventors include:

1. Bruce Willis. Name younger daughters in honor of horses? No problem, because the horses won the race! This is exactly what Bruce Willis did, naming his youngest daughters after his favorite horses that won at the races - Scout Larue and Tallupa Bell.

2. Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple (Russian - “apple”). The actress's favorite fruit? It is not that simple! The girl's name is associated with biblical legend about the heavenly forbidden fruit.

3. 50 Cent.“Grant” a child a title by means of a name? Why not...yes! Rapper 50 Cent named his child Marquis. But Marquise is a boy. A good way to develop self-respect, indifference to other people’s opinions and fortitude in a child.

4. Singer David Bowie picked up the baton and named his son after Zoya ( female name). Only because he thought the combination of Zoe Bowie was funny.

5. Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Blue Ivy, or Blue Ivy, is the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Choosing a name star couple argued with excerpts from the novel by Rebecca Solnit, where the color blue (Blue) gives “beauty to the whole world.” And the word Ivy is similar to the Roman numeral IV, with which many events in the singer’s life are connected.

6. Actress Milla Jovovich named her daughter Ever Gabo. The second part of the name consists of the first syllables of Mila's parents - Galina and Bogdan. Perhaps the combination of parts of a relative's name guarantees happiness for the child?

7. Frank Zappa. American rock musician Frank Zappa named his daughter Moon Unit. (Lunar Satellite). Isn't the desire to be a musician a good reason for choosing a child's name?

8. Christina Aguilera. The music of summer rain... Let it sound in your daughter’s name too! Singer Christina Aguilera, not wanting to give her daughter a banal name, simply called her “Summer Rain.”

In modern cinema you can really find masterpieces that you want to immortalize in names. Why limit yourself to a flight of fancy that does not go beyond the names of your favorite characters? Let's expand the boundaries using ordinary words, which are not proper names. Khaleesi, a new female name, a tribute to “Game of Thrones”: (Khaleesi is the title of one of the heroines of the series, synonymous with queen or queen). Today at real world There are already 53 girls with this name.

There are no limits to human imagination, so it will not bypass names either. Over time, we will definitely find out which of the new names will take root and become loved, and which will soon be forgotten.

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

History of the origin of the English name

Initially, English names, like those of 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 characteristics. Further development led to the fact that people began to assign names (nicknames) to the girls born, reflecting the most desirable qualities that would predetermine and influence fate.

Original English female names

For England itself, truly English names are rare. Of the total, they occupy less than 10%. But this is not only 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 having English origin:

• Mildred - Mildred. Tender and strong.
• Alice - Alice. Translated it means "noble class".
• Alfreda - Alfreda. Wisdom, mind.
• Yvonne - Yvonne. Archer.
• Eloise - Eloise. A 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 women's names are English; the list is constantly growing due to famous foreigners, after whom democratic Britons name their babies.

Names from Christian calendars, the Bible

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

• Mary - Mary. Serene. Derived from Jewish name Maria. This was the name of the mother of the Lord Jesus.
• Ann - Ann. Mercy, Grace. This name was the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel.
• Maryanne - Maryanne. Serene grace. This name combined two - Mary and Anne.
• Sarah - Sarah. Name Means "possessing power, princess."
• Sophia - Sophie. Wisdom. Arrived at English language from Christianity.
• Katherine - Katherine. Purity. The name comes from Christianity.
• Eva - Eva. Life. It came from the Bible. That was the name of the ancestor of people.
• Agnes - Agnes. Innocent, immaculate. The name comes from Christianity.
• Susanna - Suzanne. 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. They for the most part were of a rather strange nature, consisting of sentences. For example, The-Work-of-God Farmer, which means God's Work Farmer. But life defeated religious fanaticism. Simple people gave their daughters beautiful and new names:

• Daniel - Daniel. God is my judge.
• Sarah - Sarah. Bossy.
• Susan - Susan. Lily.
• Hannah - Hannah. Derived from the name 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 movement were forced to hide and went to Australia or North America.

American names

America was settled by people from different countries. Mostly people from the British Empire: British, Scots and Irish. Most of them were commoners and criminals fleeing persecution in their homeland. It was they who brought here the shortened form of names, which 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 residents of Britain, thousands of residents from all over Europe moved here, coming 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 - Suzanne. Little Lily.
• Margaret - Margaret. Pearl.
• Dorothy - Dorothy. A gift from the gods.
• Nancy - Nancy. Grace.
• Karen - Karen. Generous.
• Betty - Betty. Oath to the Gods.
• Helen - Helen. Sunbeam.
• Sandra - Sandra. Male protector.
• Carol - Carol. Derived from Caroline - princess.
• Ruth - Ruth. Friendship.
• Sharon - Sharon. Princess, plain.

English Catholics, Protestants, and Puritans brought their own rules for naming to America. They, just like in England, consist of three parts - the main, middle and surname. The British borrowed many American names.

New female names

In the 18th century, it appeared in England new tradition give children a middle (middle) name. This 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 these names:

• Stella - Stella. Star.
• Vanessa - Vanessa. Butterfly.
• Juliet - Juliet. Born in July.
• Ophelia - Ophelia. Exalted.
• Viola - Viola. Violet.
• Silvia - Silvia. Lesnaya.
• Julia - Julia. Girl with soft hair.
• Clara - Clara. Clear. Light.
• Pamela - Pamela. Wanderer. Pilgrim.
• Wendy - Wendy. Girlfriend.
• Candida - Candida. Clean. White.
• Clarinda - Clarinda. Light. Purity.
• Belinda - Belinda. Beautiful.
• Fleur - Fleur. Flower. Blooming.
• Sybil - Sybil. Prophetess. Oracle.

Beautiful female names

Every parent wants, first of all, for their child to be healthy and beautiful. The British choose euphonious and gentle names for their newborn daughters. They hope that the girl will have the character traits that the name denotes. Therefore, names are chosen that are sonorous and meaningful. If there is no such name, then the child can be called any word you like. The legislation allows this, which is why new beautiful English female names are appearing. The list is given below:

• Agata - Agata. Kind, good.
• Adelaida - 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 - Caroline. Princess.
• Melissa - Melissa. Honey.
• Miranda - Miranda. Amazing.
• 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 the clan, family, is secondary. English women's names and surnames are formed in the same way. 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 - Young.

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. The part is derived from the 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. Residents of Scotland use the prefix - Mac, which also means "son". For example, MacDonald - “son of Donald”, MacGregor - “son of Gregor”.

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

There are a huge number of beautiful names in Russian culture. Among them there are those who have been calling children for hundreds of years (Alexander, Georgy, Ivan), but the fashion for them does not go away. There are also those who have already sunk into oblivion, although Lately ancient Slavic names are again at the peak of popularity. However, there are parents who believe that the most beautiful names for boys - English, and they name their offspring in accordance with the trends of Western countries.

Origin

England is a country with very long traditions. The oldest names in it were a description of one or another trait in a person’s character - more often desired than actual, because the baby was named immediately after his birth, without even knowing him at all as a person. Having given the child the name Alan, the parents wanted the boy to adult life became handsome, Frankie became free, Skyler became a protector. English-language names, like the names of people among the Slavic peoples, often had a purely religious character, and in the old days - completely pagan:

• Gabe is a strong man who belongs to the Lord.
• Dustin is a stone belonging to Thor.
• Denis is the one who worships Dionysus.
• Elric, Elroy, Ellgar, Oliver are names associated with elves.
• Saiga - wise or sage.
• Mordecai is the one who follows Marduk.

With the advent of Christianity, English names for boys were a copy of the names of various saints, modifications of them, or simply associated with religion. Often a clergyman helped pick them up. However, their imagination was not too rich, so there was no variety of names during this period.

Divine

English clergymen drew very beautiful names for boys from the Bible - Samuel, Benjamin, Abraham. Many holy fathers invented and proper names for the offspring of his parishioners. Over time, they became popular, and many people still use them today. The main message that is embedded in this or that name is faith, service to the church and God, although at first glance there is nothing highly spiritual in them:

• Mitch is the one who is like God.
• Matthew is God's gift.
• Christopher, Keith - follower of Jesus Christ.
• Zachary is not forgotten by God.
• Joshua - salvation is in God.
• Devin, Devon is a parishioner.

It is curious that when England was dominated Catholic Church, it was customary to name children after specific biblical heroes, however, with the spread of Protestant sentiment in the country, the semantic vector put into the name took on a new direction. In those days, the church demanded submission and humility from its wards, therefore the English clergy selected names for boys accordingly (Benedict - blessed, Amedeus - the one who loves God, Timothy - the one who honors the Lord).

Victory in the name

The Anglo-Saxons have always been a warlike race, there were many reasons for this, but the fact remains that true warriors were truly revered in this country. The fate of the winner was predicted for the boys from birth. It is possible that the names predicting military glory for their sons were given not by mothers, but by fathers, however, the list included: William, which means “helmet”; Walter is the lord of the host; Fergus - strong-willed; Herb, Harvey - fighter against bad person; Andy is a warrior.

Eat big list beautiful and sonorous English names for boys that incorporate peaceful activities - agriculture, crafts, farming, helping people:

• Ernest is the one who fights death, perhaps a healer, a healer;
• Eustace - harvest, fertility;
• Harper is a harp player;
• Philip is a horse breeder, one who loves horses;
• Peter is a stone;
• Leslie - oak grove.

It is curious that many of these names can only conditionally be called English. Most of them originated from other areas, were the result of a mixture of cultures and, if you look closely, the most popular of them are also in our language, they just sound a little different.

What do you call the ship...

Another interesting fact about the Western world in general, and about England in particular, is the custom of giving a person not one name, but several. For our mentality, calling a girl Anna-Maria is already something out of the ordinary, while abroad a child can be given three, five or more names. To be fair, it should be noted that they have no such thing as a patronymic. And even an adult, a respected and gray-haired elderly man, can be called by a diminutive name there on a completely official level, neglecting the full entry indicated in the documents.

In Western countries there is a peculiar classification of names according to order - first and second name, surname. And if it is not customary to change the latter, the baby inherits it from the parents in an unchanged form, then the child can be given absolutely any name by law. This could be something from the generally accepted list, it could be the surname of a person important to the family (historical figure, political figure, football player, etc.) or a diminutive form of the name, a flower, a fruit, or in general any word you like.

In most cases, moms and dads are reasonable and call their offspring normal names or insert their fantasies at the end of the name sequence, but there are crazy people who write down their children as Thank-God Penniman, Rise-Quickly Stringer, or If-Christ-Wouldn't-Die- For-You-Would-Be-Cursed Barebone.

In the history of Russia (in the USSR) there was also a fashion for names of this kind, although in a slightly different vein - children were called Pobeda, Oktyabrina, Leninid.

Top male names from England

Such cases are not only historical fact, which has come down to us since the times of Puritan England of the last millennium. Nowadays, some parents also manage to ruin their child’s life immediately after birth. How else can you say about a father who named his son not John (a name quite suitable for any boy), but Bus No. 16?

It is quite predictable that when a person reaches adulthood, at the first opportunity he will register himself under a new pseudonym. Among the most popular English-language names of past years are Jack, Michael, John, Alan, Oliver, Thomas, William, Harry (a name about which you can read in more detail below), Daniel, Matthew.

Dear John

There are names that are truly popular in all corners of the globe; they have the same interpretation and are slightly different in sound, although they have common origin. The most common are John, Ivan, Jean, Jan, Hans. John is not inferior to him - a name that can be translated from the Hebrew dialect as “God's mercy.” They called it many people. Among the Christian great martyrs there are more than fifty saints, and there are many Johns in the world. This name was proudly worn by kings, kings, lords and simple peasants. It is no less popular among modern famous personalities- John Tolkien, John Lennon, John Kennedy.

Magic guy

The name Harry is not particularly typical to our ears, but at least, so it was before the advent famous book about the young wizard whose name was that. Harry is interpreted from ancient German as “courageous.” Men with this name are credited with many vices, but also no less talents. On the one hand, they are considered liberated, purposeful and charismatic individuals, on the other hand, intolerance and passion prevent them from succeeding one hundred percent in life.

One can argue with such an opinion, because among the owners of this name there are very influential, famous and, of course, successful people, whose high intellectual and personal qualities it is a sin to doubt. Among them are Harry Truman, Harry Oldman, Garry Kasparov, Harry Harrison, Harry Houdini.

Alan

Another interesting and beautiful English name is Alan. It has, oddly enough, ancient Slavic roots, and in translation it is deciphered - “ ancient Slav" Esotericists and numerologists believe that if you name a boy Alan, he will definitely succeed in life. He will be helped in this by his remarkable fortitude, developed intelligence and talents, which providence generously rewards children with that name. This theory is proven by such famous people as actor Alan Rickman, writer Alan Milne, scientists Alan Turing and Alan Hodgkin.

Popular boys

The topic of children has always been in demand among readers, and the children of famous people experience a special share of curiosity. So, in Western media the biggest hype always causes what show business stars or important people will call their offspring statesmen. Is it worth remembering with what impatience the decision of the British royal family was awaited when the couple Charles and Kate had their first child, George Alexander Louis.

It is almost impossible to find a simple and uncomplicated name (Bill, Jack or Fred) among star children. Born into unusual families, they must get used to PR and extravagance from the cradle. It will be especially difficult for the children of Ashlee Simpson - Bronx Mowgli, David Beckham - Brooklyn, Jason Lee - Air Traffic Controller (Pilot Inspector) or Gwen Stefania - Zuma Nesta Rock. With such names, they are definitely guaranteed attention.

What are the residents of Foggy Albion guided by when choosing a name for their son or daughter? Read about modern English “trends” in choosing names for newborns in our article. Bonus: 10 most British names for girls and 10 for boys.

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Fashionable names

When the British Office of National Statistics released its annual report for 2014, an interesting fact attracted the attention of experts: more and more parents are choosing names for their newborns under the influence of pop culture, and above all, modern TV series.

The growing popularity of the film epic "Game of Thrones" has given rise to a whole galaxy of new names - in the real, not fictional world. Emilia Clarke's character gave birth to two names at once: 53 newborn British women were named Khaleesi (Khaleesi in the film - royal 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.

British boys new fashion also did not pass by: 2014 was a fruitful year for Tyrion (17) and Teon (18) - for comparison, in 2013 there were 6 and 11, respectively.

But Game of Thrones isn't the only series inspiring new parents in Britain. "Downton Abbey" has revived a dozen popular names turn of XIX-XX centuries. Since the launch of the film saga in 2010, the names Rose, Cora, Violet and Edith have grown significantly in popularity. Hollywood isn't far behind: Disney's Frozen has sparked interest in the old-fashioned, but charming name Elsa.

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

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

10 Most British Male Names

Alastair, Alistair, Alistair - Alastair, Alistair

Meaning: protector

Scottish equivalent Greek name Alexander.

Fergus - Fergus

Meaning: strong

A Scots-Irish name, quite old-fashioned, but colorful.

Crispin - Crispin

Meaning: curly (lat.)

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

• If we're talking about Henry the Fifth, we highly recommend watching english film 1989 "Henry V: The Battle of Agincourt" with Kenneth Branagh in leading role. A stunningly dramatic film that is useful to watch in the original.

Ellis - Ellis

Meaning: benevolent

No, it's not a girl's name: Ellis is a Welsh variant of the masculine Greek name Elias.

• Interesting 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 during the Norman Invasion. Famous Piers include Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan, who starred in four Bond films.

Conall

Meaning: strong wolf

The Scottish name Conall is a variant of the name Connor. Wolves hunt in packs - when choosing this name, parents must be hoping 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 their skin, Kenzi boys are often endowed with a special inner light that sets them apart from their peers.

Euan, Ewan

Meaning: born of the yew tree; young man

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

Lachlan - Lachlen, Loklen

Meaning: Scottish warrior

The most Scottish name you can imagine. Do not be surprised if this child prefers a Scottish kilt to trousers from childhood.

10 Most British Female Names

Amelia - Amelia

Meaning: work

Most popular British name 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 - Gladys

Meaning: country; people

Welsh name, equivalent to Claudia.

Myrtle - Myrtle, Mertle

Meaning: bush

Someone, somewhere in the mists of time, decided to name their newborn daughter after 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 enviable strength of character with external calm. Just like Saint Frideswide (a princess, by the way), 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 Queen Elizabeth's time it was one of the top 50 most popular female names.

Agatha - Agatha

Meaning: good, venerable

Agathos means "good" in Greek, so Agathos are good girls (literally). The name migrated to England in the 11th century with the Normans venerating 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

Female version male name Oliver, meaning olive seller or simply olive, olive. There is no need to look for subtext in some names.

Boadicea (Boudicca) - Boadicea (Boudicca)

Meaning: victory

The warlike Boudicca is the queen of the British Iceni tribe, who rebelled against the Romans (events are mentioned in the Annals of Tacitus). And although the uprising was suppressed, the name of the warrior remained for centuries.

Edith - Edith

Meaning: wealth gained 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. Fun fact: William the Conqueror's wife was also named Edith. Edith the Conqueror :)