Addison
Son of Adam
English baby names
507 names with English roots, each with its meaning, pronunciation and story.
A good place to start
A few of the most familiar.
Every English name, A to Z
A
- Abilene, girl.Probably meadow; grassy place
- Acacia, girl.Acacia tree; from thorn or point
- Ace, boy.Highest rank
- Adair, gender-neutral.Surname from Edgar; wealth + spear
- Addison, girl.Son of Adam
- Adelia, girl.Noble
- Adler, boy.Eagle
- Aiden, boy.Little fire
- Ailani, girl.Uncertain; possibly from ʻAilani or Aylín
- Ailany, girl.Modern variant of Ailani; exact derivation uncertain
- Ainsley, gender-neutral.Clearing associated with solitude or a hermitage
- Alana, girl.Feminine form of Alan; older meaning uncertain
- Albie, boy.Noble and bright, through Albert
- Alden, boy.Old friend
- Alder, boy.Alder tree
- Alfie, boy.Elf counsel, through Alfred
- Alfred, boy.Elf counsel
- Alfreda, girl.Elf counsel
- Alice, girl.Nobility
- Allison, girl.Variant of Alison
- Alton, boy.Town at a river’s source
- Alvin, boy.From several older names involving friendship
- Amari, gender-neutral.Meaning uncertain
- Amelia, girl.Form of Amalia, linked with vigor
- Amethyst, girl.Amethyst gemstone
- Anaya, girl.Meaning and origin uncertain
- Annie, girl.Grace; short form of Anne
- Arabella, girl.Probably a form of Annabel
- Archer, boy.Bowman; archer
- Archie, boy.Genuine; bold, through Archibald
- Arden, gender-neutral.Possibly high, through a place name
- Aria, girl.Air; a solo song
- Ariella, girl.Lion of God
- Arlo, boy.Uncertain; possibly linked to a literary place name
- Arthur, boy.Origin unknown; a bear connection is one theory
- Arwen, girl.Noble maiden in Sindarin
- Ash, gender-neutral.Ash tree; also a short form of Ashley
- Ashford, boy.English place-name surname; often ash-tree ford
- Ashley, girl.Ash-tree clearing
- Ashton, gender-neutral.Ash-tree settlement
- Aspen, gender-neutral.Aspen tree
- Aster, gender-neutral.Aster flower; star
- Aubrey, gender-neutral.Elf ruler
- Auden, gender-neutral.Surname from Ealdwine or Hálfdan
- Audrey, girl.Noble strength
- Austin, boy.Great; venerable
- Autumn, girl.The fall season
- Avalon, girl.Possibly apple-associated
- Avery, gender-neutral.From Alberich or Alfred; meaning depends on the route
- Aviana, girl.Modern elaboration, probably of Ava
- Azalea, girl.Azalea flower
- Azura, girl.Azure; sky blue
B
- Bailey, gender-neutral.Bailiff
- Barrett, boy.Surname; probably quarrelsome
- Baxter, boy.Baker
- Beau, gender-neutral.Handsome
- Beckett, boy.Uncertain; possibly beak or stream
- Bellamy, gender-neutral.Beautiful friend
- Bennett, boy.Blessed, through Benedict
- Beverly, girl.Possibly beaver stream
- Birdie, girl.Bird; also an affectionate short form
- Blake, gender-neutral.Black or pale
- Blakely, girl.Dark clearing
- Bliss, girl.Bliss; great happiness
- Blossom, girl.Flower in bloom
- Blue, gender-neutral.The color blue
- Bluebell, girl.Bluebell flower
- Blythe, girl.Cheerful
- Booker, boy.Maker of books
- Bowen, boy.Son of Owain
- Bowie, gender-neutral.Yellow
- Bradford, boy.Broad ford
- Bradley, boy.Broad clearing
- Brianna, girl.Feminine form of Brian; meaning uncertain
- Briar, gender-neutral.Thorny plant
- Brielle, girl.God is my strong man; short form of Gabrielle
- Briggs, boy.Bridge
- Brock, boy.Badger
- Brooke, girl.Brook; small stream
- Brooklyn, girl.After the New York City borough
- Brooks, boy.Brook; stream
- Bryony, girl.Bryony vine
- Byron, boy.Place of the cattle sheds
C
- Callan, boy.From the surname Ó Cathaláin
- Callie, girl.Short form of Caroline or names beginning Cal
- Calvin, boy.Bald
- Camellia, girl.Camellia flower
- Cameron, gender-neutral.Crooked nose
- Capri, girl.Italian island name; deeper origin uncertain
- Carson, gender-neutral.Surname of uncertain meaning
- Carter, boy.Transporter of goods by cart
- Casey, gender-neutral.From Cathassach, meaning vigilant
- Casimir, boy.Destroy + peace or world
- Caspian, boy.Name associated with the Caspian Sea
- Cedar, gender-neutral.Cedar tree
- Charlie, gender-neutral.Short form of Charles or Charlotte
- Charlotte, girl.Feminine diminutive of Charles
- Chase, boy.Chase; hunt
- Chelsea, girl.Chalk landing place
- Chester, boy.Fortress; Roman camp
- Christopher, boy.Christ-bearer
- Clementine, girl.Merciful; gentle
- Clover, girl.Clover plant
- Cole, boy.Surname linked to Nicholas or Cola
- Colleen, girl.Girl
- Colt, boy.Young horse
- Colter, boy.Keeper of horses
- Colton, boy.Cola’s town
- Connor, boy.Hound and desire; form of Conchobar
- Cooper, boy.Barrel maker
- Cordelia, girl.Literary name; meaning uncertain
- Cove, gender-neutral.Small coastal inlet
D
- Dahlia, girl.Dahlia flower
- Daisy, girl.Day’s eye
- Dalton, boy.Valley town
- Darby, gender-neutral.Animal settlement
- Darcy, gender-neutral.From Arcy
- Darwin, boy.Dear friend, through Deorwine
- Dashiell, boy.Surname-derived; meaning uncertain
- Davina, girl.Beloved, through David
- Dawn, girl.Daybreak
- Dawson, boy.Son of David
- Dean, boy.From a surname with more than one origin
- Delaney, girl.Surname with separate English and Irish origins
- Demelza, girl.Fort of Maeldaf
- Donovan, boy.From a diminutive name combining brown and dark
- Dorothy, girl.Gift of God; English form of Dorothea
- Dove, girl.Dove bird
- Dunstan, boy.Dark stone
E
- Eartha, girl.The earth
- Easton, boy.East town
- Edgar, boy.Wealth and spear
- Edie, girl.Wealth and battle, through Edith
- Edith, girl.Wealth and battle
- Edmund, boy.Wealth and protection
- Edric, boy.Wealth and ruler
- Edward, boy.Wealth and guard
- Edwin, boy.Wealth and friend
- Edwina, girl.Wealth and friend, through Edwin
- Eleanor, girl.Origin uncertain; linked to the medieval Alienòr family
- Elfrida, girl.Elf strength
- Elisha, gender-neutral.My God is salvation
- Eliza, girl.My God is an oath
- Ella, girl.Germanic other; also a short form of El- names
- Ellery, gender-neutral.Cheerful, through Hilary
- Ellie, girl.Short for Eleanor, Ellen or Elizabeth
- Elliot, gender-neutral.Surname derived from Elias
- Elliott, gender-neutral.The Lord is my God
- Ellis, gender-neutral.Form of Elias or of Welsh Elisedd
- Ellison, gender-neutral.Son of Ellis; a separate Scots route also exists
- Elmer, boy.Noble; famous
- Elodie, girl.Form of Alodia; possible riches element, origin uncertain
- Eloise, girl.Probably healthy and wide
- Elora, girl.Probably a modern coinage
- Elsie, girl.My God is an oath, through Elizabeth
- Elton, boy.Ella’s town
- Ember, girl.Glowing coal
- Emerald, girl.Emerald gemstone
- Emerson, gender-neutral.Son of Emery
- Emmeline, girl.Vigorous; unceasing
- Emmett, boy.From an English surname based on Emma
- Ethel, girl.Noble
- Evelyn, girl.From the old Norman name Aveline
- Ever, gender-neutral.Always; forever
- Everest, gender-neutral.Mount Everest place name
- Everett, boy.Brave as a wild boar
- Everly, girl.Wild boar’s woodland clearing
- Evie, girl.Short form of Eve or Evelyn
F
- Faith, girl.Trust; belief
- Fallon, girl.Leader, through an Irish surname
- Fenton, boy.Marsh settlement
- Fern, girl.Fern plant
- Finley, gender-neutral.White or fair warrior
- Fisher, boy.A fisherman
- Fletcher, boy.Arrow maker
- Florence, girl.Flourishing; prosperous
- Flynn, boy.From Flann, meaning blood red
- Ford, boy.River crossing
- Fox, boy.Fox
- Freddie, gender-neutral.Short form of Frederick or Freda
G
- Gael, boy.Probably referring to a Gaelic speaker
- Genesis, girl.Birth; origin
- Genevieve, girl.Origin uncertain; possibly clan and woman
- Georgia, girl.Farmer; earthworker, through George
- Glenna, girl.Valley, through Glenn
- Godric, boy.God’s ruler
- Goldie, girl.Gold; also a form of Golda
- Grace, girl.Grace
- Gracie, girl.Affectionate form of Grace
- Graham, boy.Probably gravelly homestead
- Gray, gender-neutral.Gray; referring to gray hair or clothing
- Grayson, boy.Son of the steward
- Greer, girl.Watchful, through Gregor
- Griffin, boy.Form of Gruffudd; also the mythical creature
- Gwendolyn, girl.Possibly white ring
H
- Hadley, girl.Heather field
- Hailey, girl.Hay clearing
- Hale, boy.Nook; retreat, in the English surname
- Hallie, girl.Home ruler; short form of Harriet
- Harley, gender-neutral.Hare or rocky clearing
- Harlow, girl.Rocky hill or army hill
- Harper, girl.Harp player or maker
- Harrison, boy.Son of Harry
- Hart, boy.English surname name; associated with a stag
- Hartley, gender-neutral.Stag clearing
- Hattie, girl.Home ruler; short form of Harriet
- Haven, gender-neutral.Safe place; harbor
- Hayden, gender-neutral.Hay valley or hay hill
- Hayes, boy.Surname name; more than one origin
- Hazel, girl.Hazel tree; hazel color
- Heath, boy.One who lived on a heath
- Heather, girl.Heather plant
- Henley, girl.English place-name surname
- Henry, boy.Home ruler
- Hilda, girl.Battle
- Holden, boy.Deep valley
- Hollis, gender-neutral.Holly trees
- Holly, girl.Holly tree
- Holt, boy.English surname name; woodland association
- Honor, girl.Honor
- Hope, girl.Hope
- Hudson, boy.Son of Hudde
- Hunter, gender-neutral.One who hunts
I
J
- Jace, boy.Short form of Jason
- Jack, boy.God is gracious, through John
- Jackson, boy.Son of Jack
- Jade, girl.Jade stone
- James, boy.Form of Jacob; original meaning debated
- Jameson, boy.Son of James
- Jane, girl.The Lord is gracious
- Jayden, boy.Modern coinage; sometimes linked to Jadon
- Jelani, boy.Uncertain; possibly related to the Arabic name Jilani
- Jett, boy.Jet; aircraft or deep black
- John, boy.The Lord is gracious
- Jolie, girl.Pretty
- Jonathan, boy.Yahweh has given
- Josephine, girl.He will add, through Joseph
- Josie, girl.He will add; short form of Josephine
- Jude, boy.Form of Judah; probably praise
- June, girl.June; the month named after Juno
- Juniper, girl.Juniper tree
- Justice, gender-neutral.Justice; also an occupational surname
K
- Katherine, girl.Uncertain; traditionally associated with pure
- Keegan, boy.Surname descended from a diminutive of Aodh, fire
- Ken, boy.Healthy or strong in one Japanese spelling
- Kendall, gender-neutral.Valley on the River Kent
- Kennedy, gender-neutral.From the Irish surname Ó Cinnéidigh
- Kenrick, boy.Variant of Kendrick; several possible roots
- Kerry, gender-neutral.Ciar’s people
- Kiana, girl.Hawaiian form of Diana; divine
- Kim, gender-neutral.Gold in Vietnamese; European short forms have different roots
- Kimberly, girl.From Kimberley; a place and surname name
- Kingsley, boy.King’s wood
- Kingston, boy.King’s town
- Kinsley, girl.Clearing belonging to Cyne
- Kirby, gender-neutral.Church settlement
- Knox, boy.Round hill
L
- Lainey, girl.Short form of Elaine; meaning uncertain
- Lake, gender-neutral.Lake
- Lana, girl.Short form of Alana or Svetlana
- Landon, boy.Long hill; ridge
- Lane, gender-neutral.Lane; path
- Langley, gender-neutral.English surname name; long clearing association
- Langston, boy.Long stone
- Lark, gender-neutral.Lark; songbird
- Laurel, girl.Laurel tree
- Lavender, girl.Lavender flower or pale purple color
- Lee, gender-neutral.Clearing, in the English surname
- Leighton, gender-neutral.Town with a leek garden
- Lennon, gender-neutral.Lover, through an Irish byname
- Lenora, girl.Short form of Elenora; origin uncertain
- Lilac, girl.Lilac flower
- Liliana, girl.Elaborated form of Lillian
- Lillian, girl.Linked to Lily and Elizabeth
- Lily, girl.Lily flower
- Lincoln, boy.Lake colony
- Linden, gender-neutral.Linden tree
- Lindsay, gender-neutral.From Lindsey, a place name with lake and island elements
- Lorna, girl.Literary name, possibly from Lorne
- Lottie, girl.Pet form of Charlotte or Liselotte
- Lotus, girl.Lotus flower
- Loveday, girl.Beloved day; associated with reconciliation
- Luana, girl.Literary and film name; origin uncertain
- Lucy, girl.Light, through Lucia
- Luella, girl.Combination of Lou and Ella
- Luke, boy.Probably from Lucania
- Lyla, girl.Variant of Leila or feminine form of Lyle
- Lyndon, boy.Linden tree hill
M
- Mabel, girl.Lovable
- Madeline, girl.Form of Magdalene; from Magdala
- Madelyn, girl.Form of Magdalene; from Magdala
- Madison, girl.Son of Matthew or son of Maud
- Maggie, girl.Pearl; short form of Margaret
- Magnolia, girl.Magnolia flower
- Maple, girl.Maple tree
- Mariel, girl.Diminutive of Maria
- Marigold, girl.Marigold flower; Mary’s gold
- Marley, gender-neutral.Pleasant, boundary, or marten wood
- Marlowe, gender-neutral.Remnants of a lake
- Marnie, girl.Possibly a short form of Marina
- Mary, girl.Original meaning uncertain
- Mason, boy.Stoneworker
- Matthew, boy.Gift of God
- Maverick, boy.Independent person
- Max, boy.Short form of Maximilian, Maxim or Maxwell
- Maxine, girl.Greatest; feminine elaboration of Max
- Maxwell, boy.Mack’s stream
- Meadow, girl.Meadow
- Melanie, girl.Black; dark
- Melina, girl.Honey-associated; elaboration of Mel
- Melody, girl.Melody; song
- Mercer, boy.Textile merchant
- Mercy, girl.Mercy; compassion
- Merritt, gender-neutral.Boundary gate
- Merry, girl.Merry; cheerful
- Mildred, girl.Gentle strength
- Miles, boy.Meaning uncertain; associated with dear or soldier
- Miley, girl.Modern familiar form; sometimes from Smiley
- Millie, girl.Short form of Mildred or Millicent
- Milo, boy.Form related to Miles; deeper derivation uncertain
- Milton, boy.Mill town or middle town
- Miranda, girl.Worthy of admiration
- Molly, girl.Medieval short form of Mary
- Murphy, gender-neutral.Surname descended from Murchadh, sea battle
- Myles, boy.Variant of Miles; meaning uncertain
- Myra, girl.Literary coinage; possibly myrrh or a form of Mary
N
- Nash, boy.At the ash tree
- Natalie, girl.Relating to birth; birthday
- Nellie, girl.Familiar form of Nell or names containing nel
- Nerissa, girl.Possibly sea nymph
- Nevaeh, girl.Heaven spelled backward
- Noelle, girl.Christmas; feminine form of Noël
- Nolan, boy.From Nuallán, a name based on famous or loud
- Nyla, girl.Probably a feminine form of Niles
O
- Oakley, gender-neutral.Oak clearing
- Ocean, gender-neutral.Ocean
- Odessa, girl.City name; deeper meaning uncertain
- Olive, girl.Olive tree
- Olivia, girl.Associated with olive; exact formation uncertain
- Onyx, gender-neutral.Onyx gemstone
- Opal, girl.Opal gemstone
- Orson, boy.Little bear
- Oswin, boy.God’s friend
- Otis, boy.Surname name related to Otto
P
- Paige, girl.Page; servant
- Paisley, girl.From the Scottish town; possibly related to church
- Palmer, gender-neutral.Pilgrim
- Pamela, girl.Possibly all sweetness, as a literary coinage
- Parker, gender-neutral.Keeper of the park
- Pearl, girl.Pearl
- Percival, boy.Possibly pierce the valley
- Peter, boy.Stone
- Peyton, gender-neutral.Pæga’s town
- Philip, boy.Friend of horses
- Philippa, girl.Feminine form of Philip: friend of horses
- Phoebe, girl.Bright; pure
- Phoenix, gender-neutral.Mythical phoenix bird; its Greek root refers to dark red
- Piper, girl.Pipe player
- Poppy, girl.Poppy flower
- Porter, boy.Doorkeeper
- Posy, girl.A bunch of flowers; also a short form of Josephine
- Presley, gender-neutral.Priest’s clearing
- Preston, boy.Priest’s town
- Primrose, girl.Primrose flower; its word history includes first rose
- Prudence, girl.Prudence; a name associated with wisdom and good judgment
R
- Radley, boy.Red woodland clearing
- Rafferty, boy.Flood tide
- Rain, gender-neutral.Rain
- Raleigh, gender-neutral.Red clearing or roe-deer clearing
- Raven, girl.Raven bird
- Reed, boy.Red in the surname route; also the reed plant
- Reign, gender-neutral.Royal rule
- Remi, gender-neutral.Oarsman, through Rémi
- Remy, gender-neutral.Oarsman, through Rémy
- Reverie, girl.Daydream
- Rhett, boy.Advice; counsel
- Rhodes, boy.Cleared land in the English surname; an island-name route is separate
- Ridley, gender-neutral.Reed clearing or stripped clearing
- Riley, gender-neutral.Rye clearing, or an Irish surname of separate origin
- Riordan, boy.From a name meaning little poet of the king
- Ripley, gender-neutral.Grove or thicket + clearing
- River, gender-neutral.River
- Robert, boy.Bright fame
- Robin, gender-neutral.Short form of Robert: bright fame; also the robin bird
- Romilly, gender-neutral.Surname from French place names
- Rose, girl.Rose flower; an older Germanic name history also exists
- Rosemary, girl.Rose + Mary; also the rosemary herb
- Rosie, girl.Affectionate form of Rose
- Rowan, gender-neutral.Little red one in Irish; also the rowan tree
- Rowena, girl.Meaning uncertain; fame and joy is an unproved explanation
- Ruby, girl.Ruby gemstone
- Rue, girl.Rue herb
- Ryder, boy.Rider; mounted messenger
S
- Sable, girl.Black; sable animal
- Sabrina, girl.Latin form of a Severn river name; ultimate meaning unknown
- Sadie, girl.Princess; pet form of Sarah
- Saffron, girl.Saffron spice; crocus
- Sage, gender-neutral.Sage herb; a wise person
- Samantha, girl.Possibly a feminine elaboration of Samuel
- Samara, girl.Possibly a place name or winged seed
- Sapphire, girl.Sapphire gemstone
- Savannah, girl.Grassy plain
- Sawyer, gender-neutral.A person who saws wood
- Scarlett, girl.A maker or seller of scarlet cloth
- Scottie, gender-neutral.Affectionate form of Scott, associated with Scotland
- Scout, gender-neutral.A person who gathers information or explores ahead
- Sedona, girl.Coined personal name; Arizona place name
- Serenity, girl.Calm; tranquility
- Shaw, boy.Thicket in English; a separate Scottish surname means wolf
- Shelley, girl.Clearing on a bank
- Shepherd, boy.Sheep herder
- Sheridan, gender-neutral.Surname from Sirideán, possibly searcher
- Sherwood, boy.Bright forest
- Shirley, girl.Bright clearing
- Sidney, gender-neutral.Wide island, through an English place-name surname
- Siena, girl.Place and color name associated with Siena
- Sienna, girl.Sienna color, named for Siena in Italy
- Sierra, girl.Mountain range
- Silas, boy.Probably a short form of Silvanus; other explanations exist
- Sky, gender-neutral.Sky
- Skye, girl.From the Isle of Skye
- Skylar, gender-neutral.Variant of Skyler and Schuyler
- Sloane, girl.Surname from a diminutive of raid or mobilization
- Sonny, boy.An affectionate term derived from son
- Soren, boy.English form of Søren
- Sparrow, gender-neutral.Sparrow bird
- Stanley, boy.Stone clearing
- Starling, girl.Starling bird; also an English surname name
- Sterling, boy.Excellent; also a surname from Stirling, whose meaning is uncertain
- Stetson, boy.From Stidston; Stithweard’s town
- Sullivan, boy.From a diminutive name meaning dark-eyed
- Summer, girl.Summer season
- Sunday, gender-neutral.Sunday; its older English formation means day of the sun
- Sunniva, girl.Sun gift
- Sunny, gender-neutral.Sunny; cheerful
- Sutton, gender-neutral.South town
- Swann, gender-neutral.Surname with swan or servant origins
- Sydney, girl.Variant of Sidney, linked with wide-island place names
- Sylvester, boy.Form of Silvester: wooded or wild
- Sylvia, girl.Form of Silvia, associated with woods or forest
T
- Tallulah, girl.Waterfall place name; deeper origin debated
- Tamsin, girl.Twin, through Thomas
- Tansy, girl.Tansy flower
- Tate, boy.From Tata; probably happy
- Tatum, gender-neutral.Tata’s homestead
- Taylor, gender-neutral.Tailor
- Teddy, boy.Affectionate form of Edward or Theodore
- Temperance, girl.Moderation; restraint
- Tessa, girl.Short form of Theresa
- Thane, boy.A historical English and Scottish noble title
- Thatcher, boy.A person who thatches roofs
- Thea, girl.Short form of Dorothea, Theodora, Theresa or similar names
- Theo, boy.Short form of Theodore, Theobald or other Theo- names
- Thorne, boy.English surname name associated with a thorn bush
- Thornton, boy.Thorn settlement
- Torin, boy.Meaning uncertain
- Townes, boy.English surname name associated with a town or settlement
- True, gender-neutral.True; faithful or loyal
- Truman, boy.Trustworthy man
- Tuesday, girl.Tuesday; originally Tiw’s day
- Tyler, boy.A person who tiles roofs
V
W
- Wade, boy.English surname: ford, or a name related to going
- Walker, boy.Fuller of cloth
- Waverly, girl.Place-name surname; possibly wavering or flickering + clearing
- Waylon, boy.Variant of Wayland; possibly associated with craft or cunning
- Webster, boy.Weaver
- Wells, boy.A person living near a well or spring
- Wesley, boy.West clearing or meadow
- Weston, boy.West settlement
- Whitney, girl.Place-name surname probably meaning white island
- Wilder, boy.Wild; untamed
- Wilfred, boy.Desire or will + peace
- Willa, girl.Will and protection; feminine form of William
- William, boy.Will and helmet; protection
- Willow, girl.Willow tree
- Winifred, girl.Possibly from Gwenfrewi; meaning uncertain
- Winnie, girl.Short form of Winifred
- Winona, girl.Firstborn daughter
- Winslow, boy.Wine’s hill
- Winsome, girl.Charming; engaging
- Winston, boy.Wine’s town, or a surname from Wynnstan: joy + stone
- Winter, gender-neutral.Winter season
- Woodrow, boy.Row of houses by a wood
- Wren, gender-neutral.Wren bird
- Wyatt, boy.From Wigheard: battle + brave or firm
- Wystan, boy.Battle + stone
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