English Boy Names in Your Family Tree

father and son hugging in forest

Your name is a significant part of your personal identity. It’s likely that your ancestors felt the same way about their names. If you have English heritage, some of your male ancestors probably had English boy names—you might even have one, too! Learn about these English boy names to get a taste of your English heritage, find baby names, or search for English names in your family tree.

Want to learn about English girl names or English surnames? Click the links below!

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These gems are some of the most popular or interesting English boy names. Which ones are your favorites?

  1. Addison (a-də-sən)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Son of Adam
  2. Aldrich (ȯl-drich)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Old, wise ruler
    an english boy plays with a toy sword and shield

  3. Alexander (a-lig-ˈzan-dər)

    1. Origin: Greek
    2. Meaning: Defender and protector of people
  4. Alfred (al-frəd)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Elf ruler or wise counselor
  5. Alton (ȯl-tᵊn)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Inhabitant from an old town
  6. Austen (ȯ-stən)

    1. Origin: English and Latin
    2. Meaning: Shortened from Augustine or Augustus, meaning “great” or “magnificent”
  7. Archie (ärchē)

    1. Origin: English or German
    2. Meaning: Shortened from Archibald, meaning “bold,” “genuine,” or “brave”
    a herd of boars, the origin of the name averil
    A herd of boars, the origin of the name Averil.

  8. Averil (ā-və-ril)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Boar battle
  9. Benedict (be-nə-dikt)

    1. Origin: Latin
    2. Meaning: Blessed
  10. Blake (blāk)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Either fair-haired or dark-haired (resulting from the Old English “blæc,” meaning “black,” or “blac,” meaning “pale”)
  11. Carter (kär-tər)

    1. Origin: English, Irish, Scottish
    2. Meaning: Cart driver—someone who drove a cart for deliveries
    An english man hiking

  12. Chad (chad)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Battle warrior, protector, or defender
  13. Charles (char[-ə]lz)

    1. Origin: German, Old English, and French
    2. Meaning: Free man or manly
  14. Clifford (klif-ərd)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Someone who lives near a cliff ford
  15. Conrad (kän-ˌrad)

    1. Origin: English or German
    2. Meaning: Brave or bold counsel
  16. Cooper (kü-pər)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Barrel maker
    a young english boy with a crown

  17. Dale (dāl)

    1. Origin: Old English, German
    2. Meaning: Someone who lives near a valley or dell
  18. Earl (ər[-ə]l)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Nobleman or aristocratic
  19. Edmund (ed-mənd)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Wealthy protector
  20. Edwin (ed-wən)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Wealthy friend
  21. Elmer (el-mər)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Noble and famous
    a ford
    A ford

  22. Fletcher (fle-chər)

    1. Origin: English, Scottish, Irish, French
    2. Meaning: Arrow maker
  23. Ford (fȯrd)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: River crossing
  24. Grayson (grāsᵊn)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Son of a steward or gray-haired person
  25. Harry (her-ē)

    1. Origin: English or German
    2. Meaning: Army or estate ruler
  26. Harrison (her-ə-sən)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Son of Harry, a name meaning army or estate ruler
    an English boy praying

  27. Henry (hen-rē)

    1. Origin: German
    2. Meaning: Household ruler
  28. Jack (jak)

    1. Origin: English and Hebrew
    2. Meaning: Originating from John, meaning “God is gracious”
  29. James (jāmz)

    1. Origin: Hebrew
    2. Meaning: Originating from Jacob, meaning supplanter
  30. Jasper (ja-spər)

    1. Origin: English or Persian
    2. Meaning: Treasurer
  31. Kenton (ken-tən)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: From a royal settlement
    A lion, origin of the name Leo

  32. Leo (lē-ō)

    1. Origin: Italian or Latin
    2. Meaning: Lion
  33. Lewis (lü-əs)

    1. Origin: English, French, or German
    2. Meaning: Famous warrior
  34. Mason (mā-sᵊn)

    1. Origin: English or French
    2. Meaning: Stone worker
  35. Nelson (nel-sən)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Son of Neil or a champion
  36. Noah (nō-ə)

    1. Origin: Hebrew
    2. Meaning: Rest or to comfort
  37. Oliver (ä-lə-vər)

    1. Origin: English, French, Latin, or Norse
    2. Meaning: Descendant, olive tree, peaceful, affectionate, or warrior
    a man feeds a deer
    A man feeds a deer.

  38. Oscar (ä-skər)

    1. Origin: Gaelic or Norse
    2. Meaning: Deer lover or God spear
  39. Radcliff (rad-klif)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Red cliff
  40. Remington (re-miŋ-tən)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Someone who lives in the raven or river town
  41. Robert (rä-bərt)

    1. Origin: English, German
    2. Meaning: Bright fame
  42. Stanley (stan-lē)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: From the stony meadow
    men fixing a roof
    Men fixing a roof.

  43. Thatcher (tha-chər)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Roof fixer
  44. William (wil-yəm)

    1. Origin: English or German
    2. Meaning: Desire helmet or protection or brave protector
  45. Winston (win-stən)

    1. Origin: English
    2. Meaning: Joy stone or victory town

English Names in Your Family Tree

Did you find any new names you like? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below. Search your family tree to see if you can find any English family names or old English surnames in your tree. 

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