English Names
English names are used in English-speaking countries. See also about English names.
4,500 names in our directory
English
4,500McKenna is an English first name derived from the Irish and Scottish surname, which itself originated as an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Cionaodha meaning "son of Cionaodh." The personal name Cionaodh is composed of ele...
Etymology McKenzie is a variant of Mackenzie. Both are ultimately derived from a Scottish surname, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Coinnich, which means 'son of the fair one' or 'son of Coinneach'. The given name Coinne...
McKinley is a unisex given name of English origin, derived from a Scottish and Irish surname. The surname McKinley is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Fhionnlaigh, meaning “son of Fionnlagh” (Fionnlagh itself meaning...
Meade is a given name derived from an English surname with two possible origins. As a topographic surname, it indicated someone who lived on a meadow, from Middle English mede meaning 'meadow' or 'pasture.' Alternatively...
Meadow is a feminine given name of English origin, derived directly from the English word meadow, which ultimately comes from the Old English mædwe. A meadow is an open habitat or field vegetated by grasses, herbs, and o...
EtymologyMeagan is a spelling variant of Megan, a Welsh feminine given name that originated as a diminutive of Margaret. The name Margaret derives from the Greek μαργαρίτης (margarítēs), meaning "pearl", a word likely bo...
Meaghan is a variant spelling of the Welsh feminine given name Megan, which itself originated as a diminutive of Margaret. The name Margaret derives from the Greek word μαργαρίτης (margarítēs), meaning "pearl", ultimatel...
Meg is a feminine given name primarily used in English-speaking countries. It originated as a medieval diminutive of Margaret, which itself comes from the Greek word margarites (μαργαρίτης) meaning "pearl," ultimately bo...
Megan is a Welsh feminine given name, originally a diminutive of Margaret. The name Margaret ultimately derives from the Greek word margarites, meaning "pearl", which was likely borrowed from an Indo-Iranian language. In...
Meghan is a variant spelling of Megan, which itself originated as a Welsh diminutive of Margaret. The name Margaret derives via Latin Margarita from Greek μαργαρίτης (margarítēs), meaning "pearl", a word likely borrowed...
Meghann is a variant of Megan, a Welsh feminine given name that originated as a diminutive of Margaret. The name Margaret ultimately derives from the Greek word μαργαρίτης (margarítēs), meaning 'pearl', which itself was...
Mel is a unisex short form of names beginning with the element Mel, such as Melvin, Melanie, and Melissa. It can also derive from the Gaelic Maol, meaning “bald,” or serve as an abbreviation for other names like Melody,...
Melanie is a feminine given name with roots in Greek, French, and Latin traditions. It derives from the Greek word μέλαινα (melaina), meaning "black, dark," which in Latin became Melania ('blackness'). The name was borne...
Melantha is a rare English female given name, plausibly formed from the common name element Mel (as in Melanie or Melissa) combined with the Greek-derived suffix -antha (from anthos, meaning 'flower'), yielding a sense o...
Melany is a variant of Melanie, typically found in English-speaking countries. The name derives from the Greek μέλαινα (melaina), meaning "black, dark," which evolved into the Latin name Melania and later the French form...
Melba is a female given name that originated in the late 19th century as a tribute to the Australian opera singer Nellie Melba (1861–1931). It is derived from her stage name, which she adopted in honor of her birthplace,...
Melesina is a rare English feminine given name of uncertain origin, though it is likely a diminutive or variant of Millicent. Although the meaning of Melesina itself is unknown, the root name Millicent derives from the G...
Melicent is an older form of Millicent, a feminine given name of Gothic origin. The name ultimately derives from the Gothic *Amalaswinþa, composed of the elements amals (meaning "unceasing, vigorous, brave") and swinþs (...
Etymology and Origins Melina is a feminine given name with roots in Greek and English usage. It is essentially an elaboration of the short form Mel, which can be derived from names such as Melissa or directly from the Gr...
Melinda is a feminine given name that originated in the 18th century as a combination of Mel (derived from names such as Melanie or Melissa) with the popular suffix -inda, likely inspired by the similar name Belinda.Etym...
Melissa is a feminine given name derived from the Greek word μέλισσα (mélissa), meaning "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (meli), "honey". The name is deeply rooted in Greek culture, with origins possibly reaching bac...
Mellony is a variant of Melanie, a feminine given name of Greek origin meaning "black, dark". The name Melanie ultimately derives from the Greek word melaina (μέλαινα), the feminine form of melas (μέλας), meaning "black"...
Melody is a feminine given name derived directly from the English word melody, meaning a sequence of musical notes that is pleasing to the ear. The English term itself comes from Old French melodie, which traces through...
Melva is a feminine given name that likely originated as a feminine form of Melvin. The name Melvin itself is derived from a Scots surname that was a variant of Melville, which has locational origins from a place name in...
Melville is an English given name derived from the Scottish surname of the same origin. The surname Melville itself has two distinct etymological roots: a Norman French place name and an Irish Gaelic patronymic. The Scot...
Melvin is a masculine given name and surname of Norman French origin, derived from a Scots surname that was a variant of Melville. The name traces back to the Norman French toponymic Malleville, meaning "bad town," which...
Melvyn is a masculine given name, primarily used in English-speaking countries. It is a variant of Melvin, which itself originates from a Scots surname that was a variant of Melville. As such, Melvyn shares the same etym...
Melyssa is a variant form of Melissa, a name with rich origins in Greek mythology and language. The root name Melissa is derived from the Greek word melissa, meaning "bee". This etymology is fitting, as bees were associa...
Memory is an English name derived from the vocabulary word memory, ultimately from Latin memor meaning "mindful, remembering". While used in Anglophone countries, it is especially common in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and other pa...
Memphis is an English unisex given name originating from one of the most ancient and significant cities of Egypt, or from the city in Tennessee that was named after it. The name ultimately derives from the Egyptian word...
Mercia is a Latinate form of Mercy. This feminine given name also coincides with an old Anglo-Saxon kingdom, though the two have different etymological origins. As a given name, Mercia derives from the English virtue wor...
Mercy is a feminine English given name derived from the English word mercy, ultimately from Latin merces 'wages, reward', a derivative of merx 'goods, wares'. This name was one of the virtue names adopted by the Puritans...
Meredith is a Welsh given name and surname of ancient origin. As a personal name, it derives from the Old Welsh forms Margetud or Morgetuid, evolving through Medieval Welsh Maredudd and Modern Welsh Meredydd. The etymolo...
Merideth is a feminine variant of Meredith, and thus ultimately derives from the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd. These Old Welsh forms likely evolved from Margetud and may combine mawredd ("greatness, magnificence") wit...
Meridith is a variant of the Welsh name Meredith. It ultimately derives from the Old Welsh forms Maredudd or Meredydd, possibly from elements mawredd meaning "greatness, magnificence" and iudd meaning "lord". The name th...
Meriel is a feminine given name, primarily used in English-speaking countries. It is a variant of Muriel, which itself is an anglicized form of the Irish Muirgel and Scottish Muireall. The name was also adopted in mediev...
Merilyn is a feminine given name in English, distinct from the more famous Marilyn yet very similar in spelling. It has remained rare and unobtrusive while variants like Marilyn and Maralyn have seen notable use.The name...
Merit is a given name that can arise through two distinct origins. In one case, it may be a variant form of the surname and given name Merritt, which itself derives from an Old English place name meaning "boundary gate."...
EtymologyMeriwether is a given name and surname of English origin, derived from a Middle English nickname meaning "happy weather," composed of merry meaning "pleasant" or "joyful" and weather referring to climatic condit...
Merla is a feminine given name, primarily used in English-speaking countries. It is a variant of the name Merle, which is derived from either the English word merle or the French surname Merle, both meaning "blackbird,"...
Merle is a given name used for both boys and girls. It derives from the English word merle or the French surname Merle, both meaning "blackbird" (from Latin merula). The French cognate Merle originated as a nickname for...
Merletta is an English feminine diminutive of Merle, a name that ultimately derives from the Latin word merula, meaning "blackbird." The root name Merle entered English both from the word merle (an archaic term for the b...
Merlin is a legendary figure and personal name best known from Arthurian legend, popularized in the English-speaking world through centuries of medieval romance and modern adaptations. The name itself is the Latinized fo...
Merlyn is a variant of Merlin, sometimes used as a feminine form. The name has been influenced by the Welsh word merlyn meaning "pony." Etymology and Origin The name Merlyn derives from Merlin, which is a Latinized form...
EtymologyMerrick is an English masculine given name derived from a Welsh surname, which in turn originates from the personal name Meurig. Meurig likely evolved from Old Welsh Mouric, a form of the Latin Mauritius, itself...
Merrill is a unisex given name of English origin, derived from either the surname itself or directly from the given name Muriel. The surname, in turn, comes from place names meaning 'pleasant hill' in Old English, or fro...
Merrilyn is a feminine given name, a variant of Marilyn. The name Marilyn itself is a combination of Mary and the common name suffix lyn. It was very rare before the 20th century but gained popularity through stage star...
Merrion is a variant of Marion 1, which itself is a medieval French diminutive of Marie. Marie is the French and Czech form of Maria, the Latin form of the New Testament Greek name Μαρία (Maria), derived from the Hebrew...
Merritt is a unisex given name of British origin, derived from an English surname that originally denoted a place name meaning "boundary gate" in Old English. The name traces back to the Old English elements mǣre (bounda...
Merry is an English female given name derived from the English word merry, meaning "cheerful" or "joyful," which itself comes from Old English myrige. In Charles Dickens' 1844 novel Martin Chuzzlewit, Merry is used as a...
Merton is a masculine given name of English origin, derived from a surname that itself originated as a place name. The place name comes from Old English elements meaning "town on a lake", combining "mere" (lake) and "tun...
Merv is a short form of Mervyn, itself a Welsh variant of the Old Welsh name Merfyn. The use of Merv as a standalone given name is primarily found in English-speaking contexts, where it emerged as a diminutive or pet for...
Mervin is a masculine given name predominantly used in English-speaking countries. It is a variant of either Mervyn or Marvin, which themselves are anglicized forms of the Old Welsh name Merfyn. Etymology and Origins The...
Mervyn is a masculine given name and occasional surname of Old Welsh origin, widely used in English and Welsh-speaking contexts. It is the Anglicized form of the Welsh name Merfyn, which itself derives from an Old Welsh...
Meryl is a feminine given name used in English-speaking countries, most famously associated with the acclaimed American actress Meryl Streep (born 1949), whose birth name is Mary Louise Streep. The name is generally cons...
Messiah is an English name derived directly from the English word meaning "saviour", at an ultimate remove from the Hebrew mashiyaḥ (מָשִׁיחַ), meaning "anointed". The word appears in the Old Testament as a title for a f...
Mia is a feminine given name that originated as a diminutive of Maria and other names such as Amelia and Emilia. It has become a standalone name worldwide. The name also coincides with the Italian word mia meaning "mine"...
Mica is a short form of Michaela, the feminine form of Michael.EtymologyThe name Michael derives from the Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (Miḵaʾel), meaning "who is like God?", a rhetorical question implying no person is like God. Micha...
Micah is a masculine given name derived from the Hebrew name Mikha (מִיכָה), meaning "Who is like God?" or more precisely a contracted form of Micaiah, which in its longer form Michaiah (מִיכָיְהוּ) means "Who is like Ya...
Etymology and OriginMichael is a masculine given name derived from the Hebrew rhetorical question מִיכָאֵל (Miḵaʾel), meaning "who is like God?" The name combines the interrogative pronoun מִי (mi) meaning "who?", the pa...