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Looking for a classic English name for your baby? If you’re a fan of Beowulf, you’re in the right place. Read on for our favorite Old English baby names.
Though Liam, Olivia, Noah, and Charlotte have their charms, some parents are looking to move away from the most popular baby names lists toward something a bit different. If that’s you, then Old English names might be the perfect place to find inspiration.
From Ackerly to Weston, and Alodie to Yedda, we’ve got you covered with our list of favorite Old English baby names.
In this article: 📝
- What are Old English names?
- What are classic English names?
- Old English boy names
- Old English girl names
- Old English names that are unisex
What are Old English names?
Old English, also called Anglo-Saxon, was the language spoken in Britain from around 450 AD to 1100 AD.
Heavily influenced by the German and Scandinavian invaders, up to half of the modern English we speak today is made up of Old English words.
If you read Beowulf in high school or college, that’s a classic example of Old English literature.
So, if you’re after a traditional name with an etymological twist, ancient English names offer a wealth of inspiration.
What are classic English names?
We’ve compiled a list of Old English names for boys, for girls, and some that are unisex.
Some are rare names, some are ancient.
But all of these names have a long history behind them.
If your name search has you wondering, what are some very old names?, read on for our favorites.
Old English boy names
- Ackerly (or Ackley): “From the clearing of oak trees.”
- Acton: “Town in the oak trees.”
- Addison: “Adam’s son.”
- Adney: “From the island of the nobleman.”
- Alcott: “From the old cottage.”
- Alden: “Wise protector.”
- Aldwin: “Old friend.”
- Alfred: Originally Aelfread. “Wise counselor.”
- Almer: Either from Latin almus, meaning “nourishing, kind,” or from Spanish alma, meaning “soul.”
- Alton: “The old town.”
- Ayers: “Heir.”
- Baldwin: “Brave friend.”
- Barden: “ Barley valley.”
- Brandon: “Gorse hill.”
- Byron: “At the cowshed.” This one is popularized by the 19th century poet, Lord Byron.
- Chad: “Battle.”
- Charlton: “Free man, settlement.”
- Clifford: Literally, “cliff or slope” and “ford.”
- Cuthbert: “Famous, bright.”
- Dallin: “People’s pride.”
- Digby: “Settlement near a ditch.”
- Donald: “Ruler of the world.”
- Dunstan: “Dark stone.”
- Eardley: “From the clearing by the home.”
- Earl: “Warrior, chief.”
- Edgar: “Wealth, fortune, riches.”
- Edmund: “Wealth, fortune, riches.”
- Edward: “Wealth, fortune, riches.”
- Edwin: “Wealth, fortune, riches.”
- Eldred: “Old counsel.”
- Elliot: From the Hebrew Eliyahu, meaning “my God is Yahweh.”
- Elmer: “Noble, famous.”
- Erling: “The first-born son of the earl.”
- Ewing: “Youth.”
- Farley: “Fern wood.”
- Fairfax: “Blond-haired.”
- Flint: “Name of the stone.”
- Garrett: “Spear, rule.”
- Garrick: “Powerful with the spear.”
- Garson: “Column of conquest.”
- Gladstone: “Kite shaped stone.”
- Hamilton: “Hill.”
- Harold: “Ruler.”
- Herbert: “Army, bright.”
- Hereward: “Guardian.”
- Kenelm: “Brave helmet.”
- Kenley: “Dweller at the king’s meadow.”
- Keyon: “Guiding, leading.”
- Knox: “From the hills.”
- Landon: “Long hill.”
- Leighton: “From the farm next to the river.”
- Manton: “From the hero’s village.
- Milton: “Mill town” or “middle town.”
- Morton / Morten: “From the town near the moor.”
- Norton: “From the north.”
- Ogden: “From the valley of the oak trees.”
- Orton: “From the town by the sea.”
- Osbert: “Famous to God.”
- Patton: “Nobleman.”
- Peyton: “Patrician.”
- Presley: “From the priest’s meadow.”
- Radford: “From the ford covered in reeds.”
- Raleigh: “Roe deer’s meadow.”
- Ranald: “Powerful and wise ruler.”
- Ransford: “From the ford of the raven.”
- Remington: “From the farm of ravens.”
- Rudd: “Ruddy.”
- Rudyard: “From the red enclosure.”
- Saxon: “Knife.”
- Seger: “Sea spear.”
- Shaw: “Forest.”
- Sheldon: “Valley with steep sides.”
- Sherman: “Shearer or servant.”
- Sinjon: “Saint John.”
- Somerset: “From the summer land.”
- Stafford: “Landing place ford.”
- Teon: “A brave warrior.”
- Terrel: “Thunderer.”
- Thane: “Attendant warrior.”
- Thatcher: “Roof fixer.”
- Thorpe: “From the village.”
- Vance: “Fen.”
- Varden: “From the verdant hill.”
- Wade: “A ford.”
- Wallis: “Foreign.”
- Wesley: “Western meadow.”
- Weston: “Western town.”
- Woodrow: “Path through the woods.”
- Wystan: “Battle stone.”
Old English girl names
- Aldreda: “Wise counselor.”
- Alison: From the Germanic Adelheidis, meaning “light” and “noble.”
- Alodie: “Other riches.”
- Alvina: “Counselor of the elves.”
- Amberjill: “A precious jewel making translucent fossil resin, downy bearded and youthful.”
- Athelean: “Noble.”
- Bedelia: “Strength.”
- Bernia: “Maiden of battle.”
- Berta: “Bright, famous.”
- Berthilda: “Shining warrior maid.”
- Blossom: “Lovely.”
- Blythe: “Joyous.”
- Brook: “Stream.”
- Carleigh: Female form of Karl, meaning “free man.”
- Carling: “Hill where old women or witches gather.”
- Carlotta: Also a version of Karl, meaning “free man.”
- Chelsea: “River landing place.”
- Claiborne: “Clay.”
- Clovis: “Clover.”
- Columbia: “A dove.”
- Corliss: “Cheerful and generous.”
- Daisy: “The day’s eye.”
- Darian: “To possess, good.”
- Daralis: “Beloved.”
- Dawn: “Dawn.”
- Eartha: “Of the earth.”
- Ebba: “Rich, blessed, fortress.”
- Edaena: “Blessed.”
- Edda: “Battle fighter.”
- Edeva: “A rich gift.”
- Edwina: “Wealth, fortune, riches.”
- Elfin: “Elf-like.”
- Elvina: “Friend of elves.”
- Ember: “Smoldering remains of a fire.”
- Ena: “Wife, soul.”
- Faina: “Cheerful.”
- Farren: “Wandering.”
- Fern: “Leafy plant.”
- Fleta: “Swift, fleet.”
- Giselle: “Pledge.”
- Gleda: “To make happy.”
- Godiva: “Gift.”
- Golda: “Made of gold.”
- Gytha: “A gift.”
- Haylee: “From the hay meadow.”
- Heather: “Heather.”
- Holly: “Shrub.”
- Ida: “Prosperous.”
- Jillian: “Girl.”
- Joy: “Joy.”
- Kendria: “One who sees the future.”
- Leala: “Loyal one.”
- Levina: “Shining.”
- Mildred: “Gentle strength.”
- Myla: “Gentle.”
- Nelda: “Born under the Alder tree.”
- Odilia: “One who has wealth.”
- Obelia: “Pointed pillar.”
- Oceana: Form of “Oceanus.”
- Octavia: “Born eighth.”
- Palma: “Palm bearing pilgrim.”
- Poppy: “Flower.”
- Radella: “Elfin advisor.”
- Roberta: “Bright, famous.”
- Selby: “Of the manor house farm.”
- Shirley: “Country meadow.”
- Storm: “Stormy weather, tempest.”
- Tatum: “Cheerful, bringer of joy.”
- Ulla: “To fill up.”
- Vala: “Chosen.”
- Whitney: “From the white island.”
- Wilona: “Desired.”
- Yedda: “Singing.”
Old English names that are unisex
- Aubrey: From the Germanic name Alberic, meaning “ruler of elves.”
- Audrey: “Noble” and “strength.”
- Avery: “Wise.”
- Bentley: “Grassy meadow.”
- Carrington: “Beautiful.”
- Chance: “Good fortune.”
- Dana: “God is my judge.”
- Darnell: A form of Darell. “From Airelle.”
- Dayton: “Dairy town.”
- Devon: From the name of the country in South West England.
- Ellery: “One who lives near the elder tree.”
- Elton: “From the old estate.”
- Emmet: “Rival.”
- Everild: “Slayer.”
- Harley: “Hare, meadow.”
- Harper: “Harp player.”
- Kinsey: “Royal victory.”
- Linden: “Linden, lime tree.”
- Madison: “Son of Maud.”
- Manton: “From the hero’s village.”
- Meldon: “From the mill on the hill.”
- Merrill: “A bird.”
- Payton: “Peacock town.”
- Perry: “Traveler or pilgrim.”
- Randall: A medieval form of Randolf, meaning “counsel” and “wolf.”
- Ravenel: “Raven.”
- Ripley: “Clearing.”
So whether you’re a fan of Old English poetry or you want to celebrate your English roots, or you just like the sound of these Old English names, there is a lot here to choose from.
And if you are looking for more inspiration, why not have a look to Ireland, Italy, or France for the perfect name for your wee bairn.
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