Rank |
Business Name |
Description |
---|---|---|
1. | Silverstream Estates |
Made memorable by the repetition of the «s» sound. Perfect for a real estate company. |
2. | Prickly Fellas |
Creates a sense of intrigue, which helps the name stick. Could work well for a cactus store. |
3. | Nonna’s Knits |
Harnesses alliteration to produce a catchy effect. The inclusion of «Nonna» adds a touch of home. |
4. | Dsgn Nation |
A multiuse name that could work well for a team of interior decorators or web designers. |
5. | Chasing Marigolds |
Simple but catchy. Ideal for a flower or landscaping business. |
6. | Love, Baobab |
An intriguing name that would suit an eco-conscious company. |
7. | Plush Keepsakes |
For a business that produces plushies, warm blankets, or similar items that are made to last. |
8. | Jupiter Sunsets |
Evokes strong visual imagery that serves as a mnemonic device. |
9. | Sunscreen Kisses |
A darling name that could work well for a skincare company that tailors to kids. |
10. | Wilted Lilies |
Evokes clear visual imagery which will help people remember the name. |
11. | Winter Hideout |
Sounds inviting. Would suit a travel agency or real estate business. |
12. | Fighting Fire |
Made memorable by the repetition of the «f» sound. For firefighters or suppliers of protective gear. |
13. | Photo Fixer |
Alliterative. Could work well for a photo retouching app or a business that restores old images. |
14. | Revisited Stories |
Elicits nostalgia. Could work for virtually any company that offers ways to connect with the past. |
15. | Little Pawcation |
Super cute! Perfect for a pet boarding facility or even a dog grooming business. |
16. | Thread Stop |
A snappy name that lends itself to a clothing store or tailoring business. |
17. | Agilis Coding |
Ideal for a boundary-pushing tech company — particularly one that offers software development. |
18. | Repurposed Gems |
Could work for any company that turns well-loved treasures into new items. Lends itself to jewelers. |
19. | Little Fixers |
For a business that tackles small projects. Think handymen, mobile phone repair technicians, etc. |
20. | Broken Pandas |
Creates a sense of intrigue. Could work for an edgy clothing line. |
A double-barrelled name is a type of compound surname, typically featuring two words (occasionally more), often joined by a hyphen. Examples of some notable people with double-barrelled names include Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Sacha Baron Cohen.
In the Western tradition of surnames, there are several types of double surname (or double-barrelled surname[1]). If the two names are joined with a hyphen, it may also be called a hyphenated surname. The word «barrel» possibly refers to the barrel of a shotgun, as in «double-barreled shotgun».
In British tradition, a double surname is heritable, usually taken to preserve a family name that would have become extinct due to the absence of male descendants bearing the name, connected to the inheritance of a family estate. Examples include Harding-Rolls and Stopford Sackville.
In Hispanic tradition, double surnames are the norm, and not an indication of social status. A person used to take the (first) surname of their father, followed by the (first) surname of their mother (i.e. their maternal grandfather’s surname). In Spain, parents can choose the order of the last names of their children since the year 2000, with the provision that all children from the same couple need to have them in the same order. The double surname itself is not heritable. These names are combined without hyphen (but optionally combined using y, which means «and» in Spanish). In addition to this, there are heritable double surnames (apellidos compuestos) which are mostly but not always combined with a hyphen. Hyphenated last names usually correspond to both last names of one of the parents but both last names can be hyphenated, so some Hispanics may legally have two double-barrelled last names corresponding to both last names of both parents. Many Spanish scholars use a pen name where they enter a hyphen between their last names to avoid being misrepresented in citations.
In German tradition, double surnames can be taken upon marriage, written with or without hyphen, combining the husband’s surname with the wife’s. (More recently the sequence has become optional under some legislations.) These double surnames are «alliance names» (Allianznamen).
British tradition[edit]
Many double-barrelled names are written without a hyphen, causing confusion as to whether the surname is double-barrelled or not. Notable persons with unhyphenated double-barrelled names include prime minister David Lloyd George (who used the hyphen when appointed to the peerage), politician Iain Duncan Smith, composers Ralph Vaughan Williams and Andrew Lloyd Webber, military historian B. H. Liddell Hart, soldier and translator C. K. Scott Moncrieff, evolutionary biologist John Maynard Smith, astronomer Robert Hanbury Brown, actresses Kristin Scott Thomas and Helena Bonham Carter (the last of whom has said the hyphen is optional, and indeed several of her relatives use it in their names),[2] and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen (whose cousins, psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and film-maker Ash Baron-Cohen, use the hyphen in their names).
In Wales, many families have double-barrelled surnames. The preponderance in Wales of only a few surnames (such as Jones, Williams, and Davies) led to the usage of double-barrelled names to avoid confusion of unrelated but similarly-named people.[3] Lloyd George, Vaughan Williams and Llewelyn Davies are examples of this phenomenon.
A few British noble or gentry families have «triple-barrelled» surnames (e.g. Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe; Cave-Browne-Cave; Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound; Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby; Smith-Dorrien-Smith; Vane-Tempest-Stewart; Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes). These indicate prima facie the inheritance of multiple estates and thus the consolidation of great wealth. These are sometimes created when the legator has a double-barrelled name and the legatee has a single surname, or vice versa. Nowadays, such names are almost always abbreviated in everyday usage to a single or double-barrelled version. For example, actress Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe calls herself Isabella Calthorpe. There is at least one example of an unhyphenated triple-barrelled surname: that of the Montagu Douglas Scott family, to which the Dukes of Buccleuch belong.
There are even a few «quadruple-barrelled» surnames (e.g. Hepburn-Stuart-Forbes-Trefusis, Hovell-Thurlow-Cumming-Bruce, Montagu-Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie, Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax, Lane Fox Pitt-Rivers, and Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray). The surname of the extinct family of the Dukes of Buckingham and Chandos was the quintuple-barrelled Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville.
Captain Leone Sextus Denys Oswolf Fraudatifilius Tollemache-Tollemache de Orellana Plantagenet Tollemache-Tollemache is sometimes incorrectly quoted as the man with the most ever «barrels» in his surname (six).[citation needed] The UK Registry Office confirms that his surname was ‘Tollemache-Tollemache’ and the other names are forenames.
Traditions in Iberian Peninsula[edit]
In Spain, surnames are strictly regulated by the Civil Code and the Law of the Civil Registry.[4] When a person is born, the law requires them to take the first surname of the father and then the first surname of the mother. Thus, when D. Julio Iglesias de la Cueva and Dª Isabel Preysler Arrastía had a son called Enrique, he legally was Enrique Iglesias Preysler. On the other hand, actual double-barrelled names exist (called apellidos compuestos), such as Calvo-Sotelo or López-Portillo. For example, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo y Bustelo is the son of Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo and Mercedes Bustelo Vázquez. Such names may reflect the attempt to preserve a family name that would be lost without this practice. The creation of such names must be approved by request to the Ministry of the Interior.[5]
Spain’s hidalgo families often used double-barrelled names in conjunction with the nobiliary particle «de» (of). Toponymic family such as the surnames García de las Heras, Pérez de Arce or López de Haro combine a regular family name with the branch of the family. For example, the «López» branch hailing from the Rioja town of Haro, La Rioja. Surnames associated with Spanish nobility follow the same custom, such as the Álvarez de Toledo, Ramírez de Arellano or Fernández de Córdoba. In these cases, the first surname indicates the original name of the family, whereas the second surname denotes the nobiliary fief of that family. In this context, the conjunction «de» (of) reflects that the family used to be the feudal lords of that place. Thus, the Ramírez were the lords of the village of Arellano, in Navarra.
In Portugal, where most of the population have two to four surnames (apelidos de família), the practice of using a double combination of surnames is very common. The person can either use a paternal and a maternal surname combined (Aníbal Cavaco Silva) or use a double last name that has been passed down through one of the parents (António Lobo Antunes). The last surname (normally the paternal one) is usually considered the «most important», but people may choose to use another one, often favouring the more sonant or less common of their surnames in their daily or professional life (such as Manuel Alegre or José Manuel Barroso, who is known in Portugal by his double surname Durão Barroso). The use of more than two surnames in public life is less common, but not unusual (see Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen). Combined surnames of two gentry families from Portugal are also prevalent, such as Nogueira Ferrão.
One historic early aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont, is known to have not only often used an equals sign (=) between his two surnames in place of a hyphen, but also seems to have preferred that practice, to display equal respect for his father’s French ethnicity and the Brazilian nationality of his mother.[6]
Continental Germanic tradition[edit]
In Germany, a double surname (German: Doppelname) is generally joined with a single hyphen. Other types of double surnames are not accepted by German name law. However, exceptions are made for immigrants and for marriages where the double surname already was the official name of one partner before marriage.[citation needed] A 1993 law forbids surnames with more than two components.[7] Prior to this, it was permitted for adults (e.g., Simone Greiner-Petter-Memm and formerly Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann-Maier-Leibniz[7]) but their children would not inherit the name.[7] The 1993 ban was upheld by the Constitutional Court in 2009.[7] The crew members of the famous First World War light cruiser SMS Emden were allowed to add the name Emden with a hyphen to their surname as a special honour after World War I. There is the possibility that one partner can combine both names by a hyphen. Thus, one of them then bears a double name (Doppelname). (Herr Schmidt and Frau Meyer-Schmidt (or Frau Schmidt-Meyer); the children have to be called Schmidt). Only one partner can take this option, making it impossible for both partners to have Doppelnamen (thus, there would be no Herr Meyer-Schmidt and Frau Meyer-Schmidt). Until the late twentieth century it was only possible for a woman to add her maiden name onto that of her husband’s, not the other way round, therefore Ms. Schmidt would become Mrs. Meyer-Schmidt. This tradition has continued for the most part.
In Switzerland, double surnames are traditionally written with a hyphen and combine the surnames of a married couple with the husband’s surname in first place and the wife’s second. This double name is called «alliance name» (German: Allianzname). The first name as such, however, is the official family name, which will be inherited by their legitimate children. So, for example, if Werner Stauffacher is married to Gertrud Baumgarten, both can use the name Stauffacher-Baumgarten. Their children, however, bear only the surname Stauffacher. Prominent bearers of an alliance name are Micheline Calmy-Rey (former Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs), Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (former Federal Minister for Finance), and Johann Schneider-Ammann (Federal Minister for the Economy). While it is traditional for the family name to be that of the husband, either name may be chosen, with the person who changes their surname being allowed to hyphenate on their original name.[8] Alternatively, both partners may keep their own name and choose which of the surnames is passed on to children at birth of their first child.[8]
Doubling of surnames is also practised by the Dutch. An example is the name of Dutch footballer Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. According to The Guardian, his name derives from «the 17th century, when two farming families in the Enschede area of the Netherlands intermarried. Both the Vennegoor and Hesselink names carried equal social weight, and so – rather than choose between them – they chose to use both. ‘Of’ in Dutch translates to ‘or’, which means that a strict translation of his name reads Jan Vennegoor or Hesselink.»[9][10] Some of these Dutch surnames also survive in South Africa, for example, the rugby player Rohan Janse van Rensburg’s surname is Janse van Rensburg, not only van Rensburg (which is itself an existing surname). In addition, it was common for wives to be known by their husband’s surname (first) and her original/birth name (second) hyphenated. Nowadays, couples can choose any combination of surnames for official use (although their legal name will remain unchanged). Most prevalent remains for the wife to either use a hyphenated surname or use her original/birth name. Few husbands use a hyphenated surname. All children of a couple need to go by the same surname (either their father’s or their mother’s); and won’t normally have a hyphenated surname.
Scandinavia[edit]
Denmark has a tradition of double surnames originating in the 19th century. This was a result of two naming acts obliging commoners to adopt heritable surnames, passed first for the Duchy of Schleswig in 1771, and then for Denmark proper in 1828. Most people chose their patronymic as their heritable surname, resulting in an overwhelming dominance of a few surnames.
To reduce the risk of mistaken identity, many Danes started using their mothers’ original/birth names as a heritable middle name (similar to the Russian or Hispanic system), rather than as a second given name (as in the Anglo-Saxon system). One example is three successive prime ministers of Denmark all sharing the same last name, Rasmussen, so they are usually referred to by their middle name: Nyrup, Fogh and Løkke, respectively.
Currently, the Danish order of names invariably places the patronymic -sen at the end, regardless of whether that name has been passed down by the father or mother, or adopted through marriage. Unlike the Russian or Hispanic systems, this surname-style middle name is not considered a proper last name in official documents, unless hyphenated into one compound name.
Poland[edit]
In Poland, a double surname (Polish: nazwisko złożone, «complex surname») is generally joined with a hyphen. Polish surnames (Polish: nazwisko, singular), like those in most of Europe, are hereditary and generally patrilineal, i.e., passed from the father on to his children. A married woman usually adopts her husband’s name. However, other combinations are legally possible. The wife may keep her original/birth name (Polish: nazwisko panieńskie, literally: «maiden surname») or add her husband’s surname to hers, thus creating a double name (nazwisko złożone). A married man can also adopt his wife’s surname, or add it to his. Polish triple-barreled surnames are known to exist; an example is the one borne by Ludwik Kos-Rabcewicz-Zubkowski, a university professor and writer, living in Canada.
Russia[edit]
In Russia, double-barreled surnames are somewhat uncommon, but normal and accepted practice, often associated with some families of note wishing to preserve both of their lineages. Federal law #143-FZ «On Civil State Acts» explicitly allows double-barreled names in its Article 18, but limits such compound surnames to two parts only.
Статья 18. Запись фамилии, имени и отчества ребенка при государственной регистрации рождения
1. При государственной регистрации рождения фамилия ребенка записывается по фамилии его родителей. При разных фамилиях родителей по соглашению родителей ребенку присваивается фамилия отца, фамилия матери или двойная фамилия, образованная посредством присоединения фамилий отца и матери друг к другу в любой последовательности, если иное не предусмотрено законами субъектов Российской Федерации. Не допускается изменение последовательности присоединения фамилий отца и матери друг к другу при образовании двойных фамилий у полнородных братьев и сестер. Двойная фамилия ребенка может состоять не более чем из двух слов, соединенных при написании дефисом.
Translated:
Article 18
1. During state registration of birth, the surname of the child is recorded according to the surname of his parents. With different surnames of the parents, by agreement of the parents, the child is assigned the surname of the father, the surname of the mother or a double surname formed by joining the surnames of the father and mother to each other in any sequence, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It is not allowed to change the sequence of joining the surnames of the father and mother to each other when forming double surnames for full brothers and sisters. The double surname of the child may consist of no more than two words, connected when written with a hyphen.
Turkish tradition[edit]
Turkish tradition offers options to couples after the marriage for the naming conventions. Renewing the national identity card to reflect the changes has two options, one is to use the man’s surname for the newly formed family’s surname, the second is to use two surnames for the family noting that one is the bride’s original/birth name, the latter is the groom’s surname. This highlights the equal importance of men and women in Turkish history since 2008, by giving legal opportunity to use whichever is preferable for partners.
French-Canadian tradition[edit]
Until the late 19th century, some families had a nom-dit tradition. This was a family nickname (literally a «said name»). The origins of the noms-dits were various. Some noms-dits were the war-name of the first settler, while he was a soldier: Hébert dit Jolicœur (Pretty Heart, cf. Braveheart), Thomas dit Tranchemontagne (mountain chopper). Some denoted the place of origin of the first settler: Langevin (Anjou), Barbeau dit Poitevin (Poitou). Others denoted a characteristic of the person or of his dwelling: Lacourse, Lépine, Larivière.
Recent developments[edit]
Since the late 20th century, increasingly permissive legislation on the inheritance of surnames in Western countries has led to the emergence of non-traditional or ad hoc combined surnames.[clarification needed]
For example, Hispanic American politician Antonio Villar and his wife Corina Raigosa adopted the «blended» surname Villaraigosa upon their marriage in 1987.[11]
In Belgium and Germany, member states of the European Union, courts have refused to register children under the surname given according to a foreign naming tradition.[12]
In France, a practice abolished in 2010[13] was to use two consecutive hyphens (—) (not the same as a «long hyphen» or dash, or with a double hyphen) to distinguish between recently formed double surnames and ancient hyphenated family names (French: nom composé). The use of double surnames is legal but not customary. Children traditionally take on their father’s surname (or, more recently, optionally their mother’s).
In Canada, especially Quebec, it is common for children born since the 1970s to bear both parents’ surnames, with no established rules as to whether the father’s or mother’s name should come first. (In Quebec, under the provisions of the Civil Code enacted in 1980,[14] both spouses must retain their original surnames upon marriage.) This situation was frequent enough that naming laws had to be amended in the early 1990s when those with double surnames began to marry, and wished themselves to give their children double surnames. In such cases, any combination involving at most two elements of the father’s or the mother’s surname is permitted.[15]
Finland liberalised their name law in 2017, allowing double surnames in some cases, either hyphenated or as such. A double name can be formed when marrying or getting children, combining the surnames of the spouses or the parents, respectively. Double names can be combined by taking one part of each. Either spouse or both can take a double name. Based on a family’s foreign name tradition, children can get surnames also based on a grandparent’s surname.[16] The former law, from 1985, allowed either taking their spouse’s surname and optionally continuing using their own surname as a hyphen-joined prefix, but formally they did not get a double surname and their children got the spouse’s surname.[17]
With the rise of same-sex marriage, many same-sex couples have hyphenated each other’s names upon marriage.[18] For instance, American attorney and former chair of the Libertarian National Committee Joe Bishop-Henchman changed his surname from Henchman upon marriage to his husband Ethan Bishop, who also changed his surname to Bishop-Henchman at that time.
Non-Western surname traditions[edit]
Most Chinese surnames are a single character. However, in modern times, some families are now combining the surnames of the parents to create new names. Some examples of notable double-barrelled surnames include the Changchien clan in Taiwan. This practice is different from having a Chinese compound surname, where more than one character is used in a surname.
In 2007, PRC officials suggested that parents should be encouraged to create two-syllable (two-character) surnames for their children by combining their parents’ (one-syllable) surnames; this could make people’s names more unique, and «could help solve the problem of widely recurring names».[19]
In India, double surnames are comparatively common, especially in Bengal, examples including Roy Chaudhury (sometimes written as Chowdhury), Ghosh Dastidar and Das Gupta.[citation needed] In recent[when?] years, a few notable married women have been keeping their original/birth surnames resulting in a double-barrelled name such as Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar, Padmaja Phenany Joglekar.
In Nigeria, a double barrelled surname is adopted when an aristocratic woman marries a lower ranked man. It also occurs when a ruling family adopts the forename of their patriarch as part of their surname to distinguish themselves from others that might share their surname. An example of the former is that of the Vaughan-Richards family, a branch of the family of the Nigerian royal-turned-American emancipated slave Prince Scipio Vaughan, who maintain their mother’s last name as well as their father’s. An example of the latter is that of the royal family of King Adeniji Adele of Lagos, who are distinguished from their numerous Adele cousins by the use of the double barrelled name Adeniji-Adele.
Filipino naming tradition[edit]
The Filipino naming tradition is derived from the Hispanic system but was influenced by the American (Anglo-Saxon) naming tradition when the Philippines became a United States colony in 1901.
A child will customarily carry the mother’s original/birth name as the middle name and carry the father’s surname. When a woman marries, she keeps her original/birth surname and adds the husband’s surname, but does not typically hyphenate it. So, when Maria Santos Aguon marries José Lujan Castro, her name becomes Maria Aguon Castro and their children will typically carry the middle name Aguon, and the surname Castro.[citation needed]
For Filipinos, the middle name is usually the maternal surname, which is the original/birth surname of a person’s mother. The use of the maternal surname as middle name is from American influence, where Filipinos adopted English naming customs, when they once used Spanish naming customs, that used two surnames (paternal and maternal) joined with the particle y (or e before /i/), which remains in use but became restricted to very formal purposes, police records and legal proceedings. In the original Spanish naming system, the middle name corresponds to the paternal surname, not the maternal surname as used in the Philippines today. For Filipinos, this middle name (or the maternal surname) is usually being abbreviated in less formal communications to a middle initial. Thus, a person with the full name Juan Santos Macaraig, with Santos the middle name in the present order, may become Juan S. Macaraig with the middle name abbreviated, and Juan Macaraig y Santos in the Spanish system, such as those used in names on police records, especially those seen on name placards held by a convicted person on official mug shots. The Philippine system, using «given name-middle name-surname» order (or «Christian name-mother’s surname-father’s surname») coincidentally follows the Portuguese naming system that uses two surnames, the first being maternal and the second being paternal.
But, the maternal surname may not be the middle name at some cases. It may be a second given name, like what the term really means, as in Jose P. Laurel, where «P.» (a middle initial) corresponds to Paciano.
In illegitimate children, the middle name is the original/birth surname of the father, and the middle name (maternal surname) of the mother as surname. But the surname becomes of the father’s surname upon legal and administrative acknowledgment by his/her father. The child of a single father takes no middle name, even when the mother’s identity is known.
To illustrate that, the daughter of an unmarried couple named Ana Cristina dela Cruz Manansala and Jose Maria Panganiban Lozada, named ‘»Maria Cristina'», will be named Maria Cristina Manansala dela Cruz (or Ma. Cristina M. dela Cruz), with Ana Cristina’s middle name, dela Cruz, as surname. But once Jose Maria wants to acknowledge her as his child legally and administratively, Maria Cristina will take the surname Lozada, but keep the maternal surname Manansala as middle name, thus, Maria Cristina Manansala Lozada (or Ma. Cristina M. Lozada). As the daughter of only Jose Maria, Maria Cristina will be rather called Maria Cristina Lozada or Ma. Cristina Lozada, even when the mother is known.
In married women, the middle name usually corresponds to the original/birth surname, but on professional society, women usually add the husband’s surname after their original/birth name, keeping the maternal surname. A married woman may decline taking the husband’s surname and keep her original/birth name as no Philippine law compels women to take her husband’s surname. Thus, a woman named Maria Concepcion Perez Limchauco (or Ma. Concepcion P. Limchauco), once marrying Juan Pablo Sanchez Marasigan (or Juan Pablo S. Marasigan) may take the name Maria Concepcion Perez Limchauco-Marasigan (or Ma. Concepcion P. Limchauco-Marasigan), maintaining the maternal surname Perez, Maria Concepcion Limchauco Marasigan (or Ma. Concepcion L. Marasigan), taking the original/birth surname Limchauco as middle name and Marasigan as married surname, or keep her original/birth names, remaining Maria Concepcion Perez Limchauco.
See also[edit]
- Bilingual tautological names
- Double name
- Dual naming
- Name blending
- List of double placenames
References[edit]
- ^ The term «double-barrelled surname» was in origin used for British double names indicative of (partially) aristocratic background; so in Thomas Innes of Learney, The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands (1970), p. 186.
Earlier usage prefers «double-barrelled name» in reference to the British double surnames, the more specific «double-barrelled surname» is a recharacterization after the recent tendency to use «double-barrelled name» for the fashion of hyphenated given names.
The term «double-barrelled (sur)name» appears to have been coined in the Victorian era, originally with a sarcastic undertone implying pomposity; e.g.:- «It is looked on as a public blessing, a boon to the general good-humor, when a statesman is endowed with a double-barreled name. It brings on a perpetual feu de joie of squibs, and makes him so much the more agreeable to everybody but himself.» Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine, a Popular Journal of General Literature, Volume 18, 1876, p. 385.
- «The hero, who was a prince, had a sort of double-barreled name, which would defy all sorts at pronunciation; and so had the heroine. They were names which, no doubt, would be instrumental in selling any fever and ague mixture should they be affixed to it.» Puck, Puck Publishing Company, 1878, p. 21.
- «an extravagant superfluity of new-coined phraseology and technical terms, which every distinguished person’s illness elicits from some fashionable physician with a double-barreled surname and none denoting Christianity.» Robert Joshua Leslie, John Leslie (bishop of Clogher), The life and times of … John Leslie, bishop of the Isles, and of Raphoe and Clogher, 1885, p. 157.
But it is now also used more generally of any double surname (an example for this is Azoulai, The Question of Competence in the European Union (2014:180) using «double-barrelled» to refer to a Danish double surname.
- ^ Los Angeles Times Magazine, November 1999
- ^ «The history and origin of Welsh surnames». Historic UK.
- ^ On exteriores.gob.es
- ^ On mjusticia.gob.es
- ^ Gray, Carroll F. (November 2006). «The 1906 Santos=Dumont No. 14bis». World War I Aeroplanes. 194: 4.
- ^ a b c d Kirchner, Stephanie (6 May 2009). «German Court Upholds Ban on Extra-Long Names». Time. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ a b «Namensrecht — Pro Familia Schweiz». www.profamilia.ch (in German). Retrieved 2023-03-14.
- ^ «Why is Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink so named?». The Guardian. 4 August 2004.
- ^ Paolo Bandini (30 August 2006). «Lost and found in the international wilderness». The Guardian. London.
- ^ Sheri & Bob Stritof (26 July 2007). «Corina Raigosa and Antonio Villaraigosa Marriage Profile». Marriage.about.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ «For instance, in Garcia Avello, a case in which Belgium refused to register children of dual nationality with the surname of both parents following the Spanish tradition … in Grunkin and Paul … [a German court] refused to recognize a child’s double-barrelled surname as determined and registered in Denmark, where he lived, because the child was a German national.» Loïc Azoulai, The Question of Competence in the European Union, Oxford University Press, 2014, p. 180.
- ^ Lichfield, John (8 January 2010). «Double-hyphen surname law gets both barrels». The Independent. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ A Short History of the Civil Code Archived 18 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine, Government of Quebec
- ^ Section 51 of the Civil Code of Quebec, in LexUM
- ^ «Lag om för- och efternamn 946/2017» (in Swedish).
- ^ «Släktnamnslag 694/1985» (in Swedish).
- ^ «The Ability to Change Your Name After Marriage Depends on Your Sex». University of Cincinnati Law Review. 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
- ^ Name game: most Chinese use 3 characters, some use 10 or more, Xinhua, 12 December 2007.
Two syllable names are the most common, with half of the names in the US Top 10 following this pattern. Emma and Liam, the top names for baby girls and boys, have two syllables each.
Along with Emma, other two syllable baby names in the US Top 100 for girls include Ava, Mia, Harper, Scarlett, Luna, Chloe, Riley, and Nora. Along with Liam, other Top 100 boy names that contain two syllables include Noah, Jacob, Lucas, Ethan, Jackson, Owen, Ezra, Henry, Leo, and Wyatt. Internationally, two-syllable names including Bruno, Gaia, Marceau, and Signe are among the most fashionable choices.
Unique two syllable names we love include Anouk, Celeste, Orla, and Tessa. For boys, our favorite unique two syllable names include Booker, Forrest, Linus, and Remy.
Two syllable baby names tend to sound best with surnames that are, well, NOT two syllables. If you feel that a two-syllable name would strike the right balance with your shorter or longer last name, here are a selection of the best.
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Before deciding on your little one’s name, you should also consider whether you want to have a short single-syllable name or one with multiple syllables. It could be difficult for those on the lookout for five-syllable boy names to find the perfect ones. We are here to assist you in finding the perfect one.
Our mission is to find the name you like the most for your boy, no matter what it is. It could be that you want longer sounding names with multiple syllables or if it’s a trend you have taken a special liking to. We have listed some of the best five syllable names in this post.
What Is A Syllable?
A single vowel sound is what we call a syllable. As you say a word out loud, you hear different sounds in it. The number of vowel sounds you hear tells you how many syllables the word has. Here are a few examples of words that contain one, two, three and five syllables:
Example Of One Syllable Word: When you hear the word ‘part’ you hear one syllable part.
Example Of Two Syllable Word: When you hear the word ‘station’ you hear two syllables station.
Example Of Three Syllable Word: When you hear the word ‘Jupiter’ you hear three syllables Jupiter.
Example Of Five Syllable Word: When you hear the word ‘California’ you hear five syllables California.
Here is a compilation of names for baby boys, all of which contain one syllable:
1. Ace:
This Latin name means the one, or unity. American singer, actress and reality television personality Jessica Simpson has named her baby boy Ace.
2. Art:
The Irish name Art means the one who is an outstanding warrior. It is also a shorter version of the name Arthur. According to popular Irish legend, Art was a pagan High King of Ireland who was so fair and honest that whenever he went to battle, two angels would hover over him.
3. Blake:
The name Blake comes from Old English. It is a mix of two different meanings. The two meanings are the one who is black in complexion and the one who has a bright and shining disposition.
4. Blue:
It is an American name and often refers to the one who is as calm and as stable as the color blue of the skies and the seas. However, it can also mean one who is of a sad or quiet nature.
5. Blaine:
The Gaelic name Blaine means the one who is thin.
6. Boone:
The French name Boone means the one who is a blessing, and is a good person.
7. Blaire:
This Scottish name means a field of battle. It is used to denote someone who is a brave and natural leader.
8. Brant:
Here is another English name, which means the one who is proud of himself and his accomplishments. Brant Daugherty is a popular American actor who features in the well-known series Pretty Little Liars as well as Days of Our Lives.
9. Bruce:
The name Bruce is popular all around the world thanks to Bruce Lee, who was a Chinese American martial form artist as well as an instructor, an actor, a film-maker and a philosopher. The name, however, is Scottish in origin.
10. Chad:
It is a Scottish name, but Chad is the English form. The name means one who is a protector and a defender. St. Chad was a well-known bishop during the seventh century who started a charitable organization known as the Samaritans. It provided help, and other services for those who were depressed and suicidal.
11. Cade:
The name comes from Welsh culture and means the one who has the spirit of battle in him. Cade Yeager is a well-known fictional character in the hugely popular series The Transformers.
12. Chance:
It is an English origin name which means the one who is bestowed with good luck and good fortune. It was also used to refer to the one who worked as a chancellor in earlier times. Chance The Rapper is a popular American hip hop recording artist.
13. Chase:
The name is derived from the Old French name Chacier and has been turned to its English Chase. It is used to denote the one who is a dweller at the hunting ground. Chase Bryant is an American singer and songwriter while Chase Rice is an American country singer and songwriter.
14. Clark:
Most romance lovers are familiar with the name Clark, who was an American film actor and often referred to as the King of Hollywood. One of his all-time popular roles was the portrayal of the fictional character Rhett Butler in the very popular war romance drama novel Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell.
15. Cole:
The name is prevalent in many cultures and has different meanings. In its American as well as Greek variation, it means the victory of the people. In English, Cole means a young boy or the one who is triumphant. Cole Sprouse is an American actor who works with his twin Dylan Sprouse. The two are also known as the Sprouse Bros.
16. Cruz:
It is a Spanish name, which means the cross. It is another reference to Christianity. David and Victoria Beckham named their son Cruz.
17. Dale:
The name comes from the origin Gaelic word O’Dalaigh (which means the one who is a descendant of Dalach). It is used in the Irish variation as Dale. Dale Carnegie was a very well-known American writer and lecturer on topics such as self-improvement, corporate training, public speaking and the like.
18. Drew:
This Scottish name means ’the one who is manly’. The name is also a shorter variation of the Greek Andrew. St. Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland and the town St. Andrews was named after him. Drew Roy is an American movie actor.
19. Finn:
The Irish name means one who is fair. It also means one who is part of the mythology. Finn Wittrock is an American actor and screenwriter.
20. Ford:
The American name means the crossing of a river. Actor Owen Wilson has named his son Ford.
21. Gabe:
The name is derived from the original Hebrew word Gavriel which means God is my strength. It also appears in the Bible and is the name of one of the seven archangels. Gabe is a shorter variation of the name Gabriel. Gabe Kaplan is an American actor, comedian, and a professional poker player.
22. Glenn:
It is a variation of the original Gaelic Gleana, which means valley. The name Glenn is used as a given name as well as a last name. Glenn Frey was an American singer, songwriter, actor, and painter, who was also the founding member of the band Eagles.
23. Grant:
The name Grant was originally a last name in the Scottish tradition. It was derived from the French word ‘grand’ that meant someone who is tall or great. Grant Gustin is an American singer and actor who is known for his portrayal of the character Sebastian Smythe on the television series Glee.
24. Greg:
It is a Greek name and is the shorter variation of Gregory. The name means the one who is watchful. Greg Oden is an American basketball player.
25. Guy:
Guy is an American name and essentially means a boy. Guy Ritchie is an English origin filmmaker of the crime genre. He is also known as the ex of Madonna.
26. Hans:
It originates from German culture and means the one who is a gift from God. The name also means God is gracious. Hans is another variation of the Hebrew name. Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author who is known worldwide for his famous fairy tales.
27. Heath:
The name is derived from the Old English language and was originally a middle name. It refers to the one who lives on a heath or a moor. Popular Australian actor and director Heath Ledger was a memorable namesake of Heath.
28. Dirk:
Dirk is the ruler of the people. The name is shared by Dirk Nannes, a cricketer who represented both the Australian as well as Dutch team in cricket, as well as Dirk Nowitzki, a German professional basketball player.
29. Jace:
The English name Jace is a shorter variation of the name Jason. It has references to Greek mythology and is a Biblical name. Jace Norman is an American actor who was part of Nickelodeon shows.
30. Jay:
It is originally derived from English culture and comes from the Latin Gaius. The name refers to the jay bird and also means the one who rejoices. In regular usage, it is also used as a shorter version of any name that starts with the letter ‘J.’ Popular American rapper Jay Z shares the name.
31. Jude:
Jude is a popular name, which originates from Hebrew culture. It is another variation of the name Judah and means the one who is to be praised. Jude Law is a well-known English actor who has bagged many international acting awards.
32. James:
It is a Biblical name and is mainly used as a given name. It is also the English version of the originally Latin name Lacomus. James Cameron is a popular Canadian filmmaker who is best known for his movies Titanic and Avatar.
33. John:
The name originates from the Latin and Greek name Joannes, which again is derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan. It means god is gracious. John is a biblical name and appears in the New Testament. John Mayer is a popular American singer and songwriter, while John Abraham is a popular Bollywood actor.
34. Kane:
It is a Celtic name and it means a warrior. Kane Williamson is a cricketer and captains the New Zealand cricket team.
35. Kai:
The name Kai appears in many cultures and has different meanings. In Ancient Greek culture, Kai is a conjunction that means ‘and.’ In the Basque culture, the word Kai means the pier of a harbor. It is also used as a variant of the name Kaio which originates from the Latin name Caius. Kai means strong in Burmese.
36. Kip:
It is an English name, which means the one who comes from the pointed hill. Kip Thorne is an American theoretical physicist who is known for his contribution towards gravitational physics and astrophysics.
37. Lance:
The name originates from the German name Lanzo. During the Middle Ages, it was also associated with the word lance from the Old French culture, which means a spear. Lance Armstrong is a former American professional road racing cyclist.
38. Lloyd:
It was originally a last name which came from the Welsh word Llywd which means gray. Andrew Lloyd Webber is an English composer whose works appear as stage and film adaptations.
39. Mark:
The English name originates from the Latin word Marcus, which refers to the Roman god of war. Mark Twain was an American author known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Zuckerberg is an American programmer and entrepreneur who co-founded the social networking site Facebook.
40. Max:
Max is a shorter version of the name Maximilian which means the greatest. Max Ernst was a popular German painter, graphic artist, poet and sculptor.
41. Nash:
It was originally a last name that came from the Old English phrase ‘atten ash’ which meant ‘at the ash tree.’ Nash Aguasis a popular Filipino model, actor and singer.
42. Nate:
The name originates from the Hebrew word Nethanel which means the gift of god. Nate Robinson is a professional American basketball player.
43. Neil:
It is a name of Gaelic origin and means passionate. Neil Gaiman is an English author who is popular for his graphic novels, comic books, short fiction, novels as well as film work.
44. Paul:
The name is derived from the Roman family name Paulus which means small or humble. Paul McCartney is an English singer and songwriter who was one of the members of the band Beatles.
45. Penn:
It is an English origin word which means coral.
46. Reed:
The name originates from the Old English last name, which means the one who lives in a clearing. Reed Diamond is an American actor who appears on various popular television series.
47. Ron:
It is a shorter form of the name Ronald which means ruler. The name is Scottish. Ron Thomas is an American actor.
48. Ross:
The name is a Scottish and English origin last name and means headland. Ross was one of the fictional characters in the very popular television series Friends.
49. Saul:
It comes from the Hebrew name Shaul which means the one who has been asked for. Saul Bass was an American filmmaker and graphic designer.
50. Scott:
Scott is an English and Scottish last name, which is also used as a given name. It means the person who originally belongs to Scotland. Scott Eastwood is an American model and actor.
51. Seth:
The Hebrew name means the one who has been appointed. Seth Green is an American actor, comedian, and director.
52. Shane:
It is an Irish origin name which means gift from god. Shane West is an American actor.
53. Tom:
It comes from an Aramaic culture and is a shorter version of the name Thomas, which means a twin. Tom Cruise is one of the most popular Hollywood actors of all time.
54. Vince:
The name comes from Latin origin and means a conqueror. Vince Vaughn is an American actor, comedian, producer and activist.
55. Wade:
Though an English name, it comes from Scandinavian mythology. The name means to cross the river. Wade Wilson is the name given to the recently popular character Deadpool.
56. Zach:
The Hebrew origin name means the one remembered by god and is a shorter version of the name Zachary. Zach Galifianakis is a Greek American actor.
57. Zayn:
The name comes from Semitic origin and means the gift of god. Zayn Malik is an English singer and songwriter who recently left being a part of the band One Direction.
Quick tip
Joy, Sam, Wren, and Viv are a few other short and sweet one-syllable names for your boy.
Two Syllable Boy Names
Here is a compilation of names for baby boys, all of which contain two syllables:
58. Arden:
The name is found in various cultures and has a different meaning everywhere. In American and Celtic languages, it means to be eager, whereas in English, it means to be sincere, in Latin it means a place of dwelling, while in Teutonic, it means passionate.
59. Emmett:
This German word means the one who is powerful. Emmett Cullen was a fictional character in the popular Twilight series.
60. August:
Another German word, which means the one who is majestic. August Alsina is an American R&B star.
61. Calvin:
It is an English name, which means the one who is bald. Calvin Klein is an American fashion designer whose brand is famous by the same name around the world.
62. Dermot:
The Irish name means the one who is free of any envy. Dermot Mulroney is an American actor and director.
63. Garrett:
The name is an English variation of any one of the two originally Germanic words, Gerald or Gerard. It means the one who is strong and brave. Garrett Hedlund is an American singer, actor and model.
64. Griffin:
It comes from Welsh culture and means the one who is strong in his faith. Griffin and Phoenix was a very popular movie that was released in the year 2006.
65. Harry:
It is a variation of the medieval English name Henry and is also used as a shorter variation of Harold. It means the one who is an estate ruler. It is also the name of Prince Harry of Wales, who is originally named Henry.
66. Homer:
The classic Greek name is derived from Homeros, which means pledge. Homer is the author of the first known literature that appeared in Europe and was the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey.
67. Hudson:
It comes from the English last name Hudson which means the son of Hudde. Hudson Taylor is the name of an Irish folk duo.
68. Ian:
It is a Scottish origin name which means gift of god. Ian McKellen is one of the finest actors in the world, who received almost every major theatrical award in the UK as well as in the US.
69. Isaac:
The Hebrew name means the one who laughs. Isaac Newton was an English mathematician and physicist, while Isaac Asimov was an American author of science fiction.
70. Jasper:
This Persian name means the one who is a treasurer. Jasper Carrott is an English comedian and actor.
71. Joaquin:
This Spanish word has its roots in the Hebrew name Joachim. It means the one who is lifted by Jesus. Joaquin Phoenix is a popular American actor.
72. Jonah:
It is a Hebrew name which means dove. Jonah Hill is an American actor and producer.
73. Joseph:
The name comes from Hebrew culture and means may Jehovah give. The name also appears in the Bible. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is an American actor.
74. Justin:
The name is a variation of the Latin Justinus. It means the one who is just and righteous. American singer, actor, producer Justin Timberlake shares the name.
75. Keaton:
The English name means a place of hawks. Keaton Henson is an English folk rock musician, poet and visual artist.
76. Levi:
It is a Hebrew name, which means attached. Levi Strauss was a German origin American Jew who started the company Levi’s.
Michael:
77. Lucas:
The name comes from the Latin name which means the man from Lucania. Lucas Till is an American actor who was part of the hit series Hannah Montana.
78. Moses:
It is an Egyptian word, which means son.
79. Noah:
The Hebrew origin name means to rest or take comfort. American actor Noah Wyle shares the name.
80. Owen:
It comes from Welsh culture and means the one who is well born and is a warrior. Owen Wilson is an American actor, comedian, writer and producer.
81. Patrick:
The name comes from the Latin name Patricius and means nobleman. Patrick Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer and was most loved for his performance in Dirty Dancing and The City of Joy.
82. Theo:
It is found in both the English and Dutch cultures and is used as a shorter version of the names Theodore or Theobald. Theo Walcott is a professional English footballer.
83. Thomas:
Thomas is the Greek version of the name Taoma which means twin. Thomas Hardy was an English novelist and poet, some of his most famous works being Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and The Mayor of Casterbridge.
84. Wyatt:
It is an English origin name which means son. Wyatt Russell is an American actor.
85. Liam:
It is the Irish version of the German name William and means strong protector. Liam Helmsworth is an Australian actor.
86. Mason:
The name comes from an English last name which means stoneworker.
87. Jacob:
It is one of the most popular baby boy names in the US and also has Biblical references. It means supplanter. Jacob Young is an American actor.
88. Ethan:
The Hebrew name means solid and enduring. Ethan Hawke is an American actor and director.
89. Michael:
It comes from Hebrew and means the one who is like God. Michael Jackson remains one of the most popular entertainers of all time.
90. Aiden:
The Irish name means little fire. Irish actor Aiden Turner shares the name.
91. Logan:
The name comes from the Scottish last name and means hollow. American actor Logan Lerman is best known for his appearance in the Percy Jackson movies.
92. Matthew:
It is the English version of the Greek form of the Hebrew name Mattityahu and means gift of Yahweh. Matthew McConaughey is an American actor.
93. Jackson:
The name is found in the American, Scottish as well as in English culture. It means God has shown favor and the son of Jack. Jackson Pollock was an American painter.
94. David:
It comes from the Hebrew name Dawid and means beloved. David Keller was a popular Irish actor.
95. Jaden:
The Hebrew origin name means Jehovah has heard. Will Smith’s son is named Jaden Smith.
96. Carter:
It is a Gaelic origin name which means to transport the goods by cart.
97. Dylan:
The name comes from Welsh mythology and means great. Dylan Walsh is an American actor.
98. Henry:
It has both German as well as English origins and means the ruler of the home. British actor Henry Cavill shares the name.
99. Andrew:
It is the English version of the Greek name Andreas and means masculine or manly. American musician Andrew Wyatt shares the name.
100. Caleb:
It is a Hebrew origin name and means faithful.
101. Nathan:
The name comes from the Hebrew culture and means god has given. Nathan Lane is an American actor, comedian and writer.
102. Hunter:
It was originally an English last name and means the one who hunts. Hunter Parrish is an American singer and actor.
103. Landon:
It is derived from an Old English name which means long hill. Landon Carter was a character in the book A Walk To Remember.
104. Grayson:
The name which comes from an English origin means the son of the steward. Grayson Perry is a popular English artist.
105. Aaron:
It comes from the Hebrew culture and means exalted. Aaron Taylor Johnson is an English actor.
106. Eli:
Yet another Hebrew origin name, it means ascended from god. Eli Roth is an American actor.
107. Connor:
It is an Irish name which means the strong willed. Connor Walsh is one of the main characters in the popular series How To Get Away With Murder.
108. Colton:
The name comes from the English culture and means from the dark town or from coal. Colton Burpo’s real life story is told in the book Heaven Is For Real.
109. Jordan:
The Hebrew name comes from the river that passes between Jordan and Israel. It means to descend. Jordan Clarkson is a Filipino American basketball player.
110. Brayden:
The Irish origin name means a broad hillside.
111. Robert:
It originates from the Germanic name Hrodebert which means bright fame. Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor while Robert Pattinson is an English actor, both immensely popular.
112. Lincoln:
The name originated in an English city and means a town by the pool. Abraham Lincoln was the 16thPresident of the United States.
113. Evan:
It is a Welsh name which means young. It originates from the Hebrew word John, which means god has been gracious.
114. Austin:
The name has English origins and came into being during the Middle Ages. It was derived from the Latin name Augustine.
115. Gavin:
The name is thought to have originated in Welsh culture and was developed from the word Gawain. It means white hawk. Gavin Rossdale is an English actor and musician.
116. Nolan:
It originated from an Irish last name which originally meant to shout. American actor Nolan North shares the name.
117. Parker:
The name comes from Old French, and means keeper of the park.
118. Adam:
In the Old Testament, god created Adam (man) from the earth. Adam Levine and Adam Sandler are American singer and actor respectively.
119. Kevin:
It is an English variation of the Irish name Caoimhin, which means handsome and birth. English cricketer Kevin Pietersen and American actors Kevin Hart and Kevin Spacey share the name.
120. Jose:
The Biblical name is found in various cultures such as American (means the one who pardons), Portuguese (may god increase) and Spanish (may god increase).
121. Tyler:
It is derived from an English last name which means tiler of roofs. Tyler Perry is an American actor and performer.
122. Brandon:
The name comes from an Old English last name which means a hill covered with broom. Brandon Sutter is a Canadian American ice hockey player.
123. Asher:
It is a Hebrew name which means blessed.
124. Ayden:
The name comes from both Irish and American descent and means little fire.
125. Carson:
It was originally a Middle English last name which meant the son of Carr.
126. Leo:
The Latin origin name means lion. It is also a zodiac sign. Leo Tolstoy is one of the most renowned authors of all time.
127. Ezra:
It is a Hebrew name which means a helper. The name is shared by American singer and actor Ezra Miller.
128. Sawyer:
The name comes from the English culture and means the one who saws wood. Sawyer was a popular fictional character on the hit series Lost.
129. Ryder:
It was originally a British last name which meant messenger or cavalryman.
130. Alvin:
The name originates in the Old English language and means the one who is a friend of elves. It was the name of the main chipmunks in the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks.
131. Tristan:
The French name originates from the Celtic culture. It means tumult. Tristan Evans is a band member of the British pop rock band The Vamps.
132. Camden:
The name is found in various cultures, such as English, Scottish, American and Gaelic. It means a winding valley.
133. Brody:
It is a Gaelic name which means ‘ditch.’
134. Micah:
The Biblical name means humble. It is present in the Old Testament.
135 Vincent:
It comes from the Latin name Vincentius, which means to conquer. Vincent Van Gogh is one of the greatest painters of all time.
136. Maxwell:
The name was originally a Scottish last name which means stream. Maxwell is an American singer and songwriter.
137. Weston:
The English origin name means from the western town.
138. Axel:
Axel is a Hebrew name which means father of peace. Axel Witsel is a Belgian footballer.
139. Brantley:
The Teutonic name means the one who is fiery. Brantley Gilbert is an American country rock musician.
140. Abel:
It is a Hebrew culture name which means a son. In the Biblical reference, Abel was the son of Adam and Eve.
141. Wesley:
The name comes from the Old English culture and means west meadow. Wesley Crusher is a fictional character in the popular series Star Trek.
142. Silas:
It is a name from the Latin culture and means god of the trees and forest. Silas Marner is a popular classic by George Eliot.
143. Eric:
The name that comes from the Nordic culture was derived from the words ei, which means ever always, and rikr, which means ruler. It means ruler. Eric Clapton is an English musician.
144. Ivaan:
In the Russian language, Ivaan means a gift from god.
145. Ashton:
The Old English last name means the ash tree town. Ashton Kutcher is an American actor.
Three Syllable Boy Names
Here is a compilation of names for baby boys, all of which contain three syllables:
146. Anthony:
The name comes from Latin culture and means highly praiseworthy. Anthony Bourdain is one of the most well-known chefs in the world.
147. Daniel:
The name was originally a Hebrew last name and means God is my judge. English actor Daniel Craig shares the name.
Quick fact
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to fame at 12 years of age playing the famous character of Harry Potter.
148. William:
The German name means a resolute protector and one with strong will. England’s Prince William shares the name.
149. Samuel:
It is a name that originates in Hebrew culture and means heard by god. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have named their son Samuel.
150. Theodore:
It comes from Greek culture and means given by god. Theodore was one of the chipmunks in the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks.
151. Benjamin:
The name comes from the Hebrew culture and means son of my right hand. One of the founding fathers of the United States was Benjamin Franklin.
152. Dominic:
It is a Latin name which means of the lord. English actor Dominic Cooper shares the name.
153. Elias:
The name from the Greek culture means Jehovah is god. Elias Koteas is a Canadian film and television personality.
154. Julian:
The Latin name means Jove’s child. It is another variation of the name Julius.
155. Jeremy:
Hebrew origin name Jeremy means may Jehovah exalt. American actor Jeremy Piven is hugely popular for his portrayal of the character Ari Gold in the hit series Entourage.
156. Malachi:
It comes from the Hebrew culture and means my angel or my messenger. Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament.
157. Gabriel:
The Hebrew origin name means god is my strong man. Gabriel Macht is an American actor.
158. Oliver:
The name comes from French culture and means the olive tree. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens is one of the most popular classics of all times.
159. Ricardo:
It is the Spanish and Portuguese version of the name Richard. The name means a powerful and great leader.
160. Zachary:
It comes from the Hebrew culture and means the one remembered by god. Zachary Quinto is an American actor.
161. Elijah:
The name originates in Hebrew culture and means my god is Yahweh. Popular American actor Elijah Wood shares the name.
162. Christopher:
The Greek name means the carrier of Christ. Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is a well-known name.
163. Joshua:
The name means Yahweh is salvation and originates in the Hebrew culture.
164. Julian:
The Latin name means Jove’s child. The name is shared by English actor Julian Morris.
165. Jonathan:
It is another Hebrew origin name which means Yahweh has given. Welsh actor Jonathan Price shares the name.
166. Cameron:
The Scottish name means one with a crooked nose.
167. Isaiah:
The name means Yahweh is salvation and it comes from the Hebrew culture.
168. Josiah:
It is a Biblical name which is also present in Hebrew culture. The name means Jehovah has healed.
169. Damian:
Popular in the Greek language, it means the one who tames. Bob Marley’s youngest son is named Damian.
170. Harrison:
The name comes from an English last name which means the son of Harry. Harrison Ford is an American actor.
171. Diego:
It is a Spanish origin name which means a famous bearer. Diego Maradona of Argentina is one of the most popular names in the football world, while Diego Rivera is a famous Mexican artist.
172. Everett:
Taken from the original English last name, it means Everett’s son.
173. Jameson:
Coming from the English culture, it means supplanter.
174. Timothy:
It is the English version of the Greek name Timotheos and means to honor. Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is an English actor, and especially famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes.
175. Emmanuel:
It is a Hebrew name and means God is with us.
176. Barnaby:
The English name means the son of comfort.
177. Ellery:
It is another English name which means happy and full of joy.
178. Gideon:
The name that comes from the Hebrew culture means destroyer. Gideon Emmery is an English musician and actor.
179. Maverick:
It is an American name which means one who is independent.
180. Avery:
The name was derived from the English last name and is a variation of the Old French name Alfred. It means counsel.
181. Lorenzo:
In Spanish culture, the name means a place full of laurel trees. It was the name of a character in the Shakespearean play ‘The Merchant of Venice.’
182. Eduardo:
The English name means a wealthy guardian. Eduardo Saverin is one of the co-founders of Facebook.
183. Amari:
It originates from the Sanskrit language and means the one who is immortal. Amari Cooper is an American footballer.
184. Fernando:
The name is an Iberian name which is similar to the Germanic name Ferdinand. It means adventurous. Fernando Alonso is a Spanish Formula One racer.
185. Donovan:
It was originally an Irish last name and means the one who is dark brown in color.
186. Remington:
The American name means one who is from a raven farm. Remington Steele is an American television series.
187. Gregory:
The name comes from the Latin Gregorius which means watchful. Gregory David Roberts is the internationally acclaimed author of Shantaram.
188. Leander:
The Greek name is popular in the culture’s mythological tales and means the lion man. Indian tennis player Leander Paes is one of the best doubles and mixed doubles players in the world.
189. Leopold:
The originally Germanic name is a combination of two words, leo, which means lion and liut, which means people. It means bold.
190. Nicholson:
It is an English origin name and means the son of Nicholas.
191. Orlando:
The name that comes from Spanish origins means a famous land. English actor Orlando Bloom shares the name.
192. Ozias:
It is a Biblical name which means strength from the lord.
193. Placido:
Coming from Italian culture, it means quiet.
Five Syllable Boy Names
Here is a compilation of names for baby boys, all of which contain five syllables:
194. Emiliano:
It was an old Roman family name which means trying to excel. Emiliano Viviano is an Italian footballer.
195. Maximilian:
It comes from the Roman name Maximilianus, which was again derived from Maximus. It means the greatest.
196. Alexavier:
The name comes from Greek culture and means the defender of mankind.
197. Michelangelo:
It is a combination of the Hebrew name Michael, meaning he who resembled god, and the Greek name Angelo, which means messenger.Together, the name means the messenger of god. Michelangelo was an Italian artist and one of the greatest sculptors of all times.
198. Sebastiano:
The Italian origin name means the one who is revered. It is also popular in the Spanish and Greek language.
199. Feliciano:
It is originally a derivative of the name Felix and is common in the Spanish, Italian as well as Portuguese cultures. It means happy.
200. Victoriano:
It is a Spanish origin name which means the one who is a victor.
1. Are there cultural considerations when choosing a syllable boy name?
Parents may consider the name’s religious significance and gender appropriateness. You may also check if the name has different meanings in different languages and if it is easy to pronounce universally.
2. Is choosing a syllable boy name appropriate simply because it is trendy or fashionable?
Choosing a name is the parents’ personal choice. They may consider a syllable name if they wish to have a trendy or fashionable name for their boy. However, if they do not wish to pick one, they are free to do so and may consider any other name of their choice.
Naming a child can be exciting as it is one of the first duties of a parent, and children carry it with them throughout their lives. Some parents prefer giving a small name to their child, while others prefer a longer name. You can pick a cool name for your son from this elaborate list of one, two, three, and five-syllable boy names. Find a peculiar name for your boy that makes him stand out from the rest wherever he goes.
Infographic: Single And Multi Syllable Baby Boy Names
Looking for names for your baby boy with a specific number of syllables but unsure where to find a compact list of them? Well, we are here to help you with that. The infographic below presents names for your baby boy with meanings. Read on!
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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Hunting for good English boy names? We’ve searched high and low for the best English male names ‒ sure to be your cup of tea.
Choosing the perfect name for your little one can be a daunting task.
Whether you’re looking for something timeless, cool, or something with a bit of a twist, you’re sure to find one that’s your cup of tea…
From classic English names with centuries of history, to modern and unique names, we’ve got something for everyone.
So here are the best traditional and cool English boy names and their meanings to help you find just the right fit for your little gentleman.
In this article: 📝
- What is a good English name for a boy?
- What is a very British boy name?
- Cool English boy names
- Boy names after English places
- What are English old-fashioned boy names?
- What are some unique British boy names?
What is a good English name for a boy?
English names are all over the world.
Yet, the best place to find English names for boys? England, of course.
The home of the Queen, afternoon tea, and those big red buses.
Here are the most popular English baby boy names as of 2021 (2022 data isn’t ready quite yet, so we have to practice some of that English patience we’ve heard so much about.
While they’re not all traditionally English, they’re certainly popular around the world!
- Noah: He’s made a big comeback in recent years. Of course, it’s a name that originates in the Bible – so it isn’t strictly English.
- George: Could you get more English? George comes from the Greek word for “farmer”, actually, but it is a long favorite in the UK.
- Oliver: A name that’s been the most popular in England and Wales for years. It actually means “olive tree planter”, but it does make for a beautiful English male name.
- Muhammad: Muhammad means “praised”. Another name that has become much more popular in England recently.
- Arthur: An English male name that traces its roots to the fabled king. It has a real nobility to it.
- Leo: From the Latin word for “lion”, Leo has become one of the coolest English names in recent years.
- Harry: From an ancient king to perhaps the world’s most famous prince. A beautiful name – and oh-so British.
- Oscar: A name of Irish origin, Oscar means “deer friend”. These days, it has a very classy ring to it.
- Henry: For the ruler of the house ‒ that’s just what it means, in Old German.
- Theodore: Seriously, how cute is Theo as a nickname? Adore. Plus, Theodore means “gift from God” in Greek, because your little dude is the best kind of present.
What is a very British boy name?
Let’s stick with the more popular English boy names ‒ here are the rest of the top 100 in England as of 2021:
- Freddie: Meaning “peaceful ruler” in German.
- Jack: Meaning “God is gracious” in English.
- Charlie: Meaning “free man” in German. Perhaps your little one will have an independent streak when he grows up?
- Theo: Meaning “gift from God” in Greek.
- Alfie: Meaning “elf wisdom” in Old English.
- Jacob: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
- Thomas: Meaning “twin” in Hebrew.
- Finley: Meaning “fair-haired courageous one” in Irish.
- Arlo: Meaning “fortified hill” in Old English.
- William: Meaning “resolute protector” in English.
- Lucas: Meaning “light” in Latin.
- Roman: Meaning “from Rome” in Latin.
- Isaac: Meaning “one who laughs” in Hebrew.
- Teddy: Meaning “gift from God” in Greek.
- Tommy: Meaning “twin” in Hebrew.
- Alexander: Meaning “defender of men” in Greek.
- Edward: Meaning “wealthy protector” in Old English.
- James: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
- Luca: Meaning “light” in Latin.
- Joshua: Meaning “God is salvation” in Hebrew.
- Albie: Meaning “white” in Latin.
- Mohammed: Meaning “praiseworthy” in Arabic.
- Max: Meaning “greatest” in Latin.
- Elijah: Meaning “Yahweh is my God” in Hebrew.
- Reuben: Meaning “behold, a son” in Hebrew.
- Sebastian: Meaning “venerable” in Latin.
- Jude: Meaning “praised” in Greek.
- Mason: Meaning “stoneworker” in English.
- Rory: Meaning “red king” in Gaelic.
- Louie: Meaning “famous warrior” in French.
- Benjamin: Meaning “son of the right hand” in Hebrew.
- Ethan: Meaning “enduring” in Hebrew.
- Adam: Meaning “son of the earth” in Hebrew.
- Hugo: Meaning “intellectual” in German.
- Joseph: Meaning “God will give” in Hebrew.
- Reggie: Meaning “king” in Latin.
- Ronnie: Meaning “ruler” in Norse.
- Louis: Meaning “famous warrior” in French.
- Harrison: Meaning “son of Harry” in English.
- Ezra: Meaning “helpful” in Hebrew.
- Jaxon: Meaning “son of Jack” in English.
- Logan: Meaning “hollow” in Scottish.
- Daniel: Meaning “God is my judge” in Hebrew.
- Zachary: Meaning “God remembers” in Hebrew.
- Samuel: Meaning “God has heard” in Hebrew.
- Albert: Meaning “noble, bright, and famous” in German.
- Dylan: Meaning “son of the sea” in Welsh.
- Hudson: Meaning “son of Hugh” in English.
- Frederick: Meaning “peaceful ruler” in German.
- Hunter: Pretty self-explanatory!
- David: Meaning “beloved” in Hebrew.
- Frankie: Meaning “free man” in German.
- Jesse: Meaning “God exists” in Dutch.
- Toby: Meaning “God is good” in Hebrew.
- Rowan: Meaning “red-haired” in English.
- Grayson: Meaning “son of the gray-haired one” in English.
- Oakley: Meaning “oak forest” in Old English.
- Felix: Meaning “lucky” in Latin.
- Riley: Meaning “valiant” in Gaelic.
- Carter: Meaning “cart driver” in English.
- Bobby: Meaning “bright fame” in German.
- Finn: Meaning “fair” in Irish.
- Alfred: Meaning “elf counsel” in German.
- Michael: Meaning “who is like God” in Hebrew.
- Blake: Meaning “dark or black” in Old English.
- Gabriel: Meaning “man of God” in Hebrew.
- Jasper: Meaning “treasurer” in Persian.
- Mohammad: Meaning “praiseworthy” in Arabic.
- Sonny: Meaning “son” in English.
- Stanley: Meaning “stony meadow” in Old English.
- Otis: Meaning “wealth” in Norse.
- Caleb: Meaning “faithful” in Hebrew.
- Milo: Meaning “dear” in Slavic.
- Ralph: Meaning “wolf-counsel” in Old English.
- Liam: Meaning “resolute protector” in Irish.
- Chester: Meaning “walled town” in Latin.
- Elliot: Meaning “the Lord is my God” in Hebrew.
- Ellis: Meaning “kind” in Welsh.
- Yusuf: Meaning “God increases” in Hebrew.
- Charles: Meaning “free man” in German ‒ a kingly name.
- Rupert: Meaning “fame bright” in German.
- Kai: Meaning “sea” in Hawaiian.
- Harvey: Meaning “battle worthy” in Celtic.
- Brody: Meaning “ditch” in Irish.
- Nathan: Meaning “gift from God” in Hebrew.
- Jackson: Meaning “son of Jack” in English.
- Leon: Meaning “lion” in Greek.
- Ibrahim: Meaning “father of many” in Arabic.
- Tobias: Meaning “God is good” in Hebrew.
- Archie: Usually a nickname for Archibald, Archie means “genuine” and “bold” ‒ for the baby boy who’s sure to go far.
Cool English boy names
These good boy names have fallen out of popularity a little, but they’re still in the top 1,000:
- Dean: Meaning “valley” in Old English.
- Harley: Meaning “hare’s meadow” in Old English.
- Jake: Meaning “supplanter” in Hebrew.
- Jayden: Meaning “God will judge” in Hebrew.
- Jenson: Meaning “son of Jens” in Norse.
- Kane: Meaning “little battler” in Irish.
- Luke: Meaning “light-giving” in Latin.
- Matthew: Meaning “gift of God” in Hebrew.
- Ollie: Meaning “olive tree” Latin.
- Philip: Meaning “horse friend” in Greek.
- Ryan: Meaning “little king” in Irish.
Boy names after English places
- Albury
- Alton
- Arun
- Ashford
- Ashton
- Bodmin
- Bolton
- Bradford
- Brent
- Bristol
- Brixham
- Bromley
- Broxtowe
- Bude
- Burton
- Buxton
- Camden
- Carlisle
- Carlton
- Crewe
- Croydon
- Derby
- Devon
- Dudley
- Easton
- Eldon
- Ely
- Fowey
- Hamilton
- Harlow
- Harrow
- Hastings
- Helston
- Kendal
- Kensington
- Kent
- Keswick (Pronounced kes-ik)
- Kingston
- Leicester (Pronounced lester)
- Lewes
- Leyton or Leighton
- Lincoln
- London
- Lynton
- Marlow
- Matlock
- Merton
- Morpeth
- Penryn
- Penzance
- Preston
- Ramsey
- Romsey
- Rye
- Ryde
- Sheldon
- Trent
- Truro
- Walton
- Warwick
- York
What are English old-fashioned boy names?
Perhaps you’re looking for something a little more classic.
If that’s you, some ancient English names might be exactly what you need.
Here are 13 Old English names of Anglo-Saxon origin:
- Aethelred: One of the great kings of Wessex. For some bonus names: his dad was Aethelwulf and his brother Aethelbert, while his sons were known as Aethelwold and Aethelhelm. Very Ye Olde English, but it does give you some more options to mull over.
- Cenric: It’s the old form of Kendrick, meaning something like “bold ruler”. You don’t get a more classic English name.
- Cuthbert: Meaning “brilliant, bright, or famous”, Cuthbert had a resurgence in the 19th century. It’s not so common today, but perhaps it should be.
- Cynebald: Another ancient English name, it means “royal and bold”.
- Dunstan: It means, simply, “stony hill”, but it has an elegant ring to it.
- Edgar: It’s fallen out of use a little, but we think it’s really got something!
- Edmund: Edmund means “prosperous protector”. A great alternative to Edward.
- Godric: “Good ruler”, a noble name straight out of the Middle Ages.
- Godwin: This has the lovely meaning: “good friend”.
- Osmund: Of Scandinavian root, a noble name combining the words for “God” and “protection”.
- Oswald: More of a surname these days, it means “divine power”. Like the other Old English names, it has a real strength to it.
- Wulfric: If nature names like Wolf and Bear aren’t your thing, you can go for a more classic English name: Wulfric.
- Wynnstan or Wynstan: It means “joy stone” – and is actually an alternative spelling for Winston.
What are some unique British boy names?
Meanwhile, if you wanted something a little more recent, but still with a classic resonance, you could try one of these names straight out of the 19th century.
Yep, people really were called Lancelot – and, nope, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t choose that name for your little one now, for something a bit more unique:
- Absalom: Meaning “father of peace” in Hebrew.
- Amos: Meaning “carried by God” in Hebrew.
- Ansell: Meaning “God’s protection” in Old English.
- Archibald: Meaning “genuine and brave” in German.
- Bartholomew: Meaning “son of furrows” in Aramaic.
- Clement: Meaning “merciful” in Latin.
- Cornelius: Meaning “horn” in Latin.
- Crispin: Meaning “curly-haired” in Latin.
- Dennis: Meaning “follower of Dionysus” in Greek mythology.
- Gideon: Meaning “great destroyer” in Hebrew.
- Horatio: Meaning “timekeeper” in Latin.
- Humphrey: Meaning “peaceful warrior” in Old German.
- Isaiah: Meaning “God is salvation” in Hebrew.
- Jeremiah: Meaning “God will raise” in Hebrew.
- Jonas: Meaning “dove” in Hebrew.
- Josiah: Meaning “God has healed” in Hebrew.
- Lancelot: Meaning “servant” in French.
- Lazarus: Meaning “God has helped” in Hebrew.
- Marcus: Meaning “dedicated to Mars” in Latin.
- Owen: Meaning “youthful” in Irish and Welsh.
- Peregrine: Meaning “traveler” in English.
- Russell: Meaning “red-haired” in Norse.
- Seth: Meaning “appointed” in Hebrew.
- Silvester: Meaning “wild” in Latin.
- Theoderick: Meaning “powerful ruler of the people” in Old German.
- Tristan: Meaning “sad” in Welsh.
- Tristram: Meaning “noise” in Welsh.
Found an English boy’s name (or two) you like? We sure hope so!
And if not, why not ask the mamas of Peanut?
Psst… If you’re wondering what are cool names for a boy?
You can find loads of ideas in our list of cool baby boy names.
Thank us later!