Beautiful British names. English name for a girl - which one do you like? Vanessa – Vanessa

We often like to imagine what our name would be in English. For example, Elena - Helen, Evgeniy - Eugene, Mikhail - Michael, etc. English names are very different from ours. Sometimes it’s even difficult to understand the male or female name in front of you.

If we talk about names in the USA and Great Britain, they consist of personal name(personal name, first name, given name) and surnames(surname, last name, family name). The personal name is given at birth, and the surname is inherited as a common name for the family. The child may also be given a middle or middle name. This is an optional name element. The second name can be given in honor of a saint, relative, family friend, famous person etc. In writing, the middle name is usually omitted or shortened to an initial.

If the son's name is exactly the same as the father's name, the word "Junior" (junior) can be added to the son's name and "Senior" (senior) to the father's name to make it easier to distinguish between them.

Popular English female names

Popular English male names

Popular English surnames

Bearers of the surnames Jones (Jones), Smith (Smith), Williams (Williams), Black (Black), Wilson (Wilson) according to statistics, more than a million. Below is a list of others popular surnames in the UK and USA.

There has always been a fashion for foreign names, the list of women's ones is especially rich. In modern society there is a popularization of English names.

Scientists have conducted research to determine the origin of the name and its meaning. Originally in English main role played a person's nickname, reflecting character traits or abilities. Formation in this case came from nouns or adjectives.

The conquest of Britain by the Vikings led to a change in the situation: there was a sharp change from the original English variants to the Norman ones. In modern society, a small part of the population bears old English names Foggy Albion.

During the 16th century, in the wake of the spread of the religious movement, names taken from the Bible became popular.

Among them:

• Mary, which is a derivative of Mary;
• Anna, translated as “grace,” which belonged to the wife of the prophet Samuel;
• Maryann, formed from the merger of Anne and Mary;
• Sarah or mistress. That was the name of Abraham's wife.

The next revolution that led to the emergence of innovations in the naming of children in English society was the appearance of printed materials. Some mothers began to choose idols for girls among the heroines of works by masters of literature.

Thus, the following came into use: Jessica, Sylvia, Ophelia, Stella, Julia, Juliet, Jessica, Viola.

Also, the spread of literary masterpieces revived ancient beautiful names: Anita, Jacqueline, Amber, Angelina, Daisy, Michelle and Ruby.

Top modern English names

In modern society, it is accepted that a child can be named so that it sounds euphonious. It is not at all necessary that the prototype be a character or a historical figure.

Some are shaped in such a way that a girl could acquire personality traits or the name would begin to determine future fate.

Most Popular English options with the meaning are given in the table:

Origins in modern times

Fashion for unusual and interesting names akin to clothing fashion. She is changeable. During different periods There is a change in popular female or male names.

Both the original form and a modern interpretation are used. Today, according to statistics provided by the UK National Statistics Service, the top three are occupied by Olivia, Emma and Sophie.

It is not only literature that influences popularity. Modern society tends to create idols, which become heroes of popular films or TV series.

Among the names that were popular in 2014, Arya, the title character of the cult series “Game of Thrones,” was in 24th place in the compiled ranking. Gradually others appeared modern options who came from this series - Sansa, Brienne, Catelyn, Daenerys.

Another literary work, which turned into a cult serial film - this is Twilight. Since 2008, Bella or Isabella have been on the list of the most popular on the shores of Foggy Albion.

You can't ignore Potter. Old English names included Hermione in their list, which again gained popularity after the release of not a book, but a series of films about a young wizard.

But not only works can influence popularity. Also, the number of uses of a particular variant may be influenced by the success of the living host. In England at one time it was very popular to name girls Margaret, as the Prime Minister.

Cute and unusual, short and lengthy - history knows many different names. Some show business stars prefer to stand out from the crowd and name their children very unusually.

Bruce Willis named his children after his favorite horses, Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple, which means “apple.” No one can deny the fact that a name can have an impact on character. It’s not for nothing that Captain Vrungel said, “Whatever you call the yacht, that’s how it will sail.”

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Women's full names in England have their own distinctive feature. They consist of three parts, two of which are written with a hyphen, and surnames. The first name is the main one. The second is the average. The third is the surname. The main thing is the first name; it is this name, or a diminutive form of it, that a girl is called in life. The list of English female names is constantly growing, because any word can become a name, even the surname of a relative or a celebrity.

History of the origin of the English name

Initially, English names, like those of all other peoples, were a common nickname, consisting of two words - a noun and an adjective. They reflected the character of a person, his main features and characteristics. Further development led to the fact that people began to assign names (nicknames) to girls born that reflect the most desirable qualities that would predetermine and influence their fate.

Original English female names

For England itself, truly English names are rare. Of the total, they occupy less than 10%. But this is not only in England. In any Christian country, the basis is made up of names borrowed from the Bible, that is, they have Jewish, Latin or Greek roots. List of English female names having English origin:

• Mildred - Mildred. Tender and strong.
• Alice - Alice. Translated it means "noble class".
• Alfreda - Alfreda. Wisdom, mind.
• Yvonne - Yvonne. Archer.
• Eloise - Eloise. A daughter close to God.

Nevertheless, some Britons remain true to their traditions and name their daughters. The conquest of England by the Vikings reduced the number of English names. Instead, the Normans appeared. Currently, in Britain, not all women's names are English; the list is constantly growing due to famous foreigners, after whom democratic Britons name their babies.

Names from Christian calendars, the Bible

The spread of Christianity in England greatly influenced women's names. At baptism, babies were named after saints and characters in the Bible. People reinterpreted these words in their own way, and new English female names began to appear. A list of them is given below:

• Mary - Mary. Serene. Derived from Jewish name Maria. This was the name of the mother of the Lord Jesus.
• Ann - Ann. Mercy, Grace. This name was the name of the mother of the prophet Samuel.
• Maryanne - Maryanne. Serene grace. This name combined two - Mary and Anne.
• Sarah - Sarah. Name Means "possessing power, princess."
• Sophia - Sophie. Wisdom. Arrived at English language from Christianity.
• Katherine - Katherine. Purity. The name comes from Christianity.
• Eva - Eva. Life. It came from the Bible. That was the name of the ancestor of people.
• Agnes - Agnes. Innocent, immaculate. The name comes from Christianity.
• Susanna - Suzanne. Little lily.
• Judyt - Judith. Glorification. Biblical name.
• Joan - Joan. A gift from a merciful God.

A large number of names that are still used today owe their appearance to Protestants and Puritans, who opposed themselves to the Anglican Church and gave their children new ones, different from familiar names. They were mostly of a rather strange nature, consisting of sentences. For example, The-Work-of-God Farmer, which means God's Work Farmer. But life defeated religious fanaticism. Simple people gave their daughters beautiful and new names:

• Daniel - Daniel. God is my judge.
• Sarah - Sarah. Bossy.
• Susan - Susan. Lily.
• Hannah - Hannah. Derived from the name Anna. Grace. Grace.
• Dinah - Dina. Derived from Diana. Divine.
• Tamar - Tamara. Date palm.

The modern list of English female names that appeared in Puritan families is quite significant. Many representatives of this movement were forced to hide and went to Australia or North America.

American names

America was settled by people from different countries. Mostly people from the British Empire: British, Scots and Irish. Most of them were commoners and criminals fleeing persecution in their homeland. It was they who brought here the shortened form of names, which took root well and gained popularity. The list of English female names has been replenished with new ones, such as Ben, Ed, Mud, Mel, Dan, Meg, Ellie, Tina, Lina.

In addition to the residents of Britain, thousands of residents from all over Europe moved here, coming with their own traditions and names, which were partly remade by the English-speaking population in their own way.

The most popular American female names (list in English):

• Mary - Mary. Derived from Mary. Serene.
• Patricia - Patricia. Noble.
• Linda - Linda. Beautiful.
• Barbara - Barbara. Foreigner.
• Elizabeth - Elizabeth. God is my oath.
• Jennifer - Jennifer. Enchantress.
• Maria - Maria. Serene.
• Susan - Suzanne. Little Lily.
• Margaret - Margaret. Pearl.
• Dorothy - Dorothy. A gift from the gods.
• Nancy - Nancy. Grace.
• Karen - Karen. Generous.
• Betty - Betty. Oath to the Gods.
• Helen - Helen. Sunbeam.
• Sandra - Sandra. Male protector.
• Carol - Carol. Derived from Caroline - princess.
• Ruth - Ruth. Friendship.
• Sharon - Sharon. Princess, plain.

English Catholics, Protestants, and Puritans brought their own rules by which names were given to America. They, just like in England, consist of three parts - the main, middle and surname. The British borrowed many American names.

New female names

In the 18th century, it appeared in England new tradition give children a middle (middle) name. This brought back to life the Old English and gothic names, such as Matilda, Diana, Emma. New beautiful English female names have also appeared. Their list was supplemented by famous English writers. Jonathan Swift, William Shakespeare and others gave English women the following names:

• Stella - Stella. Star.
• Vanessa - Vanessa. Butterfly.
• Juliet - Juliet. Born in July.
• Ophelia - Ophelia. Exalted.
• Viola - Viola. Violet.
• Silvia - Silvia. Lesnaya.
• Julia - Julia. Girl with soft hair.
• Clara - Clara. Clear. Light.
• Pamela - Pamela. Wanderer. Pilgrim.
• Wendy - Wendy. Girlfriend.
• Candida - Candida. Clean. White.
• Clarinda - Clarinda. Light. Purity.
• Belinda - Belinda. Beautiful.
• Fleur - Fleur. Flower. Blooming.
• Sybil - Sybil. Prophetess. Oracle.

Beautiful female names

Every parent wants, first of all, for their child to be healthy and beautiful. The British choose euphonious and gentle names for their newborn daughters. They hope that the girl will have the character traits that the name denotes. Therefore, names are chosen that are sonorous and meaningful. If there is no such name, then the child can be called any word you like. The legislation allows this, which is why new beautiful English female names are appearing. The list is given below:

• Agata - Agata. Kind, good.
• Adelaida - Adelaide. Noble.
• Beatrice - Beatrice. Blessed.
• Britney - Britney. Little Britain.
• Valery - Valerie. Strong, brave.
• Veronica - Veronica. The one that brings victory.
• Gloria - Gloria. Glory.
• Camilla - Camilla. Worthy of serving the gods.
• Caroline - Caroline. Princess.
• Melissa - Melissa. Honey.
• Miranda - Miranda. Amazing.
• Rebecca - Rebecca. Trap.
• Sabrina - Sabrina. Noble.

English surnames

It so happened historically that the personal name is primary, and the surname, which denotes belonging to the clan, family, is secondary. English women's names and surnames are formed in the same way. List of the most popular and frequently occurring surnames:

• Anderson - Anderson.
• Baker - Baker.
• Brown - Brown.
• Carter - Carter.
• Clark - Clark.
• Cooper - Cooper.
• Harrison - Harrison.
• Jackson - Jackson.
• James - James.
• Johnson - Johnson.
• King - King.
• Lee - Lee.
• Martin - Martin.
• Morgan - Morgan.
• Parker - Parker.
• Patterson - Patterson.
• Richardson - Richardson.
• Smith - Smith.
• Spencer - Spencer.
• Taylor - Taylor.
• Wilson - Wilson.
• Young - Young.

For the most part, like most peoples, they came from personal names. In some cases they do not undergo any changes - Allen, Baldwin, Cecil, Dennis. Others are associated with the names of the gods and Teutonic mythology - Godwin, Goodiers, Godyears. The part is derived from the Scandinavian names - Swain, Thurston, Thurlow.

Some surnames consist of a personal name, to which the ending - son is added, which meant “son of such and such”: Thompson, Abbotson, Swainson. Residents of Scotland use the prefix - Mac, which also means "son". For example, MacDonald - “son of Donald”, MacGregor - “son of Gregor”.

Some surnames have a professional connotation, that is, Stuart - “royal seneschal”, Pottinger - “cook who cooks the royal soup”. Surnames, like given names, can be given in honor of the place of residence; these can be the names of counties, countries, cities.

The variety of English female names and surnames will not leave anyone indifferent. They fascinate with their national flavor and arouse genuine interest with their long list.

Let's try to figure out how correctly they sound, what the construction is based on, and what is included in the semantic context at the birth of a child.

English names for girls

The girl's English name given at birth consists of three semantic parts:

• A celebrity or famous ancestor.
• Pedigree surname or belonging to a celebrity.
• Carrying a specific meaning or indicating a parent.

To understand how the English name was created, let's dive into history.

Before the conquest of England by the Normans, it was customary to name girls after the biblical characters of the same name, reinterpreted in the English manner.

For example:

• Mary – comes from Mary (serenity).
• Anna is the mother of Samuel, the famous biblical prophet (of grace).
• Marianne – joins the two previous names together.
• Sarah - this was the name of Abraham's wife (mistress) and others.

But with the arrival of the Normans, a corresponding component appeared in English names, which subsequently supplanted the original roots.

IN modern world it carries a semantic meaning that is not the same as before: the child is named not in someone’s honor, but with a word designed to define his future life.

The second name is most often given in honor of jewelry, favorite flowers and simply liked objects:

• Esmerelda - emerald (translation from Spanish).
• Essi - designates one of the celestial bodies (stars).
• Ellen - given in honor of the Moon.
• Angie means angel.
• Elin is a bird.
• Floretta is a tiny flower.
• Elanor - the light of the stars.
• April - April.
• Sky is the sky.

Beautiful female surnames in English

If you pay attention to the meaning English surname, one can understand that it is given on behalf of someone or belonging to some profession.

Here are some examples:

• Smith translates as blacksmith.
• Jones - from the name John (John's daughter).
• Williams is William's daughter.
• Brown - brown.
• Taylor is a tailor.

Originally, until about the eleventh century, the English did not have surnames.

A person had only a name, to which was added a nickname, which determined the type of activity or individual characteristics of the owner.

During this period, the first population census in England was carried out, during which nicknames acquired official status, turning into surnames.

They were divided according to four criteria:

• Oanthroponymic - changing a name by means of a suffix.
• Place of residence.
• Type of activity.
• Descriptive.

In modern Britain, the following aristocratic surnames are especially popular:

• Stewart.
• York.
• Tudor.
• Lancaster.
• Hamilton.
• Norfolk.
• Marlborough.
• Manchester.
• Jackson and others.

Note! Full name English (including the surname) carries a huge semantic load.

It is capable, to one degree or another, of predetermining the future fate of its owner.

The tendency to assign surnames to girls in this way has also spread to the American continent. Residents of the United States are often given English names, since most immigrants came to this country from England.

However, there is much greater diversity here, since America is a multinational state, and the names of other peoples have been added to the English ones, in turn introducing an element of national flavor.

Rare English surnames

Every nation, the British are no exception, has rare, unpopular surnames.

They can be very short, carrying an abusive meaning, or vice versa - impossibly long, completely unpronounceable. Many people try to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

The longest surnames include up to one hundred and twenty letters. They contain from seven to ten or more names, which are often repeated.

Here are some examples:

• Tollmash-Tollmash de Orellana-Plantagenet-Tollmash-Tollmash.
• Francisca-Santa Lucia-Mantague-Stuart-Mackenzie-Wortley-Smith.
• Caroline-Louise-Maria-Jemima-Temple-Chandos-Nugent-Bringes-Grenville.

Such surnames cannot be pronounced in full, so most often only part of it is called - the first or last.

The single-part surname Featherstanehaugh is pronounced differently, sometimes shortened to Fanshawe.

Owners of such complex surnames have a hard time: everyone tries to address her in their own way, often distorting the correct pronunciation.

IN present century general acceleration - and are completely reduced to one syllable.

English names and surnames are now popular in Russia, but you should definitely think about their meaning.

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English female names are very popular not only in English speaking countries, but also all over the world. Some of them are used in their original form, some are transformed and adjusted to the norms specific language. But the meaning and origin of the name always remain the same.

If you are interested in English culture or are looking for beautiful and unusual name for your daughter, this article will allow you to gain a lot of useful information.

English female names and their meanings

A person’s name most directly influences his destiny. Therefore, it will be very useful to know what a specific name means before choosing it for yourself or giving it to your beloved child. The following list of English female names and their meanings will help you understand this issue:

It is noteworthy that very few of them have survived to this day. The vast majority were borrowed from other cultures: Hebrew, Ancient Greek, Celtic, Norman, etc. At that time, people received names that praised the forces of nature, gods and some human qualities.

Therefore, the meanings of names can be unusual and even ridiculous for modern man. For example, the name Rachel, which is popular today, means “lamb” or “little sheep.”

After Christianity came to Europe, the list of English names included the names of biblical characters (Sarah, Agnes). Many names are associated with a person's occupation (Bailey - sheriff's assistant; Abella - shepherdess). Sometimes a shortened version of the name becomes an independent unit, for example, Victoria - Vicky; Rebecca - Becky; Angelina - Angie.

Popular English female names

Name fashions come and go. Some are previously forgotten forever, and some return from time to time - often in their original form, but sometimes in a new interpretation.

According to the UK Office of National Statistics, the most popular female names became Olivia, Emma and Sophie.

The top 30 English female names are presented below:

Very often, fashion TV series or films influence the degree of popularity of a particular name.. For example, the name Arya, which is in 24th place in the ranking of popular female names in Great Britain in 2014, was named after one of the main characters popular series"Game of Thrones".

Also suddenly the names of other heroines of this series - Sansa, Brienne, Catelyn and Daenerys - began to be often used.

The name Isabella (Bella) was used extremely rarely until recently. New life it was given to him by the heroine of the Twilight saga, Bella Swan. The first part of the film was released in 2008, and since that time the name Isabella has been annually among the most popular English female names.

And how many girls today bear the name of Harry Potter’s faithful friend – Hermione! Until recently, the name was considered obsolete, but the popularity of the book and its film version have given it new life.

The success rate of name bearers also greatly influences the popularity of the name itself. A survey conducted in Great Britain showed which owners of names the residents of Foggy Albion consider the most and least successful. The survey results are shown below.

As we see, simple girls with short and mediocre names are less successful than their rivals, whose names are full and aristocratic. It is interesting that the name Elizabeth is the leader in the list of the most successful names, while its shortened form, Lisa, is at the bottom of the list of the least successful.