The Name Melville: Meaning and Origin

The name Melville has roots in France, Scotland, Ireland and England. The name is commonly a first name in England, whereas in Ireland it’s more likely to be a last name. Melville is fairly common as a first or last name in Scotland and Melville is in fact a name of one of the noble family’s of Scotland.

Melville’s meaning has an origin story of being about French people escaping a bad place in France and went on to move to Scotland. The name means: bad settlement.

Popularity of the Name

The popularity of Melville is not very big. The name is most commonly used in Scotland, England, Ireland and the United States.

Famous People Called Melville

Some famous people with the name Melville includes the likes of Melville Fuller a former Chief Justice in the United States and Melville Rogers who was a Canadian Figure Skater.

Some famous people with the last name Melville are the explorer and writer George W. Melville and Herman Melville the novelist who is most well known for having written the classic Moby Dick.

Although these are not first name examples of Melville, many people are inspired by the last names of famous people they admire when naming their children.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boys’ names
• Get these Hot Deals on Baby Products.

The name Larry has remained popular for many decades and has seen the name go through periods of greater popularity when famous people named Larry have become popular, such as Larry David and Larry King.

Meaning & Popularity of the Name Larry

Larry has a number of meanings, which includes the commonly held meaning from the Latin form of the name that means Laurel. From the place of the laurel leaves is the full meaning of Larry, which is often also associated with the Irish name Lorcan, meaning fierce.

Across the world the name Larry has remained popular and is around the 500th most popular name in the U.S., subtle differences can be found in the full version and popularity of Larry. In western Europe, particularly in the country of England the name is often used as a shortened version of the name Lawrence or Laurence.

In the U.S., the name Larry is often used as a first name by celebrities, including basketball star Larry Bird and comedian Larry David. The name is also often linked to certain attributes in individual bearers of the name, which include the ability to lead successfully and to think imaginatively.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other English boys’ names on this website

Origin and History of the name Derek

The name Derek which has been in the past a popular boys name in the United States has a rich in dating back to Medieval England. The Derek name actually dates all the way back to the 15th century. However, an even earlier variation on the name Deric could be found in birth records in England going back to the 14th Century.

The meaning of Derek as a name is derive from another name Theodoric, this name means gifted ruler and leader of people.

Famous People with the Name

Many notable individuals have the name Derek. In the acting field there are Derek Bond, Derek Cecil, Derek Martin, and Derek Luke just to name a few. In sports there are such personalities as Derek Johnson, Derek Miles, Derek Redmond and Derek Mills.

Popularity

The popularity of Derek as a name first hit a high in British nobility in the 15th Century. However, over the years the name started to catch on in other countries including the United States. In fact, the Derek name made the list of the top 100 baby names for 25 consecutive years in the United States. The name peaked in the year 1970 breaking it onto the list and remained there till the year 1995.

However, in 2014, Derek was not in the top 100 baby boys’ names in England.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other English boys’ names on our website

Facts behind the name Basil

The Basil name is not common in most of the world but where it is it holds power even if it sound like a food spice. The origin or meaning of Basil of Basil lies within ancient Greece meaning king.

Later as the centuries passed the name would gain its fame by being the name of the 4th-century bishop of Caesarea. This man being one of the early fathers of the christian church gave this name meaning an popularity of the name Basil among Christians of eastern origin thus giving it a permanent place among royalty and any other class of the environment.

How to Pronounce Basil?

Basil is Pronounced as BAZ-il with the same rhythm as the word Hazel.

Popularity

Basil was not in the top 100 baby boys’ names in England in 2014.

Famous People and Characters called Basil

• Basil Rathbone was an English actor who starred in Robin Hood and David Copperfield in the 1930’s.
• Basil Brooke was the 3rd Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.
• Basil Faulty was a character from a 1970’s sitcom Faulty Towers.
• Basil Brush is a children’s glove puppet and cartoon.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boys’ names

Meaning and History of the Name Roland

The name Roland has been around for millenniums, and it goes all the way back to the medieval eras of Germany and France. This strong and masculine name relates to not only land, but fame and the meaning of Roland is “renowned land” and “of land.”

Perhaps, the first person to bring recognition to this name was the historical figure “Roland” who fought under the leadership of Charlemagne, in Medieval Europe, during the eight century He was later deemed a hero and immortalized in what is considered the oldest poemin French literature, “The Song of Roland.”

This name was brought to England in the eleventh century, by the Norman French, shortly after 1066, proceeding the Norman Conquest. Although, over the past centuries, the popularity of Roland has declined, it is still a common name especially in Europe and
America. At the present time, this refined and handsome name enjoys its’ greatest popularity in Hungary, where it’s ranked number forty two on their list!

Popularity

Roland was not in the 100 most popular baby names in 2014, according to the Office of National Statistics.

Famous People with Called Roland

The epic and legendary leader, Roland, was not the only person to enjoy fame, there has been other Roland’s who are also well known. In the French literature world, Roland  Barthes,was a well respected philosopher and theorist. Roland Emmerich is a famous German film director while Roland Joffé is a famous English one.

Although recently retired, Roland “Champ” Bailey, was a American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos. His NFL career not only span fifteen seasons, but twelve Pro Bowls also. In the music industry, the british musician Roland Orzabal, is best known for his vocals in the group “Tears for Fears.”

These are only a few of the famous Roland’s worldwide but rather famous or not,
the name Roland is a traditional and classic name which has always been associated
with masculinity.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boys names.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Neville

So what is in the name Neville? It has a Latin and French background in which the meaning of Neville can translate roughly to new town or new village. Originally a surname of Norman origin, the popularity of Neville came to England after being introduced after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

It was one of many names used as a name for the location that a family came from most especially when a family moved from their location of origin. It has also gone through several pronunciations and spellings through the centuries, sometimes depending how church or government officials recorded it in their records.

Famous People with the Name

Adapted as a first name, we are familiar with figures with the name Neville from English history such as:

• Neville Chamberlain – Prime minister 1937-1940
• Neville Mariner – English conductor and violinist
• Neville Longbottom Character of Harry Potter series

In America,  the Neville Brothers- Musical group started in 1976 of which lead singer, song writer, Aaron Neville is notable.  Neville Brand is an  American television and movie actor.

Neville is also a character in Thomas the Tank Engine TV animation series

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other English names on our website.

Origin of the Name Jerome

The name Jerome has been widely used by the English as well as the French for many centuries for male children. The name became popular after Saint Jerome, who was a Christian Monk, translated the Bible.

The translation of the Latin Bible was given the name translator of the Vulgate. Saint Jerome was later known as the Doctor of the Church because of the translation work.

Meaning of the Name

The meaning of Jerome has Greek origins with the name being a combination of Hieronymos, which means sacred name. Hieronymos is a combination of hieros, which means sacred, and onoma, which simply means name.

Popularity of Jerome

The popularity of Jerome is not as much as it once was and has seen a drastic decline in recent years. Even though the name is not as popular as it once was in the year 2010 it was voted as the name of the year for male children who were born in Quebec, Canada.

Famous People with the Name

Some famous people with the name Jerome include Jérôme d’Ambrosio who is a Belgian race car driver, Jerome Flynn who is a famous British actor, and Jérôme Rothen who plays French football.

There is even an a footballer who plays in the English Premier who has the surname Jerome,  Cameron Jerome.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning of other English boys’ names on our website.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Christopher

The name Christopher is the English variation of the Greek name Khristophoros. The British have been naming their male babies Christopher since the 15th century.
The meaning of Christopher is a form of Jesus Christ.

Christopher means he who is bearer of Christ in his heart. Saint Christopher is known as the patron saint of travellers because he supposedly carried a young Jesus Christ across the river. England has more paintings of St Christopher, compared to all the other countries.

Popularity

The popularity of Christopher ranks the name at 132 in both England and Wales. From the 1940s until the middle 1990s, the popularity of Christopher remained in the top 20, and the most common boy name in England. Christopher wasn’t very popular in Scotland, Wales or Ireland. By 1995, Christopher dropped out of the top 100.

Famous People Called Christopher

Many famous British are named Christopher. Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was an Elizabethan poet who inspired the Marlovian Theory. Christopher Guest of Saturday Night Live fame, although born in New York, holds dual citizenship in he United Kingdom. He has hereditary British Peerage being the 5th Baron Haden Guest. Christopher Robin Milne was AA Milne’s inspiration for Christopher Robin in the Winnie the Pooh books.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boy’s names

Bruce: Meaning and Origin

Bruce is an English male name. In English, the meaning of Bruce is a thick brush. In France, however, it means “from Brys”. The name was brought to England by the Normans, from a town named Brix in France. The name Bruce has been a Scottish surname since medieval times. It was made famous by Robert the Bruce (1274-1329), who achieved independence from England in the fourteenth century and became King Robert I of Scotland.

Popularity of Bruce

A research carried out in 2013 shows that Bruce is not among the top a hundred most popular names in England. It was ranked position 400 in the United States and attained the 375th position in Netherlands in terms of popularity. This is despite a large number of celebrities who bear the name.

Celebrities with the name Bruce

Popular people called Bruce include:
• Bruce Lee- martial artist and movie actor
• Bruce Willis- movie star
• Bruce Campbell- movie actor, producer, writer, and author.
• Bruce Springsteen- singer-songwriter
• Bruce Carter- football player
• Bruce Greenwood- actor and musician
• Bruce Wayne- the personality behind Batman
People named Bruce are said to be charismatic leaders who value integrity and discipline.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of more boys’ names on our website.

Patrick – the Meaning and Origin of the Name

The name Patrick originates from the Latin, Patricius, meaning “nobleman”.

The name has several versions from Patric to Padraig to Paddy. Although Patrick’s popularity has remained high in Ireland thanks to the story of Saint Patrick, Jack remains the top name for boys there.

Popularity

Patrick’s popularity has not enjoyed a spot on the top ten since the early 1960’s. In 2019, Patrick was not in the 100 most popular baby boys’ names in England.

Nicknames

Pet of nicknames for Patrick include: Pat, Paddy, Paddie

Famous People with the Name Patrick

The meaning of Patrick is still considered to be quite sacred thanks to the famous Saint Patrick. According to legend, Saint Patrick drove out all the snakes in Ireland. While it’s not known for sure whether that’s actually true, what is known is that he was a missionary involved in the conversions of the Irish from their Celtic traditions to Catholicism. Not much is known about his life but according to the Confessio, he was captured by Irish pirates from Great Britain and held captive as a slave. He remained a slave for six years before a successful escape. He eventually served as an ordained bishop somewhere in the northern and western parts of Ireland.

A couple of other famous people named Patrick include the actors Patrick Swayze and the English man Patrick Stewart. The former passed on in 2009 and was most famous for his roles in Dirty Dancing, The Outsiders and Ghost. The latter is famous for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and origin of other English names on our website

Meaning of the Name Lennard

The name Lennard is a derivative of the name Leonard. The meaning of Lennard is “brave lion”. This comes from the Germanic word “levon” meaning lion.

The meaning of Lennard has come to also be bravery, as lions are a sign of bravery in many cultures. The name Lennard is used almost exclusively for male children.

Popularity

The popularity of Lennard is higher in countries that derive their language from Ancient Germanic. The popularity of Lennard is highest in Poland, while still moderately popular in Germany, England, the United States, and Canada.

Famous People or Places Called Lennard

Famous Lennards include Lennard Pierce, a British actor, and Lennard J. Davis, an American professor and specialist.
Lennard is also a very popular surname in many countries. Famous people with Lennard as their surname include Dave Lennard, an English football player, Henry Lennard, a politician in 16th century England, and Sampson Lennard, a 17th century member of English parliament.

Locations with the name Lennard include Lennard River in Western Australia, and Lennard Island (named after Charles Barrett-Lennard) in British Columbia, Canada.

Variations in the Name

Leonard is a variation of Lennard.

Pet/nicknames for Lennard include, Lenny, Lennie or Len.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boys’ names on our website.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Eddie

Eddie, is a boy’s name that is derived from name the English name Edward. The most common meaning of Eddie is “wealthy.” The name “Eddie” first started to appear around 1880 making the name nearly 150 years old today.

Word Cloud of the Name Eddie

Popularity of the English Name

In 2014, Eddie was ranked 590th for most popular boy’s name and reached its popularity peak during the 1990’s. Eddie’s popularity has been in a slight decline in recent years. The most common countries where Eddie appears is the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands.

Famous People Called Eddie

Some famous people with the name Eddie include: Eddie Murphy, Eddie Guerrero, Eddie Van Halen, and Eddie Griffin.

Arguably the most popular Eddie in recent times would be Eddie Van Halen, the guitarist for rock bank Van Halen. During musical concerts, it’s not uncommon to see signs in the crowd stating “I love Eddie!”

The British pop-punk band Son’s of dork, released the single “Eddie’s song” in January of 2006. The song made it on the list of top 10 UK singles.

Variations in the Spelling

Eddie can also be spelt as Eddy.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boys’ names on this website.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Ainsley

The name Ainsley, for boys, derives from Old English; the origin and meaning of Ainsley is likely tied to one of two geographic locations: 1) Annesley, a civil parish in Nottinghamshire, England, or 2) Ansley, a village in Warwickshire, England. Interestingly, both of these locations connote a spacious, sunny clearing in an otherwise wooded area.

Popularity and Famous People with the Name

As of 2013 the popularity of Ainsley was not sufficient to land it a spot on the 100 most popular boy’s names in England and is currently placed at 334th.

While not a popular name in today’s England, a few present-day celebrities share the name. Ainsley Harriot is a celebrity chef and entertainer who has hosted a number of cooking shows (Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook, Ready Steady Cook), and Ainsley Bennett is a Jamacian-born, former Olympic sprinter who ran for Great Britan in the 1976 Olympic Games.

Overview

Ainsley’s soft but strong quality makes it appropriate for boys or girls, and while the name’s early entomology favour a predominately masculine application, in recent years girls in both the United States and England have adopted variations such as Ainsleigh or Ainslee. The male spelling, however, has not changed.

Useful Resources

Checkout the meaning and origin of other English boys’ names on our website

Meaning and Origin of The Name Russell

Russell name is one of the most interesting names in England. It actually originated from the British isles; specifically from the Anglo-Norman nickname ‘rus’. The name ‘rus’ means red. This red is determined by the hair and skin colour of a human being.

To explain the meaning of Russell, we can say that it is significant to note that It means the reddish one or haired one. The pioneers of this name have one thing in common. Both of them either had red skin complexion of they had hair on their bodies.

Popularity

Russell is among the less common baby names in the world right now. By this I mean very few people children possess the name, Russell. In 2013, the name was not in the top hundred baby names in Britain.

Nickname

Often people with the name Russell are called Russ for short.

Famous People Called Russell

On the other hand, the popularity of Russell has been seen in quite a good number of great people in the world. Among them incorporates Russell Brand, Russell Crowe as well as Russell Davies; just to mention a few. This name is for the unique people in society; people who originated from the continent of Europe. This is where we find red people; this is where we mostly find hairy people. If you give birth to a child who assumes the mentioned characteristics of being hairy and having red skin, this is the best name to give him.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Maxwell

The meaning of Maxwell hails from twelfth century Scotland, where a man by the name of Max, or Macs, lived and owned land on the river Tweed. After his passing, one of the landmarks that preserved his name was a fishing pool or weil, which produced the name Macchwel. From then on, owners of the land containing Max have well used Maxwell as part of their surname and the name eventually transferred into the given name usage.

Popularity of the Name

The popularity of Maxwell is often overshadowed by its shorter version, Max, that was also the original form of the name. While Max was the 29th most popular boy’s name in England according to the 2013 statistics, however Maxwell did not make the top 100.

Famous People Called Maxwell

Nevertheless, many famous people bore the name both as surnames and given names. Most people who inherited Maxwell as a surname are of Scottish ancestry such as the mathematician James Clerk Maxwell. Ian Robert Maxwell, a Member of the Parliament and media proprietor, chose Maxwell as a new surname to replace his original, Czechoslovakian, one.

Even fictional characters bear the name Maxwell, such as the British born Broadway producer in the American sitcom, the Nanny. Brazilian footballer, Maxwell Scherrer Cabelino Andrade, is a proof that Maxwell’s popularity as a given name is not limited only to Great Britain.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other boys’ names on this website.

Meaning of Norman and Origin

Although the name Norman is mostly English in origin, it also has roots in German, Irish, Swedish, Scottish, Dutch, and Jewish American cultures.

The meaning of Norman was originally northman, or “from the north”. It was a by-name in early Germanic culture referring to the Vikings who settled in the coast of France — an area later to be known as Normandy. In England, Norman (and its variant “Normant”) was used first as a by-name for Scandinavian/Normandy settlers (prominently after the Norman invasion of England in 1066) and then later it became popular as a given name.

Popularity of Norman

Norman was not in the 100 most popular baby boys’ names in England in 2013 (latest stats from the government). Considering the rare quality of the name Norman, it is in a special position to create a strong and unique impression.

Famous People with the First Name Norman

• Norman Reedus: American actor best known for roles in Boondock Saints 1 and 2 and The Walking Dead
• Norman Rockwell: American Painter
• Norman Mailer: American writer
• Norman Bates: popular character in the Alfred Hitchcock novel Psycho

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English male’ names on our website

Meaning of the Name Luther

The name Luther is an old German name for boys that was originally used as a surname. The popularity of Luther as a name is no longer what it was, but after the religious revolutionary, Martin Luther, it became common to use it as a first name for boys.

The original meaning of the name means people or army, and was then used in English to mean lute player. Finally, in Latin the name took on the meaning of free.

Popularity

While Luther was a top 100 name for boys at the turn of the century or in the last government survey in England, it is no longer listed as one of the most popular name and continues to fall down the list with each year.

Famous People Called Luther

Martin Luther is perhaps the most popular person to bear the name, and after his religious revolution the meaning of Luther changed a bit. It was then given religious connotations and used by many families to name their sons. The Luther name now holds some honor, having been borne by two very prominent men, both Martin Luther, the protestant, and then Martin Luther King Jr, a prominent civil rights leader. Both men led social and cultural change that changed the lives of millions of people.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and origin of other boys’ names on our website

Meaning and Origin of the Name Damian

The name Damian is traced back to Greek origin. It is noted to have early usage in the fourth century as a Christian name. The Patron Saint, Damian, is said to have been the Patron Saint of physicians in that time period. The English usage is traced to the thirteenth century.

The meaning of Damian is said to be tamer, to subdue, to tame, to kill. Some resources regard Damian to be a sweet and harmless name based on reported historic usage.

Popularity of the Name

The popularity of Damian has predominantly been noted as a name for baby boys. Prior to 1950 the name was irregularly used, and noted decline after the release of “The Omen” in the mid 1970s. In that movie, Damian is characterised as a child of the anti-Christ.

The popularity of Damian peaked in 2012 with 0.19 percent of baby names selected to be Damian. In fact, that year the name enjoyed twice the number of name selection compared to its runner-up. However, the name was in 2013 was not in the top 100 boys’ names in England.

Variations in the Names

The name Damian is noted to have over 40 variations. A few of these include Daemon, Daeman and Daimian. Damian has been predominantly an English name for boys but noted in other countries such as Germany, Poland Ireland and Russia.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity for other boys’ names on our website.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Bernard

Bernard is a very strong masculine name that comes from Germany. Roughly translated the meaning of Bernard is bear-hardy which is actually interpreted to mean brave as a bear. Today it is largely translated as strong and brave. The first part of the name, Bern, actually is the old West Germanic word for bear.

The Normans originally used the name, but when they immigrated into England they brought the name with them. Soon thereafter the name Bernard replaced the Old English name Beornheard which was used similarly.

Famous People with the Name

Throughout history many saints were given the name Bernard including Saint Bernard of Clairvaux who was a Doctor of the Church and theologian in the 12th century. Another famous saint was Saint Bernard of Menthon who constructed Swiss Alps hospices during the 10th century. Irish essayist George Bernard Shaw also holds the name.

Other famous Bernards include Bernard Gallacher (the Scottish Golfer), Bernard Manning (English comedian), and Bernard Cornwell (English author).

Variation in the name Bernard

Common nicknames for the name Bernard include Bernie, Barney, and Berny.

Popularity

The popularity of Bernard over the past few decades has fallen and is now not one of the top 100 baby boy names in England.

Useful Resources

• See meaning and popularity of other boys’ names on our website

Meaning and Popularity of the Name Rodney

Rodney is an Anglo-Saxon placename in Somerset.

For those parents more curious about the significance and meaning of Rodney as a name, the name can be broken down as far back as “famous island;” the famous part hailing from an old name, Hroda, which has roots linked to the Anglo-Saxon word for “fame.”

Popularity

Those parents whom are curious as to the relative popularity of Rodney as a boy’s name, may be disappointed to learn that, according to the previous English government survey from 2013, the name falls outside of the top 100 names for male children.

Famous/Fictional People named Rodney

• George Brydges Rodney was a British naval officer during the American War of Independence and gained a peerage.
• Rodney Ansell was an Australian individual and inspiration for “Crocodile Dundee.”
• Rodney Jack is a footballer from the Caribbean.
• Rodney Marsh is a former footballer and media personality.
• Rodney McKay is a fictional Canadian scientist from “Stargate Atlantis.”
• Rodney Stone is the narrator of an eponymous novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English boys’ names

Overview of the Name Norris

Many of you would have heard of the name Norris before, however, the popularity of Norris might shock you. I’m saying this in a tongue and check kind of way. The name is actually not very popular. As of 2013, the name didn’t even crack the top 100 in England according the the National Office of Statistics. Out of all the names for guys out there, the name Norris only reached the top 200 names, remaining towards the bottom of the list.

Norris can be both a first name and also a surname. Now let’s look at what the name Norris really means.

Them Meaning of Norris

Norris means “man from the North”. Typically this would be a person from the North of England.

Famous People with the Name

It’s a famous name for boys in the UK. As I mentioned above, it’s a relatively popular name.

• Some famous people with the name include:
  Norris Cole – a popular character from the TV series Coronation Street.
• Chuck Norris – the marshal artist and film star.
• Norris McWhirter – was a TV personality and Co-founder of the ‘Guinness Book of Records‘

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other boys’ names on our websites.

What the Name Lawrence Really Means

The meaning of Lawrence comes from a third century medieval saint whose martyred on a gridiron. In Latin it means: the place of laurel the leaves.

The story goes that Lawerence was burned on the gridiron for not handing over the churches treasures, but instead presenting the sick and poor. The name Lawrence then became popular among Christians that admired his courage.

People with the name Lawrence are generally successful and very opinionated person.

Popularity of the Name Lawrence

Today, the popularity of Lawrence has declined as a first name. The name is commonly used for little boys. However, it is a unisex name and can also be used for girls. Although, the more common girl name associated with the name Lawerence is Lauren.

In England in 2013 this name was not in the top 100 most popular baby boys’ names.

In the U.S. the name stands for a good lover in bed. One that has many sexual talents. It is considered to be a masculine name. It is a popular first name for males and accounts for 64 out of every 1220 names. There are quite a few famous people that also have the name Lawrence as their first name or surname.

Famous Men with the Name

Some famous people with the name include:

• Lawrence Taylor, Football player (1959-)
• Lawrence Beesley, Educator, Journalist (1877-1967)
• Lawrence Klien, Economist (1920-)
• Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Poet (1919-)
• Martin Lawerence, Comedian, Actor, Entertainer (1965-)

Useful Resources

• Discover the wonders of other boys’ names on our website

Origin of the Name Harold

The boy’s name Harold is an old English name. The meaning of Harold comes from the Old English name Hereweald. The element ‘here’ meant “army”; while ‘weald’ meant “power, leader, or ruler” which led to a modern meaning of “heroic or war leader”.

This name has a significant historical significance as this name was the name of five kings of Norway, three kings of Denmark, as well of course as the name of two English kings.

Popularity of Harold

The name was quite popular in England until the Norman invasion where King Harold II (Godwineson) died at the battle of Hastings in 1066. The popularity of Harold made a revival in the nineteenth century. In the Twentieth Century there were still famous people named Harold such as Harold Alexander who was the first Earl Alexander and a Field Marshal in WWII. Politically the former Prime Minister of England Harold Wilson chose to use the name until his death in 1995. Unfortunately, the name has not sustained its popularity into the Twenty-First Century. This name should be more popular because people named Harold have been successful across many professions. This name is ready for a comeback and in 2013 it was not .

Famous People with the Name

The two kings of England who bore the name Harold were of mixed Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon decent. At one point in time Harold was also used as a girl’s name. The former Prime Minister Harold Wilson was born James Harold Wilson. He chose to drop his first name and go by Harold because he felt it was stronger and more unique name. In the field of Prime Ministers Australia birthed their own; that was named Harold Holt. He also served in the Australian army. Another English Harold is Harold Pinter who in 2005 won the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was a noted poet, playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. In America they are proud of their own Harold Ramis. He was a writer, actor, and director from Chicago. He acted in the Ghostbuster movies and wrote the movie Groundhog Day. Obviously this name does not stop people from excelling and reaching heights that others only dream of.

Useful Resources

Check out the meaning and popularity of other boys’ names on this website

Origin and Meaning of the name Duncan

The name Duncan is a boy’s name that is popular in Britain and America. The name Duncan is an Anglicized name that comes from the Gaelic name Donnchadh. The meaning of Duncan is debatable, and likely comes for several different root words. The name is likely comes from the Gaelic root word “ceann”, which means head. The name Duncan means dark-haired warrior, dark haired man, chieftain, or noble.

Popularity of the Name

Duncan is a common name but currently unpopular as a baby’s name. It is not in the top hundred baby names in England in 2013. The name was ranked in the 821st spot in 2013 in the United States. The name enjoyed an increased popularity in the late 1990’s.

Famous People Called Duncan

There have been a number of a famous people with the name Duncan. Two Scottish kings have held the name Duncan. The name has also been held by Duncan Campbell Scott who was a Canadian poet, and by Duncan Goodhew who was an Olympic swimmer for Great Britain. Duncan Bannatyne is an Entrepreneur and TV personality starring on the TV series Dragons’ Den.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and popularity of other English names on our website.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Anthony

The meaning of Anthony originally derives from the Etruscan last name Antonius, but not much else is known. It was originally thought to stem from the Greek word “anthos,” meaning “flower,” but this has since been proven incorrect, though the misconception still persists.

Its association with Christianity came with the veneration of St. Anthony the Great of Egypt and the cult of St. Antony of Padua. It was most popular in 1944, when it was the sixth most popular name in the country.

Famous People Called Anthony

Other notable people with the Anthony name include boxer Anthony Joshua, the EastEnders character Dr. Anthony Trueman, played by actor Nicholas Bailey, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and American chef and food critic Anthony Bourdain.

Even so, the popularity of Anthony is not very high as it did not even place in the top 100 names in England for 2013. There are also the Anthony Awards, awards given to deserving mystery writers, and the Tony Awards, famously awarded to American Broadway stars in recognition of their talents.

Useful Resources

• Checkout the meaning and popularity of other boys names‘ on our website.

Origin of the Boy’s Name Laurel

The Laurel name is in reference to a bay tree, also known as a laurel, which can produce small but beautiful white, pink or yellow flowers when in full bloom. The laurel tree can be found in many places around the world, including much of Europe, America and even as far away as Japan.

Meaning of the Name

The meaning of Laurel stems from the Ancient Romans, who famously made golden laurel wreaths into crowns for royalty and people of knowledge. It is most associated with poets and students who have earned Master’s degrees. The word “laureate,” as in Nobel laureate or poet laureate, is a reference to this ancient honorary practice.

Popularity of Laurel

The popularity of Laurel is such that it is a fairly uncommon name. It did not enter the top 100 most common names in 2013 (in England).

Related Names

Related names include Laura, Lori, Lauren and Lorraine.

Famous People and Places with the Name

Famous people named Laurel include Laurel Aitken, known as Jamaica’s “Godfather of Ska,” comedian Stan Laurel, one half of the legendary Laurel and Hardy comedy duo, and the young pop star Laurel Arnell-Cullen.

In the American state of Maryland, Laurel is a city surprisingly famous for its large archaeological site home to countless dinosaur fossils from several different prehistoric periods.

Useful Resources

Checkout the meaning and origins of other English boys’ names on our website.

Meaning and Origin of Dennis

Dennis has been an English boy’s name since the days of the Norman Conquest and it was introduced to Britain after St. Denis, the 3rd century Bishop of Paris, is one of the patron saints of France. Although the name has been used in England for centuries, the popularity of Dennis has only risen in the last few years in England. However inUntil 2013, it was not among the hundred most popular baby names.

Meaning and Variations of Dennis

The meaning of Dennis comes from the Greek god Dionysus, god of wine (Bacchus to the Romans). Alternate spellings include Denis (very popular in France), Denys, Denish, Dion, Deon, Dionice, and Deonte. It is often shortened to Den or Denny. The feminine form of the name is Denise.

People Called Dennis

A list of people with the name:

• Musician Dennis Brain,
• football player Dennis Oli,
• actor Dennis Price,
• Olympic athlete Dennis Stewart,
• author Dennis Wheatley,
• football manager Dennis Wise,
• singer Cathy Dennis,
• publisher Felix Dennis,
• actor Hugh Dennis,
• comedian Les Dennis,
• writer Nigel Dennis,
• scientist R. W. G Dennis,
• businessman Ron Dennis,
• rower Simon Dennis

There’s no shortage of people with the Dennis name. In fiction, there are Dennis Creevy in the Harry Potter novels, Dennis the Locomotive in the Thomas the Tank Engine series, and Dennis and Gnasher of the popular cartoon in Beano.

Meaning of the Name Alfred

The Alfred name can be traced back to an old English language option of Aelfread, which provides the meaning of Alfred as wise counsellor in its English meaning.

Popularity of the Name

The popularity of Alfred has fallen over recent years with the UK government not ranking the name in the top 100 boys names of 2013, but the shortened version of the name did appear at number 11 as Alfie.

Famous People Called Alfred

Despite not being one of the most popular names in the UK there are many different examples of the name being used by famous people in popular culture and by members of the British royal family. Perhaps the best known example of a historic figure with the name Alfred is the English King Alfred the Great of the 9th Century, who was known as England’s darling and was known for his compassion and wisdom.

Other popular figures with the name include Hollywood movie director Alfred Hitchcock, known for the films Rear Window and Psycho. Other Alfred’s include the English poet Lord Tennyson, Washington Redskins football player Alfred Morris and actor Alfred Molina.

Useful Resources

• See the meaning and popularity of other boys’ names on our website.

Origin and Popularity of Ralph

Although not noted in the top 100 most popular names for boys, the popularity of Ralph as a boy’s name has not declined dramatically as many other names have. The Ralph name was introduced to England by Scandinavian settlers before the Norman Conquest.

In the middle ages the Ralph name was spelled Ralf, and by the 17th century it was spelled Rafe. The common spelling of the name was introduced in the 18th century, and one of the earliest bearers of that name was the famous American poet Ralph Waldo Emmerson who was instrumental in the Transcendentalist movement in the 19th century.

Meaning of the Name Ralph

There are several different meanings of Ralph. Both the Teutonic and American versions of the name are said to mean “strong”. The Scandinavian and English meaning of Ralph is said to be “Red Counsel” or “Red Wolf”.

Famous People with the Name

There are several other famous people with the name Ralph. The great designer Ralph Lauren, and the actor Ralph Finnes are modern day examples, although it seems that the use of the name has tapered in the film industry in the last few years..

Useful Resources

Checkout other boys’ names on our website