English Boy Names That Mean Honor
English boy names that mean honor draw on Latin roots, English virtue words, and storied place-names, each honoring something different.
Names63
OriginEnglish
MeaningHonor
GenderBoy
English is unusually good at naming a child for honor without ever using the word itself. Lewis carries 'renowned warrior' through its royal and literary history, Tim quietly means 'honouring God,' and Honor and Honest say it outright, Puritan-style.
This list also shows English's other trick: honoring by association. Tillman nods to Pat Tillman's own sacrifice, Sagan to astronomer Carl Sagan, and Carlisle and Arlington borrow the weight of real places, so the honor sits in the story, not just the meaning.
Why English boy names that mean honor take so many forms
English never settled on one way to connect a name to honor. Clarence comes from Latin clarus, 'bright, illustrious,' filtered through a medieval dukedom. Davis and Wayne started as workaday surnames — son of David, wagon maker — carried forward simply because a family name is itself a small act of honoring where you came from. Shade takes yet another route, an everyday word turned into a name.
Familiar names and quiet surprises on this list
Some of these names will feel instantly familiar — Lewis and Wayne among the classic surname names, Tim a friendly standby. Others are quieter surprises: Carlisle traveled from a Roman-era fort to a vampire novel, Sagan borrows a scientist's surname, and the virtue names Honor and Honest state their meaning with no disguise at all.
Names List
Lewis#433 in the U.S.English and Welsh form of Louis, from Old High German Hludwig meaning renowned warrior, combining hlud (fPronounced LOO-is▶Wayne#655 in the U.S.From the Old English occupational surname waegn meaning wagon or cart, referring to a wagon maker or drivPronounced WAYN▶Davis#668 in the U.S.Welsh and English patronymic surname meaning son of David, from the Hebrew name David meaning beloved; usPronounced DAY-vis▶Clarence#1558 in the U.S.From the medieval English dukedom of Clarence (named for the town of Clare in Suffolk), ultimately from LPronounced KLAIR-uhns▶Honor#1577 in the U.S.Honor, integrity, and dignity; from the Latin honos meaning honor or esteem, used as a virtue name in thePronounced ON-er▶Tim#2514 in the U.S.Honouring GodPronounced TIHM▶Honest#3170 in the U.S.Truthful, fair-dealing, free from deceit; virtue name from Latin honestus meaning honourablePronounced ON-ist▶Carlisle#3271 in the U.S.From the city of Carlisle, from Brythonic Caer Luel — 'fort of Luguvalos', a name honoring the Celtic godPronounced kar-LYL▶Bynum#3413 in the U.S.Bynum is an English habitational surname, generally traced to an Old English phrase meaning at the bends Pronounced BY-num▶Fillmore#3477 in the U.S.Fillmore is an English surname drawn from places such as Filmore or Finmere, built on Old English elementPronounced FIL-mor▶Pershing#3923 in the U.S.A surname adopted as a given name to honor General John J. Pershing, who led American forces in World WarPronounced PUR-shing▶Tillman#3963 in the U.S.Occupational surname — 'one who tills' (or German Tilo-man lines) — Pat Tillman-honoredPronounced TIL-mən▶Coolidge#4046 in the U.S.Coolidge is an English surname used briefly as a given name in honor of Calvin Coolidge, U.S. president iPronounced KOO-lij▶Commodore#4151 in the U.S.Commodore is a naval rank meaning a senior captain who commands a squadron, from the French commandeur anPronounced KOM-uh-dor▶Littleton#4331 in the U.S.Littleton is an English place-and-surname name from Old English, combining 'lytel' (little) and 'tun' (enPronounced LIT-uhl-tuhn▶Lytle#4332 in the U.S.Lytle is a family surname pressed into use as a first name. It is a spelling variant of Little, from MiddPronounced LYE-tuhl▶Milledge#4354 in the U.S.Milledge is a surname used as a first name, most likely an English name for someone living at or near a mPronounced MIL-ij▶Valgene#4521 in the U.S.Valgene is best read as a coined American name fusing Val and Gene. Val evokes Valentine or Valerie, fromPronounced val-JEEN▶Sagan#4524 in the U.S.From a surname — possibly from Hebrew/Aramaic segan, 'a deputy, official', or an English place-name; famePronounced SAY-gən▶Arlington#4566 in the U.S.From an English place-name/surname — Old English, 'the settlement of Aerel's people'; a famed Virginia plPronounced AR-ling-tən▶Elbridge#4588 in the U.S.Elbridge is an English place-name and surname, most often explained as 'old bridge' or 'plank bridge', frPronounced EL-brij▶Robley#4864 in the U.S.Robley reads as a surname carried into first-name use, built from a Rob- element, as in Robert, and the cPronounced ROB-lee▶Shade#5602 in the U.S.From the word shade — 'shadow; shelter from light/heat' (Old English sceadu); also a pet form of the YoruPronounced SHAYD▶Wash#5730 in the U.S.A short form of Washington, given as a first name in honor of George Washington. Washington is an EnglishPronounced WOSH▶Green#5843 in the U.S.Green as a first name comes from the English surname and color word, from Old English grene, 'green, verdPronounced GREEN▶Oddie#6050 in the U.S.Oddie is a friendly short form connected to the old Germanic element aud or od, 'wealth, fortune,' the saPronounced OD-ee▶Asbury#6118 in the U.S.Asbury is an English surname and place-name from Old English aesc ('ash tree') and burh ('fort, fortifiedPronounced AZ-buh-ree▶Colonel#6241 in the U.S.Colonel is the military rank used directly as a first name — part of an early-1900s American habit of namPronounced KER-nul▶Uhtred#6414 in the U.S.From Old English uhta, 'the pre-dawn, the early morning', plus raed, 'counsel; renowned'; 'renowned at daPronounced OO-tred▶Loring#6884 in the U.S.Loring is an English surname turned given name, generally traced to a medieval byname for someone from LoPronounced LOR-ing▶Kingdavid#7040 in the U.S.A compound of King (a regal word/title) and David ('beloved', Hebrew) — honoring King David of the Bible;Pronounced KING-DAY-vid▶Rodgers#7061 in the U.S.Rodgers is a patronymic English surname meaning 'son of Roger,' with Roger itself from the Germanic HrodgPronounced RAH-jerz▶Crown#7314 in the U.S.From the English word crown, 'a royal headdress; a symbol of sovereignty and honor' (from Latin corona, 'Pronounced KROWN▶Honour#7396 in the U.S.From the English word honour, 'high respect; esteem; integrity; a fine sense of right' (from Latin honor)Pronounced ON-er▶Fate#7890 in the U.S.Fate is the English word 'fate' (destiny) pressed into service as a personal name, a Southern habit of thPronounced FAYT▶Gilman#7984 in the U.S.Gilman is an English surname turned given name, usually explained as 'servant of Gille' or 'servant of SaPronounced GIL-muhn▶Glory#8527 in the U.S.From the English word glory (via the Latin gloria), 'high renown; praise; splendour; magnificence'; a worPronounced GLOR-ee▶Stan#8851 in the U.S.A short form of Stanley ('the stony clearing/meadow', English) and Stanislav ('glory of the camp/militaryPronounced STAN▶Raynell#9477 in the U.S.Raynell reads as a coined American name blending Ray (a short form of Raymond, from the Germanic 'wise prPronounced ray-NEL▶Timmie#9603 in the U.S.Timmie is a pet form of Timothy, from the Greek Timotheos, from time ('honor') and theos ('God') — 'honorPronounced TIM-ee▶Arnett#9653 in the U.S.Arnett is an English surname derived either as a pet form of Arnold (Germanic arn, 'eagle', + wald, 'powePronounced AR-net▶Armstrong#9831 in the U.S.From the English/Scottish border surname Armstrong, 'strong arm' -- said to honor a warrior's might. FamoPronounced ARM-strong▶Stclair#10054 in the U.S.Stclair is the surname St. Clair, run together into one word. It honors Saint Clair and the French clair,Pronounced sin-KLAIR▶Bay#11071 in the U.S.The English word 'bay' - a curved inlet of the sea, and also the bay laurel tree (a symbol of honor). UsePronounced BAY▶Famous#11323 in the U.S.From the English word 'famous' — widely known, renowned, celebrated (via Latin fama, 'fame; report'). A mPronounced FAY-muss▶Knoble#11695 in the U.S.A respelling of Noble (with a silent K, echoing the surname Knoble). Noble is a virtue word, 'high-born; Pronounced NOH-bul▶Krown#11709 in the U.S.A respelling of Crown, the word for a monarch's headpiece and a symbol of royalty and honor. As a given nPronounced KROWN▶Scarlett#12074 in the U.S.Scarlett is an English surname for a dyer or seller of scarlet cloth, tied to the rich red color. It is oPronounced SKAR-let▶Aaronmichael#12277 in the U.S.Aaronmichael runs two Hebrew classics together: Aaron, often linked to senses like mountain of strength oPronounced AIR-un-MY-kul▶Darvis#12593 in the U.S.Darvis is usually read as a variant of Jarvis, itself from the medieval name Gervase, of Germanic origin Pronounced DAR-vis▶Coltrane#12652 in the U.S.From the surname Coltrane (Coltran), of English/Irish origin. As a given name it usually honors jazz saxoPronounced KOHL-trayn▶Gift#12892 in the U.S.Gift is an English word ('a blessing, a present') used as a virtue-style given name, especially common inPronounced GIFT▶Hemingway#12939 in the U.S.Hemingway is an English surname, likely from a place name, carried into first-name use chiefly in honor oPronounced HEM-ing-way▶Johnlee#13134 in the U.S.A joined given name written as one word: John, from Hebrew Yohanan, 'God is gracious', plus Lee, an EngliPronounced JON-lee▶Jondavid#13224 in the U.S.Jondavid is a compound of two Hebrew-rooted names written as one: Jon (from John, 'God is gracious') and Pronounced JON-DAY-vid▶Kourage#13332 in the U.S.Kourage is a K- respelling of the English word courage, which came through Old French corage from Latin cPronounced KUR-ij▶Lark#13368 in the U.S.Lark is the English word for the small songbird famed for singing at dawn, from Old English lawerce. It aPronounced LARK▶Little#13479 in the U.S.Little is an English surname adopted as a first name. As a surname it began as a descriptive nickname forPronounced LIT-ul▶Nhoa#13604 in the U.S.Most naturally read as a respelling of Noah, from the Hebrew Noach, 'rest; comfort' — the builder of the Pronounced NOH-uh▶Noath#13618 in the U.S.Most naturally read as a respelling of Noah, from the Hebrew Noach, 'rest; comfort' — the builder of the Pronounced NOH-uth▶Quitman#13652 in the U.S.Quitman is a transferred surname and Southern place name, most likely given in honor of the nineteenth-cePronounced KWIT-mun▶Robertson#13913 in the U.S.Robertson is a patronymic surname meaning simply 'son of Robert', Robert coming from Germanic hrod and bePronounced ROB-ert-suhn▶Sinjin#14031 in the U.S.Sinjin writes out the traditional British pronunciation of St. John, which upper-class English usage clipPronounced SIN-jin▶
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Lewis mean?
Lewis is the English and Welsh form of Louis, meaning 'renowned warrior.' It carries royal history and literary weight from Lewis Carroll to explorer Meriwether Lewis, and it's currently rising back into fashion.
Are there any place-name based boy names that mean honor?
Yes — Clarence, Carlisle, and Arlington all trace back to place-name roots, from a medieval English dukedom to a Roman-era border fort to a Virginia town, giving them a stately, grounded feel.
Is Honor a name just for girls?
No — Honor is a Latin-rooted virtue name used for both boys and girls, though it's still rare for boys, which makes it a distinctive pick if you want the meaning stated plainly.