Old English Boy Names
229 old english boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for girl names instead? Old English Girl Names →
There is a reason so many American boys answer to a name that used to describe a job or a patch of ground. Old English boy names are sturdy in a way that never has to announce itself, and the trade names are the backbone of the list. Cooper made barrels. Mason cut stone. Walker trod cloth for a living, which is a far better story than most people realise when they pick it. Brooks simply lived by the water. None of these sound antique on a kindergarten roster, and every one of them ages into an adult perfectly well — which is the real test.
Then come the place names, and they are where the sound gets big and open. Weston is the west town and Easton its mirror, while Wesley is the west meadow — three names, one compass. Hudson, Jackson and Grayson ride the -son ending that has dominated American boy naming for twenty years, with Jaxon as the streamlined respelling. For something with more grain in it, Everett reads bookish and kind, Wyatt has a frontier swagger, and Waylon comes with a country-music drawl attached. We list 205 boy names of Old English origin.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, the trade or place it grew out of, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Old English Boy Names
Hudson#17 in the U.S.Son of Hugh; son of the hooded one; son of mind and spirit▶Cooper#27 in the U.S.Barrel maker; one who makes or repairs casks and barrels▶Jackson#36 in the U.S.Son of Jack; son of John; ultimately 'God is gracious'▶Wyatt#38 in the U.S.Brave in war; hardy — from Old English Wigheard (wig: war + heard: brave, hardy)▶Mason#39 in the U.S.Stone worker; one who builds with stone; mason▶Grayson#51 in the U.S.Son of the gray-haired one; from Old English grǣg (gray) + sunu (son)▶Wesley#52 in the U.S.Western meadow; from Old English west (west) + leah (woodland clearing)▶Weston#55 in the U.S.Western settlement; from Old English west (west) + tun (settlement, town)▶Waylon#56 in the U.S.Land beside the road; from Old English weg (way, road) + land (land)▶Brooks#64 in the U.S.One who lives near a brook or stream; from Old English broc (stream)▶Lincoln#69 in the U.S.Lake colony; settlement by the pool▶Everett#77 in the U.S.Brave as a wild boar; from Old English eofor (wild boar) + heard (brave, hardy)▶Walker#78 in the U.S.Cloth-walker; a worker who trod on raw cloth to clean and thicken it — from Old English wealcer▶Colton#103 in the U.S.Coal settlement; from Old English col (charcoal, coal) + tun (settlement, town)▶Easton#110 in the U.S.Eastern settlement; from Old English east (east) + tun (settlement, town)▶Jaxon#115 in the U.S.Son of Jack; Jack is a medieval English form of John, from Hebrew Yochanan (God is gracious)▶Harrison#116 in the U.S.Son of Harry; Harry is a medieval English form of Henry, from Old High German heim (home) + ric▶Dean#125 in the U.S.Valley — from Old English denu (valley); also an occupational surname from Old French deien (de▶Landon#127 in the U.S.Long hill; ridge settlement — from Old English lang (long) + dun (hill)▶Hunter#130 in the U.S.One who hunts; a hunter — from Old English huntian (to hunt) + -er (agent suffix)▶Stetson#136 in the U.S.Son of Stephen or Stephen's town — from English surname Stetson, itself from the personal name ▶Beckett#141 in the U.S.Beehive or bee cottage; from Old English beo-cot▶Arlo#148 in the U.S.Fortified hill — possibly from Old English place-name elements, or from Spanish arlo (barberry ▶Greyson#149 in the U.S.Son of the grey-haired man; from Old English grieg (grey) + son (son of)▶Hayes#162 in the U.S.Hedged enclosure; from Old English hæs (brushwood, shrub), referring to a hedged or wooded area▶Beckham#168 in the U.S.Homestead by the stream; from Old English becca (stream) + ham (homestead)▶Barrett#171 in the U.S.Bear strength; from Old German berht (bright) + hard (brave, hardy); or possibly from Old Frenc▶Braxton#172 in the U.S.Brock's settlement — from Old English Broc (badger or a personal name Brock) + tūn (settlement,▶Tucker#181 in the U.S.Fabric tucker; one who fulls or tucks cloth; an occupational surname from Middle English tukere▶Cole#182 in the U.S.Swarthy, coal-black — from Old English col (charcoal), used as a byname for someone with dark f▶Maxwell#189 in the U.S.Mack's well or great stream — from Old English Maccus (a personal name, possibly meaning 'great▶Tate#194 in the U.S.Cheerful; pleasant; from the Old Norse personal name Teitr▶Knox#196 in the U.S.Round hill; from Old English cnoc (hill, hillock)▶Ashton#197 in the U.S.Ash tree settlement — from Old English æsc (ash tree) + tūn (settlement, farmstead)▶Tatum#202 in the U.S.Tate's homestead; from Old English tāt (Tate, a personal name) + hām (home, settlement)▶Camden#205 in the U.S.Winding valley or enclosed valley — from Old English/Gaelic place-name elements meaning a windi▶Riley#208 in the U.S.Valiant, courageous; from Irish Ó Raghallaigh; also possibly from Old English ryge-leah (rye cl▶Bentley#215 in the U.S.Clearing covered with bent grass; from the place name▶Tyler#220 in the U.S.Tile maker, tiler — from Old French tieulier (tile maker), an occupational surname▶Oscar#223 in the U.S.God's spear; from Old Irish os (god) + cara (friend), or Old English os (god) + gar (spear)▶Edward#224 in the U.S.Wealthy guardian; prosperous protector; from Old English ead (wealth, fortune) + weard (guard, ▶Brayden#229 in the U.S.Broad valley or descendant of Bradán — from Irish Gaelic bradán (salmon) or Old English brād de▶Richard#234 in the U.S.Powerful ruler; brave ruler; from Old High German ric (power, ruler) + hard (hard, brave)▶Brandon#261 in the U.S.Broom-covered hill; from Old Welsh bran (crow) + don (hill), or Old English broom-hill▶Karter#270 in the U.S.One who transports goods by cart; occupational surname variant of Carter▶Avery#291 in the U.S.Ruler of the elves; Old French form of Alfred: aelf (elf) + raed (counsel) or ric (ruler)▶Blake#316 in the U.S.From the Old English 'blac' (pale, fair) or 'blaec' (dark, black) — an interesting paradox mean▶Sutton#332 in the U.S.From the Old English 'suth' (south) and 'tun' (settlement, farm, town), meaning 'southern settl▶Paxton#338 in the U.S.From an Old English place name and surname, from 'Poecc's tun' (Poecc's settlement) or possibly▶Wade#344 in the U.S.From the Old English 'wadan', meaning to go or to advance (especially through water), or from a▶Sterling#346 in the U.S.Possibly from Old English 'steorling' (little star) or from the English town of Stirling in Sco▶Wells#347 in the U.S.From the Old English 'wiell' or 'wella', meaning spring, stream, or well — a topographic surnam▶Kade#349 in the U.S.From the Old Welsh 'cad' (battle) or Old English elements, possibly meaning 'spirit of battle'.▶Briggs#356 in the U.S.From an Old Norse or Old English place name, a plural form of 'brig' or 'bridge', meaning 'dwel▶Miller#369 in the U.S.From the Middle English occupational surname 'miller', denoting a person who operated a grain m▶Clark#377 in the U.S.Occupational name from Old English clerc, meaning a scribe, scholar, or clergyman, itself from ▶Daxton#379 in the U.S.Modern elaboration of Dax, a French place name referring to the town of Dax in southwestern Fra▶Winston#382 in the U.S.From the Old English place name Wynnstan, from wynn meaning joy or pleasure and stan meaning st▶Edwin#398 in the U.S.From Old English Eadwine, combining ead meaning wealth, fortune, or prosperity and wine meaning▶Kashton#400 in the U.S.Modern American coinage blending the Cash- sound with the Old English suffix -ton meaning settl▶Bradley#403 in the U.S.From Old English brad meaning broad and leah meaning woodland clearing or meadow; a topographic▶King#405 in the U.S.From Old English cyning meaning king or ruler; used as a given name for its direct regal connot▶Eduardo#410 in the U.S.Spanish and Portuguese form of Edward, from Old English Eadweard combining ead (wealth, prosper▶Rylan#416 in the U.S.Variant of Ryland or Ryan, from Old English rye land meaning land where rye is grown; or an alt▶Reed#419 in the U.S.From Old English read meaning red; used as a surname for red-haired people, and also related to▶Wilder#431 in the U.S.From Old English wilde meaning wild, untamed, or from the wilderness; used as a surname and the▶Edgar#486 in the U.S.From Old English 'Eadgar,' composed of 'ead' (rich, fortune, prosperity) and 'gar' (spear), mea▶Kendrick#535 in the U.S.From the Welsh name Cynwrig, a compound of cyn ('chief, champion') and rig ('ruler, king'), mea▶Cal#543 in the U.S.Short form of Calvin (from Latin Calvinus, meaning 'bald,' from calvus) or Caleb (from Hebrew K▶Ozzy#549 in the U.S.Pet form of Oswald or Oscar (and sometimes Ozymandias); Oswald derives from Old English os ('go▶Ledger#554 in the U.S.From the Old English or Old Dutch name Leodegar, a compound of leod ('people, tribe') and gar (▶Kolton#594 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Colton, from the Old English place-name and surname meaning 'settlement nea▶Alden#598 in the U.S.From Old English Ealdwine or Aldwine, composed of eald/ald ('old') and wine ('friend'), meaning▶Kolter#600 in the U.S.Variant of Coulter or Colter, from Old English culter or Latin culter meaning 'knife' or 'ploug▶Colby#615 in the U.S.From an Old Norse-English place-name and surname, composed of Old Norse Koli (a personal name m▶Harlan#617 in the U.S.From an English and German place-name and surname, possibly from Old English hara ('hare') and ▶Westley#619 in the U.S.Variant of Wesley, from a place-name and surname composed of Old English west ('west') and leah▶Boston#620 in the U.S.From the English town of Boston, Lincolnshire, named for Saint Botolph and his stone church: fr▶Wayne#655 in the U.S.From the Old English occupational surname waegn meaning wagon or cart, referring to a wagon mak▶Layne#662 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Lane, from Old English lane meaning a narrow road or path between hedges or▶Houston#675 in the U.S.From the Scottish surname Houston, from a place name meaning Hugh's town — a settlement owned o▶Westin#689 in the U.S.From the western settlement or estate; a surname-turned-given-name from Old English west + tun ▶Sevyn#697 in the U.S.A creative phonetic respelling of Seven; from Old English seofon, the number 7, long considered▶Marvin#699 in the U.S.Sea fortress; from Welsh Merfyn or Old English Mærwine, combining mær (sea or great) and wine (▶Bridger#701 in the U.S.English occupational surname from Old English, denoting a person who lived near a bridge or was▶Bryer#704 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Briar, from Old English braer or brer, referring to a thorny or prickly pla▶Ryland#706 in the U.S.English surname from Old English ryge (rye) and land, meaning 'land where rye is grown'; a topo▶Layton#714 in the U.S.English surname and place name from Old English leac (leek) and tun (settlement, enclosure, far▶Ryatt#715 in the U.S.Creative spelling variant of Wyatt, from the Old English given name Wigheard, or possibly from ▶Wes#716 in the U.S.Short form of Wesley or Weston, from Old English west (west) combined with either leah (meadow,▶Kamden#718 in the U.S.Spelling variant of Camden, from the Old English surname and place name meaning 'winding valley▶Westyn#724 in the U.S.Creative spelling variant of Weston, from Old English west (west) and tun (settlement, farm), m▶Lee#727 in the U.S.From Old English leah meaning 'meadow,' 'clearing,' or 'woodland clearing'; one of the most com▶Dustin#729 in the U.S.From the Old Norse name Thurston or the Old English surname Dustin, possibly from the Norse Tho▶Huxley#736 in the U.S.English surname from an Old English place name, possibly from the personal name Hucc or Hugh + ▶Brixton#744 in the U.S.From the London district name Brixton, from Old English meaning 'Brixi's stone' or 'Brixi's set▶Keaton#771 in the U.S.Place of hawks or shed town; an English surname from the Old English place name Ketton or Ceatt▶Truce#774 in the U.S.Peace or armistice; from Middle English trewes, Old English treow meaning faith, pledge, or agr▶Riggs#776 in the U.S.Son of Ridge or one who lives by a ridge; an English surname from the Old English hrycg meaning▶Dutton#779 in the U.S.Dudda's settlement or Dudda's farm; an English surname from the Old English place name Dutton i▶Blaze#781 in the U.S.Flame or fire; from Old English blaese meaning fire or firebrand, or from the Latin name Blasiu▶Fisher#791 in the U.S.Fisherman or one who fishes; an English occupational surname from Old English fiscere meaning f▶Brewer#804 in the U.S.Brewer of ale or one who brews; an English occupational surname from Old English breowan meanin▶Brock#810 in the U.S.Badger; from Old English brocc meaning badger, a strong Celtic-origin word for the animal, used▶Alfredo#820 in the U.S.Italian and Spanish form of Alfred, from the Old English Aelfred, composed of aelf (elf, supern▶Dane#821 in the U.S.From the Old English Dene or the demonym Dane, referring to a person from Denmark; used as a gi▶Teddy#823 in the U.S.Pet form of Theodore (Greek, 'gift of God') or Edward (Old English, 'wealthy guardian'), used s▶Nelson#825 in the U.S.English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Neil', where Neil derives from the Old Irish Niall, ▶Drake#827 in the U.S.From Old English draca and Old Norse dreki, meaning 'dragon' or 'serpent'; also the standard En▶Rayden#833 in the U.S.Modern phonetic spelling of Raiden or Rayden, combining the English ray (beam of light) with th▶Alvin#838 in the U.S.From the Old English Aethelfine or Aelfwine, composed of aelf (elf) or aethel (noble) and wine ▶Alfred#840 in the U.S.From Old English Aelfred, composed of aelf (elf, a being associated with supernatural wisdom in▶Coleson#844 in the U.S.A modern variant of Colson, meaning 'son of Cole', where Cole derives from the Old English col ▶Braylon#848 in the U.S.Modern American name combining Bray (from Old French and Old English brai/bray, meaning 'marshl▶Waylen#849 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Waylon or Waylan, from the Old English Wayland, the legendary divine blacks▶Bear#853 in the U.S.From the Old English bera and Old Norse bjorn, both meaning 'bear'; used as a given name evokin▶Eddie#861 in the U.S.Pet form of Edward or Edmund, from Old English ead (wealth, fortune) and weard/mund (guard, pro▶Stanley#863 in the U.S.From the Old English place name Stanleah, composed of stan (stone) and leah (meadow, woodland c▶Edison#870 in the U.S.English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Edd' or 'son of Ed', where Ed derives from the Old E▶Shepard#892 in the U.S.From Old English sceaphirde meaning sheep-herder, composed of sceap (sheep) and hierde (herder,▶Hollis#894 in the U.S.From an Old English topographic surname meaning dweller by the holly trees, from Old English ho▶Foster#901 in the U.S.From Middle English foster, an occupational surname for a forester or person who tended a royal▶Axton#906 in the U.S.From Old English place name elements, possibly composed of ac (oak tree) or ecg (edge, sword) a▶Stone#916 in the U.S.From Old English stan meaning stone or rock; a topographic surname for someone living near a no▶Wesson#919 in the U.S.Surname meaning son of Wes (from Wesley or West) or from the western farm; composed of Old Engl▶Heath#932 in the U.S.From Old English haeth meaning a tract of uncultivated open land, heathland or moorland; a topo▶Darwin#961 in the U.S.From Old English deorwine, composed of deor meaning dear or beloved and wine meaning friend, gi▶Colten#966 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Colton, from Old English col meaning coal or charcoal and tun meaning settl▶Byron#981 in the U.S.From Old English byre meaning cowshed or barn, used as a place name and surname meaning dweller▶Harold#993 in the U.S.From Old English Hereweald or Old Norse Haraldr, composed of here meaning army and weald or val▶Langston#1000 in the U.S.From Old English lang meaning long or tall and tun meaning settlement or farm, giving the meani▶Edmund#1182 in the U.S.Wealthy protector; fortunate guardian; from Old English Eadmund (ead: prosperity, wealth + mund▶Alder#1421 in the U.S.Alder tree, the riverside tree▶Holland#1562 in the U.S.A transferred place name and surname referring to the Holland region; from Middle Dutch 'holt l▶Randall#1612 in the U.S.A medieval form of Randolf, from Germanic elements 'rand' (rim of a shield) and 'wulf' (wolf), ▶Chad#1805 in the U.S.Battle▶Wilmer#1845 in the U.S.Will helmet▶Theoden#1857 in the U.S.King, lord, ruler of a people▶Wynn#1927 in the U.S.Fair, white, or blessed; from the Old Welsh and Old English word wyn or gwyn meaning fair or wh▶Eldon#2238 in the U.S.Ella's hill, noble hill▶Ridley#2248 in the U.S.reed clearing, cleared meadow▶Whitaker#2253 in the U.S.white field, pale meadow▶Caine#2258 in the U.S.spear or acquired one▶Ederson#2261 in the U.S.son of Edgar▶Edmond#2262 in the U.S.wealthy protector▶Raleigh#2273 in the U.S.meadow of roe deer▶Rayne#2275 in the U.S.rain, counsel-power▶Bayron#2281 in the U.S.at the barns, brave soldier▶Harlen#2284 in the U.S.hare land▶Knoxx#2288 in the U.S.from the hills, bold▶Kyngston#2289 in the U.S.king's estate, royal town▶Darnell#2311 in the U.S.hidden alcove, eagle's nest▶Penn#2978 in the U.S.Enclosure or hill; from Old English penn meaning a fold or enclosure for animals, also related ▶Rick#2981 in the U.S.Powerful ruler; a short form of Richard, from the Old High German Richart composed of the eleme▶Thane#2983 in the U.S.Warrior or military follower of a king; from Old English thegn meaning warrior or retainer, and▶Wilbur#2986 in the U.S.Bright desire or will and fortress; from the Old High German Willbeorht or a variant of Wilburh▶Wrigley#2987 in the U.S.Meadow of the ridge dweller; from the Old English personal name or place name Wrigley, derived ▶Bradford#2994 in the U.S.Broad ford; a wide river crossing place▶Cliff#2995 in the U.S.Ford by the cliff; cliff slope▶Kipton#3012 in the U.S.Sheep town; sheep settlement▶Leam#3015 in the U.S.Strong-willed warrior; protector (as variant of Liam)▶Oakes#3025 in the U.S.Dweller near the oak trees▶Ruston#3029 in the U.S.Settlement near the rust-colored stone or earth▶Weldon#3033 in the U.S.Hill near a spring or well▶Willard#3034 in the U.S.Resolute and brave; strong-willed and hardy▶Baxter#3042 in the U.S.Baker; one who bakes bread▶Bryton#3045 in the U.S.Derived from Old English Bryton or Bryten, a place-name element meaning Briton or dweller at th▶Daelyn#3051 in the U.S.A modern American coinage combining dale, an Old English word for valley, with the popular suff▶Holton#3057 in the U.S.An Old English habitational surname from a place called Holton, combining hol (hollow or low-ly▶Hutson#3059 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Hudson or a patronymic from the pet form Hut (a diminutive of Hugh), mean▶Saxon#3081 in the U.S.From Old English and Latin Saxo, referring to a member of the Saxon people; the tribal name pos▶Stockton#3085 in the U.S.English place-name and surname from Old English stocc (tree stump, post) and tun (settlement, e▶Weller#3090 in the U.S.English occupational surname from Old English wella (well, spring) plus the agent suffix -er, m▶Witten#3091 in the U.S.English surname from Old English hwit (white) and tun (settlement), meaning white settlement; a▶Bently#3098 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Bentley, from Old English beonet (bent grass) and leah (clearing, meadow, w▶Coulter#3103 in the U.S.From Old English culter (plowshare, the blade of a plow) or from Scots English coulter meaning ▶Eduar#3109 in the U.S.Spanish truncation of Eduardo/Edward, from Old English Eadweard, composed of ead (wealth, fortu▶Eduard#3110 in the U.S.German, Romanian, Catalan, and other European form of Edward, from Old English Eadweard compose▶Tilden#3141 in the U.S.From Old English, a surname derived from a place name meaning 'fertile valley' or 'tilled dene ▶Wayland#3143 in the U.S.From Old English Weland, name of the legendary divine smith, possibly from Proto-Germanic *Wīla▶Bane#3159 in the U.S.South Slavic short form of Branimir or Branislav, meaning 'glory' or 'glorious defender'; in Ol▶Courtland#3161 in the U.S.English surname and given name, from Old French cort (court, enclosed yard) and Old English lan▶Ember#3168 in the U.S.From Old English aemyrge or Old Norse eimyrja meaning 'embers' — the glowing, smoldering pieces▶Lawton#3184 in the U.S.From the Old English hlāw (hill, burial mound) and tun (settlement, enclosure), meaning 'settle▶Opie#3191 in the U.S.Short form or nickname derived from Old English name Osbert or Oswald, or used independently; a▶Walden#3202 in the U.S.Wooded valley; one who dwells near the forested valley▶Arch#3211 in the U.S.Short form of Archibald; truly bold, genuinely brave▶Bruin#3217 in the U.S.Brown; the bear; a bear's name from medieval European beast fables▶Burke#3218 in the U.S.Dweller at or from the fortified settlement or borough▶Elward#3373 in the U.S.Elward joins an El- opening, of the kind seen in Elmer and Elwood, to the Old English element -▶Weyman#3655 in the U.S.Weyman (also spelled Wayman) is an English occupational or topographic surname, from Old Englis▶Lilburn#3887 in the U.S.Lilburn is an English surname from a place-name in Northumberland, most likely 'Lilla's stream'▶Woodard#3939 in the U.S.Woodard is an English occupational surname joining the Old English wudu, 'wood, forest,' with w▶Oswin#3948 in the U.S.Old English os, 'god', plus wine, 'friend' — the martyred gentle king of Deira▶Hearl#4241 in the U.S.Hearl is a spelling variant of Earl, from the Old English eorl, a nobleman or warrior, later an▶Harwood#4368 in the U.S.Harwood is an English surname derived from any of several English place-names, from the Old Eng▶Olden#5445 in the U.S.Olden is best read as a variant of Alden, an English surname from the Old English personal name▶Mearl#5594 in the U.S.Mearl is best read as a variant of Merle — from French 'merle', 'blackbird' — blended with Earl▶Eldra#5672 in the U.S.Eldra reads as a short or reshaped form of the Old English names Eldred and Eldridge, built fro▶Alf#6081 in the U.S.Alf is a short form of Alfred, from Old English Aelfraed, 'elf-counsel' or 'wise counsel'; it i▶
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Frequently Asked
What are the most popular Old English boy names?
Recent U.S. birth data puts Hudson, Cooper, Jackson, Wyatt and Mason at the front of this group.
Why do so many Old English boy names sound like surnames?
Because they were. English surnames formed from trades, such as Cooper and Walker, and from places, such as Weston. American parents then moved them back to the first-name slot, and the habit stuck.
Are Old English and Anglo-Saxon names the same thing?
Yes, the terms are used interchangeably for names built from the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest. It describes a historical language, not a modern nationality.