Old English Girl Names
149 old english girl names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Looking for boy names instead? Old English Boy Names →
Half the names on this page will feel like they came off a shelf in a farmhouse kitchen, and there is a reason for that. Old English girl names are built from the plain vocabulary of a very old island — trees, meadows, weather, work — and that is what makes them feel so unforced. Hazel is the tree and the nut and, lately, one of the most beloved girl names in America. Ivy is three letters of evergreen. Willow bends without breaking, and Daisy is a genuinely lovely piece of etymology — the Old English daeges eage, the day’s eye, for a flower that opens with the sun.
The second current running through this list is the surname strand, and it is the engine of modern American naming. Harper began as a word for someone who played the harp and is now a top-ten fixture. Madison and Addison made the same leap a generation earlier, and Everly, Kinsley and Hadley carry the pattern forward on that irresistible -ley ending, which in Old English simply meant a clearing or meadow. If you want something with a little old-Hollywood polish instead, Audrey descends from the Anglo-Saxon Aethelthryth and has never once looked dated. There are 134 girl names of Old English origin catalogued here.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its Anglo-Saxon roots, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Old English Girl Names
Harper#16 in the U.S.Harp player; one who plays the harp; harper▶Lily#18 in the U.S.Lily flower; symbol of purity and innocence▶Hazel#21 in the U.S.The hazel tree or shrub; of the hazel color (golden-brown)▶Ivy#39 in the U.S.Ivy plant; the climbing vine; associated with fidelity and eternity▶Madison#40 in the U.S.Son of Matthew; son of Maud; gift of God (via Matthew)▶Willow#44 in the U.S.Willow tree; from Old English welig▶Daisy#75 in the U.S.Day's eye — from Old English dæges ēage (day's eye), describing how the flower opens at dawn▶Addison#84 in the U.S.Son of Adam; from Old English Adde + sunu (son) — a patronymic surname now used for girls▶Audrey#86 in the U.S.Noble strength; from Old English aethel (noble) + thryth (strength)▶Everly#91 in the U.S.Boar meadow; from Old English eofor (wild boar) + leah (woodland clearing)▶Kinsley#93 in the U.S.King's meadow; from Old English cyning (king) + leah (meadow, clearing)▶Hailey#104 in the U.S.Hay meadow; from Old English heg (hay) + leah (woodland clearing, meadow)▶Hallie#120 in the U.S.Dweller at the hall meadow (Old English), or a diminutive of Harriet/Halle meaning 'army ruler'▶Hadley#121 in the U.S.Heathery meadow; heath clearing — from Old English haeth (heath) + leah (woodland clearing, mea▶Rylee#137 in the U.S.Courageous; valiant — from Irish surname Riley/O'Reilly, from Gaelic raghallach (courageous)▶Oaklynn#153 in the U.S.Modern coinage blending Old English āc (oak tree) with the popular feminine suffix -lynn (from ▶Ember#154 in the U.S.Smoldering remains of a fire — from Old English æmerge (ember, glowing coal), a word name▶Wrenley#159 in the U.S.Wren clearing or meadow — modern coinage blending Old English wrenna (wren, a small bird) with ▶Ashley#164 in the U.S.Ash tree meadow; clearing of ash trees — from Old English aesc (ash tree) + leah (woodland clea▶Tatum#189 in the U.S.Tate's homestead; from Old English tāt (Tate, a personal name) + hām (home, settlement)▶Haven#190 in the U.S.Safe harbor; place of refuge; from Old English hæfen (harbor, port)▶Blakely#191 in the U.S.Dark or pale clearing — from Old English blāc (black/pale) + lēah (woodland clearing)▶Molly#196 in the U.S.Diminutive of Mary/Margaret; Mary means 'sea of bitterness' or 'wished-for child' from Hebrew M▶Stevie#203 in the U.S.Crown; wreath; feminine/diminutive form of Steven/Stephen, from Greek Stephanos (crown, wreath)▶Bailey#209 in the U.S.Bailiff, outer wall — from Old French baillif (agent, administrator) or Old English bailif (the▶Saylor#217 in the U.S.Sailor; or rope-maker; an occupational English surname from Old English sæglere (sailor)▶Presley#225 in the U.S.Priest's meadow or woodland clearing; from Old English preost + leah▶Wren#231 in the U.S.Wren, a small songbird; from Old English wrenna▶Faith#254 in the U.S.Faith; trust; belief; from Latin fides (faith, trust) via Old French feid/feit▶Aspen#266 in the U.S.Aspen tree; from Old English æspe, the trembling poplar tree▶Kimberly#303 in the U.S.Royal forest meadow; from the South African city of Kimberley, named after Lord Kimberley; Old ▶Harlow#309 in the U.S.Army hill or rock hill; from Old English here (army) + hlaw (hill, mound)▶Brooke#313 in the U.S.From the Old English word 'broc', meaning a small stream or watercourse. Originally a topograph▶Madisson#319 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Madison, an Old English surname meaning 'son of Maud' or 'son of Matthew', ▶Marley#322 in the U.S.From an Old English place name and surname meaning 'pleasant wood' or 'lake clearing', composed▶Kendall#328 in the U.S.From a place name in Cumbria, England — Kendal — derived from Old Norse 'Kent-dale', meaning 'v▶Leighton#342 in the U.S.From an Old English place name, 'leac-tun', meaning a kitchen garden or leek garden (leac = lee▶Ryleigh#344 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Riley, from Irish Gaelic O Raghallaigh (descendant of Raghallach, 'courageo▶Sydney#348 in the U.S.From the English surname Sidney, from the Old English 'sid' (wide) and 'eg' (island), meaning '▶Hope#352 in the U.S.From the Old English 'hopa', meaning hope — the expectation and desire for a positive outcome. ▶Wrenlee#358 in the U.S.A modern combination of Wren (the small bird, from Old English 'wrenna') and Lee (meadow or cle▶Briar#400 in the U.S.From Old English brær or brer meaning a prickly shrub, especially a wild rose bush; used as a g▶Raven#404 in the U.S.From Old English hraefn meaning the raven bird, a large black corvid; used as a given name for ▶Holly#416 in the U.S.From Old English holegn meaning the holly tree, an evergreen shrub associated with Christmas an▶Harley#418 in the U.S.From Old English hara (hare) and leah (woodland clearing, meadow), meaning a meadow where hares▶Winter#426 in the U.S.From Old English winter meaning the cold season, used as a word name evoking the beauty and sti▶Dream#432 in the U.S.From Old English dream meaning joy, music, or a dream vision; used as a word name for its aspir▶Hayden#437 in the U.S.From Old English heg meaning hay and denu meaning valley; a topographic surname meaning one fro▶Edith#499 in the U.S.From Old English 'Eadgyth,' composed of 'ead' (rich, prosperity, fortune) and 'gyth' (battle, s▶Clover#517 in the U.S.From the Old English word clafre or clafer meaning the clover plant (genus Trifolium), used as ▶Marlowe#523 in the U.S.From the English surname Marlowe, derived from the Old English place-name Mǣrel-wōh or similar,▶Halle#596 in the U.S.From Old English heall meaning 'hall' or 'manor house,' used as a place-name and surname meanin▶Brinley#608 in the U.S.From an Old English place-name and surname, composed of bryne ('fire,' 'burning') and leah ('me▶Oakleigh#668 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Oakley, from Old English ac meaning oak tree and leah meaning wood, clearin▶Paislee#669 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Paisley, from the Scottish town of Paisley, whose name derives from Old Eng▶Whitley#677 in the U.S.From an Old English place name composed of hwit meaning white or fair and leah meaning wood, cl▶Wrenleigh#685 in the U.S.Modern American compound of wren (from Old English wrenna meaning the wren bird) and leigh (fro▶Averie#701 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Avery, from the Old English name Alfred or the Old French form of the Germa▶Merritt#703 in the U.S.English surname from the Old English place name Meritone or Meregate, meaning 'boundary gate'; ▶Drew#706 in the U.S.Short form of Andrew, from Old Welsh Dryw meaning 'vision' or 'wise man'; or a diminutive of th▶Karsyn#719 in the U.S.Feminine spelling variant of Carson, from the Scottish/English surname derived from Old Norse o▶Bristol#728 in the U.S.From the Old English Brycgstow, meaning 'assembly place by the bridge' (brycg = bridge + stow =▶Taytum#732 in the U.S.Creative spelling variant of Tatum, from the Old English surname meaning 'Tate's homestead' (fr▶Kensley#742 in the U.S.English surname from Old English, possibly from a personal name Cene or Cynesige combined with ▶Rynlee#755 in the U.S.Rye clearing or meadow; a creative respelling of Ryleigh or Riley, from Old English ryge-leah m▶Brynleigh#807 in the U.S.Burnt clearing or burnt meadow; a modern American spelling variant of Brinley or Brynley, from ▶Kelsey#814 in the U.S.Derived from the Old English place name Ceolsige or Celchyth, interpreted as 'Cenel's island' o▶Hunter#842 in the U.S.From the Old English huntian (to hunt) via the Middle English surname Hunter, meaning 'one who ▶Ensley#845 in the U.S.A modern American given name, likely derived from an English place name or surname meaning 'Ean▶Honey#846 in the U.S.From the Old English hunig (honey), referring to the sweet substance produced by bees; used as ▶Lea#848 in the U.S.Variant of Leah, from the Hebrew le'ah meaning 'weary' or 'delicate cow'; also related to the O▶Kendra#849 in the U.S.Possibly a feminine form of Kendrick, from Old English Cyneric meaning 'royal power' or 'greate▶Chelsea#851 in the U.S.From the Old English place name Chelchith or Cealchythe, meaning 'chalk landing place' or 'chal▶Haley#861 in the U.S.From the Old English place name Haegleah, composed of haeg (hay) and leah (clearing, meadow), m▶Aspyn#869 in the U.S.Creative spelling of Aspen, from the Old English aespe (aspen tree), a tree whose leaves trembl▶Berkley#888 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Berkeley, from Old English beorc (birch tree) and leah (clearing, meadow, o▶Ivey#926 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Ivy, from Old English ifig meaning the ivy plant (Hedera helix); the ivy wa▶Hadlee#931 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Hadley, from Old English haeth (heather, heath) and leah (meadow, clearing,▶Kimber#936 in the U.S.Short form of Kimberly, from Old English Cyneburg meaning royal fortress, composed of cyne (roy▶Bexley#963 in the U.S.From the Old English place name Bexley, composed of byxe meaning box tree and leah meaning mead▶Marleigh#976 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Marley, from Old English mere meaning lake, pool, or marsh and leah meaning▶Camden#1577 in the U.S.From an English place name and surname combining Old English 'camp' (enclosure) and 'denu' (val▶Paityn#1699 in the U.S.A modern American respelling of Peyton/Payton, from an Old English place name meaning 'Pæga's t▶Mildred#2105 in the U.S.Gentle strength▶Arlo#2244 in the U.S.fortified hill, army hill▶Weslie#2261 in the U.S.western meadow or clearing▶Hensley#2269 in the U.S.stallion's meadow or high estate clearing▶Kenzley#2270 in the U.S.royal meadow, headland clearing▶Ashtyn#2277 in the U.S.ash tree town or settlement▶Cove#2279 in the U.S.a small sheltered bay or inlet▶Raeleigh#2290 in the U.S.meadow of roe deer▶Brixley#2302 in the U.S.brick settlement meadow▶Kelsie#2312 in the U.S.ship's island or keel island▶Adaleigh#2319 in the U.S.noble one of the meadow▶Brayleigh#2322 in the U.S.broad meadow or wide clearing▶Kynslee#2330 in the U.S.royal meadow▶Lynnlee#2333 in the U.S.lake meadow or waterside clearing▶Ellerie#2348 in the U.S.alder tree island▶Tinley#2358 in the U.S.settlement meadow, modern -ley name▶Annalie#2363 in the U.S.grace and meadow▶Lincoln#2368 in the U.S.lake colony, settlement by the pool▶Berkeley#2382 in the U.S.birch tree meadow or clearing▶Kensington#2389 in the U.S.Cynesige's estate or royal town▶Kinsey#2391 in the U.S.royal victory meadow▶Presleigh#2393 in the U.S.priest's meadow or clearing▶Wednesday#2425 in the U.S.day of the Norse god Woden/Odin▶Harlie#2462 in the U.S.hare meadow, army meadow▶Landyn#2989 in the U.S.Variant of Landon, from the Old English elements lang (long) and dun (hill), meaning from the l▶Whitlee#3039 in the U.S.Variant of Whitley, from Old English 'hwit' (white) + 'leah' (woodland clearing, meadow), meani▶Carley#3048 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Carly, itself a feminine form of Carl/Charles, from the Germanic karl meani▶Adleigh#3073 in the U.S.Noble meadow or noble wood clearing; from Old English adel and leah▶Bradley#3078 in the U.S.Broad meadow or wide wood clearing; from Old English brad (broad) and leah (clearing, meadow)▶Bryar#3080 in the U.S.Thorny shrub or wild rose bush; from Old English brær or brier, referring to a prickly hedging ▶Grey#3085 in the U.S.Grey-haired or of grey colour; from Old English graeg, originally a surname for someone with gr▶Karleigh#3092 in the U.S.Free woman; from the Germanic karl (free man) combined with the Old English leah (meadow, clear▶Baileigh#3169 in the U.S.Creative variant of Bailey, from Old French 'baillif' (steward, administrator) or Old English '▶Everette#3181 in the U.S.From the Old English surname Everett, combining eofor (wild boar) and heard (brave, strong, har▶Kensleigh#3191 in the U.S.Creative spelling of Kensley, from Old English cyning (king) + leah (clearing, meadow), meaning▶Paxton#3201 in the U.S.From an Old English surname and place name, from Pæcc's tun (settlement, town); sometimes also ▶Rylei#3205 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Riley, from Old English Ryge-leah meaning 'rye clearing' or 'rye meadow'; a▶Truth#3208 in the U.S.From Old English treowth or triewth, meaning 'faithfulness, fidelity, truth'; the English abstr▶Brandy#3221 in the U.S.From Dutch brandewijn meaning 'burnt wine' (the distilled spirit), used as a given name since t▶Kelsi#3240 in the U.S.From the Old English surname and place name Kelsey, often derived from Cenel's island▶Stiorra#3868 in the U.S.From Old English steorra, 'star' — popularized by Uhtred's daughter in The Last Kingdom▶Edithe#3922 in the U.S.Edithe is an ornamental, French-looking spelling of Edith, the Old English Eadgyth from ead, 'r▶Eddye#4384 in the U.S.Eddye is a decorative feminine spelling of Eddie, used as a pet form of Edith or Edwina. Both t▶Alfretta#4662 in the U.S.Alfretta is an ornamental elaboration of Alfreda, the feminine of Alfred, from Old English 'ael▶Eldred#5539 in the U.S.Eldred descends from the Old English Ealdred, joining eald ('old') and ræd ('counsel'), so 'old▶Elfrida#6520 in the U.S.Elfrida (also Elfreda, Alfreda) comes from the Old English 'Aelfthryth', from 'aelf' ('elf') an▶Editha#6794 in the U.S.Editha is a Latinized, formal form of Edith, the old English name Eadgyth. It joins ead, 'wealt▶Ethelda#6872 in the U.S.Ethelda extends Ethel — from Old English 'aethel', 'noble' — with a -da ending, possibly influe▶Etheline#7342 in the U.S.Etheline takes the Old English root aethel, meaning noble, and lengthens the short Victorian fa▶Elfreda#7854 in the U.S.Elfreda descends from the Old English Ælfþryð, joining 'ælf', elf, to 'þryð', strength — 'elf s▶Edwena#8362 in the U.S.Edwena is a spelling variant of Edwina, the feminine form of Edwin, from Old English 'ead' ('we▶Audi#8481 in the U.S.A pet form of Audrey — from the Old English Aethelthryth, 'noble strength' (aethel, 'noble', + ▶Harlin#8607 in the U.S.A form/spelling of Harlan/Harlyn — from the Old English, variously 'the hare's land' (hara, 'ha▶Ethyl#8716 in the U.S.Ethyl is an early-twentieth-century variant spelling of Ethel, from the Old English element æðe▶Alfredia#10409 in the U.S.Alfredia is a feminine form of Alfred, from Old English Aelfraed, 'elf counsel' — that is, wise▶Shirl#11781 in the U.S.Shirl is a short form of Shirley, from the Old English scir ('bright') and leah ('meadow, clear▶Haelee#12630 in the U.S.Haelee is one of the many respellings of Hailey or Haylee, an English surname and place-name fr▶Earline#14087 in the U.S.A feminine elaboration of Earl, from Old English eorl, 'nobleman, warrior,' with the popular -i▶Ashle#15057 in the U.S.Ashle is a shortened spelling of Ashley, from the Old English æsc ('ash tree') and lēah ('wood,▶Audre#15545 in the U.S.Audre is a trimmed form of Audrey, which comes from the Old English Aethelthryth, joining aethe▶Alfreda#15797 in the U.S.A feminine form of Alfred, from Old English aelf ('elf') and raed ('counsel') — 'elf counsel.' ▶Hailley#16170 in the U.S.Hailley is an ornate spelling of Hailey, from the Old English hēg ('hay') and lēah ('wood, clea▶Haillie#16396 in the U.S.Haillie is a variant spelling of Hailey, from an English place-name and surname meaning 'hay me▶Marva#16741 in the U.S.A feminine form of Marvin, from the Welsh Merfyn or Old English Merewine, generally read as 'se▶Earlene#18430 in the U.S.A feminine form of Earl, from Old English eorl, 'nobleman, warrior,' with the -lene ending. A s▶AilithA revival of the ancient Old English Aethelgyth (Ailith), from aethel ('noble') and gyth ('war;▶
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Frequently Asked
What are popular Old English girl names?
The leaders in U.S. birth data are Harper, Lily, Hazel, Ivy and Willow, with Madison and Audrey close behind.
What is Old English?
Old English, or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in Britain roughly from the fifth to the eleventh century. It is a language and a period rather than a country, and it supplies the raw words behind many nature and surname-style names.
Are Old English girl names easy to pronounce?
Almost always, because they are made of everyday English words and endings. Where a name has a less obvious origin, such as Audrey, its page carries an audio pronunciation and the full etymology.