Full list of English female names: features, meaning and characteristics

Women's full names in England have their own distinctive feature. They consist of three parts, two of which are written through hyphens, and names. The first name is basic. The second is the average. The third is the surname. The main is the first name, it is they or a diminutive form from which they call a girl in life. The list of English women's names is constantly replenished, because any word can become a name, even the surname of one of the relatives or a celebrity.

History of the origin of the English name

Originally English names, like all other nations, were the usual nickname, consisted of two words - a noun and an adjective. They reflected the character of a person, his main features and signs. Further development led to the fact that people began to attribute names to the girls who were born (nicknames), reflecting the most desirable qualities that would predetermine and influence destiny.

Original English Female Names

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

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

Nevertheless, some of the British remain faithful to their traditions and call their daughters old names. The conquest of England by the Vikings reduced the number of English names. Instead of them appeared Norman. Currently in Britain, not all female names are English, the list is constantly growing at the expense of famous foreign women, in honor of which democratic British call their babies.

Names of Christian saints, the Bible

Strongly influenced by women's names the spread of Christianity in England. At the baptism of infants, they were named after the saints and the characters of the Bible. In the people these words were altered in their own way, so new English names appeared. The list is given below:

• Mary - Mary. Tranquil. Happened from the Hebrew name Maria. So the mother of the Lord Jesus was called.
• Ann - Ann. Grace, Grace. This name was called the mother of the prophet Samuel.
• Maryanne - Maryanne. Tranquil grace. This name united two - Mary and Ann.
• Sarah - Sarah. The name of Abraham's wife. Means "owning power, princess".
• Sophia - Sophie. Wisdom. It came in English from Christianity.
• Katherine - Catherine. Purity. The name came from Christianity.
• Eva - Eva. A life. It came from the Bible. So they called the progenitor of people.
• Agnes - Agnes. Innocent, unblemished. The name came from Christianity.
• Susanna - Suzanne. Little lily. The biblical name.
• Judyt - Judith. Glorification. The biblical name.
• Joan - Joan. A gift from the merciful God.

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

• Daniel - Daniel. God is my judge.
• Sarah - Sarah. Domineering.
• Susan - Susan. Lily.
• Hannah - Hannah. It happened on behalf of Anna. Grace. Grace.
• Dinah - Dean. Derivative from Diane. The Divine.
• Tamar - Tamara. Date palm.

The current list of English women's names that appeared in Puritan families is quite significant. Many representatives of this trend were forced to hide and went to Australia or North America.

American names

America came from natives of different countries. Mostly immigrants from the British Empire: British, Scots and Irish. Most of them were commoners and criminals who fled from persecution in their homeland. They brought here a shortened form of names, which are well established and gained popularity. A list of English female names has been replenished with new ones, such as Ben, Ed, Mad, Mel, Dan, Meg, Ellie, Tina, Lina.

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

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

• Mary - Mary. Derivative from Mary. Tranquil.
• Patricia - Patricia. Noble.
• Linda - Linda. Beautiful.
• Barbara - Barbara. The foreigner.
• Elizabeth - Elizabeth. God is my oath.
• Jennifer - Jennifer. The sorceress.
• Maria - Maria. Tranquil.
• Susan - Susanna. Little Lily.
• Margaret - Margaret. Pearl.
• Dorothy - Dorothy. Gift of the gods.
• Nancy - Nancy. Grace.
• Karen - Karen. Generous.
• Betty - Betty. Oath to the Gods.
• Helen - Helen. Sunshine.
• Sandra - Sandra. The man's defender.
• Carol - Carol. The derivative of Caroline is a princess.
• Ruth - Ruth. Friendship.
• Sharon - Sharon. Princess, the plain.

English Catholics, Protestants, Puritans brought their rules to America, according to which names were given. They, as well as in England, consist of three parts - the main, middle and last names. Many American names were borrowed by the English.

New female names

In the XVIII century in England, a new tradition to give children a second (middle) name. This brought back to life Old English and Gothic names such as Matilda, Diana, Emma. There were also new beautiful English female names. A list of them was replenished by famous English writers. Jonathan Swift, William Shakespeare and others gave such names to English women:

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

Beautiful female names

Every parent wants first of all that his child is healthy and beautiful. Their newborn daughters are chosen by Englishmen as euphonious and tender. It is hoped that the girl will have those character traits that denote the name. Therefore, the names are chosen with sonorous and with meaning. If there is no such name, then the child can be called any favorite word. Legislation allows this, so there are new beautiful English names for women. The list in English is given below:

• Agata - Agatha. Good, good.
• Adelaida - Adelaide. Noble.
• Beatrice. Beatrice. Blessed.
• Britney - Britney. Little Britain.
• Valery - Valerie. Strong, courageous.
• Veronica - Veronica. The one that brings victory.
• Gloria - Gloria. Glory.
• Camilla - Camille. Worthy of service to the gods.
• Caroline - Carolina. A princess.
• Melissa - Melissa. Honey.
• Miranda - Miranda. Delightful.
• Rebecca - Rebecca. Trap.
• Sabrina - Sabrina. Notable.

English surnames

It happened historically that the name is personal first, and the surname, which denotes belonging to the family, the family, is secondary. In the same way, English names and surnames are added. List of the most popular and common names:

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

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

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

Some surnames are of a professional shade, that is Stuart - "royal seneschal", Pottinger - "cook who cooks royal soup". Surnames, like names, can be given in honor of the place of residence, it can be the names of counties, countries, cities.