This page brings together 55 English names that start with the letter B, running alphabetically from “Bailey” all the way to “Byron.” You’ll find a mix of timeless classics, breezy nicknames, and modern surname-style picks, covering names for boys, girls, and everyone in between. Parents use a list like this to compare options, spot meanings, and find the perfect name for a new baby, character, or pet.
English names are personal names that come from the English language and its long history, shaped by Old English, Latin, French, and Germanic roots. Many carry surprising stories, like Byron, which began as a humble place name meaning “at the cow sheds” before becoming a romantic literary classic thanks to the famous poet Lord Byron.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Gender, Origin, Meaning, Famous Namesakes, and Description.
Name: This shows you the actual given name as it is most commonly spelled, so you can quickly scan and find the ones you like.
Gender: This tells you whether a name is typically used for boys, girls, or both, helping you narrow your search to what fits.
Origin: This points to the language or culture a name comes from, giving you a sense of its background and heritage at a glance.
Meaning: This explains what the name actually means or refers to, which often helps you connect with its character and pick a favorite.
Famous Namesakes: This lists well-known people or characters who share the name, giving you real examples and a feel for its personality.
Description: This offers a short, friendly summary of the name’s style, history, and overall vibe, so you can understand it at a deeper level.
English names
| Name | Gender | Origin | Meaning | Famous Namesakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey | Unisex | English | Bailiff or steward; also an outer castle wall | Bailey Sarian, Bill Bailey |
| Barrett | Male | English | Bear strength; possibly “quarrelsome” | Barrett Strong, Syd Barrett |
| Barry | Male | English/Irish | Spear or fair-haired | Barry Gibb, Barry White, Barack “Barry” Obama |
| Beatrice | Female | English/Latin | She who brings happiness; blessed | Princess Beatrice, Beatrice from Dante |
| Becky | Female | English | Diminutive of Rebecca; “to bind” | Becky Lynch, Becky from Roseanne |
| Belinda | Female | English | Bright, beautiful serpent or “pretty one” | Belinda Carlisle |
| Bella | Female | English/Italian | Beautiful | Bella Hadid, Bella Swan (Twilight) |
| Belle | Female | English/French | Beautiful | Belle (Beauty and the Beast) |
| Benedict | Male | English/Latin | Blessed | Benedict Cumberbatch, Pope Benedict |
| Benjamin | Male | English/Hebrew | Son of the right hand | Benjamin Franklin, Benedict “Ben” Affleck |
| Bernard | Male | English/Germanic | Brave as a bear | Bernard Shaw, Saint Bernard |
| Bertha | Female | English/Germanic | Bright or famous | Bertha from Jane Eyre |
| Bertram | Male | English/Germanic | Bright raven | Bertram from All’s Well That Ends Well |
| Bertie | Unisex | English | Diminutive of Albert or Bertram; “bright” | King George VI (nicknamed Bertie) |
| Beryl | Female | English | Pale green gemstone | Beryl Markham |
| Bessie | Female | English | Diminutive of Elizabeth; “God is my oath” | Bessie Smith, Bessie Coleman |
| Beth | Female | English | Diminutive of Elizabeth; “God is my oath” | Beth from Little Women |
| Bethany | Female | English/Hebrew | House of figs; a village near Jerusalem | Bethany Hamilton |
| Betsy | Female | English | Diminutive of Elizabeth; “God is my oath” | Betsy Ross |
| Betty | Female | English | Diminutive of Elizabeth; “God is my oath” | Betty White, Betty Boop |
| Beverly | Unisex | English | Beaver stream or meadow | Beverly Cleary, Beverly Hills |
| Bianca | Female | English/Italian | White, pure | Bianca from The Taming of the Shrew |
| Bill | Male | English | Diminutive of William; “resolute protector” | Bill Gates, Bill Clinton |
| Billie | Unisex | English | Diminutive of William or Wilhelmina | Billie Eilish, Billie Holiday, Billie Jean King |
| Billy | Male | English | Diminutive of William; “resolute protector” | Billy Joel, Billy the Kid |
| Blair | Unisex | English/Scottish | Plain or field | Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl), Tony Blair |
| Blake | Unisex | English | Black or pale; “dark” or “fair” | Blake Lively, Blake Shelton |
| Blanche | Female | English/French | White, fair | Blanche Devereaux (Golden Girls) |
| Blossom | Female | English | Flower; to bloom | Blossom (Powerpuff Girls) |
| Blythe | Female | English | Free spirit; happy, carefree | Blythe Danner |
| Bob | Male | English | Diminutive of Robert; “bright fame” | Bob Dylan, Bob Marley |
| Bobby | Male | English | Diminutive of Robert; “bright fame” | Bobby Kennedy, Bobby Fischer |
| Bonnie | Female | English/Scottish | Pretty, beautiful, cheerful | Bonnie Tyler, Bonnie Parker |
| Brad | Male | English | Diminutive of Bradley; “broad clearing” | Brad Pitt |
| Bradley | Male | English | Broad clearing or meadow | Bradley Cooper, Bradley Wiggins |
| Brandon | Male | English | Broom-covered hill; beacon hill | Brandon Lee, Brandon from Beverly Hills 90210 |
| Brenda | Female | English | Sword or torch; “blade” | Brenda Lee, Brenda Walsh (90210) |
| Brent | Male | English | Hill or high place; from a hilltop | Brent Spiner |
| Brett | Unisex | English | A Breton; from Brittany | Brett Favre |
| Brian | Male | English/Irish | Strong, virtuous, noble; high or hill | Brian May, Brian Wilson |
| Bridget | Female | English/Irish | Strength or exalted one | Bridget Jones, Saint Brigid |
| Britney | Female | English | Variant of Brittany; “from Britain” | Britney Spears |
| Brittany | Female | English | From Britain or Brittany | Brittany Murphy, Brittany Snow |
| Brock | Male | English | Badger | Brock Lesnar, Brock from Pokemon |
| Brooke | Female | English | Small stream | Brooke Shields |
| Brooklyn | Unisex | English | Broken land or water; a NYC borough | Brooklyn Beckham |
| Bruce | Male | English/Scottish | From the brushwood thicket; “the willowlands” | Bruce Lee, Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Wayne |
| Bryan | Male | English/Irish | Strong, noble; variant of Brian | Bryan Adams, Bryan Cranston |
| Bryce | Male | English | Speckled; a follower of a saint | Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryce Harper |
| Bryony | Female | English | A climbing vine; the bryony plant | Bryony Hannah |
| Buck | Male | English | Male deer; a spirited young man | Buck Owens |
| Bud | Male | English | Brother or friend; a flower bud | Bud Abbott |
| Burt | Male | English | Bright; diminutive of Burton or Albert | Burt Reynolds, Burt Lancaster |
| Burton | Male | English | Fortified town or settlement | Burton from English place names |
| Byron | Male | English | At the cow sheds or barns | Lord Byron |
Descriptions
Bailey
A friendly surname-turned-first-name that originally referred to a law officer or the courtyard of a medieval castle. It became popular as a unisex given name in the late 20th century.
Barrett
Derived from a Germanic surname brought to England, Barrett carries a sturdy, bear-like connotation. It has gained traction as a strong, modern boy’s name.
Barry
Barry rose to fame as a mid-20th-century classic, blending Irish roots with English usage. It conjures a warm, approachable, everyman charm.
Beatrice
An elegant, timeless name carried by royalty and immortalized in Dante’s poetry. Beatrice radiates joy and old-world sophistication.
Becky
A breezy, casual nickname-name popular in the 20th century. Becky feels youthful, friendly, and unpretentious.
Belinda
A graceful, slightly vintage name with literary roots in Alexander Pope’s poetry. Belinda suggests beauty and a lyrical softness.
Bella
Short for Isabella or used on its own, Bella surged in popularity in the 2000s. It is simple, romantic, and universally appealing.
Belle
A charming, fairy-tale name forever linked to Disney’s bookish heroine. Belle is delicate, classic, and timeless.
Benedict
A distinguished name with monastic and papal heritage, meaning “blessed.” Benedict feels scholarly, refined, and quietly powerful.
Benjamin
A perennial favorite blending biblical gravitas with friendly warmth. Benjamin and its nickname Ben remain enduringly popular.
Bernard
A strong, traditional name evoking courage and the famous rescue-dog saint. Bernard has a dignified, old-fashioned appeal.
Bertha
A vintage name meaning “bright,” once extremely common in the Victorian era. Bertha carries a sturdy, antique character.
Bertram
An old-world name combining “bright” and “raven,” lending it a noble, literary air. Bertram feels distinguished and rare today.
Bertie
A cheerful, vintage nickname-name that famously belonged to Britain’s King George VI. Bertie feels charming, retro, and endearing.
Beryl
A gemstone name popular in the early 20th century, evoking a soft green jewel. Beryl has a quaint, antique elegance.
Bessie
A warm, homey nickname for Elizabeth, popular in earlier generations. Bessie feels cozy, spirited, and nostalgic.
Beth
A gentle, understated short form of Elizabeth, beloved through literature. Beth suggests quiet kindness and simplicity.
Bethany
Originally a biblical place name, Bethany became a soft, popular girl’s name in the late 20th century. It feels fresh and gently spiritual.
Betsy
A spirited, all-American nickname for Elizabeth, tied to colonial history. Betsy is lively, friendly, and classic.
Betty
A wildly popular mid-century name that has made a retro comeback. Betty is cheerful, vintage, and full of personality.
Beverly
A place-derived name evoking a tranquil beaver-dwelling stream. Beverly peaked in the mid-20th century with a glamorous ring.
Bianca
A lovely name meaning “white,” used by Shakespeare and popular across cultures. Bianca feels graceful, pure, and a touch exotic.
Bill
A down-to-earth nickname for William, ubiquitous in the 20th century. Bill is friendly, reliable, and quintessentially everyman.
Billie
A jazzy, unisex name with cool, artistic associations. Billie feels modern, spirited, and effortlessly stylish.
Billy
A playful, boyish nickname for William with rock-and-roll flair. Billy is casual, energetic, and timeless.
Blair
A sleek, surname-style name meaning an open field. Blair feels sophisticated, modern, and crisply unisex.
Blake
An intriguing name meaning both dark and fair, popular for boys and girls. Blake is sleek, contemporary, and effortlessly cool.
Blanche
A classic name meaning “white,” with a refined, slightly old-fashioned charm. Blanche feels elegant and Southern-belle graceful.
Blossom
A sweet, nature-inspired name evoking spring flowers. Blossom is cheerful, whimsical, and gently old-fashioned.
Blythe
A graceful name meaning “joyful and carefree,” with a soft, airy sound. Blythe feels poetic, gentle, and refined.
Bob
A classic, easygoing nickname for Robert, hugely popular for generations. Bob is approachable, sturdy, and friendly.
Bobby
A warm, boyish form of Robert with a nostalgic, all-American feel. Bobby is lively, friendly, and youthful.
Bonnie
A sweet name meaning “pretty,” with a lively Scottish-tinged charm. Bonnie feels cheerful, vintage, and endearing.
Brad
A clean-cut, casual short form of Bradley, iconic in pop culture. Brad feels relaxed, confident, and approachable.
Bradley
A surname-derived name evoking a wide, open meadow. Bradley is sturdy, friendly, and steadily popular.
Brandon
A widely loved name meaning a hill covered in broom shrubs. Brandon feels approachable, modern, and dependable.
Brenda
A strong, vintage name with Norse-influenced roots meaning “sword.” Brenda peaked mid-century with a confident, no-nonsense feel.
Brent
A crisp, surname-style name meaning a hilltop. Brent feels understated, masculine, and clean.
Brett
A short, sporty name referring to someone from Brittany. Brett is breezy, casual, and quietly cool.
Brian
A classic name meaning “noble and strong,” popular across the English-speaking world. Brian is warm, dependable, and timeless.
Bridget
A graceful name with Celtic roots meaning “exalted,” carried by a beloved saint. Bridget feels spirited, classic, and charming.
Britney
A pop-culture name forever linked to its most famous bearer. Britney feels playful, modern, and distinctly late-20th-century.
Brittany
A place-inspired name that surged in the 1980s and 1990s. Brittany feels bright, youthful, and quintessentially of its era.
Brock
A short, rugged name meaning “badger,” with a strong, sporty edge. Brock feels bold, masculine, and energetic.
Brooke
A serene nature name evoking a gently flowing brook. Brooke is graceful, fresh, and quietly elegant.
Brooklyn
A modern place-inspired name borrowed from the famous New York borough. Brooklyn feels trendy, urban, and youthful.
Bruce
A strong, classic name with Scottish roots, tied to legendary figures. Bruce feels rugged, dependable, and iconic.
Bryan
A popular spelling variant of Brian meaning “noble and strong.” Bryan is warm, classic, and steadily favored.
Bryce
A sleek, surname-style name with a clean, modern sound. Bryce feels crisp, sporty, and contemporary.
Bryony
A botanical name drawn from a flowering climbing plant. Bryony feels delicate, distinctive, and gently old-fashioned.
Buck
A rugged nickname evoking a strong male deer or a bold young man. Buck feels frontier-tough, lively, and distinctly American.
Bud
A casual, affectionate name meaning “friend” or “buddy.” Bud feels warm, easygoing, and nostalgically American.
Burt
A vintage name meaning “bright,” tied to mid-century Hollywood charm. Burt feels classic, confident, and a touch debonair.
Burton
A dignified surname-style name meaning a fortified town. Burton feels stately, traditional, and quietly distinguished.
Byron
A romantic, literary name carried by the famous Romantic poet. Byron feels poetic, refined, and effortlessly elegant.