Double American male names. List of the most common first and last names of American men
When you hear a handsome American male name, a picture immediately appears before your eyes, depicting a stylishly dressed guy with a million-dollar smile.
Boys and men with sonorous names are the personification of charm. They seem to be blessed with beautiful genes and are all beautiful. Below is a list of American male names that are considered the most beautiful and popular today.
Jayden
What do you get when you mix Jay and Aiden? Yes, Jayden. Instead of Brayden, Hayne or Kaden, parents in the US call their sons Jayden.
It is a Hebrew name that means "gratitude" or "God has heard." It entered the top twenty best American male names. The name Jayden is also ranked #20 in Canada and #21 in the Netherlands.
This name received a wild surge in popularity when Hollywood actor Will Smith and his wife Jada named their son Jaden. Other famous parents who have chosen this name for their sons include former tennis stars and Steffi Graf, as well as actor Christian Slater.
Ben/Benjamin
This name has biblical roots. Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. Naturally, the name is of Hebrew origin and means “son of the right hand.”
The most famous is Benjamin Franklin, one of America's founding fathers. Other famous people bearing this name: actors Ben Stein and Ben Stiller, the ninth Prime Minister of Israel - Benjamin Netanyahu.
The name Ben is popular in Hollywood, chosen by famous parents such as Rowan Atkinson (the name of actor and comedian Mr. Bean), actor Jeff Daniels, singer and songwriter
Phoenix
This American male name has become fashionable in recent years.
On Greek this name means "dark red color". It evokes the image of a colorful legendary bird. IN ancient mythology The phoenix was an immortal animal, rising from its own ashes to be reborn in flames. Besides the name of the bird, Phoenix is also the capital of Arizona.
Mason
This is a profession name that has become a name. Translated from English it means "bricklayer".
In 2011, the name Mason skyrocketed in popularity, reaching No. 2 on the list of American male names. It remains a favorite among parents because this moment ranks 3rd in the above list. Although this name is suitable for both boys and girls, it is more common among men.
There's no denying the influence of pop culture in popularizing the Masons. In the 50s and 60s, the actor played lawyer Perry Mason in the TV series of the same name. In addition, this name is popular in Hollywood, it was chosen by such famous parents as Melissa Joan Hart, Kourtney Kardashian and Kelsey Grammer.
Cooper
The name Cooper entered the top 100 list in 2007 in the United States, and has never left it.
Famous parents agree that this is a stunningly beautiful American male baby name. Celebrities who have chosen the name Cooper for their sons include Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, actors Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Murray.
Ryan
Ryan is a quintessential Irish name that comes from the surname O'Riain. It means "descendant of the king."
This is a more recent alternative to the name Brian, which has been popular since 1976.
Ryan Gosling, Ryan Reynolds, Ryan Phillippe and Ryan Seacrest are a few celebrities with this name.
Matthew
In Swedish the name is Matteus. On French- Matthieu. In Italian it is Matteo. And in the English-speaking world, the name is Matthew.
During the 80s and 90s, Matthew was the third most popular boy name in the United States.
There's certainly no shortage of Matthews in Hollywood: McConaughey, Damon, Broderick, Perry and Dillon. Some famous parents have chosen foreign versions of the name for their offspring.
Anthony
In Latin, Anthony means "priceless." It lives up to its meaning and remains a prized name among American male names. Celebrities include actors Antonio Banderas and Anthony Hopkins, chef Anthony Bourdain, producer Tony Hawk, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Anthony Kiedis.
Anthony, Tony, Antonio - these are American male names on English language which are considered interchangeable.
Plenty of other celebrities have chosen this name for their celebrity children, including actresses Angela Lansbury, actors Jerry Lewis, Gregory Peck,
Logan
Modern pop culture has certainly helped the name's popularity. Especially among fans of the X-Men comics and movies.
James
This is the most common name of former US presidents: Madison, Monroe, Polk, Buchanan, Garfield and Carter.
Modern celebrities include singer-songwriter actor Jim Carrey, guitarist Jimmy Page and singer James Brown.
Luke/Lucas
Luke is another biblical boy name on this list. It gained popularity in 1977 thanks to the film Star Wars and its hero Luke Skywalker.
William
Like John, William is the most popular name among English-speaking people.
There were four US presidents named William: Harrison, McKinley, Taft and Clinton. But this is only the tip of the iceberg, this name was borne by the great playwright William Shakespeare and writer. Our contemporaries are actors William H. Macy and Will Smith. And of course, don't forget about Prince William.
John/Johnny
In Russia it is Ivan, in Italy it is Giovanni, in Scotland it is Yan, in Germany it is Hans, in French it is Yannick. And in the United States of America - John.
This is a Hebrew name that means "God is merciful." John was a revered saint. This name has never left the top 100 names for boys. And almost every American has a friend named John.
There are also many famous people with this name. Among them: actors Johnny Depp, Jon Voight, former President John F. Kennedy and musician John Lennon.
Josh/Joshua
The name means "The Lord is my salvation" and has biblical roots.
It is quite popular, ranking 33rd in the United States.
Famous people include singer Josh Groban, actors Josh Hartnett and Josh Duhamel. The name Joshua has been chosen for their sons by celebrities such as singer Faith Evans, entertainer Donny Osmond, and actor and NBA player Tony Parker.
Michael
This biblical name, Michael (Michael in English-speaking countries) was an archangel who defeated Satan. It is translated as "like God."
Michael is a name in the celebrity world. With big stars like Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, Mike Tyson, Mick Jagger, Michael Caine, Michael J. Fox, Michael Douglas and many more, this name continues to have long-lasting success.
Liam
This was originally William's nickname, but is now a separate full name. It is the second most popular American male name. It first appeared in Ireland, and is now more popular in the United States of America than in its homeland.
Famous people include actors Liam Neeson and Liam Hemsworth, former Oasis member Liam Gallagher.
Tori Spelling, Rod Stewart, Craig Ferguson and Kevin Costner are celebrities who have chosen this name for their sons.
Gray
This is an ancient Scottish surname. Its meaning is obvious - “gray” or “gray-haired”. The earliest record of this name appears in 1173.
Gray is one of those names that originated as a surname and later became popular American male names. Although Gray is still a very common surname. In the USA, in general, many American male names and surnames sound the same.
In fact, Gray is usually a nickname for other names such as Graham and Grayson.
The most popular American male first and last names
Below are the top 50 surnames that can also be used as given names.
- Smith.
- Johnson.
- Williams.
- Jones.
- Brown.
- Davis.
- Miller.
- Wilson.
- Taylor.
- Anderson.
- Thomas.
- Jackson.
- White.
- Harris.
- Martin.
- Thompson;.
- Garcia.
- Martinez.
- Robinson.
- Clark.
- Rodriguez.
- Lewis.
- Walker.
- Hall.
- Allen.
- Hernandez.
- Quinn.
- Wright.
- Lopez.
- Hill.
- Scott.
- Green.
- Adams.
- Baker.
- Gonzalez.
- Nelson.
- Carter.
- Mitchell.
- Perez.
- Roberts.
- Turner.
- Phillips.
- Campbell.
- Parker.
- Evans.
- Edwards.
- Collins.
The best names of the last 100 years
The following table provides a list of the most popular American male and female names over the past 100 years (1917-2016).
These are general statistics compiled from the census of the population for the specified period. Here is a list of female and male American names for people born in the USA between 1917 and 2016.
| Male name | Number of people named | Female name | Number of people named |
|
| James | ||||
| Patricia | ||||
| Robert | Jennifer | |||
| Michael | Elizabeth | |||
| William | Linda | |||
| David | Barbara | |||
| Richard | Susan | |||
| Joseph | Jessica | |||
| Thomas | Margaret | |||
| Charles | Sarah | |||
| Christopher | Karen | |||
| Daniel | Nancy | |||
| Matthew | Betty | |||
| Anthony | ||||
| Donald | Dorothy | |||
| Sandra | ||||
| Ashley | ||||
| Steven | Kimberly | |||
| Andrew | Donna | |||
| Kenneth | Carol | |||
| George | Michelle | |||
| Joshua | Emily | |||
| Kevin | Amanda | |||
| Brian | Helen | |||
| Edward | Melissa | |||
| Ronald | Deborah | |||
| Timothy | Stephanie | |||
| Jason | Laura | |||
| Jeffrey | Rebecca | |||
| Ryan | Sharon | |||
| Harry | Cynthia | |||
| Jacob | Kathleen | |||
| Nicholas | ||||
| Shirley | ||||
| Stephen | ||||
| Jonathan | Angela | |||
| Larry | ||||
| Justin | Brenda | |||
| Scott | Pamela | |||
| Frank | Nicole | |||
| Brandon | Katherine | |||
| Raymond | Virginia | |||
| Gregory | Catherine | |||
| Benjamin | Christine | |||
| Samuel | Samantha | |||
| Patrick | Debra | |||
| Alexander | Janet | |||
| Rachel | ||||
| Dennis | Carolyn | |||
| Jerry | ||||
| Tyler | Maria | |||
| Aaron | Heather | |||
| Henry | Diane | |||
| Douglas | Julie | |||
| Joyce | ||||
| Peter | Evelyn | |||
| Francesca | ||||
| Zachary | Joan | |||
| Nathan | Christina | |||
| Walter | Kelly | |||
| Harold | Victoria | |||
| Lauren | ||||
| Martha | ||||
| Arthur | Judith | |||
| Gerald | Cheryl | |||
| Roger | Megan | |||
| Andrea | ||||
| Jeremy | ||||
| Terry | Alice | |||
| Lawrence | Jane | |||
| Doris | ||||
| Christian | Jacqueline | |||
| Albert | Kathryn | |||
| Hannah | ||||
| Ethan | Olivia | |||
| Austin | Gloria | |||
| Jesse | Marie | |||
| Willie | Teresa | |||
| Billy | ||||
| Bryan | Janice | |||
| Bruce | Julia | |||
| Jordan | Grace | |||
| Ralph | Judy | |||
| Theresa | ||||
| Dylan | Beverly | |||
| Eugene | Denise | |||
| Wayne | Marilyn | |||
| Amber | ||||
| Madison | ||||
| Louis | Danielle | |||
| Russell | Brittany | |||
| Gabriel | Diana | |||
| Randy | Abigail | |||
| Philip | Jane | |||
| Harry | Natalie | |||
| Vincent | ||||
| Bobby | Tiffany | |||
| Johnny | Alexis | |||
| Logan | Kayla |
Rare American male names are: Apollo, Aristotle, Bobo, Brix, Chet, Eustace, Everest, Ferris, Fisher, Fraser, Hannes, Heston, Inigo, Janus, Kirk, Auden, Remy, Rockwell, Scout, Wael, Werner.
Choosing a cool yet appropriate name for your baby is not an easy task. After all, your child will live with it all his life! Many parents begin to rack their brains even before his birth, trying to figure everything out and agree on opinions, and also so that later, when the baby grows up, it doesn’t occur to him to change his name. You need to choose wisely and without fanaticism, don't forget this. Well, we bring to your attention interesting names in the USA. Check it
On the Nameberry website you can not only choose a special, cool and pleasant-to-hear name, but also find out its true meaning and popularity. It's also a great opportunity to check out a list of the decade's biggest trends, whether you're a trendsetter or a follower.
A name is a gift so meaningful, so powerful and personal that only you can select it for your child.
A name is a gift so significant, so powerful and personal that only you can choose it for your child.
Today names that start with " Ad" or end with " lee", are among the most popular for children. So run into a bunch of kids called Kinsley ( Kinsley), Bentley ( Bently) or even Edeline ( Addelyn), in our time it becomes more probable than, say, in the 50s. By the way, about them. Meet tons of Jennifer ( Jennifer) or Jasons ( Jason) was much more likely than today. And now, children in the USA and Britain, in contrast to Russian names, are quite willingly given names of the so-called “superlative degree”. Get it? Well, for example, such as Legend, Royalty or King. Would you like this for yourself? They could pathetically declare to someone: “I am a legend!” and Will Smith himself would envy you. Hurry up to change the names before they become boring, because they are becoming more popular every day!
Also on the list of fashionable baby names are the names of celebrities. These days, naming your baby Lennon, Monroe or Hendrix can take the world by storm! We believe that this trend is worth following. Why? Well... because paying homage to legendary stars can inspire your child to become the coolest kid in the world!
We would not like to upset you, but Mother Murphy with her laws is not at all against it. One of them, for example, reads: “No matter how harmless the name you give your child may seem, he will definitely be teased with this name.” So, name your child so that such a law does not come into effect.
Popular American names
List of male names:
Noah
Liam
William
Mason
James
Benjamin
Jacob
Michael
Elijah
Ethan
List of female names:
Emma
Olivia
Ava
Sophia
Isabella
Mia
Charlotte
Abigail
Emily
Harper
Well, if you still want to know the history, then on the Social Security Administration website ( Social Security Administration or S.S.A., but don't read backwards tho) there is a whole table with the five most popular male and female names in the United States for newborn flowers of life, starting from 1917 to 2016. Over the past 100 years, for example, the name " Michael" still holds the lead (44 times), while the female name " Mary"over the years has become a leader 39 times.
Other American names
While some names come and go, those that we have indicated below, be that as it may, are “stuck” with the people thoroughly. They may not be #1 today, but they will certainly never go out of fashion and are heading towards the top of the list every day.
English male names:
- Everett. Means "brave as a wild boar" - " brave as a wild boar». English version German name " Eberhard».
- Henry. German name meaning "household manager" - " ruler of the household" or "household manager."
- Charlie. "Free guy" - " free man" English soft form of the name "Charles".
- Edwin. "Prosperous Friend" - " prosperous friend" or "rich friend." English name.
- Sam. The Hebrew meaning of the name is “to hear.” Also means "declared by God" - " told by God" English name, full form - "Samuel".
- Marshall. French name meaning "guardian of horses" - " the keeper of hours».
- Calvin. Latin name meaning "bald" or "uncovered" - " bald boy».
- Edgar. English name meaning "great spearman" - " great spear man.»
English female names:
- Lola. Spanish name, meaning "strong woman".
- Lillian. French name, derived from the name "Elizabeth" (Elizabeth). Oddly enough, it means “lily”.
- Stella. Latin name, derived from " stellar", which means "starry".
- Genevieve(read as, "Genevieve") - Genevieve. Good name from France. Means "white wave".
- Cora. Not the one in the trees. It's like Corinna, only Cora. In ancient Greek it means “filled heart” - “ filled heart" In mythology, the name Kore was an epithet of Persephone, the goddess of fertility and mistress of the underworld.
- Evelyn. Evelina is a Hebrew name meaning " life force" Traditionally an English surname that was a boy's name, but is now used primarily for girls.
- Lucy. Lucille is an English Catholic name meaning "light-bringer". You can say " Lucia» as well.
- Clara. She stole corals, but in general she is “light” and “clean”. Latin name.
- Ruby. Again Latin for "dark red gem".
- Eva["i:və]. The name of the progenitor of all mankind means "life-giver" or simply "life". Cool, right? The Latin form of the Hebrew name "Eve".
Rare and unusual English names
A unique name is chosen as a symbol of a unique, special child and family.
A unique name is chosen as a symbol of an exceptional, special child and family.
TOP 5 unusual male names in English
- Prescott. This superb English name meaning "Rectory" was given to 18 boys in 2016. It can be shortened to "Scott" as a nickname if he thinks it sounds too strict.
- Grover. Although there were many Grovers during the 20th century, such as President Cleveland, as well as the lovable blue weirdo from Sesame Street. Another famous Grover is jazz saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. But only 19 boys were named Grover in 2016.
- Oberon. The character Oberon in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is the king of fairies and elves, but the name itself, with the accented "o" at the beginning, conveys a much more masculine image. Oberon has also been seen as a fairy-tale king in ancient Germanic legend, French heroic song, Ben-Johnson's masque drama, and several operas. He also appeared in the Disney animated film Gargoyles. In ancient England the name was written as "Auberon".
- Regis. This holy French name means "royal". Today the name is most often associated with the venerable talk show host Regis Philbin
(Regis Philbin). Only 10 parents chose this name for their son in 2016, so chances are your son will be the only "Regis" in your life. - Thelonious. Best known as the name of legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk, 20 boys received this unique name in 2016. The origin is due to the German name "Tillman", which means "one who tills the earth", and "Thelonius" is a Latinized variation of this word.
TOP 5 unusual female names in English
Since many people are looking for a "unique" name, finding something truly unique can be extremely difficult, especially when it comes to girls. Historically, girls' names have tended to be fashionable, while boys' names have been more conservative. For example, while the most popular girl's name changed every 10 years, the name "Michael" has remained in the top ten for over 75 years. Thanks to this, there are more popular beautiful female names than male ones. In addition, many trending “unusual” names for girls come from men’s names. So if you're looking for something unusual but distinctly feminine, then you might have to dig a little deeper.
The names below are given to 10 or fewer baby girls each year, so of course there's a small chance she'll have to share her unique name with someone else. But, if you want your new addition to the family to stand out among the Emmas, Olivias and Sophias, then feel free to choose one of the unusual names below for your little princess.
- Flannery. Perhaps you haven't gotten around to reading it yet famous story Flannery O'Connor, "Everything That Rises Must Converge". But that shouldn't stop you from going for this warm-sounding Irish name. "Flannery" comes from "flann" and "gal", which means "ruddy" and "bravery" in Irish, with only 10 little girls given this name in 2016.
- Alberta. The English name, meaning "noble" and "bright", probably comes from the western province of Canada. However, there is information that the province is actually named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, one of Queen Victoria's daughters. Although the name may be quite popular abroad, only 9 girls were named with it in 2016.
- Sigourney. Who knows, maybe the new “Alien” would have turned out quite tolerable if it had had the main woman of the entire franchise. Not many parents name their daughters Sigourney. In fact, only 8 families chose it in 2016, but we do know that it is the name of the winner (which is what it means, by the way). Even Sigourney Weaver herself once admitted in an interview that she changed her first name “Susan”, inspired by a character from the novel “The Great Gatsby” by Francis Scott Fitzgerald.
- Talullah. The main thing is that it is not Tanunnah. While celebrities like Demi Moore, Patrick Dempsey and Philip Seymour Hoffman have named their daughters Tallulah, only seven families chose this charming Choctaw name meaning "jumping water" in 2016. Previously associated with stage and screen's greatest star, Talullah Bankhead, the name has now largely established itself as the go-to name for Southern belles. Another meaning of the name is “shining girl.”
- Antigone. Just like the name of the anti-theft system. The meaning of the name is “instead of a child.” If you want to make a solid name choice with a good history, Antigone is a good choice. The brave and principled heroine of the oft-told story in Greek mythology is right on target and then some. Although the name has been known throughout history, parents have made it a slightly unusual choice for their daughters - only 8 families named their daughters Antigone in 2016. We'd say "Tig" sounds pretty cute too. Girls named Antigone are distinguished by their courage and independence. In childhood, this manifests itself in the form of pronounced self-will and excessive curiosity even for a child.
Double English names
If one name is not enough for you, you can try another route. Actually give it to children double names- a relatively recent tradition. Until the 18th century, people got by with only one first and last name. For a long time, the source of names was mainly the only one - a list of saints and holidays in calendar order (church calendar). But there were quite a lot of variations on the theme of church names among the people: in English, the Latin form “Maria” was transformed into “Mary” (Mary), which, in turn, gave the diminutive “Molly” (Molly), and then “Polly” ( Polly). The name "Joannes" comes from Hebrew. Yohanan, gave in medieval England the forms “Jan”, “Iohn” and “John” (John), as well as the diminutives “Jankin”, “Jackin”, and only then the popular name “Jack” (Jack). A female uniform"Ioanna", borrowed from the French "Jeanne" (Jeanne), immediately turned into three independent names: "Jane" (Jane), "Jean" (Jean) and "Joan" (Joan).
That's all for us. If you suddenly decide to move to the USA and start a family there, you will definitely know what to name your offspring!
Big and friendly EnglishDom family
select a country and click on it - a page with lists of popular names will open
USA, 2012–2014
USA. Country in North America. The capital is Washington. Population – 304,191,257 (2008). Dominant (except in Hawaii) Caucasian(immigrants from the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and other European countries). African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Indians and others account for over a third of the population. The official language (de facto) is English. Religious composition: Protestants - 51.3%, Roman Catholics - 23.9%, Mormons - 1.7%, other Christians - 1.6%, Jews - 1.7%, Buddhists - 0.7%, Muslims - 0 .6%, other unspecified – 2.5%, other not affiliated – 12.1% none – 4% (2004).
The main source for statistics on names in the United States is data from the US Social Security Administration. His website has a section dedicated to names. Name statistics are given for each year, starting from 1879. It is possible to view it in different sorting - by year, by decade, the first 10 names, the first 20, the first 50, the first 100, the first 1000, by state. The data for these statistics comes from Social Security cards. The most recent data is from 2014. As stated on the website, for the period before 1937, when only a small part of the country's population was covered by Social Security cards, the data on the choice of names is not comprehensive. It is also reported that different spellings of a name are counted as separate names. It is also noted that linking a name to gender is not always correct. This applies to names that can be either male or female and is explained by the fact that names from those Social Security cards where simply “child” or “unknown” are indicated instead of gender were also taken into account.
Here I want to show only the 25 most common names of 2014. To show the trends in the popularity of names, data for 2013 and 2012 are also provided. More full picture every visitor to this page can find it on the US Social Security Administration website (links at the end of the page). I will also show the similarities and differences in the choice of names between some states. I selected the latter in such a way that the most populous states from different regions of the country were represented: Texas (south), California (west), New York (east), Illinois (closer to the geographic center).
Another interesting source for choosing names in the USA is the website of the New York City Department of Health and Human Hygiene. On it you can find data on the 10 most common names newborns in the city for 1898, 1928, 1948, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2002–2010. Also on the website of this organization you can find lists of names of newborns with a frequency of 10 and above (for example, for 2009 and 2010), in which names are classified by ethnicity and race. There are four groups on that site: Hispanics (can be of any race), non-Hispanic African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and Asians and Pacific Islanders.
Boys names
Place 2014 2013 2012 1 Noah Noah Jacob Girls names
Place 2014 2013 2012 1 Emma Sophia Sophia Data on the top 10 names in a number of states (2014)
Boys names
California Illinois NY Texas California Illinois NY Texas Noah Noah Jacob Noah Jacob Alexander Liam Jacob Ethan William Ethan Daniel Daniel Michael Michael Liam Alexander Liam Noah Jayden Matthew Jacob Joseph Ethan Jayden Benjamin Mason David Anthony Mason Matthew Sebastian Sebastian Logan Alexander Jose David Daniel Lucas Matthew Girls names
California Illinois NY Texas Sophia Olivia Sophia Emma Isabella Emma Olivia Sophia Emma Sophia Emma Isabella Mia Isabella Isabella Mia Olivia Ava Mia Olivia Emily Mia Ava Sofia Sofia Emily Emily Emily Victoria Sofia Abigail Ava Abigail Charlotte Madison Abigail Camila Grace Sofia Victoria
The specificity of American culture is that many of its aspects were borrowed from other peoples who immigrated to the United States over a long period. This left its mark on all areas of life. Modern male names are only partly American. They are distinguished by a huge variety, which is manifested both in the sound characteristics and in their content. There is nothing strange in this, since they were all borrowed from the French, English, Germans, Scots, Dutch, and Jews who came to America. Of course, all these names were gradually adapted to suit the local flavor.
The meaning of the most common American male names
Popular American male names can be divided into several categories depending on their origin:
American male names. List of the most beautiful names.
The male American names, the list of which is given above, can perhaps be considered the most beautiful.
The most popular male names in the USA
American male names, the meaning of which, as you understand, is very diverse and depends on the history of the development of the continent, can become more or less popular from time to time. However, as in all countries.
Surprisingly, the US population turned out to be quite conservative in choosing names. Over the past 50 years, the most popular names have consistently been Michael and Jacob.
Last year, however, most of young parents of newborn boys gave their preference to the name Noah. It is possible that this happened under the influence of cinema. Also in great demand were names such as Michael, Ethan, Mason, Alex, Daniel.
In recent years, few Americans name their sons and daughters after fathers, grandmothers, or other respected family members. American citizens mostly choose male names under the influence of fashion.
A little about American surnames
If we talk about their origin, then we can trace a general trend in the formation of names. When forming surnames, the following principles apply.
Specifics of the construction of American names and surnames
It is noteworthy that among the residents of the United States, quite a lot of people have two names. This trend has emerged in the country since the mid-19th century. The second name is usually given in honor of famous person, a respected relative, or a specific historical event.
Such forms usually appear together only in written language. The following spellings may be found:
1) Instead of the first name, only a capital letter is written.
2) A capital letter is placed instead of the middle name.
3) Instead of both names, capital letters are written, while only the last name is written in full.
This feature brings the United States a little closer to our tradition of giving a child a middle name. American first and last names, male and female, sound more formal and representative in a three-part structure.
Formation of derivative names
Americans are known to be much less conservative than the British. Female and male names, American and English, take on a variety of forms in the New World. It is common for US residents to create derivatives of their full names, that is, to use so-called short names and petnames. It is noteworthy that such “nicknames” are used not only in home, intimate communication, but also at official receptions. It is worth noting the great variability of such names. American names, female and male, have great amount abbreviations. In particular, the name Elizabeth has up to 34 abbreviations, and the name Robert has about ten.
The influence of American traditions on changing the names of other countries
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, non-American surnames made it very difficult for those who moved to the United States to find employment. This fact had more to do with immigrants from Asia, Eastern and Southern Europe.
This led to a phonetic change in the first and last names of the settlers and the borrowing of English names. American male names sound almost the same in English and hardly differ in meaning.
It is noteworthy that African slaves lost their first name at baptism and received others, borrowed mainly from the stories of the Bible, ancient history, mythology. Gradually, the settlers began to give their children traditional American names. However, the opposite trend is currently observed. Some Africans American origin They quite consciously replace their names, adapted over many years to living conditions in the United States, with anthroponyms of the African type. This may indicate a desire younger generation affirm your cultural heritage.
The most unusual American names
The perky nature of Americans is manifested in the fact that, in addition to traditional names, some parents give their children fictitious ones.
There are, for example, cases where a child was named Lexus in order to determine his future financial situation. For the same purpose, some girls were lucky enough to receive the name Infinity.
One mother named her twin sons Oranjelly and Lemonjelly. Apparently, the children received these names in honor of their mother’s favorite delicacy.
We must not forget that in America there is a tradition of giving a child two names. Thanks to this, names such as, for example, PJ (PJ) are common.
If the family into which the child was born is of Indian origin, then most likely the parents will choose a middle name based on the traditions of the tribe, and it may denote a natural phenomenon, for example, Cloud or Moonlight.
American names in Russia
American beautiful names, male and female, in Lately are becoming widespread in Russia. In particular, quite a lot of children with names such as Adam, Robert, Harry are registered.
Now a little about women. As for American names for the fair half of humanity, they are even more popular in Russia than male ones. There is also a certain pattern in their choice. Many parents name their daughters Angelina (in honor of the popular actress); Alana, Amelie, Angela, Adriana are less common.
Undoubtedly, they are all very beautiful, but they sound a little strange in combination with Russian surnames. One cannot but agree that the option Angelina is still more suitable for Ivan’s daughter, rather than Angelina. Fathers in Orthodox churches find it difficult to choose a name for baptism. However, due to the democratization of society, few people see this as a problem.
In our country there is a trend towards unlimited freedom in deciding what to name your child. This led to completely unexpected consequences. There are cases when parents called their son Lucifer, and sometimes the child actually received a digital code instead of a name.
Female and male names, whether American or not, should still remain names. You should not show your imagination so much as to invent something completely new, because it is unknown how this can affect the fate of the child.
Formed at the end of the 18th century. The American nation unites not only the descendants of settlers from all parts of the world, but also the indigenous population - the Indians. For a long time, under the influence of the traditions of other countries and peoples, the culture of the American people was formed, which was reflected in the names of the Americans themselves. Many common American names have their origins in Greek, Italian, Latin, Asian, and Old Germanic origins.
Rare names are very popular among the American population, which originate not only from the abbreviation of geographical names associated with history, but also the surnames of famous people, the combination of several names into one, etc.
Let us conditionally divide American names by origin into the following groups:
- names associated with a person’s character traits (cheerful, smart, brave, courageous);
- names associated with the names of animals and plants, natural phenomena; - names meaning different professions;
- names borrowed from the Bible.
America is a colonial country, so different states countries, the same names enjoy different popularity. For example, in Spanish villages the popular male name is Federico (Federico), in Irish regions - Patrick (Patrick), in Italian - Paulo (Paulo).
Choosing a name for a newborn is also of great importance. When choosing a name for a child, Americans are guided by the following principles: the combination of first and last names, the origin of the name and its secret meaning. To pay tribute to family traditions and the memory of ancestors, parents give the child the name that was borne by the father, grandfather or great-grandfather. If there is already a person in the family with the same name, then the prefix “senior” or “junior” is added at the beginning of the name.
The desire of Americans to add a “zest” to a child’s name is not limited to simply choosing a beautiful and memorable name. The parents' imagination knows no bounds - a child can become the “lucky” owner of the name of the brand of the parents’ favorite car, a politician whose speeches did not leave the parents indifferent, another celebrity, a favorite city, etc. In this situation, the choice falls on the most unexpected objects. You can meet children named Lexus, Madison, Infinity.
Surely not everyone knows that Sarah Jessica Parker, Mary-Kate Olsen or Sean William Scott are double names. What is the tradition behind giving a child a middle name at birth? The tradition of the second (or middle name) developed in the 19th century. European immigration in the 1830s and 1840s caused the population of the United States to grow, and as a result, the number of people with the same first and last names increased. A second name began to be used as an additional means of identification. Children were given middle names in honor of famous political, religious, social and military figures (for example, George Washington, the first president of the United States, or John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism).
Another version is to protect the child from evil spirits and death. At baptism, the child was given several names in order to confuse death in case of danger that threatened the child during an outbreak of fatal diseases.
Sometimes the middle name is associated with a certain area or the names of ancestors, as well as the surnames of other people.
This tradition still lives on in modern American families.
The most popular modern American names
- Alex(Alex) - from Greek, “protector.” James (James) - from English, “invader”.
- Anthony(Anthony) – from English, “invaluable”, “competing”.
- Brandon(Brandon) – from German, “prince”.
- Christopher(Christopher) - from English, “follower of Christ.”
- David(David) – Hebrew, “beloved”, “beloved”.
- Dillon(Dilon) - Welsh origin, "big sea". Philip (Philip) - from Greek, “horse lover.”
- Ethan(Ethan) – from English, “durable.”
- Fred(Fred) - from English, “peaceful ruler.”
- Josh(Josh) – Hebrew, “god, salvation.”
- Justin(Justin) – from English, “fair”. Matthew (Matthew) - from English, “gift of God,” “God’s man.”
- Kevin(Kevin) – from Irish, “beautiful”, “cute”.
- Ryan(Ryan) - from Arabic, “little king.” Nicholas (Nicholas) - from French, “conqueror of nations.”
- Thomas(Thomas) – Polish, “twin”.
- Tyler(Tyler) – from English, “stylish.” Caleb (Caleb) - from Hebrew, “loyal, brave.”
- William(William) – from English, “desired.”
List of common American surnames
Modern American surnames have evolved over the years.
Immigration of representatives of different nations to America, their gradual mixing with local residents, and as a result, change and reduction (shortening) of surnames in the American way.
List of the most famous surnames in America
Bearers of the surnames Jones (Jones), Smith (Smith), Williams (Williams), Wilson (Wilson) according to statistics, more than a million. The following surnames are no less popular:
- Allen
- Anderson
- Brown
- Clark
- Davis
- Garcia
- Hall
- Harris (Harris)
- Hernandez (Hernandez)
- Jackson (Jackson)
- Johnson
- King
- Lee
- Lewis
- Martin
- Martinez (Martinez)
- Miller
- Moore
- Robinson
- Rodrigues
- Taylor
- Thomas (Thomas)
- Thompson
- Walker
- White
- Wilson
- Young
The melody and beauty of the sound of a surname is another reason for the pride of its bearers. A person’s desire for changes in life could not but be reflected in the desire to change his last name or first name to a first name famous person in the entertainment industry or politics. Sources for inspiration can be found by those interested in the names of natural phenomena, representatives of flora and fauna, and names of geographical objects. Looking for more beautiful name or surnames, improvisation is not a hindrance.
Some of the most beautiful and common American surnames are:
- Beverly (Beverly)
- Collins
- Daniels
- Evans
- Ford (Ford)
- Gilmore (Gilmore)
- Harris (Harris)
- Holmes
- Labert (Labert)
- Moore
- Newman
- Riley (Riley)
- Stephenson
- Wallace
- Washington (Washington)
A person’s respectful attitude towards his name as the heritage of his ancestors is a kind of valuable relic, which its bearers pass on from generation to generation, preserving their history and family traditions in the family name.
English female names