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Bab, Babs see Barbara

Babette see Barbara, Elizabeth

Bailey f. and m.

This surname, which comes from the job of steward or bailiff of an estate, has recently been fashionable as a girl’s name in the USA.

Bairre see Barry

Bala f. and m.

An Indian name, from the Sanskrit for ‘young child’. The boy’s form can also appear as Balu and Balan.

Barbara f.

From the Greek barbaros, meaning ‘strange’ or ‘foreign’, and associated with St Barbara, a 3rd-century martyr. The name was little used after the Reformation, but in the 20th century it became popular again. Abbreviations include Bab, Babs, Barbie and sometimes Bobbi. The variant form Barbra was publicised by the singer Barbra Streisand. Babette is a French form of the name.

Barnabas m.

From the Hebrew meaning ‘son of exhortation or consolation’, it is best known as the name of the New Testament companion of St Paul. The diminutive, Barnaby, is rather fashionable at the moment, more so than the full form. Barney is a short form which is also shared with BERNARD.

Barney see Barnabas, Bernard

Barry m.

The English form of a variety of Celtic names, most prominently Bairre, a pet form of the Irish Finbarr (Finnbar, Fionnbharr) meaning ‘fair-haired’. Barry can also be spelt Barrie, the usual spelling in the name’s infrequent use for girls.

Bartholomew m.

From the Hebrew, meaning ‘son of Talmai’, Talmai meaning ‘full of furrows’. It was the surname of the Apostle NATHANIEL and was very popular in the Middle Ages when the cult of St Bartholomew was at its height. St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London was founded in the 12th century, and a riotous annual Bartholomew Fair held in the city to provide funds for it, was suppressed only in the 19th century. The name is still in use, and has short forms Bart, made famous by the cartoon character Bart Simpson, and Barty.

Basil m.

From the Greek basileios, meaning ‘kingly’. It was probably brought to England by the Crusaders, and it has remained in use ever since. Diminutives include Bas or Baz, Basie and Bazza, and there are two feminine forms, Basilia and Basilie. These were common in the Middle Ages, but are hardly ever found today.

Bastian, Bastien see Sebastian

Bathsheba f.

This name derives from Hebrew words which mean ‘daughter of opulence’. In the Old Testament Bathsheba was the beautiful wife of Uriah and was seduced by King David who arranged to have Uriah die during a battle. Bathsheba married David and became the mother of Solomon. The name was formerly used in Cornwall in the form Bersaba, and appears also in its pet form Sheba. Bathsheba Everdene is a central character in Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd.

Baz, Bazza see Basil

Beatrice f.

From the Latin Beatrix, meaning ‘bringer of happiness’. It has strong literary associations. Dante’s Beatrice is probably best known, but Shakespeare also used the name in Much Ado About Nothing. Recently, both forms of the name have shown signs of returning to popularity, no doubt helped by the publicity given to it as the name of one of the Duke and Duchess of York’s daughters. Short forms include Bea or Bee, Beata, Beatty, Triss and Trixie. There is also a Welsh variant, Bettrys, and a Spanish form Beatriz.

Becky see Rebecca

Bel see Annabel, Arabella, Belinda, Isabel

Belinda f.

From an Old German name, the latter part of which means ‘a snake’ (see LINDA). The first part of the name is obscure, but is commonly thought of as representing the French ‘fair’. Its popular use began in the 18th century when it was used in plays by Congreve and Vanbrugh, and in Pope’s poem The Rape of the Lock. Short forms include Bel and all forms of LINDA.

Bella, Belle see Annabel, Arabella, Isabel

Ben see Benjamin

Benedict m.

From the Latin benedictus, meaning ‘blessed’, and most familiar as the name of St Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order. It was common in medieval England in the forms Bennet and Benedick. The latter is the name of a character in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. There are feminine forms Benedicta and Benedetta, and a Spanish-American form Benita.

Benjamin m.

From the Hebrew, meaning ‘son of the south’ or ‘right hand’, which might imply strength and good fortune. The Old Testament story of Benjamin, son of Jacob, gave the name the added implications of a favoured youngest son. The commonest pet forms are Ben, Bennie, Benny, Benjie and Benjy. It is currently a very popular name.

Bennet see Benedict

Berenice f.

From the Greek Pherenice, meaning ‘bringer of victory’. It was spread by the imperial conquests of Alexander the Great over Europe and Asia. It was especially popular in Egypt, during the period of Macedonian rule, and its use spread also to the family of Herod of Judea. Bernice is a modern form of the name, and Bunny is sometimes used as a pet form (see also VERONICA).

Bernadette f.

The commonest female form of BERNARD. Its use has spread due to the fame of St Bernadette of Lourdes, who lived in the mid 19th century and whose visions started the pilgrimages of healing to that town. The Italian Bernardetta has been shortened to Detta, which can be used as an independent name. Bernadine is another form of the name, and Bernie the short form.

Bernard m.

A Germanic name meaning ‘brave as a bear’. It was very popular in the Middle Ages. Two important saints bearing the name were St Bernard of Menthon after whom St Bernard dogs are named, and St Bernard of Clairvaux who inspired the Second Crusade. It has remained in use ever since. The most usual short forms are Bernie and Barney, which is shared with BARNABAS.

Berry see Apple, Bertram

Bert, Bertie m.

A pet form of a large number of names including ALBERT, BERTRAM, BERTRAND, GILBERT, HERBERT, HUBERT, ROBERT. In all these cases, the ‘-bert’ part of the name is a Germanic element meaning ‘bright’. The name is sometimes used as a given name, when it may take the form Burt.

Bertha f.

From the Old German word beraht, meaning ‘bright’. The first famous English Bertha was the wife of King Ethelbert of Kent who welcomed St Augustine to England on his mission of conversion. In the Middle Ages both Bertha and Berta were popular, and the name has been regularly used ever since, although it is rather uncommon at present.

Bertram m.

From the Old German meaning ‘bright raven’, the bird associated with the god Odin. The name has been used in England since the early Middle Ages, and has the short forms BERT and Bertie, and the less common Berry. Bertrand, meaning ‘bright shield’, is often treated as the French form of Bertram and shares with it the short forms BERT and Bertie.

Beryl f.

From the gemstone, whose name is related to the Arabic for ‘crystal’. It appeared in the 19th century, and was popular in the early part of the 20th century.

Bess, Bessie, Beth see Elizabeth

Betha see Bethia

Bethany f.

A popular name taken from a New Testament place name, the village where Lazarus lived. The short form Bethan is used independently, and is also a short form of ELIZABETH which has spread from Wales.

Bethia f.

Bethia or Bethea can be interpreted in three different ways. It can be thought of as a pet form of ELIZABETH, as a use of the Old Testament place name Bethia, or as an English version of a Gaelic name also found as Betha, meaning ‘life’.

Betsy, Bettina, Betty see Elizabeth

Bettrys see Beatrice

Beverl(e)y f. and m.

From an Old English surname meaning ‘of the beaver-meadow’. It is shortened to Bev, and is now only rarely used for boys.

Bevis m.

This is a French name, possibly meaning ‘bow’, introduced into England at the Norman Conquest. It was popular in the Middle Ages and revived again after Richard Jeffries’ Bevis, The Story of a Boy was published in 1882.

Bharat m.

This was the name of several famous heroes in the Hindu epics, and derives from the Sanskrit for ‘being maintained’. India officially became Bharat when it achieved independence.

Bharati f.

A Hindu name identified with the goddess of speech and learning.

Bhaskar m.

A Hindu name from the Sanskrit for ‘the sun’. Bhaskara, the famous 12th-century Indian astronomer and teacher, shows an earlier form of the name.

Bhavana see Bhavna

Bhavini f.

A Hindu name meaning ‘illustrious, beautiful’, a term for the goddess Parvati, wife of the god Siva.

Bhavna f.

An Indian name, from the Sanskrit meaning ‘wish’, ‘desire’ or ‘thought’. The form Bhavana is also used.

Bianca see Blanche

Bidelia, Biddy see Bridget

Bill see William

Billie, Billy f. and m.

This pet form of the boy’s name WILLIAM is being used increasingly as a girl’s name particularly in America, often in combinations to produce names such as Billie Jean or Billy Joe.

Birgitta see Bridget

Björn m.

A Scandinavian name which means ‘bear’. The name has become widely known in modern times through the Swedish tennis champion Björn Borg.

Blaise m.

From the French, meaning either someone from the Blois region, or derived from the Latin for ‘stammerer’. It is also spelt Blase or Blaze.

Blake f. and m.

A surname, from the Old English meaning ‘black, dark-complexioned’, used as a first name.

Blanche f.

This is a French name which was brought to England in the 13th century. It means ‘white’ or ‘fair-skinned’. The Spanish and Italian form Bianca was used by Shakespeare, and is now rather more popular than the older form.

Blodwen f.

From the Welsh for ‘white flower’. It is rarely found outside Wales. Blodeuwedd, ‘flower form’, is the name of a beautiful but unfaithful woman in Welsh medieval romance, while Blodyn or Blodeyn is the more simple ‘flower’.

Blossom see Fleur

Blue see Indigo

Bob see Robert

Bobbi(e), Bobby f. and m.

These pet forms of ROBERT, ROBERTA and BARBARA are used as names in their own right, and in combinations such as Bobby Joe.

Bonnie, Bonny f.

A Scots word for ‘pretty’ used as a name. Like many modern names, it probably owes its spread to its appearance in Gone with the Wind.

Boris m.

From the Russian word for ‘fight’. It was used in Britain and North America in the 20th century, possibly due to cultural influences such as Moussorgsky’s opera Boris Godunov, the film actor, Boris Karloff, and the author of Dr Zhivago, Boris Pasternak, as well the large number of Slavic immigrants who have come to the West.

Boyd m.

From a Gaelic word meaning ‘yellow’, referring to the colour of the hair. It is the name of a Scottish clan, though the surname can also derive from ‘isle of Bute’. Boyd became more widespread outside Scotland after its use in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind.

Bradley m.

A surname from the Old English, meaning ‘wide meadow’, now popular as a first name. Brad(d) is a short form.

Brady m.

An Irish surname, possibly meaning ‘broad-chested’ now found as a first name.

Bram see Abraham

Bran see Brenna

Brand see Brenda

Brandan, Brandon see Brendan

Brandi f.

This name, which seems to come from the vocabulary word ‘brandy’, has been a popular girl’s name in the USA for some years. It is also found spelt Brandy, Brandee and Brandie, and probably serves as a feminine form of Brandon.

Brannan see Brenna

Breanna f.

This new name, which has developed in the USA, can either be seen as a blend of the names Bree (a pet form of BRIDGET) and Anna, or as a development of BRIANNA, a feminine form of BRIAN. It is also used in the form Breanne, and found in spellings such as Breeanna and Brieanne.

Bree see Bridget

Bren see Brenna

Brenda f.

Probably a feminine form of the Norse name Brand, meaning ‘a sword’, found in the Shetlands. It was used by Walter Scott in his novel The Pirate. However, in practice, it has been used more frequently as a feminine form of BRENDAN.

Brendan, Brandon m.

An Irish name meaning either ‘with stinking hair’, or, according to one authority, from the Welsh word meaning ‘prince’. It is most famously found in the 6th-century Irish St Brendan the Navigator, credited in legend with the discovery of America. It is today particularly popular in Ireland, Australia and the USA. The form Brandan or Brandon has a long history as an alternative form of Brendan, but can also come from an Old English place and surname meaning ‘a hill where broom grows’. The name is also spelt Brandin, Brandyn, Brenden and Brendon.

Brenna f., Brennan m.

Brennan is a pet form of the Irish name Bren, which probably means ‘tear, sorrow’, with Brenna a modern feminine form. Since the earliest records this name and Bran, ‘raven’, and its pet form Brannan have regularly been confused, and it is not always possible to tell which form of the name has come from which source.

Bret(t) m.

From an Old French word meaning ‘a Briton’ or ‘a Breton’. It is currently well used in the USA.

Brian m., Brianna f.

A Celtic name, the origin of which is obscure, though it may be derived from words meaning ‘hill’ or ‘strength’. It was known mainly in Celtic areas until the Norman Conquest, when it was introduced to England. Brian Boru was a famous Irish King of the 11th century, who defeated the invading Vikings.

The name continued to be popular in England until Tudor times, but after that it disappeared until it was reintroduced from Ireland in the 18th century. Today the spellings Bryan, Brien and Brion are found, and Bryant or Briant, originally a surname developed from the name Brian, is also found. Brianna, Bryan(n)a and Brianne (Bryanne) are used as feminine forms, as is BRYONY.

Brice m.

Brice, possibly meaning ‘speckled’, is an old Gaulish name, the name of a 5th-century French saint and bishop of Tours, which is now well used in the USA, often in the form Bryce. The surname which developed from the first name, Bryson, is also found used as a first name.

Bridget f.

Brigit was the ancient Irish goddess of poetry whose name meant ‘strength’. Her name was borne by 5th-century St Brigit of Kildare, the most revered of the Irish female saints. The Irish name also appears in the forms Bri(d)gid and Bride (which reflects the Irish pronunciation of the name, with a long ‘ee’ sound and no ‘g’), with the diminutives Bridie, Biddy, Bree (now sometimes Brea) and the older elaboration Bidelia. Brigidine is a variant chosen by Sinead O’Connor for her child. There is also a Swedish saint Birgitta or Brigitta whose feast day falls on the same day as St Brigit’s, and her name has influenced the most common English form of the name, Bridget. Britt is a pet form of the Swedish name.

Brien see Brian

Brigid, Brigit, Brigitta see Bridget

Brin see Bryn

Brion see Brian

Briony see Bryony

Britt see Bridget

Brittany f.

This French place name began to be used as a name for American girls in the 1960s, for reasons which are unclear. The sound of the name rather than its meaning seems to be important, as it also occurs as Britanee, Britani, Britney (made famous by Britney Spears) and Brittney. In the 1980s a sudden surge in popularity took it to the top of the American name charts and use is growing in the UK.

Bronwen f.

From the Welsh words meaning ‘white breast’. This name has long been popular in Wales where it has strong associations with ancient legend.

Brooke f. and m.

The surname meaning ‘a brook’, used as a first name, made famous by the actress Brooke Shields. The American place name Brooklyn, most famously used in the UK for a boy, Brooklyn Beckham, is more often used for girls in the USA, and is treated as if a blend of Brooke and LYN in forms such as Brooklynne.

Bruce m.

A French surname which came to Britain at the time of the Norman Conquest. Members of the family moved to Scotland where a descendant of one, Robert Bruce, became King of Scots, and was the ancestor of the Stewart or Stuart Kings. Bruce has only been used as a first name since the 19th century, but it proved so popular in Australia in the mid 20th century that it is almost a nickname for an Australian man. Brucie is a pet form.

Bruno m.

This is a German name meaning ‘brown’, probably imported to the UK via the USA where it has been established for longer.

Bryan see Brian

Bryce see Brice

Bryn m.

A Welsh name, originally describing where someone lived, meaning ‘hill’. It can be found as Brin, and Brynmor (‘large hill’) is also used.

Bryony f.

Bryony, or Briony, is the name of the climbing hedgerow plant used as a girl’s name. It is a rather insignificant plant, although it has pretty berries, and the name probably owes its popularity to the fact that it can be used as a female equivalent to BRIAN.

Buddy m.

This word for a friend is occasionally used as a first name, but is usually a nickname. The singer Buddy Holly, for example, was christened Charles.

Buffy see Elizabeth

Bunny see Berenice

Bunty f.

This was a traditional name for a pet lamb, which came into use for girls after 1911, when it was featured in a very successful play called Bunty Pulls the Strings. However, it is used more commonly as a nickname.

Burhan m.

An Arabic name meaning ‘evidence’ or ‘proof’. Burhanuddin means ‘proof of faith’.

Burt see Bert

Byron m.

A name more frequently used in America than Britain, though it honours the English poet Lord Byron (1784–1824). Byron comes from the word ‘byre’, which means a cow-shed or barn. The name may have originally indicated someone who lived near a barn.