English Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: IN-glish //ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ//
Origin: English
Meaning: from England
Historical & Cultural Background
The name English has its roots in the Old English term "Englisc," which referred to the Angles, a Germanic tribe that settled in Britain during the early medieval period. The term itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*Angli," which is believed to have meant "the people of the Angles." This linguistic lineage traces back further to the Proto-Indo-European root "*h₂engʰ-" meaning "to bend" or "to be in a tight place," reflecting the geographical and cultural identity of the Angles in relation to their homeland in what is now Denmark and northern Germany.
The transition of the term into English occurred as the Angles, along with the Saxons and Jutes, migrated to Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries, leading to the establishment of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Historically, the name English is associated with the cultural and linguistic developments that occurred in England following the Anglo-Saxon settlement.
The establishment of the Kingdom of England in the 9th century and the subsequent unification under King Æthelstan in 927 marked significant milestones in the consolidation of the English identity. The term "English" began to denote not only the language but also the cultural heritage of the people inhabiting the island.
The influence of the Norman Conquest in 1066 further shaped the English language and identity, incorporating elements from Old Norman and Latin, which enriched the vernacular. Culturally, the name English carries connotations of national pride and identity, particularly in literature and the arts.
The English language has been a vehicle for significant literary works, including those of Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century and William Shakespeare in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, which have had a lasting impact on global literature. The term also evokes a sense of tradition and continuity, as it is closely tied to the historical narratives of England, its monarchy, and its role in shaping Western civilization.
While diminutive forms or variations of the name may exist, the name English itself remains a testament to the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the English-speaking world.
Famous people named English
In this section, you will find notable people named English. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named English who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named English who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
English is a musician best known for his work with the band The English Beat, and for his solo career.
English is a writer best known for his novels and contributions to the field of literature.
Fictional characters named English
The following list of fictional characters named English is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
English is a fictional character from the video game series Danganronpa. They are a skilled investigator who plays a crucial role in uncovering the mysteries surrounding the killing games.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with English, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with English. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name English was first seen in the United States in 1889.
English has ranked as high as #5565 nationally, which occurred in 1983, and has been most popular in South Carolina, and Louisiana.
In the past 5 years the name English has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name English is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when English was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for English.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1999 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1996 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1993 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1992 | 20 | 5 | 15 |
| 1991 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1990 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1989 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1988 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1987 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1986 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1985 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1984 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1983 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| 1981 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1979 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1977 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1975 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1972 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1971 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1970 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1969 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1961 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1959 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1958 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1955 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1954 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1951 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1948 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1944 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1943 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1942 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1939 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1935 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1934 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1931 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1929 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1927 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1926 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1925 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1924 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1923 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1921 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1920 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1919 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1917 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1916 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1915 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1913 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1912 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1889 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for English (1983)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| LA | 6 |