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In Wales it became Nest and Nesta. Aggie is a short form shared with AGATHA (see also INA).

      Ahmad m.

      This Arabic name is often spelt Ahmed. It is one of the names applied to the Prophet Muhammad and means ‘more praiseworthy’.

      Aidan m.

      An ancient Irish name which means ‘little fire’. It was the name of a 7th-century Irish missionary who founded the monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria. The name was revived during the 19th century and is popular at the moment in Ireland. It is sometimes anglicised as Edan.

      Ailbhe see Elvis

      Aileen see Eileen

      Ailis, Ailish see Alice, Eilis

      Ailsa f.

      From the Scottish island, Ailsa Craig. First used in Scotland where it can also be a pet form of ALICE, it has now spread through Britain.

      Aimée see Amy, Esmé

      Ainsley m. and f.

      A place and surname used as a first name, this comes from the Old English and probably means ‘lonely clearing’. It is also spelt Ainslie.

      Aisha f.

      From the Arabic meaning ‘alive and well’ or ‘prospering’. A favourite name in the Arab world, originally borne by the third (and favourite) wife of the Prophet Muhammad. In Britain and the USA the name is found in many forms, including Aiesha, Aishah, Ayisha, Asia, Aysh(i)a, Ieasha, Ieesha, Iesha and Isha. H. Rider Haggard used the form Ayesha in his novel She, where the meaning was given as ‘she who must be obeyed’.

      Aisling f.

      The commonest form of a name also found as Aislinn, Isleen and the phonetic Ashling. It is an old Irish name meaning ‘a dream, vision’ and has been popular in Ireland since the 1960s.

      Ajay, Ajit m.

      Popular Indian names from the Sanskrit for ‘invincible’.

      Akash m.

      This Indian name is sometimes found as Aakash. It is from the Sanskrit and means ‘the sky’.

      Akhil m.

      An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘whole, complete’.

      Akshar m.

      An Indian name from the Sanskrit meaning ‘imperishable’.

      Alan m.

      An old Celtic name of unknown meaning. It has appeared in various forms from early times. In England it first became popular after the Norman Conquest as Alain or Alein, the French forms. These developed into Alleyne which is preserved as a surname. Alan, Allan, Allen and Alun (strictly speaking, a Welsh river name used as a first name) are in use today. Alana, the feminine form, is also spelt Allana, Alanah and Alanna, and in the USA has developed the form Alaina or Alayna. The actress Lana Turner made the short form well known.

      Alastair m.

      Also spelt Alasdair, Alistair and Alister, this is the Gaelic form of ALEXANDER, ‘defender of men’. It is shortened to Al, Ali, Alli or Ally, Alec and Alick.

      Alban m., Albina f.

      From the Latin Albanus, meaning ‘man from Alba’ (a Roman town whose name means ‘white’), and the name of the earliest British saint. The town of St Albans, where he was martyred, is called after him. Albin and Albinus are variants which appear occasionally, and Albina and Albinia, ‘white’, are used as feminine forms.

      Alberic see Aubrey

      Albert m.

      An Old German name meaning ‘noble and bright’. The Old English form was Ethelbert, the name of the Kentish king who welcomed Augustine to Canterbury when he came to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. This was replaced after the Norman Conquest by the French form, Aubert. Albert became so popular after the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg that it became over-used and so went out of fashion. BERT and BERTIE are short forms. Alberta, Albertina and Albertine are forms of the name used for girls.

      Alby see Elvis

      Aldous m.

      From the Old German Aldo, meaning ‘old’. It has been used in the eastern counties of England since the 13th century and has given rise to various surnames like Aldhouse and Aldiss. Aldo is still used in North America. The writer Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) is the best-known British example.

      Aldwyn m.

      This Anglo-Saxon personal name, meaning ‘old friend’, has been revived in modern times. Some parents prefer the spelling Aldwin.

      Alec see Alastair, Alexander

      Aled m.

      The name of a Welsh river used as a first name. There is a female form Aledwen, ‘fair Aled’.

      Alessandra see Sandra

      Alethea, Aletia see Althea

      Alexander m.

      Currently one of the most popular boys’ names, this comes from the Greek meaning ‘defender of men’. It was made famous in the 4th century BC by Alexander the Great, and was very popular in England in the Middle Ages. Sandy is a pet form, particularly in Scotland. Alex is the most common of the many short forms, others being Al, Alec, Ali, Lex, Xan and Xander or Zander. SACHA is another form of the name.

      Alexandra f.

      The feminine form of ALEXANDER, and like it, currently popular. SANDRA was originally an Italian form, but has become established as a name in its own right. It shares pet and short forms with ALEXANDER, along with Alix or Alyx (also from ALICE) and Alexa (see also ALEXIS). Alexandria and Alexandrina are also found.

      Alexis f. and m.

      From the Greek word meaning ‘helper’ or ‘defender’, Alexis is the name of one of the great saints of the Orthodox church. Originally a man’s name, it is now more frequently used for women. Alternative forms are Alexie, Alexus, and for girls Alexia, Alexa and short forms such as Lexi(e) and even Lexus.

      Alfred m.

      From two Old English words, meaning ‘elf’ (hence ‘good’) and ‘counsel’. It is also a possible development of the Anglo-Saxon name Ealdfrith, meaning ‘old peace’. It is sometimes written Alfrid. When Alfred was written down in old Latin, the name was spelt Alured and developed into Avery (now used for both sexes). Alf, Alfie and Fred are diminutives. There is a feminine form Alfreda, and Elfrida, although it technically comes from a slightly different name meaning ‘elf-strength’, is also used as a female version of Alfred.

      Algernon m.

      From a Norman French nickname meaning ‘with whiskers’. It was popular in the 19th century but is not much used today. The usual diminutive is Algie or Algy.

      Ali f. and m., Aliyyah f.

      When used as a boy’s name Ali is a popular Arabic name meaning ‘exaulted, noble’, and as one of the terms used of Allah, invokes God’s protection for the child. The feminine form is Aliyyah (also found as Aliyah, Aliah, Alia and Alya). This has been well used in the USA, particularly in the Swahili form Aaliyah, popularised by the singer Aaliyah Houston (1974–2001). As a western name Ali is a pet form of names such as ALICE, ALISON or ALASTAIR.

      Alice f.

      From the Old German word for ‘nobility’. It originally had the form Adelice or Adelise. A number of forms remained popular from the Middle Ages until the 17th century, when it went out of favour. It was revived again in the 19th century together with the variant Alicia. Nowadays these have developed additional forms such as Allice, Allyce and Alyssa, Alysia, Alis(s)a, Alisha or even Elis(s)a or Elys(s)a although these are also pet forms of ELIZABETH. ALISON is a variant. Alys is the Welsh form and Irish forms are Alis, Ailis or the phonetic Ailish. Ali, Allie and Alley are used as pet forms, while Alix and Alyx can be used either as forms of Alice or ALEXANDRA.

      Alick

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