120 Top Baby Names Beginning with B

Seriously, could B names be any more brilliant? If you’re looking for a baby name beginning with B, we can understand why. There are some blooming lovely names that start with B - for girls and boys - and we’re here to bring you all the very best.

Pregnant? Get week-by-week updates to your inbox Subscribe now

Playing second fiddle only to A in the alphabet, any child with a B name is sure to be close to the top of the class register at school. Also, research by academics at Yale and University of California found that students with names beginning with A and B were statistically more likely to achieve higher grades than their peers with other initials.

How we chose the top names beginning with B

To kick off our research, we scrutinised the latest ONS baby names list for England and Wales (released May 2024) along with looking at lists by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and Central Statistics Office for Irish names and the National Records of Scotland for Scottish names.

We also referred to our own baby names content for reference, looking at articles including most popular baby names, boy names and girl names. Finally - because our research wouldn’t be complete without referring to our very own Mumsnetters, we looked for the most popular B names beloved by parents on our Baby Names forum.

Ready? Let’s be having you, B names!

Girl names beginning with B

1. Bambi

Origin: Italian (derived from the word ‘bambini’)
Meaning: Child

2. Bea

Origin: Italian, Latin origin (diminutive of Beatrice, Beatrix)
Meaning: She who blesses or bringer of joy

3. Beatrice (or Beatrix)

Origin: Latin
Meaning: She who brings joy

4. Beattie

Origin: Latin, Scottish, Irish (diminutive of Beatrice or Beatrix)
Meaning: She who brings joy

5. Becky (or Becci)

Origin: Hebrew (diminutive of Rebecca)
Meaning: To tie, bind

6. Belinda

Origin: English, German, Spanish, Italian
Meaning: Pretty one, beautiful or serpent

7. Bella

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Beautiful

8. Belladonna

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Beautiful lady

9. Bellatrix

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Female warrior

10. Belle

Origin: French
Meaning: Beautiful

11. Bernadette

Origin: French
Meaning: Brave as a bear

12. Bess

Origin: Hebrew (diminutive of Elizabeth)
Meaning: God is my oath

13. Bessie

Origin: Hebrew (diminutive of Elizabeth)
Meaning: God is my oath

14. Beth

Origin: Hebrew (diminutive of Elizabeth, Bethan or Bethany)
Meaning: God is my oath, house of figs

15. Bethan

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: God is my oath

16. Bethany

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: House of figs

17. Bethia

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Daughter of Jehovah

18. Beti

Origin: Dutch, Welsh, English (variation of Betty)
Meaning: God is my oath

19. Bette

Origin: Hebrew, Dutch, English (variant of Betty)
Meaning: God is my oath

20. Bettina

Origin: German, Hebrew (variant of Betty)
Meaning: God is my oath

21. Betty

Origin: Hebrew, English (diminutive of Elizabeth)
Meaning: God is my oath

22. Betsan

Origin: Welsh (variant of Elizabeth)
Meaning: God is my oath

23. Betsy

Origin: English, Hebrew (diminutive of Elizabeth)
Meaning: God is my oath

24. Beyoncé

Origin: French, African, Creole
Meaning: Beyond others

25. Bianca

Origin: Italian
Meaning: White

26. Bibi

Origin: Irish
Meaning: The exalted one

27. Birdie

Origin: English
Meaning: Refers to a little bird

28. Bjork

Origin: Scandinavian
Meaning: Birch tree

29. Blessing

Origin: English
Meaning: Divine favour

30. Bliss

Origin: English
Meaning: Extreme happiness or joy

31. Blodwyn

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: White flower

32. Blossom

Origin: English
Meaning: Flower-like

33. Bluebell

Origin: English
Meaning: Refers to the bluebell flower

34. Blythe

Origin: English
Meaning: Free spirit

35. Bonita

Origin: Spanish
Meaning: Pretty

36. Bonnie

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Beautiful or charming

37. Boudica (or Boudicca)

Origin: Celtic
Meaning: An ancient British queen

38. Branwen

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Blessed raven

39. Breagh

Origin: Scottish, Irish
Meaning: Beautiful

40. Brianna (Brie for short)

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Strong

41. Bridget (or Brigid)

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Exalted one

42. Brid

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Exalted one

43 Bridie

Origin: Irish (diminutive of Bridget (or Brigid)
Meaning: Exalted one

44. Brie (or Bree)

Origin: French (diminutive of Brielle or Brianna)
Meaning: Hunting ground, strong

45. Briella

Origin: Hebrew, Italian
Meaning: God is my strength

46. Brielle

Origin: French
Meaning: Hunting ground

47. Brigita (or Brigitta)

Origin: Croatian, Latvian, Czech, Slovak
Meaning: Lady, exalted one

48. Brigitte

Origin: French
Meaning: Exalted one

49. Briley

Origin: English
Meaning: Meadow with the bridge

50. Brittany (or Britney)

Origin: French, English, Celtic
Meaning: The region Bretagne in France

51. Bronagh

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Sorrow

52. Bronwen

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Blessed

53. Brooke

Origin: English
Meaning: A small stream

54. Bryony (or Briony)

Origin: Latin
Meaning: To sprout

What Mumsnetters think about baby girl names beginning with B

“Bea is the nicest B name.” - Mumsnet user, LynetteScavo

“I love the name Beth. I think it's so pretty and it's top of my list of girls’ names.” -Mumsnet user, Plump82

Boy names beginning with B

55. Babatunde

Origin: Yoruba
Meaning: Father has returned

56. Balamber

Origin: Scythian
Meaning: Strong man

57. Balthazar

Origin: English
Meaning: Baal protects the king

58. Baptiste

Origin: French
Meaning: Baptist

59. Barley

Origin: English
Meaning: Refers to the cereal grain

60. Barnabas

Origin: Aramaic or Hebrew
Meaning: Son of encouragement or "son of prophecy"

61. Barnaby

Origin: English
Meaning: Son of encouragement

62. Barney

Origin: Aramaic, Hebrew, English (diminutive of Barnabus or Barnaby)
Meaning: Son of encouragement or son of prophecy

63. Bartholomew

Origin: English
Meaning: Son of Talma

64. Bastien

Origin: French
Meaning: Venerable, revered

65. Baxter

Origin: English
Meaning: Baker

66. Bear

Origin: English
Meaning: Strength and protection

67. Beck

Origin: English
Meaning: Stream

68. Beckett

Origin: English
Meaning: Bee cottage

69. Bence

Origin: Hungarian
Meaning: Blessed

70. Benedict

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Blessed

71. Ben

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Benjamin)
Meaning: Son of the right hand

72. Benjamin

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Son of the right hand

73. Benji

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Benjamin)
Meaning: Son of the right hand

74. Benny

Origin: Hebrew (derived from Benjamin)
Meaning: Son of the right hand

75. Benoît

Origin: Latin, French
Meaning: Blessed

76. Benson

Origin: English
Meaning: Son of Ben

77. Bentley

Origin: English
Meaning: From the meadow with coarse grass

78. Bert (or Burt)

Origin: German (diminutive of Albert or Bertram)
Meaning: Noble, bright

79. Bertie

Origin: German (diminutive of Albert or Bertram)
Meaning: Noble, bright

80. Bertram

Origin: German
Meaning: Bright)

81. Bill

Origin: English

Meaning: Resolute protector

82. Birch

Origin: English
Meaning: Type of tree

83. Blaine

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Slender

84. Bjorn

Origin: Swedish
Meaning: Bear

85. Boden

Origin: English
Meaning: Messenger

86. Bondi

Origin: Australian
Meaning: Waves

87. Bowie

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Blond, fair-haired

88. Boyd

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Blond, fair-haired

89. Bracken

Origin: English
Meaning: Fern

90. Bradley (or Brad)

Origin: English
Meaning: Broad clearing

91. Bram

Origin: Dutch, short form of Abraham
Meaning: Father of a multitude

92. Bramley

Origin: Old English

Meaning: Broom clearing

93. Bramble

Origin: English
Meaning: Thorny shrub or plant

94. Bramwell

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Woodland with broom plants

95. Brandon

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Hill covered with gorse bushes

96. Braylan

Origin: African/American
Meaning: God’s gift

97. Brendan

Origin: Irish
Meaning: Prince

98. Brett

Origin: English
Meaning: A Breton or a native of Brittany, France

99. Brio

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Vigor, vitality or enthusiasm

100. Brody (or Brodie)

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Muddy place

101. Bronson

Origin: English
Meaning: Son of a brown-haired man

102. Brooklyn

Origin: English
Meaning: water or small stream

103. Bruce

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: From the brushwood thicket

104. Bruno

Origin: German
Meaning: Shining

105. Brynn (Bryn)

Origin: Welsh
Meaning: Hill

106. Buddy

Origin: English
Meaning: Friend

107. Buzz

Origin: American (derived from Busby)
Meaning: Village in the woods

What Mumsnetters think about baby boy names beginning with B

“Benjamin? It’s nice. You have to like Ben though! I have literally never known a Benjamin or a Benedict who wasn’t known as Ben.” - Mumsnet user, partyatthepalace

“Really really love Bertie. It's great.” - Mumsnet user, ShesThunderstorms

Gender-neutral names beginning with B

108. Bailey

Origin: English
Meaning: Steward or bailiff

109. Beau

Origin: French
Meaning: Handsome, beautiful

110. Bernie

Origin: French
Meaning: Brave as a bear

111. Billie (or Billy)

Origin: English
Meaning: Resolute protector

112. Blair (Blaire)

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Field or plain in Scottish Gaelic

113. Blake

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Black or dark

114. Blaze (Blaize)

Origin: English
Meaning: Flame, fire

115. Blue

Origin: English

Meaning: Refers to the colour blue, symbolising sensitivity

116. Bo

Origin: Old Norse, Chinese
Meaning: To live, Wide wave

117. Bobby (or Bobbie)

Origin: English
Meaning: Bright fame

118. Bodhi

Origin: Indian
Meaning: Understanding of true nature

119. Briar

Origin: English
Meaning: Referring to a thorny plant

120. Bryce

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: Speckled, son of a nobleman

What Mumsnetters think about gender-neutral baby names beginning with B

"I know a Billie and she's from a well-heeled background. She's Wilhelmina on her birth certificate. I think Billie is fine.” - Mumsnet user, FayCarew

“I know a Bodhi. He is five and adorable. He does live by the sea and will likely end up being a surfer.” - Mumsnet user, Hillrunning

How to choose a baby name beginning with B

If you want a popular name, check the most popular names lists. There are several B names for boys and girls, which appear on one or more of the official stats lists, including ONS baby names list for England and Wales (released May 2024), the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and Central Statistics Office for Irish names and the National Records of Scotland for Scottish names.
Want to give your baby a more unusual name? choose one which doesn’t appear on the lists mentioned above.
If you’re looking for a classic, timeless name consider Beatrice for a girl or Benjamin for a boy; both these names are enduring classics which have remained popular through the decades.
Want a name with good nickname potential? look for a longer name which can be easily shortened, like Bethany (Beth) or Benedict (Ben).
Embrace the short name trend by selecting a snappy B name like Bess, Bert, Bill, Bo or Beau.
Drawn towards unisex names starting with B? There are plenty to consider including Bailey, Blake and Bryce.
Bestow an on-trend nature name on your little chick; Blossom, Bramble and Briar.
Take B name inspo from music stars like David Bowie, Billie Eilish, Bjork, Beck and ABBA’s Benny and Bjorn, who are all anything but B list.

What’s a popular girl’s name beginning with B?

A popular girl’s name beginning with B is any that is included in the official ‘most chosen names’ lists: the ONS baby names list for England and Wales (released May 2024), the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and Central Statistics Office for Irish names and the National Records of Scotland for Scottish names. Bella and Bonnie appear in one or more of these official lists.

Interestingly, the gender-neutral name Blake appears in the ONS top 100 boys’ name list and in the Scottish top 100 for girls.

What’s a popular boy’s name beginning with B?

The popular names that appear in one or more of the official ‘most popular’ lists for England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland are: Benjamin, Brody, Blair, Blake, Bobby and Bodhi.

As mentioned above, Blake appears in the top 100 ONS list for boys and in the top 100 list in Scotland for girls.

What are rare names that start with B?

Rare names for girls and boys include names beginning with B which don’t appear in any of the ‘most popular’ baby names lists. These include: Bambi, Bliss, Briella, Bram, Bruno and Buzz.

About the author

Louise Baty writes parenting content for Mumsnet, producing product round-ups, travel guides and baby name articles. She’s also written content for Mumsnet’s sister site, Gransnet.

Originally from West Yorkshire and now based in Nottinghamshire, Louise has worked as a features writer for consumer magazines and national newspapers for 20 years. She specialises in parenting and lifestyle features and emotional true life first-person interviews and has authored four non-fiction books on parenting and grandparenting.

Mum to two tweenagers, Louise’s own baby name choosing days may be long gone. However, she admits to having spent a LONG time deciding on her DCs’ names, together with her DP.

For this reason, Louise has a particular interest in baby names. She understands how difficult it can be to narrow down a short list from your long list of baby names, either during pregnancy or during the sleep-deprived days following the birth of your baby.

By compiling comprehensive and easy-to-follow baby name round-ups for Mumsnet, she hopes to provide inspiration and support to parents-to-be who are looking for the perfect name for their baby.