Regency Romance Character Names

In the romance genre, Regency Romance has a special place in the hearts of readers. We can probably thank Jane Austen and her novels for this. Books like her Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma have captured the hearts and minds of women and men alike for generations. They have spawned retellings in books and in film. They have also created a popular romance subgenre dedicated to this 42-year period in British history when the Prince Regent ruled in place of his ailing father. Almost everyone is still looking for their Mr. Darcy—in real life and in story.

The Regency was a time marked by elegance, manners, and achievements. And Regency romance is marked by secret engagements, dashing heroes, spirited heroines, and charming villains. And one thing that helps to capture the spirit and energy of this period is the characters’ names!

There are already some excellent resources online for Regency Era names, like Bryn Donovan’s Master List of Regency Names, as well as Regency Reader’s Name Generator for men and women. You can even go back and peek through Burke’s Peerage. But in true Ava to Zeke fashion, we wanted to curate our list.

Our list of regency romance character names is pared and broken down by the kind of character you’re aiming for, be it a noble duke, a scullery maid, or a heroine bucking the constraints of society. Note that some names will repeat (as a good majority of the people at the time were named John, Mary, and James). Of course, this is just a guide—as author, you can always change it up while still staying true to the names of Regency.

Lords and Ladies

Dashing Heroes

Alexander
Anthony
Archibald
Charles
Daniel
Frederick
George
Henry
Horatio
James
Josiah
Nathaniel
Philip
Rafe
Reginald
Robert
Sidneyf
Simon
William

Spirited Young Women

Adelaide
Amelia
Arabella
Catherine
Dorothea
Effie (Euphemia)
Elizabeth
Emily
Emma
Frederica
Georgiana
Hattie (Harriet)
Isabella
Josephine (Jo)
Kitty
Leticia (Letty)
Lydia
Marianne
Olivia
Penelope
Sophia
Susannah
Theodosia
Wilhelmina

Women of Character

Alice
Anne
Barbara
Caroline
Charlotte
Eleanor
Esther
Evelina
Frances
Helen
Jane
Louisa
Margaret
Mary
Mercy
Sarah

Wide-Eyed Innocents

Aaron
Angel
Beatrice
Belle
Clara
Diana
Emily
Gabriel
Harriet
Isaac
Lavinia
Matthew
Mercy
Moses

Stodgy Suitors

Aldophus
Augustus
Benedict
Bernard
Bertram
Edward
Ernest
Cecil
Martin
Percy
Simeon
Walter

Tradesmen and Women

Jemima
Jessie
Jenny
John
Lucy
Mary
Nellie
Sarah
Thomas
William

Household

Anna
Betsey
Bridget
Daniel
Dick
Ellen
Ester
Fanny
Grace
Hannah
James
Mary
Patience
Penny
Robert
Ruth
Sally
Susan
Teresa
Thomas
William

Rakes

Bad Boys

Ambrose
Cornelius
Humphrey
Peregrine
Montague
Richard

Bad Boys Reformed

Arthur
Francis
Hugh
Jack
Stephen

Bad Girls

Jemima
Julia
Maria
Phoebe
Rebecca
Selina

Bad Girls Reformed

Cecelia
Clarissa
Juliet
Helena
Rachel
Susanna

Surnames

Though Regency-era names tend to fit into a narrow window, occasionally a young man would be given his mother’s surname as a first name. This is perfectly on trend for how we love these names now. It’s also a great way to come up with some more exciting first names for your heroes. Here are some choice surnames that can be used as such, or ones that would make a great first name, too!

Beaumont
Campbell
Fitzgerald
Fitzroy
Fitzwilliam
Fletcher
Giles
Grant
Hardy
Hawkins
Huxley
Lewis
Lockhart
Oakley
Radcliffe
Reeves
Russell
Pembroke
Sedgewick
Stanton
Talbot
Wynn

If you’re looking more for a Regency feel regardless of historical accuracy, we suggest you check out our Best of Regencycore Baby Names for names that feel regency appropriate, our Royal Character Name list, or our Dark Academia Names list that might have the names right for you. Then there’s always our Best of Jane Austen Inspired Baby Names, which may fit the bill. Then, for more general tips on picking the perfect character name, check out our 10 essential tips!