How To Name Your Property – What Should You Call Your Home?

It’s not just country estates and castles that have names almost anyone can name their property. If you’re wondering what to call your home, this guide is packed with inspiration, from literary names to charming cottage-style ideas.

If the idea of naming your house sounds complicated, don’t worry. In most cases in the UK, it’s straightforward.

If your home doesn’t already have a registered name, you can usually choose one yourself. The main rule is that it must not duplicate or closely resemble nearby properties, as this can cause confusion for postal deliveries and emergency services.

Councils keep a record of house names and numbers. If your property already has a number, you can generally add a name without formal approval. If it doesn’t have a number, local authorities may check your chosen name against their records to ensure it’s unique, which is more common in rural areas.

While formal permission isn’t always required, it’s a good idea to contact your local council’s street naming or planning department to confirm your chosen name is acceptable. This can prevent any issues later.

Even if you add a name, any existing house number must still be displayed and used as part of the official address. Once registered, your address will typically appear like this:

Honeysuckle Cottage, 8 Farm Lane, Northtown

Can I Change The Name of My Property?

Bought a lovely property but don’t like the name?

Changing the name of your property is usually a straightforward process, but you’ll need to wait until the sale has completed before you can do anything. There will normally be some paperwork involved and a small fee to pay.

The best place to start is by contacting your local council and asking about their process for changing a property name. You may also need to inform the Land Registry once the change has been approved.

If your house has a number, you won’t be able to remove it. The number must still form part of the official address, even if you add a name.

Things To Consider Before Naming Your Property

Before choosing a name for your house, there are a few practical things to think about.

First, make sure the name isn’t too similar to nearby houses or buildings. Duplicate or very similar names can cause confusion for postal deliveries and make your property harder to find in an emergency.

It’s also worth thinking about how easy the name is to pronounce and remember. Unusual spellings or complicated names can create unnecessary confusion for visitors and delivery drivers.

Finally, consider whether the name makes sense for the location. For example, calling your house “Lakeside Lodge” might feel odd if there isn’t a lake anywhere nearby.

That said, using features of the surrounding area is one of the most popular ways to name a property. Many common house names, such as Orchard House or Hillside Cottage, are based on local geography.

Naming your property – Keep Potential Resale In Mind

Property names might impact resale or marketing in the future, so it’s worth keeping the following in mind when choosing a name for your property:

• Short, memorable names are easier for estate agents and buyers to remember.

• Very quirky or difficult-to-pronounce names might be charming, but could confuse potential buyers.

• If your chosen name has an unusual spelling, think about whether postal workers, delivery drivers, and visitors will be able to recognise, say and spell it easily

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Name Your Property Using Your Home’s History

Many houses have a rich and interesting history; you could choose a house name to reflect that.

Adding ‘The Old’ before your chosen building name should help avoid confusion with nearby buildings still serving that purpose.

• The Old Barn
• The Old Chapel
• The Old Coach House
• The Old Bakery
• The Old Farm House
• The Old Granary
• The Old Mill
• The Old Post Office
• The Old Rectory
• The Old School House
• The Old Stables
• The Old Vicarage

House Name Inspiration From Nature

Taking your house name inspiration from nature is a popular choice, especially if your home is in a more rural area.

Some of these names lend themselves to having ‘the’ at the beginning, such as ‘The Brambles’ or you could combine them with some of the house descriptors from above to create names such as ‘Driftwood Villa’ or ‘Chestnut Cottage’.

• Blossom
• Brambles
• Cherry Tree
• Chestnut
• Driftwood
• Chive
• Combe
• Eden
• Fernleigh
• Field
• Fir
• Herb
• Honeysuckle
• Ivy
• Jasmin
• Lavender
• Laurel
• Lime Tree
• Meadow
• Nest
• Oak
• Orchard
• Primrose
• Rose
• River
• Treetops
• Willow(s)

Animal-Inspired House Names

As well as taking inspiration from nature, we can also take inspiration from animals. I think woodland creatures make the loveliest house names!

• Badgers Bottom
• Butterfly Cottage
• Foxwood
• Foxes Hollow
• Froggy Manor
• Hedgehog Place
• Honeybee House
• Hummingbird House
• Ladybug Lane
• Magpie Manor
• Nightingale House
• Robins Nest
• Ravens Rest
• Swallows Barn
• Squirrels Wood

Cute House Names

Fancy something cute to name your house?

We’ve got you covered with these cute and charming house name ideas.

• Bell Cottage
• Blossom House
• Bluebell Barn
• Clover Copse
• Cobweb Cottage
• Cowslip Cottage
• Daisy Drive
• Dreamers Den
• Honeysuckle Cottage
• Lavender Lane
• Primrose Place
• Sleepy Cottage
• Wishing Well Cottage

Geographical Location House Name Ideas

One way to name your property is to reflect its surroundings, such as nearby hills, woodland, or landmarks.

• North Farm House
• East Side Cottage
• South View Lodge
• West Brook Manse
• Brookfield Bottom
• Church View House
• Corner Cottage
• Woodland End
• Forest Glade
• Grange House
• Hill Top House
• Pine Ridge
• Railway Cottage
• Tor View Villa
• Woodland Edge Barn

House Names Inspired By The Seasons

The changing seasons can also be a good source of inspiration when naming a house.

• Spring Meadows
• Spring View
• Sunnydale
• Summerleaze
• Summer Haze
• Autumn Leaf Acre
• Pumpkin Place
• Snow Cottage
• Winters Walk
• Winterfell

House Names Inspired By The Weather

If the seasons don’t quite fit, weather-inspired names might suit your property.

• Blizzard Barn
• Cloudy Cottage
• Dewdrop Cottage
• Frosty Farm
• Hazy Meadow House
• Storm Cloud Cottage
• Sunrise Cottage
• Sunset View
• Sunnydale Manor
• Windy Ridge House
• Stargaze House

Water-Themed Ideas To Name Your Property

Water features and coastal surroundings often inspire popular house names.

• Blue Stream Cottage
• Babbling Brook Manor
• Coral Cottage
• Lakeside Villa
• Riverside
• Ocean Rise
• Ocean Breeze
• Seaside Lodge
• Seaview Place
• Sunset Lagoon

Beach-Themed House Name Ideas

If you live near the coast, beach-inspired names can be a natural fit.

• Beach View House
• Beachside Haven
• Dolphin Den
• Cliff Heights
• Driftwood
• Harbourside House
• Lighthouse Lodge
• Seaside Oasis
• Sandyside House
• Shell Manor
• Sunset View

House Name Inspiration From TV Shows

If you have a favourite TV show, why not take inspiration from some famous television homes?

Button House – Ghosts
Downton – Downton Abbey
Highclere – The real-life castle where Downton Abbey was filmed
Elliot Bay Towers – Frasier
Evergreen Terrace – The Simpsons

House Name Ideas From Literature

Naming your house after a favourite book can be a great way to add personal meaning. Some literary-inspired names include:

Rivendell – Lord of the Rings
Bag End – The Hobbit
Cair Paravel – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Manderley – Rebecca
Pemberley – Pride and Prejudice
Toad Hall – The Wind in the Willows

Property Name Ideas From Shakespeare

You can also take inspiration from Shakespeare, whether characters or plays:

Capulet Corner
Hamlet House
Lysander Lodge
Montague Mews
Perdita Drive
Tempest Towers

Harry Potter Inspired Names For Your House

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, there are plenty of magical options:

Diggory’s Digs
Firebolt Cottage
Godric’s Hollow
Grimmauld Place
Hippogriff House
Marauders Manse
McGonagall Mews
Muggle’s Manor
Niffler’s Nook
Potter’s Place
Quidditch Corner
Ravenclaw Row
Seekers Rest
Shell Cottage
Spinners End
The Burrow
Whomping Willow Gardens

House Names Inspired By Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones has plenty of memorable locations that make great inspiration for house names. All credit to George R.R. Martin for these ideas:

• Barrow Hall
• Castle Black
• Casterly Rock
• Deepwood Motte
• Dragonstone
• Greywater Watch
• Harrenhal
• Highgarden
• Moat Cailin
• Riverrun
• Stokeworth
• Storm’s End
• Sunspear
• The Eyrie
• The Red Keep
• Winterfell

House Names Inspired By Mythical Creatures and Fantasy

If you like fantasy beyond Game of Thrones, here are some ideas inspired by mythical creatures:

• Dragons Keep
• Faun Lodge
• Elves Rest
• Fairy Cottage
• Griffin House
• Goblin Grove
• Mermaid View
• Nymph’s Nook
• Phoenix Manor
• Pixie Place
• Thimbledown House
• Tumbledown Villa

One Word House Name Ideas

For a simple, elegant approach, one-word names can be striking. Here are some suggestions:

• Ashville
• Bicklewood
• Dreamdale
• Donromin
• Fairdale
• Greenlea
• Greenbank
• Highfield
• Inglewood
• Millfield
• Oaklands
• Redwood
• Silverwood
• Southholme
• Waterdown
• Westerbrook
• Wilderness

Fun Tips for Creating Your Property Name

Once you’ve explored all the ideas above, it’s time to have a bit of fun creating your own property name. Here are a few ways to get started:

• Mix and match words: Try combining a prefix, a suffix, and a seasonal or location element. For example, “Winterbrook Manor” or “Autumn Glade Cottage.” Play around until it feels right.

• Keep it memorable: Short, simple names are easier to remember for visitors, postal workers, and delivery drivers. Even if it’s a unique or quirky name, make sure it’s easy to spell aloud.

• Experiment with style: Try one-word names like “Westerbrook” or “Ashville,” or two-word names like “Sunnydale Lodge” or “Riverbank House.” Sometimes seeing it written out helps you decide which looks and feels best.

• Draw inspiration from what’s around you: Think about the garden, nearby trees, views, or other landmarks. Even small details like a particular flower, a stream, or a hill can spark the perfect name.

• Test it out: Say the name aloud, write it on a notecard, or even ask a friend for feedback. If it sounds good in conversation, it will work well in real life too.

Can I Name My House After Myself?

Yes, you can name your house after yourself. This is a common approach, especially when naming farms.

You could use your first name, your last name, or the name of a family member. Some people choose to honour someone in the family who has passed away, or use a maiden name.

What To Avoid When Naming Your Property

Finally, here are a few things to keep in mind when naming your property.

We’ve already mentioned avoiding unusual spellings, hard-to-pronounce names, or anything too similar to nearby properties.

You should also be careful about names that sound like a pub, such as The Red Lion or King’s Arms, as this can be confusing.

It’s also best to avoid anything that could be considered offensive.

FAQ – Naming Your Property in the UK

Do I need council approval to name my house?

If your house already has a number, you can usually add a name yourself, as long as it isn’t the same or very similar to nearby properties. If your property has no number, your chosen name may be checked by the local council to ensure it’s unique.

Will Royal Mail recognise my house name?

Royal Mail generally records the house name as an addition to the official address. The house number, street, town, and postcode remain the primary reference for deliveries.

Can I change the name of my house later?

Yes, you can change the name, but it’s best to wait until any property sale is completed. You may need to notify your local council and update the Land Registry, and there may be a small fee involved.

Disclaimer 

It’s always a good idea to check with your local council before naming or renaming a property. Council policies can vary by area, and ensuring your chosen name is acceptable helps avoid issues with postal deliveries, emergency services, or legal records.

There we have it, lots of amazing inspiration for naming your property!