Holmes - name meaning and origin

The boy's name Holmes \ho(l)-mes\ is pronounced holms. It is of Middle English origin, and its meaning is "holly; islands in the river". Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes.

For more information, see also the related name Hume.

Similar baby names are Hermes, Hollis, Holman and Hulme.

Holmes is a very rare male first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy's name Holmes. Compare Holmes with related baby names.