Last Names as First Names: 75 Names & Meanings

Using last names as first names for a baby is a growing trend in the world of baby naming.

This practice involves giving a baby a surname (last name) as their first name instead of a traditional first name. This trend has become popular over the years and is gaining more traction as people look for unique and unconventional ways to name their children.

The use of last names as first names has become popular for several reasons.

1. Honoring family – one of the reasons is that it allows parents to honor their family heritage and history by using a family surname as their child’s first name.
2. Uniqueness for the child – another reason is that it provides a sense of uniqueness and individuality to the child’s name, which can help them stand out in a sea of traditional names.
3. Paying tribute to a person – Last names as first names can be a way for parents to pay tribute to a celebrity, a place, or a historical figure that they admire.

This trend of using last names as first names has also gained popularity due to the rise of unisex names.

Many last names can be used as both a first name for boys and girls, making them a great option for parents who want to give their child a gender-neutral name. Last names as first names have become so popular that many celebrities have also adopted this trend, giving their children unique and unconventional names that are often last names used as first names.

Overall, the use of last names as first names has become a popular way for parents to give their children a distinctive and memorable name that can help them stand out in the world.

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Last Names as First Names

A

• Adair
• Addison
• Alden
• Anderson
• Anniston
• Archer
• Arden

Adair: Adair is a unisex name of Scottish and Irish origin. The name means “oak tree ford” or “ford of the oaks”, referring to a crossing point in a river where oak trees grow. It was originally a surname and has become a popular first name in recent years.

Addison: Addison is a unisex name of English origin. The name means “son of Adam” or “son of the red earth”. It was originally a surname and became a popular first name for both boys and girls in the late 20th century.

Alden: Alden is a masculine name of English origin. The name means “old friend” or “wise friend”. It was originally a surname and has been used as a first name since the 19th century.

Anderson: Anderson is a masculine name of Scandinavian origin. The name means “son of Andrew”. It was originally a patronymic surname and has been used as a first name since the 19th century.

Anniston: Anniston is a feminine name of English origin. The name means “Anna’s town” or “Anna’s home”. It was originally a surname and has been used as a first name since the 20th century.

Archer: Archer is a masculine name of French origin. The name means “bowman” or “one who uses a bow and arrow”. It was originally an occupational surname and has been used as a first name since the 19th century.

Arden: Arden is a unisex name of English origin. The name means “eagle valley” or “valley of the eagles”. It was originally a place name and has been used as a first name since the 20th century.

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B

• Brightley
• Boone
• Becken
• Blakeley
• Bramley
• Beckett
• Brighton
• Boden
• Brooks
• Bellamy
• Banks
• Brennigan
• Bannon
• Beckham
• Bowie

Brightley – This name is likely a variant of the Old English name “Brihtleah,” meaning “bright meadow.”

Boone – This name is of French origin and means “good.”

Becken – This name is of English origin and means “from the brook.”

Blakeley – This name is of English origin and means “dark meadow” or “dark clearing.”

Bramley – This name is of English origin and means “broom clearing.”

Beckett – This name is of English origin and means “bee cottage.”

Brighton – This name is of English origin and means “bright town.”

Boden – This name is of German origin and means “shelter” or “sheltered.”

Brooks – This name is of English origin and means “stream” or “small river.”

Bellamy – This name is of French origin and means “good friend.”

Banks – This name is of English origin and means “near a hillside or riverbank.”

Brennigan – This name is of Irish origin and means “descendant of Braonán,” where Braonán is a personal name meaning “sadness” or “sorrow.”

Bannon – This name is of Irish origin and means “descendant of Banain,” where Banain is a personal name meaning “white.”

Beckham – This name is of English origin and means “homestead by the stream.”

Bowie – This name is of Scottish origin and means “yellow-haired.”

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C

• Calloway
• Channing
• Cullen
• Carlisle
• Copeland
• Clarke
• Coulter
• Connelly
• Corrigan
• Calder
• Callahan
• Callan
• Cooper
• Campbell
• Crossley
• Collins
• Callister

Calloway – This name is of English origin and means “pebbly place.”

Channing – This name is of English origin and means “wise” or “intelligent.”

Cullen – This name is of Irish origin and means “handsome” or “attractive.”

Carlisle – This name is of English origin and means “from the walled city.”

Copeland – This name is of English origin and means “bought land.”

Clarke – This name is of English origin and means “scribe” or “clerk.”

Coulter – This name is of Scottish origin and means “colter,” which is a blade used for plowing.

Connelly – This name is of Irish origin and means “descendant of Conall,” where Conall means “strong as a wolf.”

Corrigan – The name Corrigan is an Irish surname that is derived from the Irish Gaelic language. The name Corrigan is thought to mean “spear bearer” or “son of the spear.”

Calder – This name is of English origin and means “rough waters.”

Callahan – This name is of Irish origin and means “bright-headed.”

Callan – This name is of Irish origin and means “rock” or “battle.”

Cooper – This name is of English origin and means “barrel maker.”

Campbell – This name is of Scottish origin and means “crooked mouth.”

Crossley – This name is of English origin and means “cross meadow.”

Collins – This name is of Irish origin and means “descendant of Coll,” where Coll means “hazel tree.”

Callister – This name is of Scottish origin and means “son of Alasdair,” where Alasdair is the Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, which means “defender of the people.”

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D

• Damon
• Delaney
• Dawson
• Donovan

Damon: The name Damon is of Greek origin, and it means “to tame” or “one who subdues.” In Greek mythology, Damon was a loyal and devoted friend to Pythias and became known for his steadfastness and loyalty.

Delaney: The name Delaney is of Irish origin and has two possible meanings. It may come from the Irish Gaelic surname “Ó Dubhshláine” which means “descendant of Dubhshláine” where Dubhshláine means “black or dark river”. It could also come from the French word “de l’aunaie” meaning “from the alder grove.”

Dawson: The name Dawson is of English origin, and it means “son of David” or “beloved.” It was originally a surname and became a given name in the 19th century.

Donovan: The name Donovan is of Irish origin, and it means “dark-haired chieftain” or “descendant of Donndubhán.” Donndubhán means “brown-haired chieftain” in Irish Gaelic. It was a popular surname in Ireland before becoming a given name.

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E

• Ellery
• Emery
• Everson
• Ensley
• Easton

Ellery: The name Ellery is of English origin, and it means “island with elder trees.” It is derived from the Old English words “ellen” meaning “elder tree” and “geard” meaning “enclosure.”

Emery: The name Emery is of German origin, and it means “industrious ruler.” It is derived from the Germanic elements “amal” meaning “work” and “ric” meaning “ruler.”

Everson: The name Everson is of English origin, and it means “son of Everard.” Everard is a Germanic name meaning “brave as a wild boar.”

Ensley: The name Ensley is of English origin, and it means “one’s own meadow.” It is derived from the Old English words “ene” meaning “one” and “leah” meaning “meadow.”

Easton: The name Easton is of English origin, and it means “east-facing town.” It is derived from the Old English words “east” meaning “east” and “tun” meaning “town.”

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F

• Fox
• Fletcher
• Ford
• Forrest
• Flynn
• Foster
• Foxley

Fox: The name Fox is of English origin, and it means “fox.” It is derived from the Old English word “fox” which was used to refer to the animal.

Fletcher: The name Fletcher is of English origin, and it means “arrow maker.” It is derived from the Old French word “flechier” which means “to make arrows.”

Ford: The name Ford is of English origin, and it means “river crossing.” It is derived from the Old English word “ford” which means “a shallow place in a river or stream where it can be crossed.”

Forrest: The name Forrest is of English origin, and it means “dweller near the forest.” It is derived from the Old French word “forest” which means “forest.”

Flynn: The name Flynn is of Irish origin, and it means “descendant of Flann” where Flann means “red” or “ruddy.” It was originally a surname before becoming a given name.

Foster: The name Foster is of English origin, and it means “one who keeps the forest.” It is derived from the Old English words “fostrian” meaning “to nourish” and “forst” meaning “forest.”

Foxley: The name Foxley is of English origin, and it means “fox clearing.” It is derived from the Old English words “fox” meaning “fox” and “leah” meaning “clearing or meadow.”

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Last names as first names continued

G

• Graham
• Gray
• Gallagher

Graham: The name Graham is of Scottish origin, and it means “gravelly homestead.” It is derived from the Old English words “grān hām” meaning “gravelly homestead” or “grey home.”

Gray: The name Gray is of English origin, and it means “gray-haired” or “gray-eyed.” It is derived from the Old English word “grǣg” meaning “gray” or “old.”

Gallagher: The name Gallagher is of Irish origin, and it means “foreign helper” or “foreigner.” It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word “gall” meaning “foreigner” and the Old Irish word “óclach” meaning “helper” or “servant.”

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H

• Hastings
• Hunter
• Henley
• Harper
• Hayes
• Harrison
• Harlow
• Hendrix
• Halston
• Hudson
• Hardon
• Harris
• Hayden

Hastings: The name Hastings is of English origin, and it means “son of the host” or “son of the stranger.” It is derived from the Old English words “hæsten” meaning “stranger” or “foreigner” and “sunu” meaning “son.”

Hunter: The name Hunter is of English origin, and it means “one who hunts.” It is derived from the Old English word “hunta” meaning “hunter.”

Henley: The name Henley is of English origin, and it means “high meadow.” It is derived from the Old English words “heah” meaning “high” and “leah” meaning “meadow.”

Harper: The name Harper is of English origin, and it means “harp player.” It is derived from the Old English word “hearpere” meaning “harp player.”

Hayes: The name Hayes is of English origin, and it means “enclosure” or “hedged area.” It is derived from the Old English word “haes” meaning “hedge.”

Harrison: The name Harrison is of English origin, and it means “son of Harry.” It is derived from the Old English name “Harry” meaning “home ruler” and “sonu” meaning “son.”

Harlow: The name Harlow is of English origin, and it means “rock hill.” It is derived from the Old English words “hoar” meaning “rock” and “hlāw” meaning “hill.”

Hendrix: The name Hendrix is of English origin, and it means “son of Henry.” It is derived from the Germanic name “Heinrich” meaning “home ruler” and “riks” meaning “ruler.”

Halston: The name Halston is of English origin, and it means “estate on the river.” It is derived from the Old English words “healh” meaning “nook or corner” and “tun” meaning “settlement.”

Hudson: The name Hudson is of English origin, and it means “son of Hudde.” It is derived from the Old English name “Hudde” meaning “mind” or “heart” and “sunu” meaning “son.”

Hardon: The name Hardon is of English origin, and it means “hard hill.” It is derived from the Old English words “heord” meaning “hard” and “dūn” meaning “hill.”

Harris: The name Harris is of English origin, and it means “son of Harry.” It is derived from the Old English name “Harry” meaning “home ruler” and “sunu” meaning “son.”

Hayden: The name Hayden is of English origin, and it means “heather-covered hill.” It is derived from the Old English words “hǣð” meaning “heather” and “dūn” meaning “hill.”

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J

• Jennings
• Jagger
• Jones
• Jackson

Jennings: The name Jennings is of English origin, and it means “son of Janyn” or “son of John.” It is derived from the Middle English name “Janyn” which is a diminutive of “John” meaning “God is gracious.”

Jagger: The name Jagger is of English origin, and it means “carter” or “peddler.” It is derived from the Old English word “gecgan” meaning “to carry” or “to peddle.”

Jones: The name Jones is of Welsh origin, and it means “son of John.” It is derived from the Welsh name “Ieuan” which is a diminutive of “John” meaning “God is gracious.”

Jackson: The name Jackson is of English origin, and it means “son of Jack.” It is derived from the Old English name “Jack” which is a diminutive of “John” meaning “God is gracious” and “sunu” meaning “son.”

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K

• Kenyon
• King
• Kennedy
• Kensington

Kenyon: The name Kenyon is of Welsh origin, and it means “royal” or “born of fire.” It is derived from the Welsh words “cyn” meaning “chief” or “wise” and “ion” meaning “born of fire.”

King: The name King is of English origin, and it means “ruler” or “monarch.” It is derived from the Old English word “cyning” meaning “king.”

Kennedy: The name Kennedy is of Irish origin, and it means “helmeted head.” It is derived from the Gaelic words “ceann” meaning “head” and “éidigh” meaning “helmet.”

Kensington: The name Kensington is of English origin, and it means “the town of Cynesige’s people.” It is derived from the Old English name “Cynesige” meaning “royal victory” and “tun” meaning “settlement.”

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L

• Ledger
• Lennon
• Lowen
• Lane
• Linley
• Lennox
• Linden
• Lincoln
• Leighton
• Logan

Ledger: a ledger is a book or a computer program used to record financial transactions. It could also refer to the surname of the late actor Heath Ledger.

Lennon: a name of Irish origin that means “lover” or “fierce like a lion”. It’s also famously associated with John Lennon, the musician and member of the Beatles.

Lowen: a name of Cornish origin that means “happy” or “joyful”.

Lane: a name of English origin that means “path” or “narrow road”.

Linley: a name of English origin that means “flax meadow”.

Lennox: a name of Scottish origin that means “place of elm trees”. It’s also a surname famously associated with the Scottish noble family, the Lennoxes.

Linden: a name of German origin that means “lime tree”.

Lincoln: a name of English origin that means “lake colony”. It’s also famously associated with Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.

Leighton: a name of English origin that means “meadow town”.

Logan: a name of Scottish origin that means “little hollow”. It’s also a surname famously associated with the Scottish clan Logan.

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M

• Monroe
• Murray
• Maisel
• McCallan
• Madison
• Merivale
• Malone
• Macklin
• Miller
• Murphy
• Merrick
• Madden
• Mazen

Monroe: a name of Scottish origin that means “mouth of the Roe river”. It’s also famously associated with Marilyn Monroe, the American actress and model.

Murray: a name of Scottish origin that means “from the sea town”. It’s also a surname famously associated with the Scottish noble family, the Murrays.

Maisel: a name of Hebrew origin that means “act of kindness”. It’s also famously associated with the American television series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”.

McCallan: a name of Irish origin that means “son of the handsome one”.

Madison: a name of English origin that means “son of Maud”. It’s also famously associated with James Madison, the 4th president of the United States, and as a popular first name for girls.

Malone: a name of Irish origin that means “servant of St. John”.

Macklin: a name of Gaelic origin that means “son of Flann”.

Miller: a name of English origin that means “grinder of grain”. It’s also a common occupational surname.

Murphy: a name of Irish origin that means “descendant of sea warrior”. It’s also a common surname in Ireland.

Merrick: a name of Welsh origin that means “ruler of the sea”.

Madden: a name of Irish origin that means “little dog”.

Mazen: a name of Arabic origin that means “rain cloud”. It’s also a common first name in Arabic-speaking countries.

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N

• Nash

Nash: is a name of English origin that can be used as a first name or a surname. As a surname, Nash originates from the Middle English word “atten ash”, meaning “at the ash tree”.

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P

• Patterson
• Payson
• Palmer
• Peyton
• Prescott
• Percy

Patterson: a name of Scottish origin that means “son of Patrick”. It’s also a common surname in English-speaking countries.

Payson: a name of English origin that means “son of Pagan”. It’s also a surname that is more commonly spelled as “Payton” or “Peyton”.

Palmer: a name of English origin that means “pilgrim”. It’s also a surname famously associated with the Palmer family, who were medieval English landowners and politicians.

Peyton: a name of English origin that means “from the warrior’s town”. It’s also a variant spelling of “Payton”.

Prescott: a name of English origin that means “priest’s cottage”. It’s also famously associated with the Prescott family, who were American politicians and military leaders.

Percy: a name of English origin that means “pierced valley”. It’s also famously associated with the Percy family, who were medieval English nobility.

Q

• Quinn

Quinn: is a unisex name of Irish origin that means “descendant of Conn”, where Conn means “chief” or “intellect” in Gaelic. The name Quinn was originally a surname that referred to families from the region of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland.

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R

• Rennon
• Rooney

Rooney: is a name of Irish origin that means “red-haired”, derived from the Irish word “ruadh” meaning “red”.

Rennon: on the other hand, is a relatively uncommon name and its origin is not entirely clear. It could potentially be a variant spelling of the name “Renan”, which is of Breton origin and means “little king” or “king’s advisor”.

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More last names as first names

S

• Sommers
• Sloane
• Sayer
• Sullivan
• Sterling
• Sayer
• Sinclair
• Sanford
• Sutton
• Sawyer

Sommers: a name of English origin that means “from the summer field”. It’s also a variation of the more common spelling “Summers”.

Sloane: a name of Irish origin that means “warrior”. It’s also a surname famously associated with the Sloane family, who were prominent British physicians and philanthropists.

Sayer: a name of English origin that means “woodcutter”. It’s also a surname that is occasionally used as a first name.

Sullivan: a name of Irish origin that means “dark-eyed” or “hawk-eyed”. It’s also famously associated with the Sullivan family, who were Irish nobility and politicians.

Sterling: a name of English origin that means “genuine”, “pure”, or “of high quality”. It’s also a common surname in English-speaking countries.

Sinclair: a name of Scottish origin that means “from Saint Clair sur Epte”. It’s also famously associated with the Sinclair family, who were Scottish nobility and explorers.

Sanford: a name of English origin that means “sandy ford”. It’s also a common surname in English-speaking countries.

Sutton: a name of English origin that means “from the southern homestead”. It’s also a common surname in English-speaking countries.

Sawyer: a name of English origin that means “woodcutter”. It’s also famously associated with the character Tom Sawyer from the novels by Mark Twain.

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T

• Teagan
• Truett
• Tennyson
• Tate
• Tierney

Teagan: a name of Welsh origin that means “attractive” or “beautiful”. It’s also a unisex name that is more commonly used for girls in English-speaking countries.

Truett: a name of English origin that means “true”, “honest”, or “trustworthy”. It’s also a surname that is occasionally used as a first name.

Tennyson: a name of English origin that means “son of Dennis”. It’s famously associated with the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who wrote “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and other famous works.

Tate: a name of English origin that means “cheerful” or “pleasant”. It’s also a surname that is occasionally used as a first name.

Tierney: a name of Irish origin that means “lord of the household” or “descendant of Tighearnach”. It’s also a surname famously associated with the Hollywood actress Gene Tierney.

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V

• Vaughn

Vaughn: is a name of Welsh origin that means “small”, “little”, or “junior”. It’s derived from the Welsh word “bychan”, which means “small” or “little”. Vaughan is also a surname that is famously associated with the Welsh noble family who owned estates in North Wales.

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W

• Walker
• Winslet
• Whitley
• Weston
• Wells
• Wylde
• Wilder
• Waverly
• Winsdor

Walker: a name of English origin that means “a fuller of cloth” or “an officer whose duty was to walk or inspect a certain part of a forest”.

Winslet: a name of English origin that means “small hill”. It’s also famously associated with the British actress Kate Winslet.

Whitley: a name of English origin that means “from the white meadow”. It’s also a surname that is occasionally used as a first name.

Weston: a name of English origin that means “from the western town”. It’s also a surname that is occasionally used as a first name.

Wells: a name of English origin that means “from the spring” or “lives by the spring”. It’s also a surname that is occasionally used as a first name.

Wylde: a name of English origin that means “wild” or “untamed”. It’s also a variation of the more common spelling “Wilde”.

Wilder: a name of English origin that means “untamed” or “wild”. It’s also famously associated with the American author and playwright Thornton Wilder.

Waverly: a name of English origin that means “meadow of quivering aspens”. It’s also famously associated with the title of the novel “Waverley” by Sir Walter Scott.

Windsor: a name of English origin that means “riverbank with a windlass”. It’s also famously associated with the British royal family, who use the surname Windsor as their last name.

Wrapping it up:

So, after diving into the topic of using surnames as first names for boys and girls, it’s safe to say that this trend is pretty popular these days. And, why not? It’s a great way to give your little one a unique and trendy name that stands out from the crowd.

There are a few things to keep in mind before you jump on the surname-as-first-name bandwagon.

1. First, some surnames can be tricky to pronounce or spell, which could lead to confusion and frustration. It may be best to steer clear of any clever cutesy spellings and keep it the traditional spelling of a name to make it a bit easier on your child when growing up.
2. Second, using a surname as a first name might cause some confusion in certain social situations, like filling out forms or introducing themselves. While this is more unlikely to be the case, it is something to consider when choosing between which surnames to use as a first name.

So in the end, using last names as first names for your baby is a personal choice that should be thoughtfully considered like any other name you are choosing between.

While there are pros and cons to this trend, the most important thing is to choose a name that is meaningful and appropriate for you and your child. So, go ahead and get creative with those surnames, but remember remember that, as much as you love the name, your child will have it for the entirety of their life. If you keep that in mind while deciding, I’m sure you’ll pick the best name for your child that you love too!

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• cool short names for boys
• long boy names
• names that mean beautiful
• uncommon girl names

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