Jane Austen Names

As this word is less often used to mean derriere, it becomes more possible to view Fanny as the kind of appealingly quaint nickname name, like Josie and Nellie, that many parents are favoring now.

Part of the next generation of preppy H-beginning surnames. Once Harrison, Hudson, and Holden are no longer fresh, expect to hear more little boys being called Hughes, Hutch, and Henderson on the playground.

Jennings is a common English surname that originated as a patronymic for the child of someone named Jen, a short form of John.

If this name makes you think of Victorian novels, it's because Fairfax was part of Mr Rochester's name in Jane Eyre, and the surname of a minor character in Jane Austen's Emma. It has a distinctly aristocratic feel, despite its straightforward meaning. Fairfax is also a city in Virginia.

A preppy English surname. Newscaster Megyn Kelly used it as a middle name for her son in 2009.

Some names referring to expensive things -- Tiffany, Armani, Porsche -- are in fact declasse, but Price transcends that label with its simplicity and strength.

Somehow more modern and likable than Morris or Doris.

Fast-food chain, no longer a baby.

This spelling of Bennett is typically seen as a surname, but gets moderate use as a first name for baby boys and girls.

A relatively common surname, Dixon would be an inventive way to honor an ancestral Richard or Dick, the X form a lot livelier than the Dickson spelling, just as Dix is a more modern short form than Dick; it would be right at home alongside Dax and Jax.

The surname Reynolds derived from the given name Reynold, which was common during the Middle Ages.

Bates is a fresh version of Bartholomew, and feels more wearable than Bart. Bates could be considered a patriotic choice for American parents - Katharine Lee Bates was an author and professor best known for penning the words to "America the Beautiful".

Brusque and charmless, two things you don't want your son to be.

Latter-day Ashley that comes in a range of spelling variations. Ansley and Ainsley have both hit the Top 1000 in recent years.

In British slang, a "prat" is an idiot -- enough said.

At one time associated with the fictional detective Bulldog Drummond, this formal surname name does boast the cute nickname Drum.

Replaced Patsy as the midcentury's popular, peppy babysitter.

A case in which the son is now more attractive than the father. There have been Colonial settlers surnamed Dennison on this side of the Atlantic since 1623.