Names That Mean Homestead

Well used in England and Scotland since the fifties, the smooth and sophisticated Graham is catching on here.

Sutton is a habitational surname propelled to popularity by Tony-winning Broadway actress Sutton Foster, who's also the star of Hulu's Younger -- based on a novel written by Nameberry co-creator Pamela Redmond.

Who knew there were so many soccer fans in the U.S.? Beckham -- as in British sensation David -- has exploded onto the baby name scene in the past decade.

Tatum is strong, distinctive, energetic, and recommended, especially if your last name is as congenial as O'Neal. The name is now used for both genders, with the balance running about two to one in favor of the girls.

Tatum is one of the rare examples of a name that was exclusively female, as in Tatum O'Neal, but now is used for boys too, entering the male Top 1000 in 2010. Khloe Kardashian made headlines when she revealed her son is named Tatum Robert, breaking from the family theme of using unique word names for their children.

Swanky sound via New York's ritzy Sutton Place. It fits with current popular boys’ names, due to its two syllables and -on ending. It debuted in the US Top 1000 for boys in 2015, though it is currently more popular for girls.

Maxton is a new member of the ever-expanding Max clan of baby names, hitting the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2011. It joined newfangled Maxon and stylish cousin Paxton, though it did drop out of the charts in 2023.

No low self-esteem for this kid, or so his parents hope.

Bingham is the unusual surname name chosen by Kate Hudson and Matt Bellamy for their son. It was Bellamy's mother's maiden name, and the nickname Bing, coincidentally, belongs to almost-stepfather Kurt Russell's dad. We haven't heard Bing since crooner Crosby, but it does have a lot of zing.

Cornish habitational surname turned occasional upper-crusty first name, also belonging to one of the colleges of Durham University in England.

Trevor with a New York accent.

Streamlined form eases pronunciation and spelling, but somehow adds a weighty element to this British favorite. It became familiar in the U.S. via musician Gram Parsons.

Most familiar as the surname of the handsome anti-hero of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mr Darcy’s rival in both life and love. He has a brief flirtation with Elizabeth Bennet but the truth about his ill intentions and past misdemeanors soon comes out, and he ends up marrying her flighty sister Lydia instead.

Gresham is more common as a surname than a first name, where it originally denoted one from the village of Gresham in Norfolk, England. These days, Gresham is also a city in Oregon, neighborhood in Chicago, and country in New South Wales, Australia.

Attractive placename/surname with a somewhat aristocratic feel.

As names become more popular, the truism goes, spelling variations are invented and become more popular too. Taytum entered the Top 1000 in the US for girls for the first time in 2021, following on the heels of mother name Tatum, now in the Top 300.

This variation of unisex Tatum would lead to nickname Tayte, as opposed to Tate. Taytum ranks in the Top 1000 for girls, but remains rare for boys.