Updated October 2026
Across 180 pages
of 180
English
"from the yew estate"
Brisk, preppy York is an underused classic with the potential to really shine in the 21st century. It's most familiar as a place name — York is a city in England — and surname. New York City and…
English word name
"bird"
The name of the teenaged son on the dear departed television show "Huff."
English, from German
"son of intelligence"
All the Fitz names are hard to carry, but this one has a wonderful meaning and might be a good middle name choice to honor a brilliant lineage.
English literary name
Alas, poor Yorick, your name is fated to remain locked forever as a skull in Hamlet .
Scottish, English
"the gates"
Admirers of the haunting works of esteemed Irish poet and playwright William Butler Yeats might consider this surname-style name, especially for the middle spot. Ultimately derived from the Old…
"female goat"
Cheever has a nice, cheery sound, literary ties to novelist and short writer John Cheever and also, sideways, to the Edward Arlington Robinson narrative poem "Miniver Cheevy," as well as a subliminal…
English surname
"wood clearing"
Yardley is an English surname with a distinguished vibe, a la Chauncey and Clancy. Extremely rare for either sex, it would make a stand-out choice that still fits in with current trends.
"battle stone"
Dignified first name of poet W. H. Auden, less exposed than his currently stylish surname.
"dweller at the white cliff"
Haitian-born rap superstar and humanitarian Wyclef ("Fugees") Jean has lent this name a powerful musical beat.
"cottage near a stream"
One of many stuffy British W surnames that would subject an American boy to years of teasing before growing into it at age fifty.
"friend's village"
Proper Bostonian.
English surname name
"friendly"
The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.
English, variation of Foster
"scissors maker"
Forster, a variation of Foster or potentially even Forester, is associated with British novelist E.M. Forster, author of A Passage to India , Howard's End , and A Room with a View . But if you choose…
"friend's farm"
This spelling of Winton has gotten considerable buzz via jazz musician Wynton Marsalis.
Variation of Geary, Irish or English
"spear or fickle"
You might want to honor premier U.S. architect Frank Gehry--even though he was born Ephraim Goldberg. Gehry, pronounced like the more common surname Geary, may be a spin on the name Gary, which means…
"moor, meadow clearing"
Fresh choice in the vein of Carly and Harley.
"farm near the willows; willow town"
Energetic Willoughby is a familiar last name, but, as yet, makes for a unique choice in the first spot. An unexpected way to get to popular short forms Will and Billy, Willoughby could make an…
"from the white ford"
Quintessentially, stylelessly preppy.
"near the stony meadow"
Perfect example of how your perception of a name can change when you apply it to the opposite gender: when used for a girl, Stanley suddenly becomes an attractive, upper-crusty name ala Ansley or…
"from the western cottage"
If you find West not substantial enough, this would make a more solid path to it.