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English Last Names

  1. Wild

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Asking for trouble.
  2. Jenkins

    • Description:

      Jenkins began as an English and Welsh surname derived from the personal name Jenkin, a medieval diminutive of John meaning 'God is gracious.' As a first name, Jenkins represents the trend of transforming traditional surnames into given names, though it remains quite uncommon in this usage. The name carries connotations of reliability and steadfastness, perhaps influenced by its long-standing presence in professional settings. In popular culture, Jenkins often appears as a stereotypical butler or staff name, giving it a somewhat formal, traditional character. While rare as a first name, it gained some recognition through notable bearers of the surname, including musicians and athletes. The name projects an image of dignified service and traditional values when used as a given name.

  3. Corliss

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "carefree person"

    • Description:

      Corliss, eccentric yet well-established, has an independent and artistic air.
  4. Austen

    • Origin:

      Literary surname and shortened form of Augustine, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      While Austin is a popular boys' name, this spelling, honoring novelist Jane, nudges the name toward gender-neutral, chosen last year for 67 baby boys and 57 girls.
  5. Sherman

    • Origin:

      English occupational name

    • Meaning:

      "shearer of woolen cloth"

    • Description:

      Not quite as over-the-hill as Herman, but not far behind either.
  6. Winthrop

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "friend's village"

    • Description:

      Proper Bostonian.
  7. Hanson

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "son of Hans"

    • Description:

      More familiar and melodic to the American ear than either Hans or Hansen, and some might attach it to the three-brother pop-rock band called Hanson.
  8. Caldwell

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "cold stream"

    • Description:

      English place name turned handsome surname name.
  9. Wrigley

    • Origin:

      Surname name

    • Description:

      A name that's long been popular for dogs on Chicago's North Side is now gaining traction among human babies. Wrigley Field is the Chicago Cubs' historic ballpark, originally named after the Wrigley Company, which made and sold chewing gum.
  10. Horton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "gray settlement"

    • Description:

      Sweet and southern-feeling, maybe thanks to Horton Foote, author of Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, not to mention the Dr. Seuss connection.
  11. Westcott

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from the western cottage"

    • Description:

      If you find West not substantial enough, this would make a more solid path to it.
  12. Jessel

    • Origin:

      German, French, or English surname

    • Meaning:

      "gift; Jehovah increases"

    • Description:

      A fresh take on Jessica, Jessel is currently borne in the public eye by Jessel Taank, a Real Housewife of New York City.
  13. Doran

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "stranger, exile"

    • Description:

      Strong but gentle Irish last-name-first. Could bring to mind long-running rock group Duran Duran.
  14. Weaver

    • Origin:

      Occupational name

    • Description:

      Weaver, which made an appearance as a first name on the U.S. Top 1000 in the late 19th century and then vanished, may rise again along with its occupational brethren, from already-popular choices such as Cooper and Parker to au courant ones like Archer to occupational hotties of the future, including Booker and Sayer.
  15. Aston

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "eastern settlement"

    • Description:

      Has an upscale aura, perhaps due to the luxury James Bond Aston Martin car.
  16. Braxton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "Brock's settlement"

    • Description:

      Braxton entered the popularity ranks in 1985 and has been climbing steadily ever since. It has gained from the all-powerful X-factor, and perhaps also from the reality TV show, Braxton Family Values, featuring singer Toni and her sisters Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar. Though it might sound new, there was a prominent Confederate Civil War general named Braxton Bragg.
  17. Townes

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "one who lived in a village"

    • Description:

      Townes entered baby name consciousness — as a girl name, at least — in 2024 when Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma chose it for their daughter, Townes Meadow. Townes is a more established choice for boys, among whom it's often associated with the late musician Townes Van Zandt.
  18. Bevis

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "from Beauvais"

    • Description:

      An English surname derived from the French place name Beauvais, which in turn comes from the name of an ancient Gaulish tribe, the Bellovaci.
  19. Gable

    • Origin:

      French

    • Meaning:

      "triangular feature in architecture"

    • Description:

      The iconic Gone With the Wind star Clark's surname was brought into the first-name mix when Weeds' Kevin Nealon picked it for his son. Gable makes a strong and unusual possibility, a rhyming cousin to Abel and Mabel.
  20. Britton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from Britain"

    • Description:

      Britton, technically a spelling variation of Britain, is much more popular that the original place name for both boys and girls. There are about three baby girls named Britton for every four boys, making it a truly nonbinary choice.