Occupational Names

This occupational surname could find new life with those wishing to honor someone in their heritage who was connected to the tough-as-nails breed that was the pre-modern coal miner. Coll and Collie are some sweet nickname options to tone down the formality of this name.

Sean and Robin Wright Penn chose this name for their son to honor their friend Dennis Hopper; others might associate it with the painter Edward. Couldn't be more spirited.

One of the most distinguished names in literature could become a hero name in a family of poetry-lovers -- or be seen as a trendy new occupational name.

So tied to being Jacqueline Kennedy's maiden name that it's best saved for a girl.

Whether pronounced like the wag of a tail or as the correct German VAHG-ner, this might be something a devoted opera buff could consider as a middle name.

Cutter was an old-fashioned term for a tailor or barber that was eventually adopted as a surname. That gives it more legitimacy than many of the other aggressive boy names — Striker, Shooter, Breaker, et al. — but Cutter remains equally threatening.

The name Parson might have seemed ridiculous even a few years ago, but when Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe named their son Deacon, they opened up a whole new field of ecclesiastical cool. Bishop, Priest, and Pastor are other possibilities.

Possible Hayden alternative.

Other occupational names would be more commonly accepted, though the Mad Men character has certainly brought it to the fore.

Chevalier is a distinguished masculine name of French origin, literally meaning 'knight' or 'horseman.' Derived from the French word 'cheval' (horse), it historically referred to a knight or a member of certain orders of knighthood. The name carries aristocratic connotations and evokes images of chivalry, honor, and gallantry from medieval times. Though uncommon as a first name, it has occasionally been used in French-speaking regions and among families with French heritage. The name gained some recognition through the famous French entertainer Maurice Chevalier. With its sophisticated sound and noble meaning, Chevalier offers parents seeking a rare name with historical depth and elegant pronunciation a distinctive choice.

Chosen by aviators Charles and Anne Lindbergh for their daughter, Reeve is another single-syllable surname waiting to be borrowed by the girls.

One Irish surname that will never make it as a first.

Dozier means a person who lives near the willows or reeds. It may be an occupational name referring to a basket maker.

Eighties star Judge Reinhold (born Edward Jr. , he was given this nickname at the age of two weeks) made this possible, but it could cause a lot of confusion.

More familiar from TV -- Rake, Leave It To Beaver -- than real life, and perhaps likely to stay that way, given the gruesome association with a butcher's knife. Cleaver was, for instance, the title of the violent mob movie Christopher wrote in the world of The Sopranos.

A wild word name with a poetic and fantastical feel, Stargazer fits in with celeb-style choices such as Whimsy, Poetry, Brother, Romance, and Locket. While it might not be practical as a first name, it could work as a bold middle name to honor someone who is into astronomy or astrology.

This last-name-as-a-given-name might be one to watch out for: with the on-trend -er ending and the potential nickname Wells, it may appeal to those looking for alternatives to Wesley or Walker, or to those wanting to update Walter or Maxwell.

fuhgeddaboutit.

Heard in a sixties spy movie, The Quiller Memorandum, this uncommon occupational name has an offbeat charm.

Chaplin carries two very distinctive images: the beloved Little Tramp and a minister, often to the military. It was the baby-name choice of Ever Carridine in 2010.