Last Names That Are Adorable First Names

  1. Baldwin
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "brave friend"
    • Description:

      One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.
  2. Keyes
    • Origin:

      English, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "keeper of keys; son of Aodh"
    • Description:

      With an easy-going and interesting sound, the surname-inspired Keyes might fit in with the likes of Hayes, Reese, Kai and Keegan. While Keyes has never appeared in the US stats, Key (perhaps as a variation of Kay or Kai) is given to a handful of boys each year.
  3. Levander
    • Origin:

      Variant of Leander, Levante, or Levan, Swedish combination name
    • Meaning:

      "lion man; east wind, to rise; the lion; heart + man"
    • Description:

      Levander combines the poetic qualities of Leander with the might Evander, and then adds in a dash of Lavender too. Sometimes used as a surname, it could be a sound-alike to the Italian Levante, a twist on the Leo variant, Levan, or a play on the aforementioned Greek Leander.
  4. Keagan
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Keegan
    • Description:

      While Keegan has been rising in popularity for a number of years, this variant spelling has dropped in the lists.
  5. Wolfe
    • Origin:

      Anglo-Irish surname and variation of animal name
    • Meaning:

      "wolf"
    • Description:

      The Wolfe spelling shifts this name from animal name to surname-name, aggressive to aristocratic. One source suggests that bearers of the Wolfe family name were all fierce and cunning and/or hunters of wolves. An intriguing choice.
  6. Darling
    • Origin:

      English surname, English word name
    • Meaning:

      "dear"
    • Description:

      Darling has history as an English surname, but it would most likely be read as a quirky and loving word name, a la Sweetheart or Honey.
  7. Rawlings
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "son of Raul"
    • Description:

      Rawlings was a surname brought to England with the Norman invasion and has ties to the name Raul, which means "wolf counsel."
  8. Gannon
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "fair-skinned, fair-haired"
    • Description:

      The name of a historic Irish leader, Gannon has a solid, yet spirited feel. It was one of the fastest-rising names of 2014, but that trend didn't continue. One pop culture influence was the name of Teen Mom 3 son Gannon Dewayne McKee.
  9. Chanel
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the canal"
    • Description:

      Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
  10. Huntley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "meadow of the hunter"
    • Description:

      Huntley was best known as Brinkley's news partner several decades ago. With the new genre of girls' names that are unusual surnames ending with the lee sound -- think Mosley, Yardley -- Huntley or Huntlea or Huntleigh might rise for girls.
  11. Denver
    • Origin:

      English or French place-name and surname
    • Meaning:

      "green valley or from Anvers"
    • Description:

      Yet another creative character name from Toni Morrison, Denver was a daughter of Sethe's in the novel Beloved. Today Denver is most familiar as the name of the largest city in Colorado, used almost equally for girls and boys.
  12. Renwick
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "raven's settlement"
    • Description:

      A rustic yet aristocratic boy name, derived from an English surname and place name. It derives from the Old English name Hræfn and the element wic to create the cool meaning "raven's settlement".
  13. Fielding
    • Origin:

      English topographical surname
    • Meaning:

      "dweller in the open country"
    • Description:

      Fielding is a surname style name, originally given to someone who lived in the country or worked in the fields, however it might also be considered a word name relating to sports (cricket and baseball specifically) or with the term for dealing with something difficult by evading it.
  14. Hartley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "stag meadow"
    • Description:

      Smart and preppy, but with plenty of heart, Hartley is a surname style name that could work as an alternative to the popular Harley, Harlowe, Harper, and Hadley. Quietly used for boys throughout the 20th century, Hartley took off for girls in 2010 after both Sugar Ray singer Mark McGrath and baseball player Matt Cain used the name for their daughters.
  15. Morrison
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Morris"
    • Description:

      Morrison is one of the more uncommon patronymics; it could be used to honor an ancestral Morris, or one of the well-known surnamed Morrisons: Toni, Jim or Van.
  16. Lander
    • Origin:

      English from German
    • Meaning:

      "territory"
    • Description:

      Lander is a name that straddles two trends. It's an er-ending surname name, ala Cooper and Carter. And it's also, more subtly, a green name, in the manner of Fielder or Reed.
  17. Eisele
    • Origin:

      German surname
    • Meaning:

      "blacksmith"
    • Description:

      Eisele was originally a nickname for the Old German given name Isenhart, which derived from Isenlin — a nickname for a blacksmith.
  18. Armani
    • Origin:

      Italian surname derived from Herman or Arman, German or Persian
    • Meaning:

      "soldier; wish,hope"
    • Description:

      One of the designer baby names -- Chanel and Gucci are others -- that have appeared in this era of branding everything from your purse to your offspring. It helps that the name is similar to more established choices, such as Amani, Marnie, Amy, and Aria.
  19. Kiernan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little dark one"
    • Description:

      Although this surname name is closely related to the more common Irish name Kieran, Kiernan is also a well used family name, tied to thirty-three ancient chieftains. It has on a few occasions been used for girls.
  20. Forbes
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "field"
    • Description:

      Forbes is a business magazine in the U.S., long led by Malcolm Forbes, with a buttoned-down Brooks Brothers image. If you name your son Forbes, you're definitely implying a connection to the prominent and wealthy family -- which may be exactly what you're intending. But if you have a more down-to-earth image in mind, try Field.