Last Names That Are Adorable First Names
- Catesby
Origin:
English surname, meaning unknownDescription:
As surname names for girls become more popular, we could see Catesby catching on among style-conscious parents. Bonus: it easily shortens to the girlish nickname Cate.
- Huntley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow of the hunter"Description:
Huntley was best known as Brinkley's fellow news anchor back in the 60s and 70s, while in the UK, it might still be linked to a high profile murder case. Nevertheless, this surname style choice feels tough, trendy, preppy, and outdoorsy at the same time and may fit in with the likes of Hunter, Wesley, and Bentley.
- Moody
Origin:
Surname nameDescription:
Moody would work great as the name of Snow White's lost eighth dwarf friend, but we can't recommend it as a first name IRL. It was the last name of Harry Potter character Mad-Eye Moody, played by Brenden Gleason in the movies; his given name was Alastor. The bond credit rating company Moody's is likewise named for the surname of its founder, John Moody.
- Edley
Origin:
English SurnameDescription:
English surname used as one of the middles for Boris Becker's son Amadeus.
- Madigan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little dog"Description:
An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.
- Ridges
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
" long, narrow hilltop, or mountain range; a raised strip"Description:
Ridge and Riggs have already made the US Top 1000, and Ridges feels like a possible progression. Rugged, rough-and-tumble, and cool, Ridges could be an unexpected root to vintage nickname Reggie.
- Bayes
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"bailiff; castle wall"Description:
Like a mash up of Hayes, Blaze, and Brooks, the surname style Bayes feels like it could fit in with other single syllable choices like Tate and Rhys. Deriving from either the Middle English baili meaning "bailiff" or the Old French baile referring to the outer, protective wall of a castle, Bayes is also associated with Bayes Theorem. Developed by philosopher, statistician, and reverend, Thomas Bayes, in the 18th century, it provides a mathematical formula for calculating the probability of a cause when you are given its effect.
- Peabody
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"having the body of a gnat"Description:
Peabody is a quintessentially Waspy surname that your child won't thank you for -- either the pea part or the body part, or the meaning part.
- Howlan
Origin:
English or Irish surnameMeaning:
"land with hills"Description:
Howlan is an uncommon surname-turned-first credited with a range of derivations and meanings. Its most likely roots are in Old English or Irish. It may be derived from the surname Howland, which originated from Old Norse elements meaning "hill land" or as a variant of Hywel, a Welsh name meaning "eminent" or "prominent." Alternatively, it could be connected to the English word "howl," evoking imagery of wolves or wind.
- Kerrigan
Origin:
Irish surnameMeaning:
"son of Ciaragán"Description:
An attractive Irish surname that is currently used exclusively for girls in the US, likely due to the feminine associations with the first name Kerry and with skating champion Nancy Kerrigan.
- Ellerbe
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"Aelfweard's land or farmstead; settlement of the elf guardian"Description:
The name of a town in North Carolina, Ellerbe is derived from the Old English surname Elwordebi, meaning "Aelfweard's farmstead". Altered overtime, it appears in various forms such as Elleby, Ellerby, Elerbie, and more.
- Wheelock
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"winding river"Description:
As a given name, Wheelock has been passed down to generations of the Whitney family — descendants of Eli Whitney, creator of the cotton gin. The first Wheelock Whitney — known as Wheels — was named after his mother, Alice Wheelock. His son, Wheelock Whitney Jr. went by Whee, and Wheelock Whitney III is called Lock.
- Landis
Origin:
German surnameMeaning:
"highwayman"Description:
Preppy surname that would make a fashionable first name for a girl.
- Fielding
Origin:
English topographical surnameMeaning:
"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.
- Ewing
Origin:
English from GreekMeaning:
"noble, well-born"Description:
A surname very rarely heard as a first, associated with Hall of Fame basketball star Patrick Ewing and, in the 1980s, the oil-rich Ewing family on the nighttime soap, "Dallas"
- Royson
Origin:
English, ScottishMeaning:
"son of Roy; son of Royce"Description:
Roy, Royce, Royal, and Rory are all in the US Top 1000, where they join a plethora of surname-inspired names ending in -son. Royson is a new consideration, with a smart, handsome feel to it, combined with a touch of the floral.
- Collier
Origin:
English occupational surnameMeaning:
"coal miner"Description:
An old-fashioned term for a coal miner, or nowadays, a sister to Harper and Piper.
- Grayton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"gray town"Description:
A last name style choice with the sounds of Grayson, Graham, Weston, and Clayton, but ranking well outside the US Top 1000, unlike its counterparts. Given to less than 10 babies in a recent year, Grayton is a familiar sounding but little used option.
- Ludlow
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"ruler's hill"Description:
Rarely heard surname name that lacks the lightness of other o-ending names.
- Drover
Origin:
English occupational surnameMeaning:
"driver of sheep or cattle"Description:
Drover, an ancient occupational surname, is right in step with today's styles and would make a distinctive choice. Drover and brothers are fresh updates of such now-widely-used names as Carter and Cooper.
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