Now on iOS & AndroidSwipe baby names with your partner — match on names you both love.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Nameberry Logo

Last Names That Are Adorable First Names

  1. Catesby
    • Origin:

      English surname, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      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.
  2. Huntley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  3. Moody
    • Origin:

      Surname name
    • Description:

      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.
  4. Edley
    • Origin:

      English Surname
    • Description:

      English surname used as one of the middles for Boris Becker's son Amadeus.
  5. Madigan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  6. Ridges
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      " 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.
  7. Bayes
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  8. Peabody
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  9. Howlan
    • Origin:

      English or Irish surname
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  10. Kerrigan
    • Origin:

      Irish surname
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  11. Ellerbe
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  12. Wheelock
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  13. Landis
    • Origin:

      German surname
    • Meaning:

      "highwayman"
    • Description:

      Preppy surname that would make a fashionable first name for a girl.
  14. 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.
  15. Ewing
    • Origin:

      English from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "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"
  16. Royson
    • Origin:

      English, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  17. Collier
    • Origin:

      English occupational surname
    • Meaning:

      "coal miner"
    • Description:

      An old-fashioned term for a coal miner, or nowadays, a sister to Harper and Piper.
  18. Grayton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "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.
  19. Ludlow
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "ruler's hill"
    • Description:

      Rarely heard surname name that lacks the lightness of other o-ending names.
  20. Drover
    • Origin:

      English occupational surname
    • Meaning:

      "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.

The Nameberry App Is Live

Nameberry app screenshot
Find your perfect baby name together in our app, now available on the App Store and Google Play.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
Nameberry app screenshot