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Preppy Names

  1. Thad

    • Origin:

      Short form of Thaddeus or variation of Tad

    • Description:

      Thad is a tad too slight to stand alone as a name, though as a short form of the imposing Thaddeus it's as serviceable as Ted or Ed.
  2. Barclay

    • Origin:

      English and Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "where birches grow"

    • Description:

      Americans may not realize Barclay is the phonetic spelling of the British Berkeley -- though both sound like old-fashioned butler names.
  3. Niels

    • Origin:

      Danish variation of Nicholas; Dutch diminutive of Cornelius

    • Description:

      Gives middle-aged Neil a new lease on life.
  4. Latham

    • Origin:

      English from Scandinavian

    • Meaning:

      "the barn"

    • Description:

      This familiar surname with a surprising meaning could be added to your list of undiscovered 'last names first' names.
  5. Jentry

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Gentry, English

    • Meaning:

      "aristocracy"

    • Description:

      Jentry is an upwardly-striving word name that's gaining ground for girls as a new spin on Jennifer or Jenna. If classy is what you're after, a name with a genuine pedigree would serve you better. Others spellings -- Jentri, Jentree, Jentreigh -- abound, presumably for parents who want to use the short form Jen or like Gentry but prefer girl names starting with J..
  6. Skipper

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "captain"

    • Description:

      Barbie's little sister, and like Barbie, Skipper is one of many Kindercore names — evoking nostalgia through beloved childhood characters — that is getting more attention. Skipper debuted in the US charts in 2022.
  7. Arlen

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "hare land"

    • Description:

      Arlen might be thought of as an update on the midcentury Arlene or as a unisex surname-name. Arlen was given to 22 girls in the US last year vs 57 boys and those numbers may grow with the fashion for n-ending two-syllable surname-names. Another similar possibility for girls: Arden.
  8. Bates

    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Bartholomew

    • Description:

      Bates is a fresh version of Bartholomew, and feels more wearable than Bart. Bates could be considered a patriotic choice for American parents - Katharine Lee Bates was an author and professor best known for penning the words to "America the Beautiful".
  9. Carrington

    • Origin:

      English, Scottish surname

    • Meaning:

      "from Carrington"

    • Description:

      This habitational surname works as a modern way to honor a Carrie, Carolyn, or Caroline.
  10. Macallister

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "son of Alasdair"

    • Description:

      Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son. Macallister is usually heard as a patronymic surname, meaning son of Alasdair or Alistair or any one of the spellings of the Scottish form of Alexander. Like all other names of this type, Macallister leads to the cute short form Mac.
  11. Calloway

    • Origin:

      English from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "pebbly place"

    • Description:

      Calloway is one of those irresistibly jaunty, animated three-syllable surnames, like Sullivan and Finnegan — but this one has the added attraction of jazzy ties to the immortal "Dean of American Jive," Cab Calloway. For a girl, this could be an unconventional route to the cool nickname Callie.
  12. Greeley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "pock-marked, scarred"

    • Description:

      This English surname was originally a nickname for someone with a pock-marked face. It's a less-than-ideal meaning, but Greeley's upbeat sound and modern unisex style keep it on our lists.
  13. Hollister

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "dweller by the holly tree"

    • Description:

      Familiar English surname now associated with the Abercrombie & Fitch offshoot.
  14. Hutchinson

    • Description:

      Hutchinson is primarily known as a surname derived from the medieval given name Hugh, with the suffix "-kin" (diminutive) and "-son," meaning "son of little Hugh." As a first name, it represents the trend of using family surnames as given names, which became popular in English-speaking countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. The practice often honored maternal family lines or important family connections. Hutchinson as a first name has always been extremely rare. It carries a formal, distinguished quality and would likely be shortened to more casual forms like "Hutch" in everyday use. The name conveys a sense of heritage and tradition, appealing to parents looking for a substantial name with built-in nickname options.

  15. Yardley

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "wood clearing"

    • Description:

      Yardley, a surname redolent of British soaps and perfume, was used for her daughter by Megyn Kelly.
  16. Haines

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "the vined cottage"

    • Description:

      A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending boy names like Brooks.
  17. Fairbanks

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "bank along the pathway"

    • Description:

      Alaska's second most populous city makes a baby name with a preppy, even aristocratic, flavor.
  18. Phillips

    • Description:

      Phillips originated as a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Philip' and has transitioned into occasional use as a masculine given name. The name Philip itself comes from Greek elements meaning 'lover of horses.' As a first name, Phillips maintains its connection to this heritage while having a distinctive surname feel that follows the trend of using family names as first names. While not among the most common given names, Phillips has a formal, distinguished quality that appeals to some parents. It offers the friendly nickname options of Phil or Flip, providing versatility. The name connotes stability, tradition, and a certain professional quality that can serve well throughout life.

  19. 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"
  20. Princeton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "princely town"

    • Description:

      This uppity name has been a fast climber in recent years, but we still think it's a bit much. Even abroad, where the connection to the prestigious university will be weaker, any name beginning with "Prince" will sound pretentious.