matiaraye's list "Good Surnames" of 20 great name ideas: Boreal - Yeats!

Good Surnames

Names that would make good surnames (or already are surnames), mostly for character creation, but whatever floats your boat.

This English word name derives from the name of the Greek god of the north wind, Boreas, by way of Latin borealis "northern". A fictional bearer is Lord Boreal from Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

Boreal

Noted bearers of this surname include a metaphysical poet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a baseball Hall of Famer, so there's plenty of hero-name inspiration. 

Carew

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname, Ó hAllmhuráin meaning "descendant of Allmhurán", Halloran could be your solution if you love the nickname Hal, but not Harold or Henry. Ultimately from allúrach meaning "foreigner" or "pirate", this name has been interpreted as meaning "descendent of a stranger from across the seas".
 
The name might be associated with the character Richard "Dick" Hallorann from Stephen King's The Shining.

Halloran

This French variation of Arnold is definitely more suave, although the Arno variation is easier to spell and features that trendy "o" ending.

Arnault

Kennet is a masculine name with Scandinavian and Scottish origins, representing a variant spelling of Kenneth. Derived from the Gaelic name Coinneach meaning 'handsome' or 'fair,' it also connects to the Scottish clan name. In Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, Kennet has been used as a distinct variation. The name carries historical significance through Kenneth MacAlpin, the first king who united the Scots and Picts in the 9th century. While less common than Kenneth in English-speaking countries, Kennet offers a slightly different sound and appearance while maintaining the strong, classic appeal of its more familiar counterpart. The name suggests qualities of leadership and attractiveness while providing a subtle twist on a traditional name.

Kennet

Scottish Gaelic form of Richard, also found as Risteard.

Ruiseart

Somewhat dashing surname, but with serious teasing potential. 

Blackburn

A French diminutive of Amanda — and the French culinary term for a garnish of almonds — Amandine is a pretty, almond-scented choice that's rarely heard in the US. Meaning "much-loved" or "lovable" from Latin, Amandine ranked in the Top 200 in Belgium in Belgium in the 90s and 2000s, while in France, it was a Top 20 choice in the 80s and remained in the Top 400 until 2020. 
 
Notably borne by footballer Amandine Henry, actor John Malkovich also used it for his daughter in the 90s.

Amandine

Bardot joined the first and last names of other glamour girl icons such as (Jean) Harlow when David Boreanaz chose the surname of '50s French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot for his daughter. Bardot debuted in the US charts in 2022.

Bardot

This lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name, makes a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. While the original name took an umlaut over the e, modern English speakers may find that more trouble than it's worth (though big fans of the Brontës may well disagree).
 Trivia note: The Anglo-Irish clergyman who was the father of Charlotte, Emily and Anne changed his name from the original Brunty. According to scholars, the family pronounced the name bron-tee, though today, you're likely to hear this pronunciation used interchangeably with bron-tay. 
 
In Australia, the name is more likely to take inspiration from Bronte Beach in Sydney. It was named after Lord Nelson, the 1st Duke of Bronté. He got his title from a town in Sicily, itself named after a mythological Cyclops.
 Many people first noticed the name in the film Green Card, as the name of the Andie MacDowell character.
 
Familiarly used in the 90s and early 2000s in the UK, Bronte fell out of style in the 2010s, but more recently, it has been coming back in a big way. In the latest stats, it ranked just outside the Top 500 in England and Wales, while in the US, it was given to just 14 girls.

Bronte

Calista Flockhart opened the door to a whole flock of graceful and unusual Greek names like this, including Calantha, Calla, Carissa, and Cassia. Calandra itself is the name of a species of lark, and has the versatile nickname options of Callie, Candy, Andra, Andie and Birdie.

Calandra

This rarely heard name pares down all the ultrafeminine Dan names to one that's much more powerful, for both boys and girls. 

Dane

This lovely name is best-known as the surname of eponymous Bronte heroine, Jane Eyre, and would make an appealing and distinctive middle name for the child of fans of that book. While the surname Eyre is found mainly in England, its origins are Norse and it's thought to derive from Norse settlers. Still, the status of the classic books means Eyre deserves to stand proudly among <a href="/baby-names/164/english-names">English baby names</a>.

Eyre

Giseli is a feminine name of Brazilian Portuguese origin, representing a variation of Giselle. The original name Giselle derives from Germanic roots meaning 'pledge' or 'hostage' in its ancient context, though its modern associations are far removed from this etymology. Giseli gained particular popularity in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking regions, offering a distinctive local adaptation with the characteristic 'i' ending common in Portuguese variants. The name carries an elegant, graceful quality, perhaps influenced by its associations with ballet through the romantic ballet 'Giselle.' This flowing, melodious name blends European heritage with Latin American naming patterns. While less common internationally, Giseli provides bearers with a name that is both recognizable and distinctive, embodying femininity with a touch of exotic charm.

Giseli

Grainne is the Irish form of the name often Anglicized as Grania. It was the name of the ancient grain goddess and also of the fiancee of mythological hero Finn McCool and lover of Dermot, who was a heroine of the seas. 

In the past, the name was anglicized as Grace, as in Grace O'Malley, Ireland's pirate queen. Grania is a phonetic spelling.

Grainne

Ishi

Kodiak Island, off the coast of Alaska, is the second largest island in the US as well as a baby name getting some attention, especially for boys and especially in Washington State.

Kodiak

Lillemor is a relatively recent coinage in Scandinavia, where it was most popular in the 1930s and '40s, especially in Sweden. As such, it is considered rather dated in Scandinavia, but it would certainly make a fresh choice for lovers of "Lily" names abroad — although the "Lil" in this case actually comes from lille "little".

Lillemor

Prideaux is a Cornish place name and surname that is occasionally attested as a girls' first name. It likely stems from the French phrase "pré de eaux", meaning meadow of waters. For fans of Margaux, Prideaux might be a less-common and very pretty alternative.

Prideaux

Yeats, the strong name of the great Irish poet, would work better for a boy.  Also has possible pronunciation problem with people who might think it rhymes with Keats.  Yeats rhymes with the word from which it's derived: gates.