User-created list
Good Surnames
Across 15 pages
of 15
Bascom
Surname name
One of these forgotten Victorian surname names, like Spurgeon and Elwood, that almost feels so far out it could come back in. The key word there being "almost."
Bates
English diminutive of Bartholomew
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…
Bayless
French occupational name
"bailiff"
Offers much less than Bay.
Beinish
Beinish is a masculine name with Yiddish origins, derived from 'ben' meaning 'son' in Hebrew. The name may also have connections to Eastern European Jewish communities. Though relatively uncommon in…
Bhaltair
Bhaltair is a masculine name representing the Scottish Gaelic form of Walter. With Celtic origins, this uncommon name carries the same Germanic roots as Walter, derived from 'wald' (rule) and 'hari'…
Birch
Tree name
Birch is a rarely used nature name that calls to mind the lovely image of the tall, strong but graceful white-barked tree. The best known bearer of the name is former high-ranking Democratic Senator…
Birney
English surname
"island with the brook"
Bernie, with airs.
Boswell
English
"well near the woods"
Waspy-sounding choice, well known in literature for Boswell's Life of Johnson .
Bramwell
English
"well where the gorse grows; bramble well"
An unexpected route to nicknames Bram or Wells, this English surname derives from a historical hamlet in England, whose exact location has been lost to time. It comes from the Old English word for…
Braque
Artist name
A strikingly creative and unique name well worth considering, recalling the great cubist paintings of Georges Braque.
Brigham
English
"little village near the bridge"
A distinguished sounding place and surname borne by religious leader Brigham Young, second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Brighton
English, place name meaning "bright town"
"bright town"
Brighton has long been known as a holiday resort town on the south coast of England. A cheery unisex name, it was used for his daughter by Jon Favreau, but was a boy on the TV show The Nanny .
Brinstan
Old English
Brinstan was a Bishop of Wincester. This old English name has real potential for resurrection.
Bruin
English or Dutch
"bear or brown"
Bruin is the Old English term for bear, taken from the Dutch word meaning brown. Bruin might be a sports fan's choice or an animal name in hiding. As a kind of hybrid of Roone and Bruno, it's…
Buck
English
"male deer or rabbit"
Comedian Roseanne Barr chose this macho nature name for her son. In the 18th century it was used to describe a dashing, fashionable dressed man. Buck fits in well alongside names like Beck, Jack and…
Cabbott
Cabbott is an unusual masculine name that appears to be a variant spelling of Cabot, a surname with French origins. The name likely derives from the Norman-French 'chabot,' referring to a type of…
Callaghan
Irish
"lover of churches"
A classic Irish "top-o'-the-mornin' surname with a lot of rhythm and pizzazz.
Callaway
English from Latin
"pebbly place"
A surname-style choice with jazzy ties to Cab Calloway and a more sporty association leant to it by a golfing company, Callaway has seen moderate gains in the US since the 2000s. In a recent year, 67…
Caradoc
Welsh
"amiable, beloved"
Derived from the name Caradog, the handsome ancient Celtic name was worn by one of the Knights of the Round Table, as well as a semi-legendary Welsh King. Possibly a cognate of Cedric and Carys,…
Cavanagh
Cavanagh is a masculine name with Irish Gaelic roots, derived from the surname 'Caomhánach,' which means 'born of the handsome one' or 'born of Kevin.' Historically a family name associated with the…