User-created list
Good Surnames
Across 15 pages
of 15
Giles
Greek
"young goat"
One of those names that most Americans find just too too tea-sippingly British to consider; its meaning has led to occasional use for Capricorn boys.
Grey
Color name
The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Grey/Gray is one exception, which could make for a soft and evocative—if…
Grove
Nature name
"grove of trees"
If you find Grover too fusty and furry, this is a much cooler-sounding alternative.
Haines
English, German
"enclosure, hedge"
A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending boy names like Brooks and Hayes, Haines ultimately comes from the name Hagen. Also spelled as Haynes,…
Harbor
Word name
If you like names that are not really names -- some say, the wave of the future -- Harbor has an attractive sound as well as an appealing meaning and image.
Harlow
English surname
"rock hill or army hill"
A glamorous surname name most famously borne by 1930s icon Jean Harlow (born Harlean Carpenter), Harlow is also the name of a town in the English county of Essex. Outside of the UK, Harlow would fit…
Harrington
English
"family farm"
On the staff of a manor house.
Haskell
English from Norse, Hebrew
"God's helmet; God strengthens"
Haskell has two separate forms of origin, the first being from the Ancient Norse given name Ásketill. The Normans converted Ásketill to Aschetil, then the English transformed Aschetil into Haskell,…
Hendrik
Dutch and Scandinavian variation of Henry
A bit stiff and formal for American use.
Hershel
Hebrew
"deer"
Gentle meaning and bona fide Hebrew history, but feels old-mannish, like Herman and Menashe.
Hooper
English occupational name
"hoop-maker"
Lively, friendly surname that might appeal to basketball fans.
Hyde
Medieval measure of land, or English surname
"hide"
Hyde, of course, is most familiar as a surname -- as in Mr. Hyde, evil alter ego of Dr. Jeckyll. Unless Hyde is a family name or you have some other excellent reason for using it, we think you could…
Ingram
German
"angel-raven"
An undiscovered surname possibility with upscale overtones, could be enlivened with nickname Ingo.
Ives
English variation of Yves
"yew wood"
Smooth and sleek one-syllable name, sometimes suggested for Sagittarius boys.
Jantzen
Scandinavian, variation of Janson, Jansen
"Jan's son"
Jansen is an intriguing way to honor an ancestral John; Jantzen is a brand of swimwear.
Jennings
English surname
"son of John"
Jennings is a common English surname that originated as a patronymic for the child of someone named Jen, a short form of John. With the craze for s-ending surname names, this one is growing in…
Jens
Scandinavian variation of Johannes or John, Hebrew
"God is gracious"
Short but substantial Nordic name that travels well -- although it runs the risk of being confused with all the feminine Jen names.
Keen
English, Irish
"bold, brave; battle"
Actor Mark Ruffalo honed this surname down to its basics when he chose it for his son. A more usable expansion might be the Irish surname Keenan/Keenen.
Kelso
Scottish place and surname
"chalk ridge, lime mountain"
This name of a town in Scotland, one of the earliest recorded surnames in the whole British Isles, has more vitality than Kelsey. Distinctive in sound with a cool -o ending and a stylish K initial,…
Kendell
Kendell is a masculine name derived from the Welsh place name Kendal, meaning 'valley of the River Kent.' This contemporary spelling variation of Kendall adds a distinctive touch to the traditional…