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Potential Character Surnames

  1. Arisbeth

    • Origin:

      Combination of Ariel and Elizabeth, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "lion of God and pledged to God"

    • Description:

      Arisbeth is a name that feels poetic and fantastical like Arwen or Amoret, but equally familiar and sunny, like Marisol. It is in fact a name used primarily in Mexico and by Hispanic parents in the US, who've made it one of the hottest unique names.
  2. Ochre

    • Origin:

      Greek, English

    • Meaning:

      "pale yellow"

    • Description:

      Ochre is an exceedingly rare name, found only a few times since the nineteenth century, and not showing up in any current data. Yet it means much the same thing as popular Sienna (another clay coloured with iron oxide) and sounds similar to fashionable Oakley. A strong earthy nature name that is both unusual and evocative.
  3. Tyrone

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "land of Owen"

    • Description:

      Immigrated into American pop culture in the person of 1940s superstar Tyrone Power, Jr. It has been on a steady decline since the 1970s.
  4. Cashton

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Meaning:

      "money town; town of the box maker"

    • Description:

      Color us surprised — Kashton is over four times more popular than Cashton. While the on-trend K spelling ranks in the US Top 500, Cashton lingers just outside the charts and is given to around 170 boys each year.
  5. Coleman

    • Origin:

      English and Irish

    • Meaning:

      "little dove"

    • Description:

      The name of three hundred saints, a mustard, and your own baby boy. Coleman was off the US Top 1000 list for much of the 1960s and 1970s, but it was a mainstay before and has been for most years since. It could be an interesting way to honor a Colin or Cole.
  6. Ora

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "prayer"

    • Description:

      Short and slight, with great potential now that names like Ava, Ida and Orla are popular. Ora Beach is a tourist destination on Seram Island, Indonesia.
  7. Oakland

    • Origin:

      American nature name or place name

    • Meaning:

      "oak land"

    • Description:

      Oakland is a place name associated mainly with the city near San Francisco, pretty obviously meaning "oak land". Theoretically unisex but used mainly for boys, Oakland is one of a trending group of oak-related names, led by Oakley for both genders, with Oakland and Oaklen trending for boys while baby girls are more often given spellings Oaklynn and Oaklyn.
  8. Thyme

    • Origin:

      Nature name

    • Description:

      Fragrant herb often used for cooking, but scarcely as a name.
  9. Rylen

    • Origin:

      Variation of Rylan

    • Description:

      Rylen is the more-unusual spelling variation of Rylan and the even more popular Ryland. It also takes a cue from the long-trendy surname-name Riley and adds the newly-trendy n ending.
  10. Savvy

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      We call Savvy a Modern Virtue Name, a contemporary version of the Puritan's Hope and Charity, extolling the virtue of shrewdness. And who doesn't want their daughter to grow up to be Savvy in the ways of the world? So far, this name has been used only for girls, perhaps because some parents remember the women's magazine called Savvy.
  11. Krish

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Krishna, Hindi, Sanskrit

    • Meaning:

      "black, dark"

    • Description:

      Although Krishna is popular in India, only this diminutive variation made the US Top 1000 in 2013. It also features in the UK Top 1000, appealing in its simplicity, ability to work in multiple languages and spiritual significance.
  12. Kiyomi

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "sacred and beautiful; clean and beautiful"

    • Description:

      Kiyomi is a Japanese name that means 'sacred and beautiful' or 'clean and beautiful.' It refers to a variety of citrus fruit and is gaining popularity for baby girls in the U.S., with just under 200 girls receiving the name in 2022. Kiyomi combines a meaningful and elegant definition with a unique cultural reference, making it a distinctive choice for parents.
  13. Williams

    • Description:

      Williams is a patronymic surname that has evolved into use as a given name. Derived from the Germanic name Wilhelm (composed of elements meaning 'will, desire' and 'helmet, protection'), it literally means 'son of William.' As a first name, Williams maintains the distinguished, traditional quality of its surname origins. It's particularly popular in English-speaking countries, often chosen by families honoring ancestral surnames or seeking a formal, sophisticated option for their sons. While primarily used for boys, Williams carries a professional, timeless appeal that resists passing trends. The name offers familiar nickname options like Will or Bill, though many prefer using the full name to preserve its dignified character.

  14. Padme

    • Origin:

      Modern invented name

    • Description:

      Padmé Amidala, played by Natalie Portman, was one of the main characters in the Star Wars prequels, the mother (with Anakin Skywalker) of Luke and Leia. Enough time may have passed for it to be conceivable as a first name IRL.
  15. Ansley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "clearing with a hermitage"

    • Description:

      Part Ashley, part Ainsley, part Annie, Ansley featured in the US Top 1000 from the late '90s until 2020. It peaked in 2011 when it nearly reached the Top 600, but has declined in recent years.
  16. Laken

    • Origin:

      Variation of Lake, English

    • Meaning:

      "lake"

    • Description:

      Not quite a nature name and not quite a surname — whatever Laken is or isn't, we know it's definitely a name to watch.
  17. Yael

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "ibex"

    • Description:

      A common unisex name in Israel, more properly written as Ya'el, Yael rose more than 200 places in 2023 to become one of the fastest-rising boys' names of the year in the US.
  18. Guadalupe

    • Origin:

      Spanish from Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "hidden river, valley of the wolves"

    • Description:

      Popular Spanish name that relates to the patron saint of Mexico. It could conceivably, like Soledad and Consuelo, cross the border into multicultural territory, but the name's decline since the nineties would seem to make that less likely.
  19. Layan

    • Origin:

      Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "soft, delicate"

    • Description:

      Gentle, pleasant, and succinct, Layan is a popular choice across the Arab world and related to other well-loved Arabic choices, such as Alina, Leen, and Lina. Familiar in The UK, the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium too, it has been on the rise in the US since the early 2000s and now sits just outside the Top 1000. With Leila, Lila, and Aaliyah already well known among English speakers, Layan could translate well. In sound, it is a little like Leanne, while in appearance it is reminiscent of Lainey and Layla - all of which makes it a friendly, cross-cultural choice with a nice meaning.
  20. Malka

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "queen"

    • Description:

      Nonbiblical Hebrew name used as an affectionate nickname since the Middle Ages.