User-created list
Potential Character Surnames
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of 34
Sekani
Sekani, Tumbuka
"people on the rocks; laugh"
Sekani was the fastest-rising boy name of 2019, inspired by the character Sekani Carter in the 2018 movie The Hate U Give . The Sekani, also spelled Tse’khene, are a First Nations culture in Canada.…
Shai
Hebrew
"gift"
Shai, pronounced like shy, might morph to rhyme with may among native English speakers. This simple and attractive name is sometimes confused with or anglicized as Shay or even the Irish Shea.
Shea
Irish
"the stately, dauntless one; hawk"
Not to be confused with shea butter, this name is a common surname in Ireland, combining spirit, substance, and gentleness. The traditional Irish form is Séaghdha (SHEH), though it could also be used…
Sidney
English from French
"Saint Denis"
A contraction name, Sidney comes from Saint Denis and is related to Dioynsius, the Greek god of fertility and wine, although another theory is that it derived from an Anglo-Saxon place name, meaning…
Simeon
Hebrew
"he [God] has heard"
Could Simeon be the next Gideon? Parents seeking a less simple form of Simon might consider this biblical appellation that was chosen by Wynton Marsalis for his son. Simon is actually the Greek…
Sire
Word name
"royalty; father, senior"
Historically, Sire was a formal term for addressing male royalty, particularly a king. Sire can also mean "father" or "senior" as both a noun and a verb. Now, like Prince, Sir, Messiah, and Saint,…
Slade
English
"from the valley"
Evoking the image of a shady glen, Slade could make a distinctive middle name. It entered the Top 1000 in 2007, and has been seen as a character name on the TV show "Smallville." It's also a name…
Smith
English occupational name
"blacksmith"
Even if it is the Number one surname in the U.S.--with more than 2.5 million bearers--we still think that Smith would make a cool first or middle name, whether or not it has family history. Though…
Sol
Spanish
"sun"
Although pinochle-playing partner Sam came out of retirement, we don't see it happening to Sol. Near soundalike Saul has more of a shot. Sol was also a Roman god/personification of the sun, and an…
Steele
English
"steel"
This steely surname has a macho image that might feel more appropriate for a romance novel than a baby. But on the upside, it's also sleek and modern, familiar yet unusual, given to only around 100…
Storm
Word name
Windswept and dramatic, but perhaps asking for trouble. Quite popular in Denmark and Sweden, where it derives from Stromr, which is a fairly common surname. Storm Thorgerson is a famous bearer of the…
Striker
English word name
Striker is one of the new gang of boys' names that have two syllables, end in -er, spring from words, and have a macho, even aggressive meaning and image. Other examples include Breaker, Heller, and…
Syncere
Variation of Sincere, English word name
"sincere"
Sincere is more common than you think as a given name, and so is variation Syncere, which sits right outside the Top 1000.
Tayden
Tayden is a modern masculine name that follows the popular contemporary pattern of blending familiar name elements. It likely combines the 'Tay-' prefix (as in Taylor or Tayler) with the trendy…
Taylen
Modern invented name
A newly coined unisex name that, for boys, feels like a cross between Talon and Taylor. One of the many unique unisex names invented from elements popular in other names.
Terrell
English surname name; "to pull"
"to pull"
Terrell feels like a modern invention based on Terrence, but Tyrrell has plenty of history as a surname name. It probably comes from an Anglo-Norman nickname for a stubborn person, from the Old…
Terrence
Spelling variation of Terence
In the US, this variation is more popular than the original. Terrence has been in the US Top 1000 since 1920, but Terence has been left behind. Alternate spelling Terrance is the most popular…
Terry
Diminutive of Terence or Thierry, English
"soft; thresher; ruler of the people"
One of the first breakaway unisex baby names , Terry, used independently since the days of Terry and the Pirates. Popular in the mid-20th-century, it has fallen out of favor in recent years, replaced…
Thyme
Nature name
Fragrant herb often used for cooking, but scarcely as a name.
Tiago
Portuguese diminutive of Santiago, Latin
"Saint James"
Tiago, also spelled Thiago, is a popular Portuguese boys' name. Derived from the more formal Santiago, these days it is often used on its own. Relaxed and charming while still maintaining the…