Surnames AKA Last Names

Foley

Irish

"plunderer"

There are many more appealing Irish surnames than Foley, and certainly more positive meanings. If Foley is a genuine family name, this would be all right in the middle.

French

Surname, place name, word name

Actor French Stewart introduced this one to the lexicon. French is part word name, part place name, and part surname-name, reminiscent of celebrity baby names that reference a nationality rather than…

Gallagher

Irish

"descendant of foreign helper"

Gallagher is, like so many of its genre, friendly, open, and optimistic. Some might associate it with the fraternal members of the band Oasis, Noel and Liam Gallagher.

Galloway

Scottish

"stranger"

A rare but distinguished Scottish name. The original Galloway is a region in south-west Scotland, and the meaning ("stranger-Gaels") refers to its mixed population of Scandinavian and Gaelic-speaking…

Gasper

Gasper is a masculine name with European roots, primarily from Spain and Slovenia. It's a variant of Casper or Jasper, derived from the Persian word 'ganzabara' meaning 'treasurer.' The name is…

Gaylord

French

"brisk, high-spirited"

Best left on the old southern plantation, sipping his mint julep.

Gerhardt

Gerhardt is a masculine name of Germanic origin, derived from the elements 'ger' meaning 'spear' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong.' It's essentially a variant of the more common Gerard or…

Gray

Color name, also diminutive of Grayson

The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Gray (or Grey), is one exception, which could make for a soft and…

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…

Guy

French

"wood"

The patron saint of comedians and dancers (also known as St Vitus) has a name that is both the ultimate everyman, and has a hint of British aristocracy. In the States, Guy was most popular in the…

Gyles

Gyles is a masculine name with English origins. It is a variant spelling of Giles, which is derived from the Greek name Aegidius, meaning 'shield bearer' or 'young goat.' The name gained popularity…