Surname Names

  1. Sherman
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "shearer of woolen cloth"
    • Description:

      Not quite as over-the-hill as Herman, but not far behind either.
  2. Keller
    • Origin:

      German occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "cellar master"
    • Description:

      Keller is a German surname that originated as an occupational name for a cellar or store master, which seems to be the background of several of the most stylish new German names for boys. One of the stylish new two-syllable -er ending names for boys, Keller is rising up the ranks heading for the Top 1000. It may be an honorific for Helen Keller.
  3. Harley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "the long field"
    • Description:

      Once a macho biker name, Harley is now showing its softer side. In the UK, Harley is predominantly masculine, but it's currently more popular for girls than boys in the US.
  4. Sutter
    • Origin:

      English surname and occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "shoemaker"
    • Description:

      Sutter is a new entry to the fashionable class of occupational surnames, brought to the fore by the hero of the 2013 indie film The Spectacular Now. More masculine than Sutton and more distinctive than Sawyer, Sutter might be a good choice for the child of a shoe designer or shoe lover.
  5. Granger
    • Origin:

      English and French surname
    • Meaning:

      "worker of the granary; farmer"
    • Description:

      If you're seeking a solid but underused occupational name with a warm, friendly sound, and an earthy feel, Granger is one to consider. Associated with faming, grain, and the outdoors, it fits in with the likes of Colton, Sawyer, and Cooper, with a hint of classic George about it too.
  6. Forest
    • Origin:

      French occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "woodsman or woods"
    • Description:

      The Forest variation of Forrest, used by actor Whitaker, nudges the meaning more toward the woods and away from the woodsman.
  7. Hadleigh
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Hadley, English
    • Meaning:

      "heathery field"
    • Description:

      Hadley, an old surname-name best known as the name of author Ernest Hemingway's "Paris Wife," only recently broke onto the scene in a big way. While Hadley has considerable appeal, spelling variations such as Hadleigh—and onward to Hadleah, Hadleah, Hadli and so on—only emphasize its trendiness. Hadleigh made its first appearance on the US Top 1000 in 2014.
  8. Bauer
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "farmer, tiller of the soil"
    • Description:

      A surname name with an occupational background, but although it derives from the German language it is not used as a first name there as it has pejorative connotations – sometimes used as slag for an uneducated person. In the US, a prominent association is the character Jack Bauer from 24.
  9. Ridley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "cleared wood; reed clearing; channel clearing"
    • Description:

      Director Ridley Scott and actress Daisy Ridley made this surname-style name familiar, and with its outdoorsy meaning and rugged yet preppy sound, it could blend in with Oakley, Reid, Riley, and Ridge. Some parents might be put of by the first syllable (as in, "get rid of" or "horrid" or "riddles"), but since Scarlett (scar), Colton (cult), and Titus all rank in the Top 400, it could still work for those looking for a standout last-name first name.
  10. Egan
    • Origin:

      Variation of Aidan, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little fire"
    • Description:

      Egan's likeness to the word eager gives this Irish surname a ready-to-please, effervescent energy, and it would make an appropriate substitute for the overused Aidan.
  11. Malone
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "a devotee of Saint John"
    • Description:

      Classic Irish surname with a lot of character and some interesting associations: the title character of a Samuel Beckett novel and basketball great Karl Malone. Malone is a popular name for baby boys in France.
  12. Yarrow
    • Origin:

      Botanical name, English
    • Meaning:

      "rough stream"
    • Description:

      Highly unusual as a baby name for either gender, Yarrow is an herb that grows wild and has long been used for its medicinal property. It's named for the mythical Achilles, who was said to carry yarrow into battle.
  13. Faron
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "handsome servant"
    • Description:

      Faron, a soft and gentle name, has a diverse group of references. There was the medieval Saint Faron, Bishop of Meaux (who has given his name to a cheese); Faron Young, a colorful midcentury country singer known as The Hillbilly Heartthrob, and a character from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
  14. Dayton
    • Origin:

      English, variation of Deighton
    • Meaning:

      "place with a dike"
    • Description:

      If Dayton, like Trenton and Camden, is finding favor with parents, it's more because of its popular two-syllable surname feel and -on ending than the industrial city in Ohio.
  15. Ellison
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Ellis"
    • Description:

      Updates Ellis -- but also has a lot of feminine potential thanks to Allison/Ellie similarity.
  16. Fitzroy
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of the king"
    • Description:

      An English surname originally given to the illegitimate sons of a monarch. It might be a nice middle name choice to honor an ancestral Roy, though as a first, it does have a cool meaning.
  17. Baird
    • Origin:

      Scottish occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "minstrel, poet"
    • Description:

      Meaning bard, this is an original choice with poetic and melodic undertones. Bard itself has also come into consideration, both names bringing to mind Shakespeare and other literary lights.

      The Scottish surname Baird's most notable bearer was John Logie Baird, the Scottish engineer and inventor of the televisor, the world's first practical television system in 1926, and also the world's first fully electronic color TV tube two years later. Some might also remember puppeteers Bil and Cora Baird.

  18. Chaucer
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "maker of breeches"
    • Description:

      One of the most distinguished names in literature could become a hero name in a family of poetry-lovers -- or be seen as a trendy new occupational name.
  19. Kiernan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little dark one"
    • Description:

      Although this surname name is closely related to the more common Irish name Kieran, Kiernan is also a well used family name, tied to thirty-three ancient chieftains. It has on a few occasions been used for girls.
  20. Alton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the old town"
    • Description:

      The sort of formal surname name more popular in another era; Dalton's a more modern relation.

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