Last Name Options

This Ashley-like surname name actually made the US Top 1000 around the turn of the 20th century. Used very quietly today in equal numbers -- about a dozen each -- for boys and girls. Ashby is a major thoroughfare in Berkeley, California.

Common Spanish surname with a lively sound and meaning and literary connection to prominent Latin American writer Carlos Fuentes.

This name projects a sense of well-being - hale and hearty - is unusual but accessible, with a clear simple sound, and a worthy namesake, Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale, as an added bonus.

It's a long time now since this casual but suave name was linked to velvet-throated, cardigan-sweatered singer Perry (born Pierino, son of Pietro) Como's day... and this could be the moment for a reassessment. Other Perry associations are designer Ellis and the fictional Perry Mason and Perry White. There is also the option of taking the long way round to Perry via the more substantial Peregrine or Percival.

Vincent is a name with a complex image. After being quietly used for centuries, it is suddenly seeming stylish, along wih other V names. Even the nickname Vince has been given a reprieve via actor Vince Vaughn and country singer Vince Gill. Vin Diesel was born with the more prosaic name Mark Vincent.

Way is a short, distinctive masculine name with multiple origin possibilities. It may derive from Old English 'weg' meaning 'path' or 'journey,' could be a shortened form of Wayne, or might originate from various Asian languages where it carries meanings like 'power' (Chinese) or 'to protect' (Japanese). As a given name in Western cultures, Way has remained extremely rare, though it has seen occasional use particularly in English-speaking countries. The name's brevity gives it a modern, minimalist appeal in an era when short names are increasingly fashionable. Way carries philosophical connotations of life's journey, particularly in Eastern traditions where 'the Way' represents spiritual paths. Despite its simplicity, the name conveys depth and can appeal to parents seeking a meaningful yet concise name with cross-cultural potential.