Names That Mean Son

Intriguing way to honor an ancestral John.

This attractive Scottish surname-name is found in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, as the surname of hero Augustus/Gus McCrae. Also spelled MacCrae or McRay among other variations, the meaning is variously given as son of grace or luck.

Typically spelled Hachirō, with a macron over the O. It was historically given to the eighth son in a family, although these days eight sons is a rare occurrence.

If you choose this name, it's not likely to be for the meaning.

In the Christian bible, Barabbas was a murderer that Pontius Pilate freed while condemning Jesus to die. The name is ironic, given that Christian belief promotes Jesus as the son of the Father. The name is difficult for this reason, as well as the fact that in Spain it is used as slang for a bad person.

This common Jewish surname — originally spelled Volfson — works as a modern and on-trend segue to the cool nickname Wolf, if Wolfgang or Wolfric feel a bit too heavy. With animal names like Wolf (along with Bear and Fox) shooting up the charts in recent years, Wolfson has plenty of undiscovered potential. A famous bearer of the surname is British politician David Wolfson, who was knighted Baron Wolfson of Sunningdale.

For fans of Warren G. All two of them.

Atari debuted for girls in 1980, a year after it appeared on the charts for boys. It's not a Japanese given name, instead, the name was influenced by the video game company. Atari named themselves after a Japanese phrase, atari, used in the ancient Chinese game Go. It means, roughly, "I am about to win," and is said in a similar context to which one would say "checkmate" in chess.

Ibsen is a literary hero name possibility, after the great Norwegian dramatist, Henrik I. The name Ib is a short form of Jacob, so you might consider Ibsen as an honorific for or a twin of a Jacob.

With parents looking for fresh -son names, this Irish option — best-known on actor Liam Neeson — may appeal.

Yancy has begun to rise in usage among baby girls, perhaps in part due to the similarity to the classically feminine name Nancy.

You may be more familiar with Jimena, the feminization of this name. Jimeno is just as upbeat and attractive — we'd love to see more parents embrace this rarity. It was given to fewer than five baby boys in the last year on record.

Patterson is an upscale name worth considering if you're looking to continue a line of Peters, but soundalike Paterson is a downscale city in New Jersey.

A rare Mc surname used for both girls and boys in the US. It ultimately derives from Laurentius, as does Lawrence.

Good way to honor Scandinavian roots, or an ancestor named Carl or Charles.

The Turkish translation of the classic Hebrew name Benjamin.

Common Spanish surname that can work as a first.

The infamous name Dracula technically means "son of Dracul" but since Dracul means devil in modern Romanian, we thought we'd cut right to the chase.

A handsome surname derived from Henry, like Henderson and Hendrix.

This Romani name may derive from the Yiddish name Zindel, which is itself a name derived from Alexander.