Names That Mean Son

Eldarion is the son of Aragorn and Arwen in Tolkien's legendarium, who goes on to become a High King himself.

Marks is a surname that independently arose in several languages, most all of them as a patronymic form of Mark. Among Jewish families, Marks is typically a variation of Marx. Marx was a given name derived from Marcus that Ashkenazi Jews used as a Germanized form of Mordechai.

A better modern solution than Robert Jr. ; known to fiction readers via Canadian novelist Robertson Davies.

Nichol, a Medieval English form of Nicholas, has been pretty much lost to history but survives today in the surname form of Nichols.

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.

Zeldin originated as a surname, designating the son of a Zelde, and feels like a fresh Jewish baby name for the 21st century.

Despite its appearance, McGill is not related to any of the Gil- names, including Gilbert, Gilford, and Gilson. The "gill" piece is derived from the Gaelic word gall, meaning "foreigner." Yet, it could still be used to honor a Gil in your life.

In ancient Mesopotamia, Dumuzid was the god of shepherds and fertility and husband of the goddess Inanna. Tammuz, the Semitic transcription of the name, is more likely to be used today.

Dickson's nickname problem keeps it from having the upside possibility of similar names like Jackson and Harrison. If you're looking for fresh baby names to honor an ancestral Richard or Dick, consider Dixon. Or better, Richardson.

Likely to be construed as a virtue name (a nice one, at that!), even though Willing is a traditional surname with both English and German roots. As an English name, Willing is a patronymic form of Willa. In German, it's a patronym from Wille, a variation of Ville, which is related to William.

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

A case in which the son is now more attractive than the father. There have been Colonial settlers surnamed Dennison on this side of the Atlantic since 1623.

Reilly and Riley are hugely popular, but O'Reilly is still an up-and-comer.

Conjures up the military image of Fort Benning in Georgia — or the surname of actress Annette.

Shows some promise via its connection to the growing interest in Ewan.

An interesting international possibility for a third son.

Though this spelling is not seen too often in the US, it is a common surname spelling in the land of kilts.

Uncommon surname name used by Zak Williams for his son—it was his father Robin Williams's middle name.

A respelling of Bowen that gives the option of cozy nickname Wyn as well as Bo.