Names That Mean Son

This surname could work as a given name to honor an ancestral Jacob.

To honor an ancestral Peter.

Jameson has cracked the Top 100, so you may want to look towards greener pastures. Jacobson has the same appeal, and — trivia bonus — Jacob and James are variations of the same name.

Fitz is the same as Mac or O' or even son -- it designates a name that originated as a patronymic.

Interesting possibility for the son or grandson of a Gregory.

A modern update to Hilary, which is related to Gaelic Ealair.

If -son names are your style, here's a rare one you may not have come across before! Armison is derived from the Germanic name Ermin or Armin (possibly related to Herman), meaning "whole" or "universal" – the same route that gave us the Emma names.

Ealair is the Gaelic form of Hilary, making McKellar an inventive way to honor a Hilary, Hillary, or Ellery in your life.

One of many common surnames that was derived from Peter, along with Peterson, Parks, Parkinson, and Perkins.

Traditionally given to the eighth son in Japan. It can also be spelled Hachiro.

Alternative to Taro, which is the more common Anglicized spelling.

Still heavily associated with journalist Barbara Walters, whose Jewish family changed their name from Warmwater (Warmwasser) upon emigrating to the UK from Poland.

A spelling spin on presidential surname McKinley.

Names beginning with a "bay" sound are in fashion, and so are names ending in N. So this rare Welsh nugget would make a rather stylish choice.

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

Feminist twist on Hansen and Jansen.

Could be a possible substitute for the dated Dawson, but the first syllable is a little--well--raw.

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.

This is one of hundreds of modern Israeli names that are unknown here but could translate to our culture.

This variation of Biblical Benjamin is used in Ethiopia. With various "Ben" names in style, from Bennett to Bentley, Benyam feels fresh but approachable. The name is also commonly spelled Binyam or Biniyam, but the Benyam more easily leads to the friendly nickname Ben.