English Last Names

A preppy English surname. Newscaster Megyn Kelly used it as a middle name for her son in 2009.

Could join such up-and-comers as Miller and Gardener.

The newest cowboy-cool kid on the block is Dutton, introduced by the hit Western drama series Yellowstone. It's seen as a surname in the series, which follows the Dutton family on their ranch. But Americans' affinity towards surname names and the similarities to Sutton have inspired fans of the show to use Dutton for their sons — so much so that Dutton took the title as the fastest-rising name in 2022, jumping a whopping 986 spots.

Variously spelled trendy name in the 1970s that hasn't even been in the Top 1000 in a decade.

A common surname in Scotland, but a starchy first name choice.

Moore is recommended as a rich and satisfying middle name choice, whether it relates to your own family history or not. Of the numerous outstanding Moore-surnamed namesakes, count sculptor Henry, writers Clement, Marianne and Brian, entertainers Demi, Dudley, Garry, Roger, Julianne, Melba and Mary Tyler, and provocateur Michael.

A rising surname name for girls — it's overwhelmingly feminine, despite the association with Kenny Chesney.

This surname name fits in with current favorites like Hudson, but is much less common as a given name. It's widely familiar thanks to the late Jim Henson, creator of The Muppets.

Calloway is one of those irresistibly jaunty, animated three-syllable surnames, like Sullivan and Finnegan — but this one has the added attraction of jazzy ties to the immortal "Dean of American Jive," Cab Calloway. For a girl, this could be an unconventional route to the cool nickname Callie.

Stuffy surname.

Has some creative credibility via abstract painter Barnett Newman, but we'd prefer his nickname, Barney.

An English surname derived from multiple place names, which ranked in the Top 500 for boys in the US until the turn of the 20th century.

Likable choice for history-minded parents who might want to honor Irish patriot Charles Parnell.

Another meaningful word name that actually dates back to pre-Emancipation days.

Possible middle name for devotees of detective Sherlock...or the actress Katie.

Surname name with an uplifting meaning. Just beware that this is a well-known mattress brand.

Goodwin — which is mostly seen as a last name — comes from the long-forgotten given name Godwine. Godwine was a relatively common name in medieval England. It later traveled to Germanic regions in the form of Godwin.

Sanders is one of the S-ending surnames gaining traction as a first name for boys in the US. It jumped nearly 2000 points in popularity this year.

Surely one of the most pleasant and evocative of the occupational options.

No competition for Jackson.