Last Names That Are Adorable First Names

  1. Clarke
    • Origin:

      Variation of Clark
    • Description:

      A rising choice for girls that fits in with tailored surnames such as Sloane, Greer, and Blair.
  2. Carver
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "wood carver"
    • Description:

      Carver is an occupational name with an artistic bent, associated with wood carving predominantly, though it could also be linked to those who carve from stone, marble, ice, and pumpkins. More familiar that the equally arty Painter, but fresher than the 90s style Carter, Carver has received more interest in recent years.
  3. Sheridan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "searcher"
    • Description:

      Upper crust-y surname Sheridan gains some energy when used for a girl.
  4. Whitney
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "white island"
    • Description:

      Yesterday's sensation that rose with the popularity of Whitney Houston. Whitney may have lost some of its style value, but it still sounds like one of the quintessential English names for girls. Today, you might want to shorten it to cool nickname Whit.
  5. Dempsey
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "proud, haughty"
    • Description:

      Spunky Irish surname that still has a pugnacious feel from its lingering association with one of boxing's greatest champs, Jack Dempsey. Many people may associate it more with Patrick Dempsey these days—McDreamy from TV's Grey's Anatomy.
  6. Henley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "high meadow"
    • Description:

      The name of a British town on the Thames that hosts a famous regatta. Henley is one of the English baby names soaring in popularity for both boys and girls in the US, but is now much more popular for girls. In the UK, however, it is almost unused for girls, with just 3 female babies named Henley as recently as 2014.
  7. Carlisle
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the walled city"
    • Description:

      This stuffy English surname and hotel name took on Twilight cool when attached to vampire Carlisle Cullen. Inspired by the character, it's more popular in this spelling than as Carlyle and more widely used for boys than for girls.
  8. Colson
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "son of Nicholas"
    • Description:

      Author Colson Whitehead introduced this surname-name to the lexicon, perfect for a son or grandson of a Nicholas, a Nicole, or a Colin. Or anyone else who likes the sound for that matter, since there are plenty of Jacksons and Harrisons whose parents are not called Jack or Harry.
  9. Chanel
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the canal"
    • Description:

      Fans of the classic French designer would now more fashionably choose Coco.
  10. Gentry
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "aristocracy"
    • Description:

      A distinctive surname that, despite its meaning, has a cowboy swagger, a la Autry.
  11. Anson
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Anne"
    • Description:

      Anson has always been rare, though you might think of actor Anson Williams, best known for playing Potsie Weber on 1970s sitcom Happy Days. As a direct result of the show's popularity, Anson charted in the US Top 1000 from 1976 to 1981.
  12. Layton
    • Origin:

      Old English
    • Meaning:

      "settlement with a leek garden"
    • Description:

      This first name was once a surname derived from Old English. Used quietly a century ago, the current fashion for two-syllable boy names ending in n makes this one a new hit.
  13. Braxton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "Brock's settlement"
    • Description:

      Braxton entered the popularity ranks in 1985 and has been climbing steadily ever since. It has gained from the all-powerful X-factor, and perhaps also from the reality TV show, Braxton Family Values, featuring singer Toni and her sisters Traci, Towanda, Trina and Tamar. Though it might sound new, there was a prominent Confederate Civil War general named Braxton Bragg.
  14. Brinley
    • Origin:

      English, combination of Brynn + Lee "burnt clearing; hill + meadow"
    • Meaning:

      "burnt clearing; hill + meadow"
    • Description:

      Brinley was a surprise entrant to the US Top 1000 in 2009, however, in 2023, it doesn't feel surprising at all. In fact, alternative spellings Brynleigh and Brynlee also rank in the Top 1000, with Brynley not too far behind.
  15. Judson
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Jordan"
    • Description:

      Judson remained in the US Top 1000 every year until it dropped off in 1987. In 2014, the named rejoined the list. With Hudson gaining in popularity, Judson—a possible alternative to Justin—could follow its path.
  16. Thayer
    • Origin:

      French variation of Taylor
    • Meaning:

      "tailor"
    • Description:

      Thayer is an affable, less-common alternative to Taylor, with a much more indirect connection to its occupational source. Actor Thayer David (born David Thayer: Thayer was his father's first name) was known for his roles in Rocky and Dark Shadows.
  17. Nixon
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Nicholas"
    • Description:

      A fresher spin on Jaxon, with built-in cool nickname Nix, and a great way to honor an ancestral Nick. But the association with disgraced former president Richard Nixon remains strong, which might explain why this otherwise bang-on-trend surname name has remained under the radar, peaking at #482 in 2017.
  18. Guthrie
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "windy place"
    • Description:

      Guthrie, one of the most attractive Scottish names that's also a surname, has a particularly romantic, windswept aura, with a touch of the buckaroo thrown in.
  19. Rylan
    • Origin:

      English and Irish
    • Meaning:

      "rye land"
    • Description:

      A unisex name, Rylan plays on many popular baby names, including Ryan and Riley. For boys, the trendy Rylan is in the US Top 500, while for girls, it fell out of Top 1000 in 2023, having been a regular feature since 2009.
  20. Decker
    • Origin:

      German occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "roofer"
    • Description:

      Brawny name chosen for his son by rocker Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue.