Last Names That Are Adorable First Names

An unconventional route to the nickname Penny. Pennington debuted on the charts for girls in 2015.

As surname names for girls become more popular, we could see Catesby catching on among style-conscious parents. Bonus: it easily shortens to the girlish nickname Cate.

Preppier and less politically-charged than its source name, Sanders

With Gabriel, Gage, Abel, and Gael in the US Top 1000, and the Anne of Green Gables a well-beloved book series and the inspiration for Anne with an E, Gables could make an off-beat but familiar choice. While Gable is given to a small handful of boys each year, Gables has yet to catch on.

This preppy alternative to Gen Z favorite Summer has the potential to be a big surname hit for girls. It recently gained media attention from Instagram model Sumner Stroh.

As a given name, Wheelock has been passed down to generations of the Whitney family — descendants of Eli Whitney, creator of the cotton gin. The first Wheelock Whitney — known as Wheels — was named after his mother, Alice Wheelock. His son, Wheelock Whitney Jr. went by Whee, and Wheelock Whitney III is called Lock.

A German surname, Tessin is drawn from several places in or near the Mecklenburg region of northeastern Germany. This rare first name can work for either sex.

Sommers is a surname-y spin on the word name Summer, made all the more fashionable by the final S. If Hayes, Rivers, and Brooks can be trendy gender-neutral names, why not Sommers?

A last name as a first name, Redell began to appear in England after the Norman invasion. Likely connected to the names Raymond and Radulf, it could mean "counsel, advice, decision". Another possible interpretation is that it merges the word red with the word dell to form the meaning "red valley". This could also mean it borrows from land feature in the Lake District of England, known as Red Dell.

A surname inspired choice, Rudell may be an English last name, derived from the town of Ryedale, or from the given name Rudolf. A high-end jewellery and watch brand in the UK, it was also borne by professional boxer Rudell Snitch.

This multicultural name is a sweet but solid sounding pet form of Hebrew and Yiddish origin, used as a nickname for Rhoda, Rosa, or Rada. It can also be considered an English surname, derived from either the given names Rudolf or Ridel meaning "fame wolf" and "ride" or from the place name Ryedale meaning "rye valley".

A soundalike to Lloyd (and potentially a variation on it), Loid is also an Estonian surname meaning "languid". It may however be best associated with the character Loid Forger from the Spy × Family franchise, whose name was selected as a reference to loiding, a slang term for picking a lock with a celluloid strip.

Predominantly seen as a surname among Ashkenazi Jewish families, but sometimes given as a first name too, Kleid was originally an occupational name for a tailor, derived from the Old German word for "clothing, garment, or dress".

A rustic yet aristocratic boy name, derived from an English surname and place name. It derives from the Old English name Hræfn and the element wic to create the cool meaning "raven's settlement".

An English surname with a nature and animal connection, Hartland also feels soulful and heartfelt thanks to its sounds. Hartley and Hart have been quietly on the rise and Hartland might be a longer form that appeals to those who also enjoy Landon, Leland, and Holland.

While Kendrix is predominantly used on boys — likely owing to its musical namesakes, Kendrick Lamar and Jimi Hendrix — the most noteworthy Kendrix (as yet) is in fact Kendrix Morgan, also known as the Pink Galaxy Ranger from the Power Rangers franchise.

Royal and Rory are both in the US Top 1000 for girls where they join a number of surname-inspired names ending in -son, from long-time favorite Madison to the newer Emerson. The yet to rank Royson could be a new consideration with its rosy feel, but tougher edge.

Roy, Royce, Royal, and Rory are all in the US Top 1000, where they join a plethora of surname-inspired names ending in -son. Royson is a new consideration, with a smart, handsome feel to it, combined with a touch of the floral.

Holder, part occupational name and part Holden, is a rare word name. It brings to mind holding onto someone or something, which itself suggests a love for or connection to whatever is being held on to.