Preppy Names

This name may be related to the Latin Maximus, which means "the greatest," or to a British landowner's name, but for most modern parents, it's one of several ways to get to short form Max.

A lesser-used presidential choice, with a charming, buccaneering sound. Fictional bearers include the Marvel Comics character James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, as well as the heroine of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan.

See CARLETON.

This familiar surname with a surprising meaning could be added to your list of undiscovered 'last names first' names.

Short but not particularly sweet surname.

Wharton is a rather stiff banker name that becomes creative as a middle name choice for lovers of the novels of writer Edith.

A surname very rarely heard as a first, associated with Hall of Fame basketball star Patrick Ewing and, in the 1980s, the oil-rich Ewing family on the nighttime soap, "Dallas"

This habitational surname works as a modern way to honor a Carrie, Carolyn, or Caroline.

For fans of Warren G. All two of them.

Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.

Powerful surname choice with many distinguished bearers, fresher sounding than Parker.

A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending boy names like Brooks.

Alaska's second most populous city makes a baby name with a preppy, even aristocratic, flavor.

Familiar English surname now associated with the Abercrombie & Fitch offshoot.

Fresher sounding than Mandy or Brandy, but Thandie might be a more original way to go.

Yardley, a surname redolent of British soaps and perfume, was used for her daughter by Megyn Kelly.

Fashion designer Liz Claiborne (born Anne Elizabeth Jane Claiborne) make this name a feminist option for girls. She was a pioneer in her field — Liz Claiborne was the first woman-owned company to make the Fortune 500 list. However, the company that shares her name no longer has the same panache it once did, which may deter some parents from using this otherwise inspiring name.

Thad is a tad too slight to stand alone as a name, though as a short form of the imposing Thaddeus it's as serviceable as Ted or Ed.

Now that Kimberly is no longer one of the top girl names, Kim or long form Kimball feel more gender neutral.