Preppy Names
- Buchanan
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"place of the cannon"Description:
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.
- Yale
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"fertile upland"Description:
An appellation that couldn't be more Ivy League or sound less Welsh. The name of the University is taken from the surname of college benefactor Elihu Yale. In the movie Manhattan, Yale Pollack is the name of Woody Allen's best friend. The Hebrew Yael is not related.
- Carlton
Description:
See CARLETON.
- Booth
Origin:
English and ScottishMeaning:
"small dwelling place, shed"Description:
Short but not particularly sweet surname.
- Latham
Origin:
English from ScandinavianMeaning:
"the barn"Description:
This familiar surname with a surprising meaning could be added to your list of undiscovered 'last names first' names.
- Ewing
Origin:
English from GreekMeaning:
"noble, well-born"Description:
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"
- Carrington
Origin:
English, Scottish surnameMeaning:
"from Carrington"Description:
This habitational surname works as a modern way to honor a Carrie, Carolyn, or Caroline.
- Rutherford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"cattle ford"Description:
Stuffy presidential choice: consider Hayes instead.
- Harding
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of the courageous one"Description:
For fans of Warren G. All two of them.
- Wharton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"farm near the river"Description:
Wharton is a rather stiff banker name that becomes creative as a middle name choice for lovers of the novels of writer Edith.
- Powell
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Howell"Description:
Powerful surname choice with many distinguished bearers, fresher sounding than Parker.
- Fairbanks
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"bank along the pathway"Description:
Alaska's second most populous city makes a baby name with a preppy, even aristocratic, flavor.
- Hollister
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"dweller by the holly tree"Description:
Familiar English surname now associated with the Abercrombie & Fitch offshoot.
- Haines
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"the vined cottage"Description:
A preppy surname of hidden German origin that would fit right in with currently trendy s-ending boy names like Brooks.
- Thad
Origin:
Short form of Thaddeus or variation of TadDescription:
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.
- Yardley
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"wood clearing"Description:
Yardley, a surname redolent of British soaps and perfume, was used for her daughter by Megyn Kelly.
- Tandy
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"flower"Description:
Fresher sounding than Mandy or Brandy, but Thandie might be a more original way to go.
- Claiborne
Origin:
French, GermanMeaning:
"boundary with clover"Description:
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.
- Kimball
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"warrior chief"Description:
Now that Kimberly is no longer one of the top girl names, Kim or long form Kimball feel more gender neutral.
- Hutchinson