American Last Names as First Names

The newest surname names move beyond the Waspy, and this is an excellent example, associated these days with gossip blogger Perez (born Mario) Hilton.

Evans is an historic Welsh patronymic surname, derived from Evan, which is a form of John. With Evan's popularity in the U.S. and the U.K. -- it's a Top 50 names -- the stylish s-ending version may also be on the rise.

Sims is a medieval English surname, also found in Ireland and Scotland, that has many variations all deriving from the Hebrew Biblical name Simon. Sims is a simple, straightforward, yet proper-sounding name that works well as a first, whether you find it in your family tree or pluck the idea from someone else's. It was used for only five boys in the US in 2013.

Porter is one clubby surname or occupational that was given to around 80 baby girls in the US last year -- and nearly 600 baby boys.

More famously spelled Wallis as a feminine name: the woman for whom the King of England abdicated the throne.

Perfect example of a surname that would work well as a first.

Perfect example of a surname that would work well as a first.

An old-man name that sounds cute when used for a little girl, and is starting to seem cool again for boys too.

This can be a cool and unusual way to honor your family Robert, conjuring up memories of Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson, as well as narrative poet Robinson Jeffers, born John Robinson, who shared his mother's middle name.

We don't see that bright a future for this one either.

Bulky surname honoring Grandpa Henry or Saul Bellow's Rain King.

Patterson is an upscale name worth considering if you're looking to continue a line of Peters, but soundalike Paterson is a downscale city in New Jersey.

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

Mendoza has great potential to move from a surname to a first name for either sex. It is derived from the Basque words mendi, meaning "mountain," and hotz, "cold."

Try Simon. Or Homer.

Thompson is not as popular as Jackson or Harrison, but a novel way to circumvent Junior for the son of a Thomas.

Reality TV star Raven Gates gave her on-trend s-ending surname to her son, named Gates Zev. Gates joins an impressive lineup of celebrity babies with similar names, including Hillary Duff's Banks and Emma Roberts' Rhodes. Gates is also famously the surname of Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft.