Last Names That Are Adorable First Names

Surname-sounding unisex cousin of Peyton is gaining in popularity, especially for girls.

This evocative Spanish surname would make an unusual but lively choice for a girl.

The O'Haras are descended from Eaghra -- pronounced and phonetically spelled Ara -- the lord of Luighne, the modern Leyney in County Sligo. As a name, this makes a satisfying new twist on Harry.

A WASPy surname that fits in with names like Clayton, Layton, and Payton. Drayton peaked in 2012, when it was given to 78 baby boys in the US.

Although it's more commonly seen as a surname, Haviland is occasionally used as a first name, particularly for girls.

As a word name, Court brings with it a plethora of potential meanings, from a legal gathering, to a stage for basketball or tennis, to a street. Sharp and strong, Court feels right at home with other rugged picks like Rhett and Jett. And yet, Court remains remarkably rare in the US. The alternate spelling Cort is only slightly more popular.

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

Transformation of the stolid Gilbert into an animated surname name.

Belden is a little-used surname-name that might work in this age of Belles.

A merry surname cousin of Kerrigan, could make a lively choice for a happy little girl.

Like Silver, Golden is a shimmering metallic color name, almost too dazzling for an ordinary girl.

Like a mash up of Hayes, Blaze, and Brooks, the surname style Bayes feels like it could fit in with other single syllable choices like Tate and Rhys. Deriving from either the Middle English baili meaning "bailiff" or the Old French baile referring to the outer, protective wall of a castle, Bayes is also associated with Bayes Theorem. Developed by philosopher, statistician, and reverend, Thomas Bayes, in the 18th century, it provides a mathematical formula for calculating the probability of a cause when you are given its effect.

At one time associated with the fictional detective Bulldog Drummond, this formal surname name does boast the cute nickname Drum.

Daymond, with many different spellings most prominently Dayman, is an ancient English occupational surname and personal name, taken from the word deye which denotes someone who tended animals.

A fresh take on Jessica, Jessel is currently borne in the public eye by Jessel Taank, a Real Housewife of New York City.

This cowboy-ish surname has an equine connection — Larimer originally denoted someone who made and sold spur bits, along with other hardware needed for riding horses.

This variation of the surname Loeb works even better than the original as a first name, though any child named Loew will inevitably have to endure a lifetime's worth of "high and...." jokes. Other leonine options: Leopold or Lionel.

Moody would work great as the name of Snow White's lost eighth dwarf friend, but we can't recommend it as a first name IRL. It was the last name of Harry Potter character Mad-Eye Moody, played by Brenden Gleason in the movies; his given name was Alastor. The bond credit rating company Moody's is likewise named for the surname of its founder, John Moody.

Drover, an ancient occupational surname, is right in step with today's styles and would make a distinctive choice. Drover and brothers are fresh updates of such now-widely-used names as Carter and Cooper.