Last Names That Are Adorable First Names

  1. Alston
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "dweller at the old town"
    • Description:

      Dropping the H off hot surnames gets you a whole new name. The trend is multiplying: Hadley becomes Adley, Harley become Arley, Harlow becomes Arlowe, and now Halston becomes Alston.
  2. Gates
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "person living near town gates"
    • Description:

      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.
  3. Storms
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a disturbance it the atmosphere involving lightning, thunder, wind and rain"
    • Description:

      A tumultuous nature-inspired option, Storms is A bold name that conjures up imagery of fork lightning and heavy clouds, awe-inspiring in both an impressive and formidable way. This could feel like quite a heavy association to carry off, but the word itself has a gentle quality, in tune with Story, Cam, or Rory.
  4. Landis
    • Origin:

      German surname
    • Meaning:

      "highwayman"
    • Description:

      Preppy surname that would make a fashionable first name for a girl.
  5. English
    • Origin:

      Surname name
    • Description:

      A surname not often heard as a first, except in the case of English Gardner, the American track and field Olympian.
  6. Palin
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "wine bearer"
    • Description:

      Palin has suddenly become a hot new surname-name given usually to girls. The inspiration can only be former Alaska governor Sarah, though the name Palin is her husband's -- her original surname is Heath. Palin herself is no stranger to the adventurous baby name, as the mother of daughters Bristol, Piper, and Willow, and sons Track and Trig.
  7. Bettany
    • Origin:

      English surname and herb name
    • Description:

      A jaunty English surname which may derive from "betony", the name of a pretty purple-flowering shrub. A famous bearer is British historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes.
  8. Springer
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "jumper, leaper"
    • Description:

      This lively, springy, rarely used surname name has an interesting history. For the English, German, Dutch and Ashkenazic Jews it was a nickname for a lively person or traveling entertainer, deriving from the words springen/springhen/shpringen, and in English it's also a topographical name for someone living near the source of a stream. An unusual option if you're seeking an out-of-the-ordinary 'er'-ending name. Though for some it might bring to mind Jerry Springer, or a Spaniel.
  9. Lyons
    • Origin:

      English surname, French variation of Leon
    • Meaning:

      "person from Lyon, the hill fort of Lugus; lion"
    • Description:

      With Leon and Leo both popular options, Lionel on the rise, and other lion-inspired names such as Ariel and Leandro gathering attention, Lyons might work for a contemporary baby.
  10. Mccrae
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of grace"
    • Description:

      This attractive Scottish surname-name is found in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove, as the surname of hero Augustus/Gus McCrae. Also spelled MacCrae or McRay among other variations, the meaning is variously given as son of grace or luck.
  11. Larimer
    • Origin:

      English and Scottish surname
    • Meaning:

      "maker and seller of spurs"
    • Description:

      Larimer is an occupational surname that originally denoted someone who made and sold spur bits, along with other equine hardware. It could be a fitting choice for a child of a horse-enthusiast.
  12. Essex
    • Origin:

      English place-name and surname
    • Description:

      Sex doesn't belong in a baby name.
  13. Brinsley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from Brinsley"
    • Description:

      The 'ley' ending makes this British surname name ripe for consideration as a feminine girls' name. Brinsley joins such sisters as Kinsley and Tinsley.
  14. Mccarthy
    • Origin:

      Irish surname
    • Meaning:

      "son of Cárthach"
    • Description:

      McCarthy is one of a wave of new Irish surname-names, one of the most popular last names of Irish origin now translated to a first name. Mac is an attractive nickname.
  15. Prentice
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "apprentice"
    • Description:

      Long-used surname name that's up for promotion to greater popularity.
  16. Paterson
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "son of Peter"
    • Description:

      Paterson is a surname-name to continue a line of Peters and also the name of a city in New Jersey, hometown of poets William Carlos Williams and Allen Ginsberg.
  17. Westwood
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "dweller by the west wood"
    • Description:

      A unique alternative to the West- names that are suddenly everywhere — like Weston, Westley, and West itself. Westwood lends itself to two stylish nicknames, West and Woods.
  18. Denham
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "village in a valley"
    • Description:

      Legitimizes the newly coined Denim, as does the Scottish place-name Denholm (both pronounced DEN-um).
  19. Portwood
    • Origin:

      English Surname
    • Description:

      Chosen by Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher as the middle name of their son Dimitri.
  20. Westwood
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "dweller by the west wood"
    • Description:

      Notable British surname associated with fashion designer Vivienne.