Surname-name Baby Names

3518 Surname-name names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

Surnames-as-first-names is one of the defining naming trends of our era — and for good reason. Surname baby names sound polished and a little established, they work brilliantly for any gender, and they let you carry a family name forward without it sitting in the middle slot.

Surname Names for Girls

Sawyer, Kendall, Marley and Emory are crisp and current. For a softer or more distinctive feel, Palmer, Mallory, Leighton, Blaire and Murphy.

Surname Names for Boys

Nash, Cade, Ellis and Lane are short and sharp. For fuller, more distinguished picks, Callahan, Bowen, Warren, Baker and Benson.

Keeping a Family Name in Play

This is the practical beauty of the trend — a grandmother’s maiden name or a beloved family surname becomes a first name that gets said every day, rather than a middle name nobody ever hears.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

Surname-name Girl Names

Codi#3823 in the U.S.-i spelling of Cody — from Irish Ó Cuidighthigh, 'descendant of the helpful one' — leaning fema▶Crosby#3825 in the U.S.From Old Norse kross-byr, 'village with crosses' — an English surname with crooner-cool, here f▶Kynnedi#3844 in the U.S.Y-styled spelling of Kennedy — Irish Ó Cinnéide, 'helmeted/armored head, chief' — the president▶Ryker#3861 in the U.S.From the Dutch/German surname Riker/Rijker — linked to ric, 'rich, powerful, ruler' — crossing ▶Janney#3903 in the U.S.From the Jane family — feminine of John, 'God is gracious' — via the pet form Janie and the sur▶Kolby#3916 in the U.S.K-spelling of Colby — Old Norse 'Koli's farm/settlement', read 'dark/coal town' — here for girl▶Kynzlee#3918 in the U.S.Y-and-z styling of Kinsley — from an English surname read as 'king's meadow/wood'▶Payson#3934 in the U.S.From the English surname Payson — 'son of Pace', Pace from Latin pax, 'peace' — crossing to dau▶Tully#3941 in the U.S.From Irish Ó Taithligh, 'descendant of Taithleach' ('quiet, peaceable') — also Cicero's clan na▶Bayley#3960 in the U.S.Y-styled spelling of Bailey — the medieval bailiff, or the castle's outer wall (bailey)▶Berkleigh#3962 in the U.S.-leigh styling of Berkeley — Old English 'birch-tree meadow/clearing'▶Laci#3996 in the U.S.-i spelling of Lacey — from the Norman place-name Lassy (Calvados), via a noble surname▶Scottlynn#4014 in the U.S.Modern coinage joining Scott — 'a Scotsman, from Scotland' — to the -lynn suffix; for girls▶Embry#4050 in the U.S.From an English surname (linked to Amery/Emery, 'work-power', or a place-name); also echoes 'em▶Kameron#4060 in the U.S.K-spelling of Cameron — Scottish Gaelic cam sron, 'crooked nose', a clan name▶Keagan#4067 in the U.S.-ea- spelling of Keegan — Irish Mac Aodhagáin, from Aodh, 'fire' — 'little fiery one'▶Kerrigan#4069 in the U.S.From Irish Ó Ciaragáin — from ciar, 'dark, black' — 'descendant of the little dark one'▶Lesley#4074 in the U.S.From a Scottish place-name and surname — variously 'garden of holly' or 'grey fort/field'▶Makenzi#4080 in the U.S.-i spelling of Mackenzie — Scottish Gaelic Mac Coinnich, 'son of Coinneach (the comely/fair one▶Makinley#4081 in the U.S.Spelling of McKinley — Gaelic Mac Fhionnlaigh, 'son of Finlay (the fair hero)'▶Weslyn#4099 in the U.S.Feminine -lyn form of Wesley — Old English 'west meadow/wood'▶

See all 1340 surname girl names →

Surname-name Boy Names

Tennyson#3872 in the U.S.Patronymic 'son of Dennis' (Dionysius lines) — Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poetic estate▶Atlee#3887 in the U.S.From Old English aet leah, 'at the meadow/clearing' — Amish-favored, PM-surnamed▶Brodi#3892 in the U.S.-i spelling of Brody — Scottish Brodie castle/clan, 'muddy place/ditch' readings▶Graycen#3904 in the U.S.-cen styling of Grayson — 'son of the greyve (steward)' — moody-modern▶Hartley#3906 in the U.S.From Old English heorot-leah, 'stag clearing' — deer-grazed gentry surname▶Hudsen#3911 in the U.S.-sen styling of Hudson — 'son of Hudde (Hugh's pet form)' — river-wide▶Pershing#3923 in the U.S.A surname adopted as a given name to honor General John J. Pershing, who led American forces in▶Rives#3938 in the U.S.From the surname Rives, French for 'riverbanks; shores' (from Latin ripa). A crisp, one-beat su▶Roczen#3953 in the U.S.From German motocross star Ken Roczen's surname — given-name use is fan-sparked; etymology info▶Wylee#3967 in the U.S.-ee styling of Wiley — the Wylye river-meadow surname, 'tricky' adjective adjacent▶Bryden#3988 in the U.S.Variant of Braden/Bryden — from Old English 'broad valley' or a Scottish surname; routes layere▶Dawsyn#3993 in the U.S.-yn spelling of Dawson — 'son of Daw', a medieval pet form of David, Hebrew 'beloved'▶Dayson#3994 in the U.S.Modern -son name, read 'son of Day' (a David pet form) or 'son of the day'; routes layered▶Denton#3995 in the U.S.From Old English denu, 'valley', plus tun, 'settlement' — 'valley town'▶Egan#3998 in the U.S.From Irish Mac Aodhagáin — from Aodh, 'fire' — 'little fiery one, son of little Aodh'▶Greer#4001 in the U.S.Scottish surname from Gregor/Gregory — Greek gregorein, 'to watch, be vigilant'▶Hewitt#4004 in the U.S.From a surname, 'little Hugh' — a diminutive of Hugh, Germanic hug, 'heart, mind, spirit'▶Hogan#4005 in the U.S.From Irish Ó hÓgáin — from óg, 'young' — 'descendant of the young one, youth'▶Kincaid#4015 in the U.S.From a Scottish place-name/surname — variously 'head of the battle/pass' or 'steep place'▶Laker#4019 in the U.S.From an English occupational/locational surname — 'dweller by the lake' (or a player/sports ech▶Motley#4024 in the U.S.From an English surname/place-name (linked to a 'meeting' or 'stump' clearing); also the word '▶

See all 2178 surname boy names →

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Frequently Asked

What are popular surname first names?

Popular picks include Sawyer, Nash, Kendall, Ellis and Emory.

Are surname names unisex?

Many are — Sawyer, Ellis, Emerson and Marley are all used for girls and boys. Each page shows how that spelling is currently used.

Can I use a family surname as a first name?

Absolutely, and it is one of the most meaningful versions of this trend — the name gets used daily rather than hidden in the middle.

How many surname baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 3518 surname baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.