Last Names that are First Names
Turning a surname into a first name is an old Anglo-American habit. English gentry often gave a son his mother’s maiden name to keep a family line visible, which is how Sidney, Dudley and Percy became first names centuries ago. Today it’s one of the biggest naming trends in the US: Mason, Harper, Carter, Hudson and Parker all started life as last names.
Here are 100+ surname-names grouped for boys, girls and both, plus presidential and Celtic choices and a list of classic first names that double as common surnames. Each entry gives the original surname meaning. Many sit comfortably in our unisex names and preppy boy names lists, and a family surname also makes a wonderful choice from our middle names guide.
Surnames that work as boy names
Occupational and place surnames give boys a strong, tailored sound. More at strong boy names.
| Name | Surname meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Mason | Stoneworker | Norman French |
| Carter | Cart driver | English |
| Hudson | Son of Hudde (Hugh) | English |
| Parker | Park keeper | English |
| Hunter | Huntsman | English |
| Walker | Cloth fuller (who walked on wet cloth) | English |
| Cooper | Barrel maker | English |
| Tucker | Cloth fuller | English |
| Beckett | Little beak, or beehive | English |
| Bennett | Blessed (from Benedict) | English |
| Grayson | Son of the steward | English |
| Easton | East town | English |
| Brooks | Lived by a stream | English |
| Dawson | Son of Daw (David) | English |
| Fletcher | Arrow maker | Norman French |
| Porter | Gatekeeper | English / French |
| Sawyer | Wood sawyer | English |
| Chandler | Candle maker | Norman French |
| Weston | West town | English |
| Thatcher | Roof thatcher | English |
Surnames that became girl names
Many of these were boys’ names first, then shifted to girls in the late 20th century. See preppy girl names for more polished picks.
| Name | Surname meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Harper | Harp player | English / Scottish |
| Madison | Son of Maud or Matthew | English |
| Sloane | Descendant of Sluaghadhán, “raider” | Irish |
| Kennedy | Helmeted or ugly head | Irish |
| Blair | Plain, field | Scottish |
| Delaney | Descendant of the challenger | Irish |
| Mackenzie | Son of Coinneach, “handsome” | Scottish |
| Whitney | White island | English |
| Sutton | South farmstead | English |
| Beverly | Beaver stream | English |
| Shelby | Willow farm | English |
| Kinsley | King’s meadow | English |
| Lennox | Elm grove | Scottish |
| Ainsley | Solitary clearing | English / Scottish |
| Tatum | Tata’s homestead | English |
| Hadley | Heather field | English |
| Collins | Son of Colin | English / Irish |
| Everly | Boar clearing | English |
| Presley | Priest’s meadow | English |
Unisex surname names
Surnames are the backbone of today’s gender-neutral names. For more options see gender-neutral names.
| Name | Surname meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Emerson | Son of Emery | English |
| Reese | Ardor, enthusiasm (from Welsh Rhys) | Welsh |
| Riley | Rye clearing | English / Irish |
| Morgan | Sea-born or sea circle | Welsh |
| Avery | Elf ruler (from Alfred) | English / Norman |
| Rowan | Little red one | Irish |
| Quinn | Descendant of Conn, “chief” | Irish |
| Spencer | Steward, dispenser of provisions | English |
| Hayden | Hay valley | English |
| Ellis | From Elijah or Elis | Welsh / English |
| Finley | Fair warrior | Scottish |
| Lane | Narrow road | English |
| Marlowe | Remnants of a lake | English |
| Hollis | Lived by holly trees | English |
| Campbell | Crooked mouth | Scottish |
| Dallas | Meadow dwelling | Scottish |
| Sterling | Little star | English |
| Greer | Watchful (from Gregor) | Scottish |
| Carson | Son of the marsh dwellers | Scottish |
Presidential last names used as first names
US presidents have long inspired baby names. Several — Lincoln, Jefferson, Monroe — are climbing the charts.
| Name | Surname meaning | The president |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | Lake colony (the city of Lincoln) | Abraham Lincoln, 16th |
| Monroe | Mouth of the river Roe | James Monroe, 5th |
| Jefferson | Son of Geoffrey | Thomas Jefferson, 3rd |
| Truman | Faithful man | Harry S. Truman, 33rd |
| Jackson | Son of Jack | Andrew Jackson, 7th |
| Harrison | Son of Harry | William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison |
| Tyler | Tile maker | John Tyler, 10th |
| Pierce | Rock (from Piers, Peter) | Franklin Pierce, 14th |
| Grant | Tall, large | Ulysses S. Grant, 18th |
| Hayes | Hedged enclosure | Rutherford B. Hayes, 19th |
| Wilson | Son of Will | Woodrow Wilson, 28th |
| Taft | Homestead | William Howard Taft, 27th |
| Reagan | Little king | Ronald Reagan, 40th |
| Adams | Son of Adam | John Adams and John Quincy Adams |
| Washington | Estate of Wassa’s people | George Washington, 1st |
| Coolidge | Possibly “cool ridge” | Calvin Coolidge, 30th |
Irish and Scottish surnames as first names
Gaelic clan names have a warm, lilting sound. Explore Irish boy names and Scottish girl names too.
| Name | Surname meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Sullivan | Dark-eyed | Irish |
| Brody | Muddy place, or ditch | Irish / Scottish |
| Keegan | Son of Aodhagán, “little fire” | Irish |
| Callahan | Bright-headed; strife | Irish |
| Murphy | Sea warrior | Irish |
| Brennan | Descendant of Braonán, “sorrow” or “drop” | Irish |
| Maguire | Son of the pale-colored one | Irish |
| Nolan | Descendant of the noble one | Irish |
| Kendrick | Royal champion | Welsh / Scottish |
| Cameron | Crooked nose | Scottish |
| Douglas | Black water | Scottish |
| Grady | Noble, illustrious | Irish |
| Cassidy | Curly-haired | Irish |
| Mckinley | Son of Fionnlagh, “fair warrior” | Scottish / Irish |
| Ross | Headland | Scottish |
Classic first names that are also common surnames
The reverse trend: these given names are so old they became surnames too, so someone can be both a Thomas and a Mr. Thomas.
| Name | Meaning | Famous surname bearer |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas | Twin | Dylan Thomas, poet |
| James | Supplanter | LeBron James, athlete |
| Henry | Ruler of the home | John Henry, folk hero |
| Allen | Possibly “little rock” or “handsome” | Woody Allen, filmmaker |
| Arthur | Possibly “bear” | Bea Arthur, actress |
| George | Farmer | Boy George, singer |
| Francis | Frenchman | Dick Francis, novelist |
| Howard | Heart-brave, or ewe-herd | Ron Howard, director |
| Russell | Little red one | Bertrand Russell, philosopher |
| Wallace | Foreigner, Welshman | William Wallace, Scottish hero |
| Owen | Well-born, or young warrior | Clive Owen, actor |
| Warren | Game park | Elizabeth Warren, senator |
| Nelson | Son of Neil | Willie Nelson, singer |
| Gordon | Great hill | Jeff Gordon, racing driver |
| Graham | Gravelly homestead | Billy Graham, evangelist |
How to choose a surname as a first name
- Look in your own family tree. A grandmother’s maiden name honors her line and is instantly personal.
- Avoid a “double last name” effect. Harper Collins or Parker Davis can sound like a company or a law firm — say it with your surname first.
- Soften with a classic middle. Beckett James or Sloane Elizabeth balances a modern surname-name.
- Know the gender drift. Names like Madison, Avery and Harper moved from boys to girls; if that matters to you, check current usage in SSA data.
- Mind the meaning. Most surnames describe a job or place, but a few carry odd meanings (Cameron = “crooked nose”) — fun trivia, not a dealbreaker.
Frequently asked questions
Why do people use last names as first names?
The custom began with English gentry honoring a mother’s family name and spread to America, where names like Washington, Lincoln and Tyler were given to honor admired men. Today it’s mostly about the crisp, modern sound.
What are popular last names used as first names?
Mason, Carter, Hudson, Harper, Madison, Parker, Hunter, Riley, Avery and Lincoln are all common US baby names that started as surnames.
Is it OK to use my maiden name as my child’s first name?
Absolutely — it’s a long-standing tradition and a meaningful way to keep your family name alive. It also works beautifully as a middle name.
Which surname names are unisex?
Emerson, Reese, Riley, Morgan, Avery, Rowan, Quinn, Hayden, Finley and Marlowe are widely used for both boys and girls.
What are surname names for girls?
Harper, Sloane, Blair, Kennedy, Delaney, Sutton, Hadley and Monroe are stylish choices.