If you’re not sure what to name your child, there’s always the option of giving their last name as a first name. It might sound “old-fashioned,” but it’s gaining momentum thanks to celebrities like John Legend and Priyanka Chopra. Here are the 100 most popular last names as first names if you’re curious.
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1. Adler
Adler is a German last name meaning “eagle.” It also received its due to Melanie Adler, a successful American actress
2. Anderson
Anderson is a Scandinavian last name that means “son of Anders” or “son of Andres .”It has been used as a first name on and off.
3. Garcia
Garcia is a Spanish last name that means “son of García,” who was often called Garcias in medieval Castile.
4. Beckett
Beckett is an Irish last name that means “blessed little one.” Irish playwright Samuel Beckett coined it.
5. Bell
Bell is a common last name that means “a small church” or “a hermitage .”It has been used as a first name since the 11th century.
6. Cruz
Cruz is a Spanish last name that means “cross .”It was used by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado and his descendants.
7. Cook
Cook is a common last name that means “cook” in English or “cook,” short for cuisines. It’s been used for generations among English-speaking people and was used as a first name by the cooks of British royalty during the Victorian Era.
8. Houston
Houston is a common last name that means “from Homestead .”Tennessee Williams used it as a first name when calling his most famous play “The Glass Menagerie.”
9. King
King is a common last name that means “son of the king” or “one who rules .”It has been used as a first name since time immemorial.
10. Brady
Brady is the last name of Irish and Scottish origin, meaning “descendant of Bradach,” which means “sorrowful .”It has been used as a first name since the 20th century.
11. Sanchez
Sanchez is a Spanish last name that means “son of Sancho .”It was given by missionaries to native Americans and Europeans to replace their pagan terms.
12. Carson
Carson is a common last name that means “son of Crunniht .”It has been used as a first name since the 17th century.
13. Ford
Ford is a common last name that means “son of Ford.” English politician and industrialist Henry Ford coined it.
14. Goodwin
Goodwin is an Irish last name that means either “yellow” or “one who goes to the G” (i.e., an ogham bone).
15. Carter
Carter is a common last name that means “cart driver .”It was coined by John Carter, the former owner of a freight company.
16. Cooper
Cooper is a common last name that means “barrel maker .”It was used for generations in both America and England.
17. Baker
Baker is a common last name that means “one who works at a baker’s shop .”It used to be popular among English bakers during the Victorian Era and has been used as a first name since the 18th century.
18. Channing
Channing is an English last name that means “chino’s place.” It was used as a first name by 19th-century poet William Channing and his ancestors.
19. Brooks
Brooks is a common last name that means “brook,” or stream of water. It has been used as a first name since the 18th century.
20. Cohen
Cohen is a common last name that means “a warrior .”It was used as a first name by the Cohens of Germany, who were prominent in medieval Judaism, and then spread to Germany.
21. Cunningham
Cunningham is an Irish last name that means “son of Cuinnius,” derived from the Latin word “comes.” It was popularly used as a first name in Ireland and then spread to England during the 19th century.
22. Coleman
Coleman is an English last name that means “follower of the hare .”It was popularly used as a first name in England and then spread to the US.
23. Doolittle
Doolittle is a common last name that means “son of Dùlaidh,” which means “an Ogma .”It was popularized by aviator James Francis “Jimmy” Doolittle, who made a secret flight to Japan during World War II.
24. Copeland
Copeland is an English last name that means “son of Copluc,” which means “hare’s hill .”It has been used as a first name since the 19th century.
25. Davis
Davis is a common last name that means “a field at the House on the Hill .”It was used as a first name in medieval England by those who worked on fields around the abbey.
26. Duncan
Duncan is an English last name that means “son of Dun. It has been used as a first name since the 1300s.
27. Epps
Epps is an English last name that means “the pool of a river .”It was commonly used as a first name until the late 16th century when it fell out of favor.
28. Englebardt
Englebardt is an English last name that means “son of Engelbert .”It was popularized by Robert Englebardt, who won the first Olympic gold medal for fencing in 1904.
29. Dixon
Dixon is a common last name that means “a bald hill .”It has been used as a first name since the 19th century.
30. Frase
Frase is an English last name that means “son of Fergus .”Frasier popularized it when they starred in the television show “Cheers.”
31. Easton
Easton is an English last name that means “Eastern town .”It was used as a first name by the Easton’s of England and spread to America during the 19th century.
32. Farrell
Farrell is an Irish last name that means “son of Fearghal .”It was commonly used in Ireland, Scotland, and England during the Middle Ages.
33. Finley
Finley is an English last name that means “trader .”It was used by the Scottish Flemings, who were important merchants and bankers in medieval England.
34. Garcia
Garcia is a Spanish last name that means “son of García,” who was often called Garcias in medieval Castile.
35. Goodwin
Goodwin is an Irish last name that means either “yellow” or “one who goes to the G” (i.e., an ogham bone).
36. Gibbs
Gibbs is the last name of English origin, meaning “son of Geoffrey .”It has been used as a first name since the 19th century.
37. Hall
Hall is the last name of English origin that means “person who lives in the hall .”It was used as a first name in medieval England and spread to America during the 19th century.
38. Harrison
Harrison is an English last name that means “son of Harry, or Henry. It was popularized by the Harrison family in America.
39. Hayden
Hayden is an English last name that means “river valley .”It has been used as a first name since the 19th century.
40. Jameson
Jameson is an English last name that means “son of James .”It was popularized by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr., a descendant of Scottish immigrants who came to America during the 19th century.
41. Griffin
Griffin is an English last name that means “grey squirrel .”It was used as a first name in medieval England by those who worked on the deer hunt.
42. Griffith
Griffith is an English last name that means “son of Gresford .”It was popularized by George Griffith, who founded the Griffith Park Observatory and Planetarium in Los Angeles.
43. Hamilton
Hamilton is an English last name derived from the Old Norse word “harm,” meaning “rush.”
44. Hendrix
Hendrix is the most commonly used last name for boys and the prettiest first name for girls. It’s a given that Hendrix can be found on the most popular last names as first names.
45. Hutton
Hutton is the prettiest and most popular last name as the first name for girls. Hutton comes in at positions 25 and 33.
46. Jenkins
A simple name, Jenkins is the first choice for boys. Jenkins comes in at position 12, while girls go with Jones or Jane as their pick.
47. Jennings
Jennings is a pretty common first name for both genders. It comes in at number 14 for boys and 16 for girls.
48. Carter & Cartera
Cartera is the cutest last name as the first name for girls, while the same goes for Carter when it comes to boys. The full form of the names are Cárter and Catherine, but they’re almost always shortened to Carter and Cartera.
49 . Rosario
Rosario is a unique name for last names as first names. Rosario comes in at number 13, while the full version is Rosario.
50. Lopes
Lopes is another very popular first name for boys and girls alike. Lopes comes in at positions 14 and 23, respectively, on the list of most popular first names for boys and girls.
51. Alves
Alves is an interesting last name to pair with “Oak” as a first name. Alves is at position 19 for boys and number 79 for girls.
52. Duncan
Duncan is commonly used as a last name for both genders. It comes in at position 30 when it comes to boys and 78 when it comes to girls.
53 . Thorne
Thorne is a pretty popular first name choice in the US, with Thorne coming in at number 16 on the list of most popular first names for boys and 31 on the list of girls.
54. Jones
Jones is another popular last name as a first name. It’s a traditional choice for boys, coming in at position 19, while it’s more of an alternative for girls as it comes in at number 57.
55 . Andersen
Andersen is an interesting choice for both genders, especially given that Andersen comes in at position 18 on the list of most popular first names for boys and only 62 on the list of most popular first names for girls.
56. Lennon
Lennon is an English surname that originates in a place-name referring to the Welsh word llyn.
57. Harrigan
Harrigan is an Irish surname that is believed to have come from “Ó hEithirigh,” which means “descendant of Either .”The harp was an ancient symbol of Ireland, so it makes sense that this name would be popular with people who were born there.
58. Lopez
López is a Spanish last name, which means “from Léon .”It might have been influenced by the city’s nickname, “The City of Lions .”Alternatively, it may derive from the Latin word lupus.
59. Lennox
Lennox is a Scottish last name that originates in an Anglicized form of a Gaelic name meaning “little fox.”
60. Lincoln
Lincoln is an English surname that means “from Lincoln .”It may have been influenced by the city’s nickname, “The City of Ships.”
61. Jackson
Jackson is an English last name that refers to someone who worked at or with a jack or jackdaw, which are species of birds. It may be derived from the diminutive form Jack, which means “jackdaw” in Old French.
62. Marshall
Marshall is an English last name that derives from the Old English word music, which refers to a dry place. After the Norman conquest, the word was occasionally recorded as Marschall.
63. Cabot
Cabot is a French last name meaning “from Cabot .”It may have been derived from “Capot,” which means “chapel,” or else it might have been influenced by the personal name Cabeo, itself from Latin caput, which means “head.”
64. Mason
Mason is an English last name derived from the Old English phrase maesse-cost, which means “priest’s servant .”In the modern world, it’s been used as the name for someone who worked in masonry, which is the construction of building structures out of bricks or stone.
65. Miller
Miller is a German last name that means “dark .”It may have been influenced by the Miller’s lager; a beer brewed during the Wehrmacht’s occupation of Germany.
66. Mansel
Mansel is an English surname that comes from the Old French word manus, which means “man .”It might have been influenced by the Latin personal name Manolius, which means “manly,” and had many pagan associations in Britain.
67. Nash
Nash is an English last name meaning “inside of a building .”It might have been influenced by the diminutive form Nick or Nico, which means “little one.”
68. Doane
Doane is an Old English last name derived from a place name meaning “valley of the doe .”It may have been influenced by the name Douglas, a Scottish place name meaning “forest stream.”
69. Parker
Parker is an English surname taken from the Old French word parker, meaning “keeper of a park .”It might have been influenced by the name of the city of Paris.
70. Penn
Penn is an English surname that comes from a place name meaning “dove’s nest,” which is presumably derived from a place where pigeons nested. It might have been influenced by the Old French personal name Pennon, which means “penny,” and the Old French word penon, which means “pigeon.”
71. Sawyer
Sawyer is an English last name meaning “sewer .”It might have been influenced by the occupation of a sawyer, someone who sawed wood for a living.
72. Larkin
Larkin is an English last name referring to what was once a landholder who owned more than one farm. It may have been influenced by the name Laramie, which stems from the French phrase “la Ramie,” which means “heather moor.”
73. Shaw
Shaw is an English last name that originally meant “tailor .”It might have been influenced by the Scottish word sleigh, which means “good.”
74. Smith
Smith is a German last name that refers to someone who worked as a blacksmith, which is someone who makes or fixes metal tools and hardware. It might have been influenced by the German wordsmith, which means “blacksmith.”
75. Stone
Stone is an English last name that refers to someone who lived near a stone or worked with a stone. It might have been influenced by the Old English word stan, which means “stone.”
76. Taylor
Taylor is an English surname that comes from the Old French word tailleur, which means “tailor .”It might have been influenced by the Old French personal name Taillefer, derived from Tirefert, originally meaning “cutter,” and later came to mean “carpenter.”
77. Sullivan
Sullivan is an Irish last name that was an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Súileabháin, meaning “descendant of Súilabel,” which means “eye .”It might have been influenced by the Latin personal name Silvanus.
78. Tillman
Tillman is a German last name that could possibly be derived from the German word toll, which means “mad” or “foolish,” and Mann, which means “man.”
80. Thompson
Thompson is an English last name that comes from the Old English word Thompson, which means “son of Thomas .”It might have been influenced by the name Thom, which is an Irish spelling of Thomas.
81. Wallace
Wallace is a Scottish surname that comes from a Scottish place name meaning “wall-face,” referring to someone who lived near a wall or someone who worked with stone.
82. Walker
Walker is an English surname that comes from the Old English word wærke, which means “guard .”It might have been influenced by the name Walker, which was a nickname for someone who worked as a guard.
83. Wiley
Wiley is the 82nd most popular last name as a first name. This name is pronounced with a heavy emphasis on the second syllable, making it similar to the English word “wise .”Wiley has been used as a men’s name in the United States since the 19th century.
82. Wilson
Wilson’s name is pronounced with a heavy emphasis on the second syllable, making it similar to the English word “wise .”Wilson has been used as a men’s name in the United States since 1881. It was most popular with African-Americans during the Great Depression. It is also currently used as a women’s name in Asia.
83. Adair
Adair is a Scottish and Irish surname. Adairs have been used as a first name in the United States since the 19th century. According to the Social Security Administration, the name rose in popularity during the 1920s.
81. Adams
Adams has been used as a first name in the United States since at least 1880, but it rose in popularity after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States in 2008. It’s currently used for both male and female names. The most popular spelling is Addie.
82. Addison
Addison is a surname and a masculine given name. Although it is not very common in the United States, this name has been used as a given name since at least the 1500s. Addison can be found in several other English-speaking countries as well. The English form is sometimes spelled Addy.
83. Adella
Adella is a feminine name that’s pronounced with a long o in the middle. It’s similar to the English word “hail .”The literal meaning of Adella is “noblewoman.”
84. Ashley
Ashley was first used as a surname in England before it was adopted as a given name. It rose in popularity after Ashley Judd became famous in the United States. It’s currently used for both male and female names. The spelling Ashlie is also sometimes seen.
85. Avery
Avery is a commonly given name in the United States. It’s a relatively recent addition to the top 100 and has been used as a first name since at least the 1950s.
86. Bailey
Bailey is a popular given name in the United States. It’s also used as a first name for both male and female names. In certain contexts, the surname Bailey is pronounced with an emphasis on the second syllable.
87. Baker
Baker is a common surname in the United States, and it has been used as a first name since at least the 1700s. The name is also very popular in Canada, where it was most popular during the 1800s and early 1900s.
88. Bardo
The French surname Bardot has two different meanings. The first meaning is “blessed because of God” or “blessed by God .”The second meaning is “the bearded one .”Bards are also called bards.
89. Bellamy
Bellamy is a surname that usually refers to someone who belongs to a bellamite family. This surname is most popular in Scotland and Ireland.
90. Blystone
This name means “son of Balm” or “son of pleasantness .”Blystone’s were a group of people who lived on the Isle of Wight.
91. Brauner
Brauner has been used as a given name for both male and female names since at least the 1900s, when it was most popular in South Africa, Finland, and Russia.
92. Cameron
The surname Cameron is most common in Scotland and Ireland. It’s believed that the name means “crooked nose” in Gaelic. It has been used as a given name since at least the 1800s when it was most popular among people of Scottish ancestry.
93. Carmody
This unusual name is pronounced with a long o at the beginning ( KAHR -MO- dee). The name is often spelled Cormody, which means “son of Cormac,” who was a legendary Irish king.
94. Campbell
The surname Campbell is most common in Scotland and Ireland. It means “crooked nose .”Campbell has been used as a given name since at least the 1800s, when it was most popular among people with Scottish ancestry.
95. McKenna
McKenna has been used as a first name since at least the 1900s, but it didn’t become popular outside of Ireland until the 1960s. It’s currently most popular in Ireland, Canada, and the United States. The name is thought to come from the Irish ( CIOCH ) and Scottish ( CIONNAITH ) word “ceann,” which means “head.”
96. Quinn
Quinn is a surname that comes from Irish. It means “descendant of the phantom .”The name has been used as a given name since at least the 1900s, but it didn’t become popular outside of Ireland until the 1960s.
97. Cairns
Cairns have been used as a first name since at least the 1870s. It’s currently the most popular in New Zealand. It’s thought to be an Anglicisation of the Scottish surname Cairn, which means “cairn.”
98. Madigan
Madigan is a surname that refers to someone who was “born of the sea .”It has been used as a given name since at least the 1900s, but it didn’t become popular outside of Ireland until the 1960s.
99. Dalton
Dalton has been used as a first name since at least the 1800s. The surname Dalton (or Dalten ) comes from the Old English words dæl and tun, which together meant “valley town.”
100. Harper
Harper has been used as a first name since at least the 19th century. It’s currently most popular in the United States and Canada. Harper was originally a surname that meant “harp player.”