Surname names for boys aren’t new – not even a little!

Families have long handed down mothers’ maiden names. Surnames that emphasized a connection to a powerful or influential family member were once common, too.

While those reasons remain,  plenty of children receive surname names that aren’t directly borrowed from an ancestor. Maybe the parents are reinventing another family name. Or they admire a famous bearer of the surname – no relation.

Often, it’s simply because the style has considerable appeal. With names like Brooks, Bennett, and Hudson so popular, what’s next?

Let’s look at some of the most popular last names as first names for our sons.

Table of Contents

TOP 100 SURNAMES USED AS BOY NAMES

It’s surprisingly difficult to decide what counts as a last name, and which feels like more of a first. These names appear in the current US Top 100 and feel like they’re familiar as surnames, too.

  1. BENNETT
  2. BROOKS
  3. CAMERON
  4. CARTER
  5. COLTON
  6. COOPER
  7. DYLAN
  8. EASTON
  9. EVERETT
  10. GRAYSON
  11. HUDSON
  12. JACKSON
  13. JORDAN
  14. LANDON
  15. LINCOLN
  16. LOGAN
  17. MASON
  18. MAVERICK
  19. NOLAN
  20. PARKER
  21. ROWAN
  22. WALKER
  23. WAYLON
  24. WESLEY
  25. WESTON
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FAST RISING FAVORITES

BANKS (#348 in 2023; from #404 in 2022)

A little bit river bank, a little bit cash money, Banks is a fast-rising S-ender, following favorites like Miles into wider use.

BODEN (#756 in 2023; from #858 in 2022)

Boosted by our love of Bo, Beau, and Bodhi – pick your spelling – as well as a the colorful British clothing line.

BRIGGS (#339 in 2023; from #386 in 2022)

Rugged and capable, Briggs benefits from that stylish ‘s’ ending. It comes from an Old Norse word meaning bridge, an appealing image for a child’s name.

BYRON (#835 in 2023; from #890 in 2022)

Romantic surname name borrowed from a poet pop culture reminds us was “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.”

CALLAHAN (#460 in 2023; from #518 in 2022)

A swaggering Irish surname with easy nickname Cal.

COLTER (#321 in 2023; from #430 in 2022)

Originally a surname for someone who tended horses, Colter now feels like an update to long-popular Colton.

DUTTON (#724 in 2023; from #835 in 2022)

Take Sutton, then light it on fire with the streaming series phenom Yellowstone, and Dutton became an unstoppable force.

FLETCHER (#631 in 2023; from #674 in 2022)

A name associated with arrows, every bit as polished as Archer, and far more subtle than Arrow.

FOSTER (#967 in 2023; from unranked in 2022)

With multiple meanings and origins, Foster is a familiar surname.

HARLAN (#653 in 2023; from #726 in 2022)

An Old English surname, Harlan probably means “land of the hares” – rabbits, though other origins are possible. It’s a surname with a certain Southern energy.

MILLER (#527 in 2023; from #601 in 2022)

Just like Carter or Taylor, Miller started out as an occupational surname name; it referred to someone who milled – ground – grain for flour. The beer association might make some parents pause, but with a generation of Hunters and Parkers, Miller fits right in.

PALMER (#942 in 2023; from unranked in 2022)

Far more popular for girls, but also in use for our sons. Palmer originally referred to those who made the pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the Middle Ages, returning with palms.

RHODES (#707 in 2023; from #922 in 2022)

A name with many an auspicious association, Rhodes fits with so many s-ending names we love for our sons.

SHEPHERD (#409 in 2023; from #493 in 2022)

Clearly an occupational name, Shepherd also has spiritual possibilities, since Christians often depict Jesus as a benevolent shepherd. Still, it tends to read more like a polished, prep school-ready choice than an overtly religious one.

STETSON (#182 in 2023; from #238 in 2022)

Born in New Jersey, John B. Stetson was the son of a hatter. He headed west, like so many young men, and designed a hat suited for life on the frontier. It made him a fortune, and made his name synonymous with Old West style.

SUTTON (#446 in 2023; from #526 in 2022)

Actress Sutton Foster launched her unusual given name into the US Top 1000 for girls. It has since followed – and quickly! – for boys, too.

TATUM (#233 in 2023; from #318 in 2022)

A white hot unisex choice, Tatum’s origins are obscure. Like Tate, it might come from a word meaning joyful. The similar-sounding Tate just missed this list, but is also quite popular.

TRUETT (#695 in 2023; from #745 in 2022)

A surname name originally spelled Trewhitt, it looks like a formal name for True. That makes this a virtue pick and a surname one, too.

WELL-ESTABLISHED FAVORITES

  1. ANDERSON
  2. ARCHER
  3. BAKER
  4. BARRETT
  5. BAYLOR
  6. BECKHAM
  7. BECKETT
  8. BECKHAM
  9. BELLAMY
  10. BENTLEY
  11. BOONE
  12. BOWEN
  13. BRIDGER
  14. CASEY
  15. CLARK
  16. COHEN
  17. COLBY
  18. COLSON
  19. CREW
  20. CRUZ
  21. DALTON
  22. DAVIS
  23. DAWSON
  24. DEXTER
  25. DONOVAN
  26. ELLIOT
  27. ELLIOTT
  28. ELLIS
  29. EMERSON
  30. EMMETT
  31. FINLEY
  32. FINNEGAN
  33. FISHER
  34. FLYNN
  35. FORD
  36. FORREST
  37. FRANKLIN
  38. GANNON
  39. GRADY
  40. GRANT
  41. GREY
  42. HARRISON
  43. HAYES
  44. HENDRIX
  45. HOLDEN
  46. HUNTER
  47. HUXLEY
  48. JENSEN
  49. JONES
  50. JUDSON
  51. KANE
  52. KINGSLEY
  53. KNOX
  54. LAWSON
  55. LEDGER
  56. LENNON
  57. LENNOX
  58. MADDEN
  59. MADDOX
  60. MARLEY
  61. MCCOY
  62. MORGAN
  63. MURPHY
  64. NASH
  65. NIXON
  66. OAKLEY
  67. PAXTON
  68. PRESTON
  69. PORTER
  70. REED
  71. REID
  72. RIGGS
  73. RILEY
  74. SAWYER
  75. SPENCER
  76. SULLIVAN
  77. TANNER
  78. TATE
  79. THATCHER
  80. WALLACE
  81. WALKER
  82. WATSON
  83. WELLS
  84. WESLEY
  85. WILDER

OVERLOOKED SURNAME OPTIONS

ABBOTT

Another -TT ender, like favorites Beckett and Everett.

CALDER

This name brings to mind ice hockey, thanks to the Calder Trophy given annually to the rookie of the year, as well as artist Alexander Calder.

CAMPBELL

A Scottish possibility that could follow Cameron into wider use.

DECKARD

It sounds like a tough guy, and indeed Deckard does mean strong. The related Decker is another, less subtle, option.

DEMPSEY

An Irish surname meaning proud, long associated with legendary boxer Jack Dempsey.

DUNCAN

Another Scottish name, playful Duncan brings to mind yo-yos, donuts, and Shakespeare, too.

FIELDING

Or Fielder or Fields, any of them names that feel gently outdoorsy, just like Parker.

HOBBES

A philosophical surname, familiar to readers of Calvin and Hobbes … as well as Fast & the Furious fans, thanks to Dwayne Johnson’s character, Luke Hobbs. It comes from old Robert nickname, Hobb.

HURLEY

A name that brings to mind the surfing lifestyle brand, making Hurley feeling daring and adventurous.

JENNINGS

Like Jackson and Jones, yet another surname derived from mega-popular given name John.

KEATON

A buttoned-up surname name once familiar thanks to the Family Ties television series.

LANGSTON

As in enduring poet Langston Hughes of the Harlem Renaissance.

LINDEN

Former US President LBJ was Lyndon Johnson; Linden is either another spelling, or a completely different name. It’s often associated with lime trees, making Linden an alternative for Rowan or Ash.

MAXFIELD

An unexpected Max name, twentieth century painter Maxfield Parrish makes this a possibility.

SHAW

A brief name, Shaw also gets a boost from a character in the Fast & Furious franchise.

THOMPSON

An ends-with-son name that has been consistently overlooked, even as Jackson and company soar.

WALTON

A gentle surname name that brings to mind 1970s television staple The Waltons. As the series fades from memory, this could be a way to reinvent Walter or an alternative to mega-popular Walker.

Are any of these surname names for boys on your shortlist?

First published on August 28, 2015, this post was revised and re-published on September 15, 2022, October 5, 2023, and June 3, 2024.

About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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16 Comments

  1. It’s also partly a cultural thing – in the UK boys and men call each other by their surnames, while girls and women don’t. So surnames on boys sounds normal. But my first assumption if I heard a boy called ‘Banks’ by his friends would be that that was his surname – I’d ask his first name! Surnames on girls just sound plain weird. I think it may have been lost on US readers that when Draco Malfoy called Harry ‘Potter’ this was completely normal and remarkable BUT when he called Hermione ‘Granger’ he was making a snide allusion to her muggle birth 😉

    Reply

  2. I always say I don’t like surname names, especially on girls, but what I really mean is I don’t like new ones! 😀 I can accept Tracy, Shirley, Russell etc as names because I grew up with them. Madison, Jackson, Baker, Jones just make me squirm. That’s prejudice for you! Anyway, I admit I really like Quinn, Flynn, Callahan, Nolan, Logan, Finnegan and Finley.

    The Mrs, please don’t get political on us…

    Reply

    1. That’s an excellent point, Eilonwy! And I appreciate that you’re aware of that, too. I’m always left scratching my head when someone tells me they dislike surname names, but their first child is named Avery. So often, we’re not reacting to a style category as much as whether the name feels established or novel … (And I’m all for novel, but I concede that novelty has drawbacks …)

      Reply