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Surnames That Are Baby Names

Surnames have been on the rise as baby names for a couple of decades now. The early generation saw surnames like Tyler and Blake for boys, Taylor and Morgan for girls. Those names are still used today, but they’re not as widespread as they once were.

Along with Taylor and Tyler, other surnames that rank as first names in the US Top 150 include Harper, Madison, Carter, Lincoln, Everly, Hudson, Colton, and Kennedy. Up-and-coming surnames near the bottom of the charts include Colter, Foster, Banks, and Ellison.

Surnames as first names appeal to contemporary parents and are elusively both traditional and new. If you’re searching for well-liked surnames to use as baby names for your son or daughter, consult our list of surnames from the US Top 1000, below.

Jefferson

Meaning: son of Jeffrey

Origin:English
2317
Wesson

Meaning: from the western town

Origin:Variation of Weston, English
2827
Miller

Meaning: grinder of grain

Origin:English occupational name
539
Thatcher

Meaning: roof thatcher

Origin:English occupational name
487
Tucker

Meaning: fabric pleater

Origin:English occupational name
536
Porter

Meaning: gatekeeper

Origin:English from French occupational name
666
Fisher

Meaning: fisherman

Origin:Occupational name
905
Kaiser

Meaning: Emperor

Origin:German
941
Dawes

Meaning: son of David

Origin:English surname
7893
Brady

Meaning: broad meadow or large-chested

Origin:Irish
952
Jensen

Meaning: son of Jens

Origin:Spelling variation of Jenson and Danish surname
962
Landon

Meaning: long hill

Origin:English
566
Palmer

Meaning: he who holds the palm

Origin:English surname and occupational
733
Kendall

Meaning: valley of the river Kent

Origin:English
960
Kingston

Meaning: king's town

Origin:English
1691
Colson

Meaning: son of Nicholas

Origin:English surname
1803
Bowen

Meaning: son of Owen

Origin:Welsh
652
Payton

Meaning: fighting man's estate

Origin:English
1130
Jameson

Meaning: son of James

Origin:English
778
Boden

Meaning: hill shaped like a bow or floor

Origin:English or German surname
519