Last Names for Boys

These last names for boys are real surnames that suit male characters and also make strong first or middle names, from Carter and Hudson to Beckett and Sullivan. Each is listed A to Z with its meaning and origin.

248 real surnames with meanings, A to Z.

A

Anderson

Son of Andrew, manly

Scottish
Archer

Bowman or maker of bows

English
Asher

Hebrew, happy or blessed; also an English ash dweller

Jewish
Austin

From Augustine, great or venerable

English

B

Barrett

Possibly quarrelsome, or a cap maker

English
Beck

Dweller by a stream, Old Norse bekkr

English
Beckett

Little stream or beak, Middle English

English
Bennett

From Benedict, blessed; also a popular boy name

English
Bentley

Clearing with bent grass

English
Blake

Pale or dark, Old English nickname

English
Boone

Norman, from Bohon, or good

English
Bowen

Welsh ab Owain, son of Owen

Welsh
Boyd

From Bute, Scottish island

Scottish
Bradley

Broad clearing

English
Brantley

Possibly burnt clearing, from Old English brand and leah

English
Brennan

Irish Ó Braonáin, possibly sorrow or drop

Irish
Brock

Badger, Old English

English
Brody

From Brodie in Moray, muddy place

Scottish
Brooks

Dweller by a brook; a trendy boy name

English
Bryant

From Brian, high or noble

Irish
Bryce

From Saint Brice, possibly speckled

Scottish
Burke

Norman de Burgh, of the fort

Irish
Byron

At the cattle sheds, Old English

English

C

Callahan

Irish Ó Ceallacháin, bright-headed or strife

Irish
Calvin

French Cauvin, little bald one

French
Cameron

Gaelic, crooked nose

Scottish
Cannon

Church canon, or Irish Ó Canann

English
Carson

Scottish surname of uncertain origin

Scottish
Carter

Cart driver or maker; a top boy name

English
Carver

Wood or stone carver

English
Cassidy

Irish Ó Caiside, curly-haired

Irish
Chandler

Candle maker or seller

English
Chase

Hunter, or dweller by hunting ground

English
Clark

Clerk or scholar

English
Clayton

Settlement on clay soil

English
Cohen

Hebrew kohen, priest

Jewish
Colby

Koli's farm, Old Norse

English
Cole

From Nicholas, or coal-black

English
Coleman

Charcoal burner, or follower of Cole

English
Collins

Son of Colin, from Nicholas

English
Colt

Young horse, nickname for a lively person

English
Colton

Cola's settlement, Old English

English
Connor

Irish Ó Conchobhair, lover of hounds

Irish
Conrad

Old German, bold counsel

German
Cooper

Barrel maker; a popular boy name

English
Corbin

Norman French, little raven

English
Crosby

Farm with a cross, Old Norse

English
Cruz

Spanish, cross

Spanish
Cullen

Irish Ó Cuilinn, holly

Irish
Curtis

Old French curteis, courteous

English

D

Dalton

Settlement in a valley

English
Dane

Dweller in a valley, or a Dane

English
Dawson

Son of David

English
Dean

Dweller in a valley, or church dean

English
Decker

Roofer or thatcher, German Decker

German
Dempsey

Irish Ó Díomasaigh, proud

Irish
Dexter

Dyer, from Old English

English
Dillon

Norman Irish, possibly from Lion in France

Irish
Donovan

Irish Ó Donnabháin, dark brown

Irish
Douglas

Gaelic, dark water

Scottish
Drake

Dragon or male duck, Old English

English
Duncan

Gaelic Donnchadh, brown warrior

Scottish

E

Easton

East settlement

English
Eaton

River settlement

English
Elliott

Diminutive of Elias, or Old English Elwold

English
Ellis

From Elias, the Lord is God

Welsh
Ellison

Son of Ellis

English
Emerson

Son of Emery, industrious ruler

English
Emery

Old German, industrious ruler

English
Emmett

Diminutive of Emma, whole or universal

English
Everett

Brave as a boar, from Eberhard

English

F

Fisher

Fisherman

English
Fletcher

Arrow maker

English
Flint

Dweller by a flint outcrop

English
Flynn

Irish Ó Floinn, ruddy

Irish
Ford

Dweller by a river crossing

English
Forrest

Forester or dweller in a forest

English
Foster

Forester or foster parent

English
Fox

Nickname for a cunning person

English
Franklin

Free landowner of non-noble birth

English

G

Gage

Pledge, or official weights inspector

English
Gardner

Gardener

English
Garrett

From Gerard, brave with a spear

English
Gentry

Of noble birth, gentle

English
Gibson

Son of Gib, a pet form of Gilbert

Scottish
Grady

Irish Ó Grádaigh, noble or illustrious

Irish
Graham

Gravelly homestead

Scottish
Grant

Old French grand, tall or great

Scottish
Graves

Steward, or dweller by a grove

English
Gray

Grey-haired

English
Grayson

Son of the steward, from Middle English greyve

English
Griffin

Welsh Gruffudd, strong lord

Welsh

H

Hale

Dweller in a nook or hollow

English
Hamilton

Bare or crooked hill

Scottish
Hardy

Bold and tough

English
Harlan

Hare land or rocky land

English
Harlow

Army hill, Essex place name

English
Harper

Harp player

English
Harrison

Son of Harry

English
Hart

Stag, nickname or house sign

English
Hawkins

Little hawk, pet form of Hawk

English
Hayden

Hay valley or heathy hill

English
Hayes

Dweller by a hedged enclosure

English
Hendrix

Son of Hendrik, home ruler

Dutch
Holden

Hollow valley

English
Hollis

Dweller by holly trees

English
Holt

Dweller by a wood

English
Houston

Hugh's settlement, Scottish place name

Scottish
Howard

Germanic heart-brave, or ewe herder

English
Hudson

Son of Hudde, a pet form of Hugh

English
Hughes

Son of Hugh, mind or heart

Welsh
Hunter

One who hunts

English

I

Irving

From Irvine, a Scottish place; possibly green river

Scottish

J

Jackson

Son of Jack

English
Jagger

Carter or peddler, Yorkshire dialect

English
Jameson

Son of James

English
Jasper

From Caspar, treasurer

English
Jennings

Son of Jenin, a pet form of John

English
Jensen

Danish, son of Jens, John

Nordic

K

Kane

Irish Ó Catháin, battler

Irish
Keaton

Kite's settlement, Old English

English
Keegan

Irish Mac Aodhagáin, son of Aodh, fire

Irish
Keller

German, cellar master

German
Kendall

Valley of the River Kent

English
Kennedy

Irish Ó Cinnéide, possibly armored head

Irish
Kent

From the county of Kent, border land

English
Kingsley

King's wood or clearing

English
Kingston

King's estate

English
Kirby

Church farm, Old Norse

English
Knox

Scottish, from knock, round hill

Scottish

L

Landry

French, from Landric, powerful land

French
Lane

Dweller by a lane

English
Langston

Long stone, Old English

English
Lawson

Son of Law, a pet form of Lawrence

English
Leland

Fallow land

English
Lennon

Irish Ó Leannáin, lover or sweetheart

Irish
Lennox

Scottish district, elm place

Scottish
Leon

Lion, from Greek leon

Spanish
Levi

Hebrew, joined; Levite descent

Jewish
Lincoln

Lake colony, English city

English
Logan

Scottish, little hollow

Scottish
Lowell

Norman French, little wolf

English
Lyle

Norman de l'isle, of the island

Scottish

M

Mackenzie

Gaelic, son of Coinneach, handsome

Scottish
Madden

Irish Ó Madáin, little dog

Irish
Maddox

Welsh, son of Madog, fortunate

Welsh
Major

Latin major, greater, or from Mauger

English
Malone

Irish Ó Maoil Eoin, follower of Saint John

Irish
Marlow

Land left after draining a pool

English
Marshall

Horse servant, later high officer

English
Mason

Stoneworker

English
Maverick

Texas family name that came to mean independent

English
Maxwell

Mack's stream, Scottish place name

Scottish
McCoy

Gaelic, son of Aodh, fire

Scottish
Mercer

Merchant, especially of fine cloth

English
Merritt

Boundary gate, Somerset place name

English
Miles

Norman given name, possibly soldier

English
Mitchell

From Michael, who is like God

English
Monroe

Gaelic, traditionally from the mouth of the Roe river

Scottish
Montgomery

Norman, Gomeric's hill

Scottish
Morgan

Welsh Morcant, possibly sea-bright

Welsh
Murphy

Irish Ó Murchadha, sea warrior

Irish

N

Nash

At the ash tree, Middle English

English
Nelson

Son of Neil, champion

English
Neville

From Neuville in Normandy, new town

English
Nolan

Irish Ó Nualláin, descendant of the famous one

Irish

O

Oakley

Oak clearing

English
Owens

Son of Owen, well-born

Welsh

P

Palmer

Pilgrim who carried a palm from the Holy Land

English
Parker

Keeper of a hunting park

English
Patton

Diminutive of Patrick, nobleman

Scottish
Paxton

Pæcc's settlement, Old English

English
Perry

Dweller by a pear tree

English
Pierce

From Piers, a form of Peter, rock

English
Porter

Gatekeeper or carrier

English
Presley

Priest's clearing

English
Preston

Priest's settlement

English

Q

Quincy

From Cuinchy in northern France

French
Quinn

Irish Ó Cuinn, descendant of Conn, chief

Irish

R

Ramsey

Wild garlic island, Old English

English
Reed

Red-haired, from Old English read

English
Reid

Scottish form of Reed, red-haired

Scottish
Remington

From Rimington, farm by the boundary stream

English
Rhett

English surname of uncertain origin; old Carolina family

English
Rhodes

Dweller by a clearing or road

English
Riley

Irish Ó Raghallaigh, possibly valiant

Irish
Ripley

Strip-shaped clearing

English
Rocco

Italian, from the given name Rocco, after Saint Roch

Italian
Rollins

Son of Rollin, a pet form of Roland

English
Roman

From Rome, or from the given name Roman

Polish
Rowan

Irish Ó Ruadháin, little red one

Irish
Royce

Son of Rose, or from Royse

English
Russell

Little red one, Norman French

English
Ryder

Mounted warrior or messenger

English

S

Santiago

Spanish, Saint James

Spanish
Sawyer

Sawer of wood

English
Scott

A Scot, or Gaelic speaker

Scottish
Shaw

Dweller by a thicket or small wood

English
Sheldon

Shelf valley, Old English

English
Shepherd

Sheep herder

English
Sinclair

From Saint-Clair in Normandy

Scottish
Slater

Roofer who laid slates

English
Spencer

Steward or dispenser of provisions

English
Stanley

Stony clearing

English
Sterling

From Stirling in Scotland, or little star

Scottish
Stetson

English surname of uncertain origin; famous hat name

English
Sullivan

Irish Ó Súilleabháin, dark-eyed

Irish
Sutton

Southern settlement

English

T

Tanner

Leather tanner

English
Tate

Cheerful, or from the Norse name Teitr

English
Taylor

Tailor, from Old French tailleur

English
Thatcher

Roofer who used thatch

English
Thompson

Son of Thomas, twin

English
Thorne

Dweller by a thorn bush

English
Townsend

Dweller at the end of the town

English
Travis

Toll collector at a crossing, Old French traverse

English
Trent

Dweller by the River Trent

English
Truman

Trusty man, Old English

English
Tucker

Fuller of cloth, one who tucks

English
Turner

Lathe worker or turner of wood

English
Tyler

Tile maker or roofer

English

V

Vance

Dweller by a fen

English
Vaughn

Welsh fychan, small or younger

Welsh

W

Wade

Dweller by a ford

English
Walker

Cloth fuller who trod wet cloth

English
Walsh

Welshman, foreigner, Irish-Norman

Irish
Walton

Settlement of the Britons, or walled town

English
Ward

Guard or watchman

English
Warner

Old German Warinheri, guard army

English
Warren

Game park keeper, or from La Varenne

English
Watson

Son of Wat, from Walter

Scottish
Webb

Weaver

English
Wells

Dweller by springs

English
Wendell

Old German Wendel, a Vandal

German
Wesley

Western clearing

English
Weston

Western settlement

English
Wheeler

Wheel maker

English
Whitaker

White field

English
Whitman

White man, fair-haired

English
Wilder

Wild or untamed, or from the wilderness

English
Willis

Son of Will, from William

English
Wilson

Son of Will

English
Winston

Wynstan's settlement, joy stone

English
Wolfe

Wolf, nickname for a fierce person

English
Wright

Craftsman or builder, especially of wood

English
Wyatt

From Wyot, battle-brave

English

Y

York

From the city of York

English

Z

Zane

English surname of uncertain origin; Ohio frontier family

English

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Results (6)

Lincoln

Lake colony, English city

English
Miles

Norman given name, possibly soldier

English
Kendall

Valley of the River Kent

English
Carter

Cart driver or maker; a top boy name

English
Crosby

Farm with a cross, Old Norse

English
Keller

German, cellar master

German

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How to choose last names for boys

Surnames do not have a gender, but some sound more at home on a boy or a man. The names above tend to be short to medium length, with firm consonants and clear stress on the first syllable: Hudson, Carter, Brooks, Walker, Beckett and Hayes. Many describe trades, such as Carter for a cart driver and Walker for a cloth worker, or outdoor places like Brooks and Hayes, which gives them a practical, grounded feel.

Use them in two ways. As family names, they give male characters a believable, solid identity. As first or middle names, they follow a long tradition in English-speaking countries of turning surnames into given names. When browsing, read the meaning beside each name. A boy named Fletcher carries the image of an arrow maker, while one named Sullivan inherits an Irish name that has been linked to a word for dark eyes.

Surnames that became boys' first names

Using a surname as a first name started among English and American families who wanted to honour a mother's family or a respected relative. Names like Spencer, Grant, Tucker and Harrison moved from the family line to the first name slot generations ago. More recently, surnames such as Hudson, Beckett, Easton, Carson and Brooks have become popular first names for boys in the United States and elsewhere.

The appeal is easy to understand. These names feel modern, they rarely have nicknames that parents dislike, and they carry a hint of family history. If you are considering one for a baby, check that it works with your own surname. Hudson Parker works well, but Carter Porter rhymes too closely. The letter filter makes it easy to browse options that start with a family initial.

Matching a boy's first name and surname

When a surname is the family name, the first name should complement it. Short surnames like Hayes, Brooks or Grant pair well with longer first names such as Benjamin, Nathaniel or Sebastian. Longer surnames such as Sullivan or Montgomery suit short first names like Jack, Max or Luke. Two surnames used together, such as Carter Hayes, can sound sharp and modern, but check that people will know which one is the first name.

For writers, the same rules help build a cast. Give each male character a surname with a different first letter and syllable count, so readers never mix up Hayes and Hale. Consider origin too, since a Scottish surname like Maxwell or an Irish one like Callahan hints at family background. The random picker below the list gives you a quick set of names to test aloud.

Frequently asked questions

Can girls use these last names for boys too?

Yes. Surnames are not gendered, and many names on this list, such as Harper, Parker, Quinn and Blake, have become popular for girls as well. The list collects names that are especially common for boys and male characters, but any of them can work for anyone.

Why are so many boys given surnames as first names?

It began as a way to honour a mother's maiden name or another family line, especially in England and the American South. Over time the style spread because surname first names sound modern, strong and distinctive. Names like Hudson, Carter and Beckett are now widely used as first names.

How do I pick a middle name from a surname?

Start with surnames from your own family tree, such as a grandmother's maiden name. If none fits, choose a surname that balances the first name in length and sound. A one-syllable surname like Grant or Hayes works well between two longer names.

Do these surnames have meanings?

Yes. Every name in the list is shown with its meaning and origin. Most come from trades, places or personal descriptions. Carter meant a cart driver, Brooks someone living by a stream and Walker a worker who fulled cloth, so each name carries a small piece of history.