Baby names: Last names as first names

Surnames can make great first names. Search your family tree or take inspiration from literature or music for the perfect blend of classic and fresh. Here are some of our favourites.

Quincy

This classic surname with Old French roots makes for a super-cool, modern boy’s name. We like to think of it as the hip cousin to the more common Quin with a nod to music legend Quincy Jones.

Wylie

Wylie is a common last name from the British Isles, but it has also been used as a unisex first name. We think it would make an especially fresh and fun name for a baby girl.

Maxwell

Jessica Simpson brought this name back into the limelight when her daughter was born in 2012. Originally a Scottish last name, Maxwell has been a popular choice for boys for more than a hundred years. It’s a timeless classic that still works for either boys or girls.

Beckett

It’s not hard to see why Beckett is making tracks on the baby name charts. It’s both a literary nod to absurdist playwright Samuel Beckett of Waiting For Godot fame and absolutely adorable in its own right. Baby Beckett, can’t you just picture it?

Chan

This super-common East Asian surname stands out as cool and modern first name, too. It’s more popular for boys, but we’re inspired by singer Cat Power, who goes by the name Chan, and think it would really rock on a baby girl.

Hendrix

Hendrix is right on trend for a baby boy’s name with the “x” ending, and what better tribute is there to rock legend Jimi Hendrix than a generation of mini rockers sporting his name? Get ahead of the curve because this name is set to catch on quickly.

Harlow

This unique girl’s name is on the rise after celebs like Patricia Arquette and Nicole Ritchie have claimed it for their own daughters. Perhaps inspired by the great silver screen start of the 1930s, Jean Harlow, the name oozes old Hollywood glamour and charm.

Garcia

This popular Spanish last name can also double as a boy’s first name. We can totally see this funky-yet-familiar name start to become more popular in the near future. The “ia” ending makes it perfect for girls, too.

Lane

This English surname became a popular choice for boys starting in the 1930s but then dropped off until recently. It’s back now, though, and better than ever as a solid unisex name that hold equal appeal for both boys and girls. What girl wouldn’t want to share a name with Lois Lane?

Crosby

Whether this old Irish last name stirs up the hippie vibes of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the dulcet tones of Bing Crosby or Sidney Crosby’s killer wrist shot, there’s no doubt it’s a winner. This hip name is an instant classic and we’re not just saying that because Parenthood’s Crosby is our favourite Braverman, either.

Check out some of our other baby name roundups if you're looking for a sweet flower name, a name that means miracle or maybe a name that means love.