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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Talk to me about... surname names

86 replies

BraveLilBear · 01/05/2013 14:59

Just that really... DP and I have finally managed something of a shortlist for our soon to be DC, and two of the names on there are surname names (ie taken from a renowned surname), and one is also an American place name.

I used to be quite 'anti' them, but really like at least one of these and think it would work well. But what's the consensus?

I'm thinking distinguished names along the lines of 'Newton' (from Isaac) rather than 'Smith'...

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TeWiSavesTheDay · 03/05/2013 18:48

Oi, I said Archer first Saggy - admittedly for my possibly not even a boy foetus. But still, my prize!

pygmy · 03/05/2013 18:48

I quite like Sullivan nn Sully, Harper, Willoughby, Rafferty and Montgomery for boys.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 03/05/2013 18:43

Yay! For the first time ever I have suggested a good name! Grin Now, nobody use Archer before me!

Original poster
BraveLilBear · 03/05/2013 14:37

I really like Archer. And Harper (damn the Beckhams). Another one that is very cool and nice for a girl is Piper - unfortunately, we can't use that as it's the name of our favourite night club...

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MonkeyingAroundTown · 03/05/2013 13:51

I am adding Irving and Archer to my list of boys names for when we decide to have our next. They are so cute

pickledginger · 03/05/2013 12:57

Raleigh make bikes.

MorrisZapp · 03/05/2013 12:56

Standard practice here in Scotchland. My wee boy has a surname name, as do at least half of his friends. All cute, and all suitable for adults too.

The names discussed on here are cute but I wouldn't use most of them as they are so obviously American and we have no American heritage, much as we love the place.

Faraday, Edison etc sound more like pets names to me if I'm honest. In fact if we ever get a dog I want to call him Fenway, after the baseball park :)

pickledginger · 03/05/2013 12:56

Cromwell is not a good choice.

borisjohnsonshair · 03/05/2013 12:54

What about Brunel?

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 03/05/2013 12:53

How about Cooper or Archer if you want old English occupations?

squoosh · 03/05/2013 12:46

Cromwell!

In Ireland that name would be quite the conversation starter.

Original poster
BraveLilBear · 03/05/2013 12:42

Thanks everyone - some cracking ideas there, especially Cromwell and Raleigh.

Faraday is probably off the list as we may have named a hamster that already Blush and I agree about Washington... we are neither North-Eastern nor American and there is zero chance of our DC resembling the great Denzel!

Plenty to think about here, so thanks Smile

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LinghamStyle · 03/05/2013 12:39

I'm in Scotland and have my grannies maiden name as my first name. It's not really considered a surname these days though and there were a few people in my class at school with the same name who weren't named after their granny.

ItsYonliMe · 03/05/2013 12:28

Actually, Edison is growing on me.

ItsYonliMe · 03/05/2013 12:27

Edison is the only one I would remotely consider. Mmmm it's not bad actually.

Can't fathom why anyone would call a son Darwin or Faraday.

TeWiSavesTheDay · 03/05/2013 11:33

Edison is my favourite of yours I think!

TeWiSavesTheDay · 03/05/2013 11:28

I like them (not Faraday though! Sorry)

And they are very popular here in our very middle class rural town.

I am leaning towards one (Archer) if DC3 is a boy.

squoosh · 03/05/2013 11:15

I know a little Irving, he is so gorgeous and really suits his name.

squoosh · 03/05/2013 11:14

In descending order, these would be my preferences

Edison
Darwin
Newton
.
.
.
.
.
.
waaaaay down the list
.
.
.
.
down the lost some more
.
.
.
Faraday
Washington

Edison lends itself to lots of good nicknames and I can imagine a Darwin to be very brooding and handsome.

Faraday and Washington are a bit more out there and I?m definitely not as keen. You?d get lots of people asking if he was conceived in Washington. And people saying 'fara...what? faraway?'.

Catlike · 03/05/2013 11:10

Well, if you like distinguished sounding names then how about:

Irving
Lincoln
Nelson
Wellesley
Franklin
Jefferson
Boswell
Hamilton
Kennedy
Fleming
Cromwell
Raleigh

HorryIsUpduffed · 03/05/2013 11:04

I really dislike them on girls. They are more successful on boys but I don't choose them myself.

That said, DH, both DCs and I have first names that sometimes get used as surnames so I guess the distinction is less fixed than I thought.

My objections to your list would be how practical they are for everyday wear IYSWIM rather than their intrinsic surnameness.

MonkeyingAroundTown · 03/05/2013 10:56

Harrison is cute too

MonkeyingAroundTown · 03/05/2013 10:50

I like Edison

pickledginger · 03/05/2013 10:44

I'd avoid Darwin because of the Darwin Awards.

Edison sounds nice.

Original poster
BraveLilBear · 03/05/2013 10:33

I am genuinely interested in the viewpoints here as what we're looking at is a little out of the comfort zone and I am pretty sure my mother (at least) will disapprove hence why it's difficult to gauge reactions in real life before we produce DC and say... ta-da! This is Surname Surname Wink

Names we like include:
Newton
Darwin
Edison
Faraday
Washington

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