Surnames as first names…what’s the big deal?

Some surnames work and some dont. I came across a reddit post yesterday where people had named their daughter murphy . Murphy is a surname or a dog name ... not a name for a little girl

In the Scottish borders it used to be common for boys to get their mum's maiden name as a surname, so lots of use of Graham, Murray, Campbell, Kerr, Pringle, Milne, Scott etc as first names. I like it.

I think of using surnames as first names for girls as a very American thing, e.g. Harper Lee, Drew Barrymore, Taylor Swift. I don’t think people do it in the UK until they become familiar with US celebrities using the name and start thinking of e.g. Taylor as a normal first name for a girl. But names don’t make the jump over here, for example with a couple in Solihull deciding to name their little daughter Robinson, McEwan or Jones.

people look down on Americans, who do surnames as first name (or middle) the most. It stems from practice of women marrying into family, then tucking their maiden name as their middle, or giving it to firstborn child.

This practice is very common in England too, going by my family tree.

I think the difference in 'acceptability' might be, as you say, when it's a surname from within your own family or when it's one picked at random.

It's because (for whatever reason) surnames tend to be more popular with a certain type of parent, so people think they aren't helpful names to give your child because teachers/employers are more likely to think Riley or Ryan is going to be a lout than Robin or Ronan.

I am not suggesting such social profiling is right BTW.

Also a little bit of anti-American bias.

Obviously it's long been quite popular in Scotland and the Victorians also liked it so it's not a universal rule.

I quite like some surnames as first names - I think the push back is from some people not finding them very “classy” - as someone upthread said - probably because some people have a negative association with American naming trends.

Well, yes, you're right in the sense that we're getting the Greek version of the Hebrew Simeon (which we do get in the OT) --I'm guessing that the fisherman who became the disciple "Simon Peter" was not given a Greek name at birth..... . . .But I do take your point.

@StinkyPooper , Lucas and Simon are first names from the Bible.
Donovan is from a first name.
Elliot is from a surname.
Macy & Riley are surnames.
Harrison & Jackson are from 'son of [first name]'
Taylor, Paige and Spencer are all occupation surnames.

@Vaguelyclassical , Simon is from the New Testament.

"Lucas, Elliot, Simon, Taylor, Paige, Macy, Harrison, Jackson, Donovan, Riley, and Spencer"

Because apart from Lucas which is an old first name and Simon which is biblical, your other examples are considered a bit - how can I put this - chavvy.

Lots of traditional Scottish boys names are also surnames - Duncan, Grant, Stewart, Mitchell etc.

Er, Simon has been a first name since the Old Testament!

Hmm, Mountbatten Windsor Smith.

Has a ring to it...

Because people look down on Americans, who do surnames as first name (or middle) the most. It stems from practice of women marrying into family, then tucking their maiden name as their middle, or giving it to firstborn child. Then these names became popular as first names because they're already somebody middles.

I was told in UK, most surname as first name occur when you try to coax your rich great aunt into leaving her money to you and your child. So, not 'naice'.