I want a new surname (suggestions)

[HoHoHoliday]

A bit random perhaps to some people, but I really want to change my surname!
What are the nicest surnames that you know? Any suggestions?

Background -
My surname from birth, I've always thought it was plain and boring, and it's very common.
I always imagined I would change it when I married, but I never got married, and I'm now late 40s and don't plan to marry even if I eventually meet "the one".
I don't have children, my dad is gone now, my mother has the same surname only through marriage to my dad, my siblings have different surnames through marriage, and I don't feel any particular attachment to extended family so I've no need to "honour" their name.
So I thought I'd treat myself to a new name! I want a name that when I introduce myself, people might think "that's a nice name". Something not overly common, but not so unusual that I have to spell it out repeatedly either. I am English, but I spent five years total living in different parts of Scandinavia so perhaps would be nice to choose a link to that part of my life, but doesn't need to be.

Bellamy? It means friend in French!

Some of these suggestions are so goofy 😂

Go for something classic but interesting, OP.

Like:
Jenkins
Castleton
Willoughby
Dalloway
Windermere

In my youth I worked with a lovely lady who had the surname Sunshine. I’ve always thought it was a glorious name.

I’m also quite fond of Haversham, don’t know why, I just think it sounds classy.

I've always loved the surname Divine

OMG, all of these comments are brilliant, thanks everyone!!

To those who suggested it, I did go back through my family tree to look for another name but I didn't feel much connection to any of them, and because I'd already had the idea of picking a new one I feel more excited about doing that.
First name begins with L.
Also liking the suggestion of choosing a place name, I can't believe I didn't think of that, similarly didn't occur to me to choose an animal or bird or plant perhaps, that's something to consider.

Suggestions so far that are either so cute or so funny but cannot bring myself to use unless perhaps I write a book:
Flowers, Snowball (love this but just couldn't go there), Darling, Champion, Paradis, Rainbow, Honeyball, Greensleeves, Cloud, Pendragon, Bluebell, Snapdragon, Sunshine

And suggestions that I really like and will put on the long list:
Anders, Britton, Starling, Nightingale, Summer, Winter, Rose, Forest, Valentine, Fox

Darlington

One of my grandmas' maiden names was Kincaid, the other's was Murray-Newton . I like both of them.

Beauchamp
Mackintosh
Hennessey
Pankhurst
Valentine
Hunter
Garland
Borthwick

Fox is the coolest surname! I think I would choose this.
I also like Ferguson.

I love Faulkner.

Lomax

I've always wanted to change my surname to Valentine ❤️

I’d like Starling or Snow. They don’t go with my first name though, so maybe Frost.

Or Wolfe. Or Fox.

Cholmondeley - you'll always have to spell it but it's a good conversation starter

I like some of the above

Darcy
Kingfisher

I also like a McSomethung, maybe McBluebell

Lucas
Lewis
Lane
Lancaster
Livingston
Leonard
Lomax
Lee

Starling or Phoenix

I knew someone called Sam Starling and always loved the name.

You've been watching WILTY!

I thought immediately of ‘Clarice Starling’ - so nope to starling. It sounds good especial as Sam Starling is alliterative, but too strong a reminder of Dr Hannibal Lector for , me and that gross thing Anthony Hopkins did with his tongue when playing the character.

A friend of mine went for Lovelace after Ada.

@HoHoHoliday I wouldn't go for Anders, Anders Breivik has applied for parole and he will probably be doing it again.

Place names are good. But I like names after historical people or those who are inspiring.

Darling - after Grace, the children in Peter Pan and the Blackadder character.

Pankhurst - needs no explanation

Franklin - it doesn't make up for her not getting the Nobel prize but acknowledges her.

Meredith
Morgan
Batchelor (if you plan to never marry)
Rowan
Beaumont

How about something with a nod to the fact that you’ve reinvented yourself?

phoenix? Rose? Summer? Newman?

Newman may be rather more of a 'reinvention' than OP is planning!!

One of my grandmas' maiden names was Kincaid.

That is a lovely-sounding name. It makes me think of Thomas Kincaid, who makes all the expensive elaborate light-up Christmas-themed 'creations' that they advertise in the People's Friend and My Weekly. Just have to watch out if you have a first name ending with a 'fuh' sound - such as Jennifer - could lead to 'interesting' misunderstandings!

Starling or Phoenix

I do like Phoenix, but it would get so irritating when people spell it incorrectly. There must be at least as many businesses out there called 'Pheonix' something-or-other as there are 'Phoenix'.

@FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper
"Newman may be rather more of a 'reinvention' than OP is planning!!"

Indeed! New name only 😁