Talk to me about... surname names

[BraveLilBear]

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'...

I think you'll find they are awesome names, and not at all odd!

What about Lister, if not Franklin?

Don't think Higgs fits your criteria, nor Crick.

Davy?

My father's names went

Family surname name, Christian name chosen by parents, family surname name v similar to normal name but one letter different, surname.

I didn't like the only one they chose, the rest were lovely. But they were also family names.

Maynard?

Tewesaves "awesome"

Very popular in Scotland, as others have pointed out: Campbell, Finlay, Blair, Cameron, Hunter, Ross, Bruce, Douglas, etcetera. I have a friend called MacDuff (first name). Not weird here!

Fletcher is another nice one

Wallace
Ferguson
Smith

Does it go with your surname? Generally, I am not keen on the surname as a first name trend but the name you have chosen is good. It also depends on whether it suits your child. I would wait until he is born to see what suits him.

DH was keen on Kelvin for DS - as in Lord Kelvin who determined the correct value of absolute zero.

DP has quite a hard-sounding and fairly unusual surname that begins with a 'B' ie all hard consonants, but these names do actually go very well with it, and also, incidentally, with mine (which is very soft and commonplace in comparison) should the need arise...