Last names as first names.

[Cardboxed]

I'm not currently expecting so this is more of a discussion than anything specific.

I've always like liked the name 'Jackson' as a first name but most people see it as a last name. I can't think of any other last names that would suit first names. I know that any name is potentially a last name but I'd be interested to know what you reckon of names that would suit?

London?

'I absolutely detest surnames as first names. They make my blood boil'

Jeez Louise! I can't imagine feeling that strongly about a kid's name.

Some are worse than others. One of the Teen Mom girl's called her child Gannon (horrific!) but something like Blair for example seems fine to me.

Irish surnames (Flynn, Brady, Cassidy etc.) and occupation surnames (Cooper, Fletcher, Mason) seem to be the most popular types used.

Quite common in Scotland as is using the mothers maiden name as a first name.

I absolutely detest surnames as first names. They make my blood boil...

Oh well - do take care that you don't self implode with all the blood boiling won't you.

Not keen on surnames for first names for girls. Even for boys it can be a bit, well, odd!

My DD is currently at college with a boy called Wentworth.

I love surnameysounding first names, conversely, except the more traditional ones like James, Alexander, David etc, with the odd exception.

I don't think you can generalise really as James and Alexander are very different from say Jackson or Harrison. I love Parker and Harper for girls.

Mind you, I did know a Maxwell Maxwell which was a bit odd.

Strokethefurrywall I think all this talk of surnames as first names has already caused said implosion heads off to jump into a cold bath

Thomas
Stuart
Archer
Grayson

Love Jackson!

Maybe Avery? Although I have an (elderly female) relative with it as a first name so I think of it as such.

MayNameIsSuz Franklin is our top boys name! Only thing stopping me is that I fear our relatives will recoil in horror

I don't understand the vitriol against surname names. Thati s the way most first names came about anyway.

Traditionally in Scotland the first born son would be named after his father and the second born would have his mothers maiden name. Hence lots of surname type names up here. I don't even think of names like Murray, Campbell etc. as surnamey tbh.

DS2s name has been lited here a few times. Although not traditionally Scottish, a lot of people here see it as Scottish and I am always complimented on it, despite the fact that mn seems to hate it and think it very American.

I have a surname name, as does my twin sister, and my two brothers.

Like with most styles of name, there are surname names I like, and those I don't.

I think last names have a place as first names, and indeed some first names have become surnames, after all Benjamin was certainly a first name first but is now a surname.

Yay Bendy! You should go for it! My mum was a bit sceptical at first, but she got over it and everyone we meet says what a cool name it is. When we named him we intended to call him Frankie, but actually we mostly use Franks or Franklin. He likes it too at age three!

A family member gave her son both first and middle names that are surnames.

When you say the lads full name he sounds like a solicitor firm.

Mumof you could be describing my DS2. However nobod ever says his name in full, and his middle name is used more as a first name than a surname. So I don't think people would pick up on it being 3 surnames in a row.

When I was discussing (then unborn) DC2'S name my dad said "I hate surnames as first names".
The man has three surnames! Think Cameron James McDonald - not usual and certainly not worthy of hate.

I bet if some of the surname as first name haters thought about it a bit they'd find some of the names really aren't that bad! Just off the top of my head -
Benjamin
Andrew
Cameron
James
Alexander
Harrison
Logan.

Meh - neither of my boys full names sound like a law firm but it's not really that bad of a thing to sound like.
Probably better than sounding "chavvy" or "pretentious" - and I'm guessing few parents that named their kid with a surname name ever had angst about whether their child sounds like a high court judge or a hooker.

I agree with a PP who said that names such as Harrison or Jackson are entirely different to say for example James or Alexander. I do really like the name Jackson.

Last night I wrote 'something like Blair for example seems fine to me.' and this very morn my wallet which, I left in the café up the street, was returned to me by a Blair.

Blair no longer 'fine', Blair is fab!

And isn't that so true of life MiztyLeFrouf?! For all our debating, the person maketh the name and not the other way round! Glad you got your wallet back!

I had Franklin for ds2 and Jackson for ds5 but when they where born they didnt "look" like them names.So i called them something different.

I'm not a fan in general. Perhaps because our surname is a very 'surnamey' surname so wouldn't have worked. Other frequent ones that spring to mind are Tyler and Riley. I also know of female Rileys...

So true Izzyathome!

I don't mind them. Thought about naming DS Jefferson for a while, didn't in the end but still like it.

Was it the idea of him being known as Jeff that put you off?

Understandable.