Surnames as first names

[Barryanne]

Hello, I'm pregnant and I don't know the gender yet but I really like the idea of surnames as first names. My son is Kitson James. So far I'm quite liking Adler and Rhodes but I would appreciate other people's opinions and suggestions. Thank you.

Not Rhodes - the slavery and racist connotations are not going to fade quickly. It's one thing if it's your surname (because you didn't choose that in the same way) but as an actively chosen first name it's a bit WTF

Sorry, I'm not a fan of surnames as first names, although at least Kitson can be shortened to Kit. I think Adler and Rhodes are odd.

As with any other style of names I think there are good ones and less good ones. I'm not keen on Adler or Rhodes, but not against surname style names at all (I like Kitson).

Up to a point it's arbitrary what's a 'first name' and what's a 'surname'. James, I suppose is an example which no one bats an eyelid at for either - probably used as a first name before being used as a surname.

But some surnames as first names just don't sound right and others would be downright weird, so where do you draw the line? Most 'trade names' - Smith, Butcher etc - and then there's ones like Higginbottom.

I can only really think of boys names, Ellis or Grayson? :)

I have a Harrison and I really like Kennedy. I know lots of people turn their noses up at surname names on this board, but there are loads of good ones.

@micc

I can only really think of boys names, Ellis or Grayson? :)

Mackenzie is used for girls in the US - maybe it's the 'ie' ending.

I think there's too much crossover to make a sweeping judgement but imo most names can be used interchangeably, especially traditionally male versions e.g Lucas, James, Harris, Jackson.

DH's surname is a commonly used (mostly) girls first name but my surname is weird enough as is so wouldn't dream of using it as a first name!

If you stick with trade names it works---
Carter
Parker
Cooper
Mason

@ErrolTheDragon I couldn't think of any girls names but that's a good one!

My cousin (UK) is a MacKenzie so i really should have thought of that 🤦‍♀️

Adler and Rhodes are both dreadful as first names.

Lots of Scottish names can be either.
Adler was a famous make of typewriters and Rhodes is that where he was conceived
So I probably wouldn't use either of them!

Adair
Cameron
Macaulay

@Seafog

If you stick with trade names it works--- Carter Parker Cooper Mason

I already mentioned two that don't - apart from Butcher and Smith, there must be lots of others which would sound daft. Maybe it's the ones which are still in use? I couldn't imagine Farmer working either.

@ErrolTheDragon totally depends on the name,
Rider,Sawyer, Taylor, Paige, Slater, Marshall are work too

But I wouldn't use Cartman or or Glover as a first name

I don't see Adler or Rhodes as names. Rhodes is a place, Adler I'd think just made up.
Lots of surnames as first names about, though probably not as uncommon as you'd like.
James
Thomas
Phillip
George
Cooper
Wilson
Jackson
Lloyd
Bailey
Donald
Harrison
Archer
Hunter
Richard
Joseph
Taylor
Adam
Harvey
Nicholas

Hunter would also do

Lots of Scottish clan names are both surnames and first names. DS has 3 first names and they are all clan names.

Adler means Eagle in German. It also makes me think of Irene Adler, the only woman who ever outwitted Sherlock Holmes!

I’m not sure about Adler or Rhodes as first names, but I admit I’m rarely a fan of surnames as first names.

[quote Seafog]@ErrolTheDragon totally depends on the name,
Rider,Sawyer, Taylor, Paige, Slater, Marshall are work too[/quote]
You managed to get two Paw Patrol in there Ryder and Marshall

Op I'd maybe avoid those two.

Lots of Scottish surnames work well for boys: Donald, Cameron, Callum, Miller, Thomas, Ross, Harris. But even Macintyre, Macintosh or Macartney I think could be nice ‘different’ first names. Or Taylor is quite a unisex first name.

A lot of your list are first names used as surnames, xyz. Quite a few are from the bible, predating our system of surnames.

We have a Kennedy in our family as a middle name as Kennedy was my great grandmother's maiden name so I don't mind surnames as first name as long as the surname isn't an obvious first name.

I used to deal with someone called Cameron Daniel. Needless to say I auto-enrolled him into the company pension as Daniel Cameron. Erroneously. I think...

• he wasn't actually called Cameron Daniel but that sort of thing