Surnames as first names

[Manda25]

A friend of mine is having a baby boy in 3 weeks but is a little stuck for names. She likes (and has 2 other children) with surnames/American names ... what do you think of these and do you have any others to add?

Jack
Rigsby
Dawson
Casey
Smith
Jones
Crawford
Miller
Keenan
Edward
Wilson
Clark
Carter
Cooper
Sullivan
Fletcher

I like Crawford. Dunno why but its cool.

Rowan

Reilly
Jackson

I am not a surname as first name person at all, but I DO like Sullivan, Rigsby and Cooper, although I would never use them myself!

Jack
Casey

Only like them... and Harrison is OK.

The only ones from that list I like are Edward, Dawson and Sullivan. I think Jones, Smith and Wilson etc are pushing it a bit in the league of surname-firstname crossover - maybe if your friend was in the US where there's maybe more of a precedent for it (?), but I'd always wonder why out of all the lovely boys' first names somebody could have chosen, they'd pick 'Jones'. Just my opinion, though.

For some reason I've always quite liked Lennox, Conrad, Ruder and Frasier, if your friend thinks they're any kip.

Somebody at work recently named their DS Davis, and it's growing on me.

Gray, Jackson, James, Harris, um... nope, can't think of any more.

Interesting some on your list are old names for craft professions - cooper (barrels?), fletcher (arrows?). Chandler (candles) would be another example.

I work with a Kenan rather than Keenan, he says its a bible name, I quite like it

Thanks all - i will pass the suggestions over...any more for any more ?? and any more thoughts on the names she already has?

Personally i like Sullivan or Sully for short

Edward is a lovely name. Clark is Superman. Fletcher is Fletcher Christian, which may or may not be an issue.

The others are dreadful, imho - sorry. Smith and Jones sound like cartoon characters.

Finley
Jefferson
Tyler
Madison
Franklin

My boys name was Quinn - I love it but doesnt look like I will be needing it as due a little girl and no clue what to call her!

A girl I know has a

Hudson
Miller
Morrison
Cooper

Where I live surnames as first names are very common. When ds was playing soccer last year it was a bit like being at public school he had team mates Cooper, Tanner, Rierson, Keenan, Brennan, Jackson, Keagan etc I think it is a very odd and rather depersonalizing trend, but that might be because of my public school experiences I suppose.

I think some of your friend's list is very odd, especially Smith and Jones. Rigsby and Fletcher are way too associated with Porridge and Rising Damp - Rigsby in particular (the seedy, lecherous, stingy although very funny Leonard Rossiter)

I have a friend with a Harrison and another with a Riley, neither of which are too dreadful (and actually know a Quinn as well).

Edward and Jack are standard first names as well so no issue there.

Fraser and Cameron work well as both first and surnames (but very Scottish of course)

Sullivan is the name of the big fluffy blue monster in Monsters Inc. so would avoid on that principle.

I am not generally keen on this trend, I have to say - it's nice to be able to look at a name and know which way round it is supposed to go.

Like Jack.
Quite like Fletcher.

Not keen on Smith or Jones, but the rest are fine.

How about Ashton?

We chose DH's nan's maiden name, Reeve, as a middle name for DS - she was the last in the family to have that name as she left Wales and got married, it was nice to commemorate it. It goes nicely with the rest of his name, not sure I'd do it as a first name though.

I like

Crawford
Miller
Carter
Cooper - love this as I have one.
Sullivan
Fletcher

How about Campbell?

I thought of another one this morning - Blake.

I don't usually like surnames as first names, but I do like Ellis and Ashton.

Jack - fine
Rigsby - Rising Damp
Dawson - 's creek
Casey - ok
Smith - Jerrod - no
Jones -
Crawford - ok
Miller - ok
Keenan - okish
Edward - nice
Wilson - ok
Clark - kent
Carter - nooo
Cooper - noooooo
Sullivan - ok
Fletcher - ok

I don't like surnames as first names generally but some of those aren't too bad.

I don't mind surnames as first names at all, but I'm from the States so quite normal to me.

From your list, I like:
Crawford
Keenan
Clark
Carter
Sullivan

Love the addition of Blake. Great name.

MammyG--I actually like Quinn for a boy OR girl! Would you consider it for your girl?

My DS is Calder. (Named for sculptor Alexander Calder.) Seems a bit unusual to some people, but it suits him and our family.