Looking for a first name that’s both classic and unexpected? This list of 75+ underused last names as first names offers a fresh perspective on baby naming.
1. Arden
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “great forest”
- Nicknames: Ardie, Denny
- Similar Names: Arlo, Forest
2. Avery
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “ruler of the elves”
- Nicknames: Ave, Avie
- Similar Names: Everly, Auberon
3. Bailey
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “bailiff” or “law enforcer”
- Nicknames: Bail, Lee
- Similar Names: Baylee, Baily
4. Beckett
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “bee cottage”
- Nicknames: Beck
- Similar Names: Beckham, Beckett
5. Blair
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “plain” or “field”
- Nicknames: Blaire
- Similar Names: Blair
6. Brooks
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “brook” or “stream”
- Nicknames: Brook
- Similar Names: Beck, River
7. Cameron
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “crooked nose”
- Nicknames: Cam
- Similar Names: Cameron, Camden
8. Campbell
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “crooked mouth”
- Nicknames: Cam
- Similar Names: Campion, Camilla
9. Carson
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “son of the marsh-dwellers”
- Nicknames: Cars
- Similar Names: Carlton, Carver
10. Carter
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “transporter of goods”
- Nicknames: Car
- Similar Names: Porter, Carrington
11. Casey
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “vigilant”
- Nicknames: Case
- Similar Names: Cassia, Kasey
12. Chandler
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “candle maker”
- Nicknames: Chan
- Similar Names: Chauncey, Chancellor
13. Clayton
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “clay settlement”
- Nicknames: Clay
- Similar Names: Clinton, Clayborne
14. Clementine
- Meaning & Origin: Latin, meaning “merciful”
- Nicknames: Clem
- Similar Names: Clementia, Clement
15. Collins
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “holly”
- Nicknames: Coll
- Similar Names: Colin, Colleen
16. Dakota
- Meaning & Origin: Native American, meaning “friend” or “ally”
- Nicknames: Kota
- Similar Names: Dakotah, Cody
17. Dallas
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “from the meadow dwelling”
- Nicknames: Dal
- Similar Names: Dallin, Dallas
18. Dawson
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of David”
- Nicknames: Daw
- Similar Names: Davidson, Dawes
19. Emerson
- Meaning & Origin: German, meaning “brave” or “powerful”
- Nicknames: Em
- Similar Names: Emrys, Emerson
20. Finley
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “fair warrior”
- Nicknames: Finn
- Similar Names: Finnian, Finnegan
21. Fletcher
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “arrow maker”
- Nicknames: Fletch
- Similar Names: Archer, Fletcher
22. Flynn
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “reddish” or “ruddy”
- Nicknames: Fly
- Similar Names: Flannery, Flynn
23. Ford
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “river crossing”
- Nicknames: —
- Similar Names: Forde, Ford
24. Forrest
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “woodsman” or “dweller in the woods”
- Nicknames: Forr
- Similar Names: Forest, Forrester
25. Foster
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “forester”
- Nicknames: Foss
- Similar Names: Forrest, Foster
26. Fox
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “fox”
- Nicknames: —
- Similar Names: Foxx, Foxy
27. Graham
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “gravelly homestead”
- Nicknames: Gray
- Similar Names: Graeme, Graham
28. Grant
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “tall” or “large”
- Nicknames: —
- Similar Names: Grantley, Grant
29. Grayson
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of the gray-haired man”
- Nicknames: Gray
- Similar Names: Grayson, Greyson
30. Griffin
- Meaning & Origin: Welsh, meaning “strong lord”
- Nicknames: Griff
- Similar Names: Griffith, Griffin
31. Hadley
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “heather field”
- Nicknames: Had
- Similar Names: Hadlee, Hadleigh
32. Hamilton
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “from the beautiful mountain”
- Nicknames: Ham
- Similar Names: Hamlin, Hamilton
33. Harley
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “hare’s meadow”
- Nicknames: Har
- Similar Names: Harlan, Harlow
34. Harper
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “harp player”
- Nicknames: Harp
- Similar Names: Harlan, Harper
35. Harrison
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of Harry”
- Nicknames: Harry
- Similar Names: Harris, Harrison
36. Hayden
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “hay meadow”
- Nicknames: Hay
- Similar Names: Haydon, Hayden
37. Hendrix
- Meaning & Origin: German, meaning “ruler of the home”
- Nicknames: Hend
- Similar Names: Hendrick, Hendricks
38. Holden
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “deep valley”
- Nicknames: Hold
- Similar Names: Holden
39. Hunter
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “hunter”
- Nicknames: Hunt
- Similar Names: Huntley, Hunter
40. Jackson
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of Jack”
- Nicknames: Jax
- Similar Names: Jaxon, Jackie
41. Jasper
- Meaning & Origin: Persian, meaning “bringer of treasure”
- Nicknames: Jas
- Similar Names: Casper, Jasper
42. Jefferson
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of Jeffrey”
- Nicknames: Jeff
- Similar Names: Jeffrey, Jeffery
43. Jensen
- Meaning & Origin: Scandinavian, meaning “God is gracious”
- Nicknames: Jens
- Similar Names: Jensen, Jenson
44. Jones
- Meaning & Origin: Welsh, meaning “son of John”
- Nicknames: —
- Similar Names: John, Johnny
45. Jordan
- Meaning & Origin: Hebrew, meaning “to flow down”
- Nicknames: Jordy
- Similar Names: Jordyn, Jordan
46. Kendall
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “valley of the River Kent”
- Nicknames: Ken
- Similar Names: Kendal, Kendrick
47. Kennedy
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “helmeted chief”
- Nicknames: Ken
- Similar Names: Kennedi, Kennedie
48. Kingston
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “king’s town”
- Nicknames: King
- Similar Names: King, Kingsley
49. Knox
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “round hill”
- Nicknames: —
- Similar Names: Knoxville, Knox
50. Lane
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “narrow road”
- Nicknames: —
- Similar Names: Laney, Lane
51. Langley
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “long meadow”
- Nicknames: Lang
- Similar Names: Langston, Langdon
52. Larson
- Meaning & Origin: Scandinavian, meaning “son of Lars”
- Nicknames: Lars
- Similar Names: Lars, Lawrence
53. Lawson
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of Lawrence”
- Nicknames: Law
- Similar Names: Lawrence, Law
54. Lincoln
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “lake colony”
- Nicknames: Linc
- Similar Names: Linden, Lincoln
55. Logan
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “little hollow”
- Nicknames: Log
- Similar Names: Logann, Logan
56. Lowell
- Meaning & Origin: French, meaning “young wolf”
- Nicknames: Low
- Similar Names: Lowen, Lowell
57. Mackenzie
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “son of the fair one”
- Nicknames: Mac
- Similar Names: McKinley, Mackenzie
58. Madison
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of Matthew”
- Nicknames: Mad
- Similar Names: Madden, Maddox
59. Marshall
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “horse keeper”
- Nicknames: Marsh
- Similar Names: Marshal, Marsden
60. Mason
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “stone worker”
- Nicknames: Mace
- Similar Names: Mase, Mason
61. Maxwell
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “great stream”
- Nicknames: Max
- Similar Names: Max, Maxfield
62. McKenzie
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “son of the fair one”
- Nicknames: Mac
- Similar Names: Mackenzie, McKinley
63. Miller
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “one who grinds grain”
- Nicknames: Mill
- Similar Names: Milo, Miller
64. Monroe
- Meaning & Origin: Scottish, meaning “from the mouth of the Roe”
- Nicknames: Roe
- Similar Names: Munro, Monroe
65. Morgan
- Meaning & Origin: Welsh, meaning “sea defender”
- Nicknames: Mor
- Similar Names: Morgana, Morgan
66. Murphy
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “sea warrior”
- Nicknames: Murph
- Similar Names: Murray, Murphy
67. Nash
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “by the ash tree”
- Nicknames: —
- Similar Names: Ash, Ashton
68. Nelson
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of Neil”
- Nicknames: Nel
- Similar Names: Neil, Nelson
69. Neville
- Meaning & Origin: French, meaning “new town”
- Nicknames: Nev
- Similar Names: Nevil, Neville
70. Newton
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “new town”
- Nicknames: Newt
- Similar Names: Newell, Newton
71. Nixon
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “son of Nicholas”
- Nicknames: Nix
- Similar Names: Nicholas, Nixon
72. Nolan
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “famous” or “noble”
- Nicknames: Nole
- Similar Names: Nolan
73. Oakley
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “oak meadow”
- Nicknames: Oak
- Similar Names: Oaklee, Oakleigh
74. O’Connell
- Meaning & Origin: Irish, meaning “descendant of Conall”
- Nicknames: Con
- Similar Names: Connell, Connelly
75. Oliver
- Meaning & Origin: French, meaning “olive tree”
- Nicknames: Ollie
- Similar Names: Olivier, Oliver
76. Parker
- Meaning & Origin: English, meaning “park keeper”
- Nicknames: Park
- Similar Names: Park, Parker