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Last names as first names?


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#1 LizzyFran

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Posted 07 April 2008 - 01:02 PM

I just finished reading "North and South" by John Jakes about two families from above and below the Mason-Dixon line prior to the Civil War. The Southern family, the Maines, made frequent use of last names as first names. Ashton (a girl), Bret (a girl) and Cooper (a boy) are a few examples. That trend continues to be popular today. What is your opinion? Are there any good examples in your family tree that have potential or are in actual use as first names? Just curious. Here are some from mine:

Mitchell (we used it as a middle name for Noah)
McKemie
Tilghman

#2 scarlet520

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Posted 07 April 2008 - 02:17 PM

I'm not a big fan of surnames as firstnames, but when they are used I prefer them on boys more than girls. A girl named Carson or Parker just seems wrong to me. If the name has significance to the family, then I'm more inclined to leave the matter be even though I still don't care for it and wouldn't use it myself.

#3 Kate

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Posted 07 April 2008 - 02:29 PM

There are names such as Owen or Mason which are fine to me (on boys though), and I could even stomach a girl named Mackenzie if that was the mother's maiden name, or some relative's surname. I agree with scarlet, if it's significant to the family I'm more 'forgiving' towards it, but it's not something I like nor would do myself.

#4 Danni

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Posted 07 April 2008 - 03:30 PM

I like some surnames as first names. Like, my mom has a cousin named McCrae, which I found pretty.

#5 rhaego

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Posted 07 April 2008 - 04:40 PM

I have some that I like. For girls: Avery and Delaney. For boys: Sawyer and Deacon.
There are none in my family that I think could be used as first names, but who knows? Maybe next year, we'll be seeing a bunch of little Fileses running around..

#6 3boxers

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    http://www.babynames.com/namelist/9608471

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Posted 07 April 2008 - 07:52 PM

I like McKenna/Makenna...I like Landry, Parker as well. There's some that sound good. I hope no one decides to start using my last name: Demetroff ;P LOL

#7 LizzyFran

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 09:01 AM

I agree that last names as first names make much more sense when they're actually from someone's own family. Most of them do sound better for boys. I like being able to look at a name and make a good guess about someone's gender. Names that cross over often sound too strong for girls and too weak for boys. If names are given based on family heritage or, better yet, a family story or hero, that's very cool!

#8 scarlet520

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 09:11 AM

My grandparents, on my mom's side, had the surnames MacPherson & Carson. My Granny decided to honor her family by naming my uncle Carson. So he is Carson David MacPherson. He was also their first child and they used Grandpa's first name as his middle name. Names like that have meaning, but if a family just picked a surname as a first name out of no where, I just think it's a little weird.

#9 alyssa897

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 05:24 PM

I think it depends on the name. I had no idea Delaney is a last name, until I saw LeAnne's post about it. One name that is one of my absolute favorites is Hadley, which can work on a boy or a girl, though I love it on girls especially.

#10 Danni

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 05:26 PM

I think Bennet's a cute boy's name, and that was my mother's maiden name.

#11 Charity

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 05:55 PM

There are some surnames that I absolutely LOVE as first names -- a couple of favorites being Sullivan, Parker and Ulrich. I know my maiden name (Russell) is also used as a name for boys and I think it's adorable :unsure: I generally prefer them on boys as well, though.

#12 Danni

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 05:57 PM

Yeah. Surnames are usually very masculine, except that I once knew a girl named Peyton Chelsea...Chelsea should definitely not be used on a boy.

#13 Charity

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 05:58 PM

Yeah. Surnames are usually very masculine, except that I once knew a girl named Peyton Chelsea...Chelsea should definitely not be used on a boy.


Yikes, I completely agree. One of my best friends is named Chelsea and to even think of that being used on a boy is just... weird.

#14 Danni

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Posted 08 April 2008 - 06:05 PM

lol. I know. At first I thought it was her middle name, but she then assured me it was her surname.

#15 Jellybean

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Posted 10 August 2008 - 07:35 PM

When I was carrying my girl,one of the names I was considering was Hara,but then my mom told me that she had a very good friend who's last name was Hara.
Most hebrew names are also used as surenames for jewish people,that's why I found it funny when someone wants to name their child Efraim,'cause it reminds me of the last name of a girl I went to school with.

#16 ~Liz~

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Posted 10 August 2008 - 07:55 PM

I love surnames as first names. It's one of my favorite styles of baby naming. Many people don't realize how many names are truly surnames that are so common as first names nowadays: Tyler, Whitney, Courtney. It is a very pretentious style of naming children (like your book, I don't know the book you are reading, but I am sure the Southern family is some well-to-do family) which I like, but most people don't. I also agree the surnames as firsts are best on boys, but there are very nice girls names too.

Examples for boys:

Courtenay
Ashley
Cambridge
Whitney
Beaumont
Sydney

Examples for girls:

Ainsley
Heatherly
Summerfield
Whittier
Carrington
Brooks

#17 Bryn Elizabeth

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Posted 12 August 2008 - 02:35 PM

I think that it's really cool to use the mom's maiden name. For instance, my mom has a friend whose maiden name is Parker, and my mom told her to useher maiden name when she has a son. I'm planning on using my maiden name as a first name for my oldest son.

#18 Onceuponatime

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Posted 06 September 2008 - 10:43 PM

Lawson is only one from my family that might be used as a first name.

#19 gypsybandit

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Posted 16 September 2008 - 11:22 PM

King is the only name I can think of from my family. I would want to use a variation of it such as Kingsleigh for girl and Kington for a boy.

#20 Heather10

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Posted 14 January 2009 - 09:11 AM

My 3rd sons name is Gammon Walker last name Bradley. Both Gammon and Walker are family surnames.




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