142 Surnames that Make Beautiful First Names for Girls

Download Article

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson shares her favorite last names that can be used as first names for girls

Co-authored by Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: May 4, 2026 Fact Checked

Download Article

• Popular
|
• Beautiful
|
• Sophisticated
|
• Modern
|
• More Names
|
• Last Name Generator​

|Show more |Show less

Using last names as first names is a popular trend, and for good reason! There are tons of cool and unique “last name names” out there, from elegant options like Bellamy or Allison to tomboyish options like Parker or Sutton. Luckily, we’ve compiled them all in this thorough list for you to browse, and we’ve even consulted wikiHow’s naming experts for their suggestions. Keep reading to find the perfect name for your little one!

Last Names for Girls

Naming expert Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson says some of her favorite last names to use as first names for girls are Palmer, Sutton, Wells, Bennett, Morgan, and Everett. Here are a few more options to check out:

• Popular: Allison, Avery, Bailey, Cameron, Delaney, Harper, Jordan, Mackenzie, Madison, Parker, Quinn, Riley, Taylor,
• Beautiful: Astoria, Beaudelaire, Bellamy, Calloway, Darling, Emery, Everly, Lacey, Melrose, Sinclair, Starling, Valentine, Winslow
• Sophisticated: Banks, Bennett, Emerson, Fallon, Greer, Hadley, Kennedy, Merritt, Palmer, Sloane, Sutton, Tate
• Modern: Arlo, Bronte, Connor, Harlow, Jamison, Lennox, Monroe, Oakley, Presley, Ripley, Saylor, Wilde

Steps

Section 1 of 5:

Popular Last Names for Girls

Download Article

1. 
   Go for one of these options if you want a sure thing. These last names are so popularly used as first names that people might forget they actually started out as surnames! This makes them an amazing option if you want to participate in the last name naming trend, but you’re not looking for something too wild or out-there.

   • Addison: “Son of Adam,” British origin.
   • Allison: “Son of Alan” or “son of Alexander,” Scottish origin.
   • Ashley: “Ash tree meadow,” British origin.
   • Avery: “Ruler of elves,” British origin.
   • Bailey: “Berry clearing” or “bailiff,” British and French origins.
   • Blair: “Plain” or “field,” Scottish origin.
   • Blake: “Black,” “dark,” or “pale,” British origin.
   • Brooke: “Small stream,” British origin.
   • Cameron: “Crooked nose,” Scottish origin.
   • Cassidy: “Curly-haired,” Irish origin.
   • Chandler: “Candle maker,” French origin.
   • Delaney: “Dark challenger” or “from the alder grove,” Irish origin.
   • Harper: “Harpist,” British origin.
   • Hayden: “Hedged valley,” British origin.
   • Hunter: “One who hunts,” British origin.
   • Jordan: “To flow down,” Hebrew origin.
   • Kendall: “The Kent River Valley,” British origin.
   • Lane: “Path or roadway,” British origin.
   • Leighton: “Meadow town” or “herb garden,” British origin.
   • Mackenzie: “Fire-born,” Scottish origin.
   • Madison: “Son of Matthew” or “son of Maud,” British origin.
   • Morgan: “Circling sea” or “white sea dweller," Welsh origin.
   • Parker: “Park keeper,” English origin.
   • Payton: “Fighting man’s estate,” English origin.
   • Piper: “Pipe player” or “flute player,” British origin.
   • Quinn: “Chief” or “wisdom,” Gaelic origin.
   • Reagan: “Little king,” Irish origin.
   • Riley: “Rye clearing,” British and Irish origins.
   • Skylar: “Scholar,” Dutch origin.
   • Shelby: “Willow,” Norse origin.
   • Tatum: “Tate’s homestead,” English origin.
   • Taylor: “Tailor” or “to cut,” French origin.
   • Whitney: “By the white island,” British origin.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Dr. Hayley Elizabeth Wilson is a naming consultant who shares name meanings, naming tips, and other inspo to her 20k followers on her Instagram account, @little_name_libary.

   Sonya Prior is a name consultant known as the BB Namer who shares naming content on social media to her over 30k followers across Instagram and TikTok.

   Natalie Mulholland is a name consultant who brings a linguistically focused approach to her content, sharing a name’s origin, meaning, and more.

   Maddy Ferguson is a baby name consultant and the founder of Birdie and Boyd. She provides a variety of naming inspo, including sibling sets, rare name, and modern classics.
Advertisement

Section 2 of 5:

Beautiful Last Names for Girls

Download Article

1. 
   Opt for these names if you want something soft and beautiful. Baby naming expert Sonya Prior suggests options like Calloway, Beaudelaire, or Darling if you’re looking for something especially pretty-sounding. Here are a few more of our favorite picks:

   • Adair: “Prosperity spear,” Scottish origins.
   • Ainsley: “Solitary woodland or clearing,” British origin.
   • Astoria: “Hawk,” German and French origins.
   • Bardot: French surname.
   • Beaudelaire: “Large dagger” or “short sword,” French origin.
   • Bellamy: “Handsome friend” or “good friend,” French origin.
   • Calloway: “Pebbly place,” British origin.
   • Darling: “Beloved one,” British origin.
   • Delancey: “From the alder grove,” French origin.
   • Dior: “Golden,” French origin.
   • Ellery: “Cheerful” or “merry,” British origin.
   • Elliott: “The Lord is my God,” Hebrew origin.
   • Emery: “Industrious,” “powerful,” or “ruler,” German and British origins.
   • Everett: “Wild boar” or “strong as a boar,” German origin.
   • Everly: “Boar” or “woodland clearing,” British.
   • Flannery: “Descent of Flannghal” or “red hair,” Irish and Gaelic origins.
   • Holliday: “Holy day,” British origin.
   • Isley: “Of isle or island,” British origin.
   • Kimberly: “Cyneburg’s field,” British origin.
   • Kinsley: “King’s meadow,” “royal,” or “victory,” British origin.
   • Lacey: “Cheerful,” French and Latin origins.
   • Lainier: “Woolworker,” French and British origins.
   • Larkin: “Rough” or “fierce,” Irish origin.
   • Marlow: “Remnants of a lake,” British origin.
   • Marley: “Marshy meadow” or “pleasant wood,” British origin.
   • Melrose: “Bare promontory,” Scottish origin.
   • Nightingale: “Night singer,” German origin.
   • Paisley: “Church,” Scottish origin.
   • Sinclair: “Pure” or “renowned,” French origin.
   • Starling: “Bird,” British origin.
   • Valentine: “Strong” or “healthy,” Latin origin.
   • Valetta: “The main city on Malta,” Italian origin.
   • Waverly: “Meadow of quivering aspens,” English origin.
   • Windsor: “Riverbank with a winch,” British origin.
   • Winslet: “Wynn’s channel or stream,” English origin.
   • Winslow: “Wine’s hill” or “friend’s hill,” British origin.

Section 3 of 5:

Sophisticated Last Names for Girls

Download Article

1. 
   Choose one of these names if you’re looking for timeless sophistication. They’re totally preppy and classic-sounding, so they’re perfect if you’re going for “old money” vibes! Some of name consultant Natalie Mulholland’s faves include Callahan, Palmer, and Greer, but we’ve gathered a ton of similar options below for you to browse:

   • Aniston: “Town of Anis,” British origin.
   • Aster: “Star,” Greek origin.
   • Banks: “Edge of the river,” British origin.
   • Bentley: “Meadow with coarse grass,” British origin.
   • Berkeley: “Birch tree meadow,” British origin.
   • Bennett: “Blessed,” Latin origin.
   • Brinkley: “Woodland clearing,” English origin.
   • Callahan: “Bright-headed” or “strife,” Irish origin.
   • Campbell: “Crooked or wry mouth,” Scottish origin.
   • Clarke: “Clerk” or “scholar,” British origin.
   • Collins: “People of victory,” Irish origin.
   • Emerson: “Brave,” “powerful,” or “child of Emery,” German origin.
   • Fallon: “Superior” or “descended from a ruler,” Irish origin.
   • Finley: “Fair haired” or "courageous one,” Irish, Gaelic, and Scottish, origins.
   • Greer: “Alert” or “watchful,” Scottish origin.
   • Hadley: “Heather meadow,” British origin.
   • Hayes: “Hedged area,” English origin.
   • Holland: “Woodland,” Dutch origin.
   • Hollis: “Holly trees,” British origin.
   • Kennedy: “Helmet-headed,” Irish origin.
   • Kerrigan: “Dark-complexioned,” Irish origin.
   • Langley: “Long meadow,” British origin.
   • Merritt: “Boundary gate,” English origin.
   • Mirren: “Drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved,” Scottish origin.
   • Palmer: “Pilgrim” or “palm tree,” British origin.
   • Preston: “Priest’s town,” British origin.
   • Reeve: “Bailiff,” British and French origin.
   • Remington: “Settlement by the boundary stream,” British origin.
   • Rhodes: “Where roses grow,” Greek origin.
   • Sheridan: “Searcher” or “wild,” Gaelic origin.
   • Sloane: “Raider,” Irish origin.
   • Sterling: “Valuable,” “silver penny,” or “little star,” British origin.
   • Sullivan: “Dark eyes,” Gaelic origins.
   • Sutton: “From the southern homestead,” English origin.
   • Tate: “Cheerful,” Norse origin.
   • Whittaker: “White field,” British origin.
Advertisement

Section 4 of 5:

Modern Last Names for Girls

Download Article

1. 
   Go bold with one of these trendy options. There are several last names out there that double as super unique and trendy-sounding first names for girls! For example, baby name consultant Maddy Ferguson offers Phoenix, River, and Lincoln as super cool options. Here are a few more to explore:

   • Arlo: “Between two hills,” Irish and English origins.
   • Baylor: “Horse trainer” or “one who delivers goods,” British origin.
   • Blakely: “Dark wood or clearing,” English origin.
   • Bronte: “Thunder,” Greek origin.
   • Burke: “Fortress,” British origin.
   • Carter: “Transporter of goods by cart,” British origin.
   • Connor: “Lover of hounds,” Irish origin.
   • Dawson: “Son of David,” British origin.
   • Gray: “Gray-haired,” British origin.
   • Harley: “Hare’s meadow,” British origin.
   • Harlow: “Army hill,” British origin.
   • James: “Supplanter” or “holder of the heel,” Hebrew origin.
   • Jamison: “He who supplants” or “son of James,” Hebrew origin.
   • Lennon: “Lover” or “blackbird,” Irish origin.
   • Lennox: “Elm grove,” Scottish origin.
   • Lincoln: “Lake colony,” British origin.
   • Linden: “Linden tree,” German and Roman origins.
   • Maguire: “Son of the dun-colored one,” Irish and Gaelic origins.
   • Mckinley: “White warrior” or “blessed,” Scottish and Gaelic origins.
   • Miller: “Grinder of grain,” English origin.
   • Monroe: “Mouth of the River Roe,” Scottish origin.
   • Oakley: “Meadow of oak trees,” British origin.
   • Paxton: “Pæcc's farmstead,” British origin.
   • Presley: “Priest’s meadow,” English origin.”
   • Phoenix: “Legendary bird” or “dark red,” Greek and Latin origins.
   • Quincy: “Estate of the 5th son,” French origin.
   • Ramsay: “Garlic island,” British origin.
   • Ridley: “Reed meadow,” British origin.
   • Ripley: “Strip of clearing in the woods,” British origin.
   • River: “Flowing body of water, English origin.
   • Sawyer: “Woodcutter,” English origin.
   • Saylor: “Sailor,” “dancer,” or “acrobat,” German and French origin.
   • Wallis: “From Wales,” Welsh origin.
   • Welles: “Spring” or “stream,” English origin.
   • Wilde: “Wild” or “untamed,” German and British origins.
   • Vale: “Lives in the valley,” Latin origin.

Section 5 of 5:

More Baby Girl Names

Download Article

1. Looking for even more name options? We’ve got you covered! Check out a few of our other curated lists of baby names for girls:

   • Cool Girl Names
   • Aesthetic Girl Names
   • Soft Girl Names
   • Vintage Girl Names
   • Warrior Girl Names
Advertisement

Last Name Generator​

1. From classic to quirky and fantastical, find the perfect surname in seconds

   Stuck on coming up with a last name? From fantasy to realistic, our last name generator gives you endless options for characters, stories, or new identities. Perfect for writers, gamers, and roleplayers alike.

   • Continue with your date?

     Start Over

     Continue

     Continue Chat Start Over

     All fields are optional.

     Starting Letter Any (default) A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

     Origin Any (default) African American Arabic Aramaic Armenian Australian Babylonian Basque Brazilian British Bulgarian Cambodian Celtic Chinese Czech Danish Dutch Egyptian English Filipino Finnish French Gaelic German Ghanaian Greek Haitian Hawaiian Hebrew Hungarian Icelandic Indian Irish Italian Jamaican Japanese Korean Latin Mexican Native American Nigerian Norse Norwegian Pacific Islander Persian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Sanskrit Scandinavian Scottish Slavic Spanish Swahili Swedish Swiss Thai Turkish Ukrainian Uncertain Vietnamese Welsh Yiddish Other (write your own)

     Name Length Any (default) Long Medium Short

     See ad to

     Generate Names

     Response failed. Please try again.

     Retry

     Try the full generator here.

×

Hear Me Out…

Use This Prompt

View Next ➔

×

Sign Up to Save Progress

Create a free wikiHow account to save your progress. Come back any time to continue your date or go on more dates. Live out your own love story!

Clicking Sign Up will leave this page. If you want to claim a spot on the leaderboard, do that before you sign up.

Sign Up

Back

×

Start Over

Starting over will delete and overwrite your saved progress. Are you sure you would like to restart?

Back

Confirm Restart

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!