Every parent is looking for the right name for their baby. But in doing so, many go for names that aren’t popular for whatever reason. However, this is a costly mistake because you can’t change the name later.
We’ve all heard stories where parents name their child something that the child ends up growing up to hate it.
How can you avoid that? Do some research and check out some popular old-fashioned last names to get a better idea.
- Coffey – “victorious”
- Copeland – “a land that is bought”
- Crespo – “someone with curls”
- Croce – “cross”
- Dempsey – “proud”
- Ditka – “important in war”
- Drewitt – “phantom or ghost”
- Hutton – “settlement”
- Kellett – “a slope with a spring”
- Lawless – “outlaw” A cool surname for a villain character.
- Merrick – “fame rule”
- Morais – “mulberry trees”
- Nuttal – “nut nook”
- Ogden – “Oak Valley”
- Sutcliffe – “south of a cliff”
In the past, some parents have named their children after celebrities or fictional characters.
Sometimes the parents themselves will choose a name that is not typical. Other times they will choose a name that is not common at all.
Some parents are so overwhelmed with the task of naming their child, they opt for a one-word baby name. And although this has been a popular choice, it’s not always the best decision.
In many cultures around the world, a name is considered an important part of a child’s identity. Besides, it’s a good idea to avoid naming your child the same as their father, which might lead to confusion.
So, what should the perfect baby’s name be?
Let’s dive into the list of awesome old-fashioned last names.
- Acker – “field”
- Agnello – “lamb”
- Aphelion – “point of the orbit at the greatest distance from the sun”
- Bartley – “clearing in woodland”
- Bobusic – “battle”
- Bonneville – “good settlement”
- Botkin – “someone who sells weapons”
- Brager – “thundering or roaring”
- Brubaker – “someone living close to a brook”
- Burris – “hill”
- Butterworth – “home of butter”
- Caiazzo – “from Caiazzo, Italy”
- Chalut – “beyond”
- Clegg – “haystack”
Old Fashioned Last Names
Here are the catchy old-fashioned last names with meanings:
- Voland – “agile or flying”
- Webster – “a weaver”
- Villalobos – “town of wolves”
- Aaberg – “hill near the river”
- Adair – “a shallow place”
- Backus – “bakehouse”
- Barrel – “nozzle of a gun”
- Boone – “good”
- Cacho – “thick neck”
- Dalloway – “dweller of the valley”
- Deluca – “son of Luca”
- Deronda – “God is my judge”
- Elrod – “God is King”
- Frollo – “Hamlet”
- Omega – “the end”
- Whitelock – “fair-haired”
- Bellagamba – “beautiful legs”
- Biggerstaff – “combination of beekeeper and area of landing”
- Clampitt – “mud pit”
- Clutterbuck – “someone originating from Cloerterbook, Flanders”
Old English Last Names
Here are the good old English last names:
- Hartshorn – staghorn
- Fumagalli – smoked poultry
- Nutter – “clerk” and “ox
- Pappalardo – someone who eats lard
- Popplewell – bubble spring
- Rymer – Someone making rims
- Shellaberger – who lives in Bell Mountain
- Shufflebottom – the valley where sheep are washed
- Walker – who works
- Alston – elf stone
- Bell – “Beautiful”
- Calvary – “purest form of love”
- Cohen – “Priest”
- Collymore – “clear lake”
- Donna – My lady
Old British Last Names
Here are the catchy old British last names:
- Bennett – Derived from the Latin name Benedictus, meaning “blessed.”
- Clayton – Originates from Old English, meaning “place with good clay.”
- Fletcher – Comes from the French word “fleche,” meaning “arrow,” traditionally an occupation for an arrow maker.
- Marlowe – From Old English, meaning “driftwood” or “lake remains.”
- Norris – Meaning “northerner,” often given to someone who migrated from the north.
- Percival – Of Norman origin, meaning “pierce the valley”; a name of a knight from Arthurian legend.
- Quincy – From the Norman French “quince tree,” indicating a person who lived near such a landmark.
- Sterling – Possibly from the Middle English term “sterling,” referring to the English silver penny, or from a city name.
- Thorne – Indicates someone who lived near a thorn bush or a thorn tree.
- Whitaker – From Old English, meaning “white acre,” possibly referring to a field of wheat.
- Dwyer –“dark-colored”
- Erny – “vigorous”
- Felix – “lucky”
- Faughn – “falcon”
- Garguilo – open jaw
- Gilbert – famous
- Huxley – cleaning wood
- Ives – archer’s bow
- Kirton – church settlement
- Kade – fat
- Levine – lion
- Ledger – People with a spear
Tips To Naming Your Babies
There are millions of baby names out there, and most parents decide on a name and stick with it for the rest of their lives. Some wish the best for their future child but don’t have a clue how to choose a name.
These parents may be confused about why they can’t come up with a name for their baby, or they may have tried several times and have given up on the idea.
If you are considering giving your child a name, there are some things you should know:
- Madigan – the little dog
- Malfatto – doer of evil
- Martel – hammer
- Methadonna – old lady
- Pelagatti – skins cats
- Proulx – brave
- Rossingol – nightingale
- Seisdedos – six fingers
- Varon – protection
1. Pick The Name You Love, Even If It Is Popular.
It is popular and you love it. Anything else you need to think about? Nope. Go for it. If you want to give it uniqueness, think of a great middle name.
Here are some popular old-fashioned last names out there:
- Ajax – strong and courageous
- Berrycloth – grove usually indicating people who resided in Barrowclough
- Birdwhistle – a place where birds nest
- Bread – good grazing
- Bythesea – living near the seashore
- Dankworth – from farmstead
- Edevane – protector of prosperity
- Fensby – dweller of ferns
- Loughty – living near a lake
- MacQuoid – son of flames
Old Last Names For Girl
- Eve – Derived from Hebrew, Eve means “life” or “living,” as she is biblically recognized as the “mother of all the living.”
- Grey/Gray/Grae – These names typically refer to the color gray, symbolizing balance and neutrality. It can also suggest wisdom and maturity.
- Kate – A diminutive form of Katherine, which comes from the Greek name Aikaterine and means “pure” or “clear.”
- Era – The term “era” refers to a significant period in time, which as a name could symbolize a new beginning or a notable epoch.
- Noa – In Hebrew, Noa means “movement” or “motion.” It’s a popular name in Israel, distinct from the masculine “Noah.”
- Bee – As a name, Bee can evoke thoughts of the insect, symbolizing hard work, dedication, and teamwork.
- Greer – Scottish in origin, derived from the name Gregor, which means “watchful” or “vigilant.”
- Mae – Often considered a variant of May, which refers to the fifth month of the year named after Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility.
- Moore – An English surname turned given name, meaning “open land” or “moor,” which conveys a sense of spaciousness and freedom.
- Wren – Named after the small, active songbird, this name symbolizes agility and liveliness, often associated with a cheerful personality.
2. Do Not Skip Lovely Old Fashioned Last Names Even If They Are Unique, Unusual, And Different.
Sometimes, parents will not go for unusual, unique, and different baby names. They consider it weird. Let me tell you that being attractive and thought-provoking is the game these days.
How would you like these old-fashioned last names:
- Miracle – dark
- Pussmaid – a little girl
- Relish – taste
- Sallow – willow
- Slora – leader
- Spinster – to spin thread
- Villain – commoner
- Abreo – a wide counselor
- Agnor – fishhook
- Alvin – elf friend
3. Be Confident If You Want To Go Toward Personalized Spellings For Your Baby’s Name.
Sure You should be confident when giving personalized spellings to your baby’s name. However, you mustn’t make it weird. Adding or removing an alphabet would be enough here.
Try changing these baby name’s spellings into personalized ones:
- Auclair – “clear” Can also be one of the cool names for girls.
- Anouilh – “a slow worm”
- Bain – “bath”
- Barrere – “obstruction”
- Bassett – “low”
- Beauregard – “fine outlook”
- Brassard – “someone who makes arms”
- Brierman – “beer drinker”
- Cellier – “storeroom”
- Dardar – “someone brave and strong in battle”
4. Crossing Your Favorite Old Fashioned Last Names On The Feedback Of Friends And Family Members.
Feedback is important. But it does not mean to listen to every other person’s opinion. You will hardly find old-fashioned last names that everybody would like. Therefore, get feedback but still know your choice.
Consider getting feedback on these baby names from your friends and family members:
- De la Croix – “belongs to the cross”
- Ebersol – “wild boar”
- Ekker – “corner”
- Escoffier – “to dress up”
- Etter – “inside the boundary”
- Fawzi – “triumph”
- Fisk – “the fish”
- Flammia – “red flame”
- Fonua – “quarrel”
5. Do A Little Research And Find What Is Out There.
Research is an important step for first-time parents as well as for those who do not know what sort of names people pick. Just as with researching popular clown names for inspiration, exploring different naming trends and cultural references can help in finding the perfect name that resonates with your preferences and values.
You will be all good once you do a little internet research. You will also be able to find some great old-fashioned last names that you might consider now or in the future.
Here are some common baby names examples to help you:
- Fukushima – “fortune island”
- Freed – “dweller of barren fields”
- Fontana – “living close to a spring”
- Gaumond – “death in a battle”
- Hanlon – “beheaded in the war”
- Houde – “wealth”
- Hubert – “heart”
- Joubert – “famous”
- Lafitte – “a stone that’s fixed”
6. Consider The Names Of The Subsequent Children.
Maybe, you are first-time parents and figuring out some cool old-fashioned last name. It is a good idea to consider the names of subsequent children too.
7. Avoid Names With Bad Meanings.
Baby names with bad meanings can cause embarrassment for you and your kid. Be sure to know the meaning of the name you are gonna pick and be sure it is encouraging and positive.
Here are some of the cool old-fashioned last names with meanings:
- Machal – “a horse keeper”
- Mangiarotti – “rat eater”
- Ozanne – “Save now”
- Palmer – “a pigeon keeper”
- Paquet – “firewood seller”
- Prevost – “a chief”
- Tasse – “purse”
- Varville – “towards town”
- Bardot – “a noble surname”
8. Pick Up Good People Names From History.
The name of a person affects his/her personality, it is said. Maybe that’s the reason why people choose names from history. Similarly, when selecting Warforged names for characters in fantasy settings, drawing inspiration from historical figures can add depth and authenticity to their identities, shaping their personalities and backgrounds in intriguing ways.
You can consider this as well. I am sure you have heard about many legends from the past.
I bet you’d find some awesome and useable old-fashioned last names if you look into it.
We have a small list of old-fashioned last names here for you to check out and know if you have heard them before:
- Bellamy – “handsome or fair”
- Blaine – “slender”
- Cassidy – “curly hair”
- Capresso – “shaved head”
- Channing – “young wolf”
- Cienfuegos – “hundred flies”
- Dracula – “Dracul’s son”
- Escarra – “left-handed”
- Falaguerra – “make war”
9. Make Sure The First And Second Name Fit With Each Other.
This happens rarely when the first and second names do not fit and meet each other well. It is, however, something you would not want.
Check out old-fashioned last names and try to make full names that fit each other nicely:
- Gow – “who works with metal”
- Gushiken “strong-willed person”
- Heroux – “wolf”
- Home – “Active”
- Igarashi – “Fifty Storms”
- Ingannamorte – “cheating death”
- Jurado – “to swear”
- La Cour – “working in the court”
- Lenoir – “dark”
10. Avoid Names With Too Many Syllables.
Baby names with too many syllables are complex. They are hard to remember. They should be avoided.