Dashing Last Names for Boys: With Cool Meanings

Have you ever looked at a family tree and thought a specific last name would make a killer first name? You aren’t alone. Whether you want to uncover the meaning behind your own name or find a moniker that bridges the gap between a surname and a first name, we have you covered.

We compiled a massive list of last names for boys, ranging from tough and rare to sweet and foreign. With over 150 options, you are bound to find a familiar face or a new favorite. Sit back and scroll through; you are about to get schooled in the best surnames for boys.

50 Foreign Last Names for Boys

Add some international flair to your list with these options from around the globe:

1. Ali – a popular Arabic family name meaning “high” or “exalted.”
2. Baruso – an Italian surname historically given to brave men and soldiers.
3. Bosco – means “forest” in Italian; a topographical name for those living near woods.
4. Brando – of Italian and German origin meaning “sword” or “fire brand.”
5. Chan – an Asian surname meaning “snow white,” made famous by actor Jackie Chan.
6. Chen – of Chinese origin meaning “to explain” or “old.”
7. Cheney – a French title meaning “oak grove” that symbolizes strength.
8. Chevalier – an occupational French surname for a knight or horseman.
9. Cho – of Korean origin meaning “candle” or “beginning.”
10. Cortez – a spelling variation of Cortes, meaning “courteous” in Spanish.
11. Crusoe – of English origin meaning “hollow,” often associated with the novel Robinson Crusoe.
12. Demir – a Turkish occupational surname given to blacksmiths; it means “iron.”
13. Devereux – of Irish and English origin; a habitational name for families from Évreux, France.
14. Estes – distinct among surnames for boys, this means “from the East.”
15. Fernandez – a patronymic Hispanic surname meaning “son of Fernando.”
16. Flores – means “flower” in Spanish and Portuguese.
17. Garcia – a Mexican patronymic surname meaning “son of Garcia” or “bear.”
18. Gomez – a top 100 U.S. surname meaning “son of Gome” in Spanish.
19. Gonzalez – hailing from Spain, this means “son of Gonzalo” or “warrior.”
20. Hagen – a Dutch and German occupational surname for families living near hedges.
21. Hassan – of Arabic origin meaning “handsome” or “good-looking.”
22. Hernandez – a masculine Spanish surname meaning “son of Hernan.”
23. Hong – of Mandarin origin meaning “rainbow” or “expand.”
24. Ivanova – a Russian last name meaning “Ivan’s” or “God is gracious.”
25. Joshi – an Indian surname often given to astrologers.
26. Khan – a Turkish title meaning “prince” or “ruler.”
27. Kim – a very popular Korean surname meaning “gold” or “iron.”
28. Latham – derived from Norse roots, describing families living near barns.
29. Lee – an Old English habitational surname for families living near a meadow.
30. Leroux – an attractive French surname meaning “the red-haired one.”
31. Lopez – a Spanish patronymic surname referring to sons of Lope (wolf).
32. Lu – of Chinese origin meaning “pitch pipe” or “black.”
33. Mai – a Chinese surname for families working with wheat.
34. Mohammed – inspired by the prophet, meaning “praiseworthy” in Arabic.
35. Muller – of German origin meaning “miller.”
36. Nguyen – hailing from Vietnam/China, meaning “musical instrument.”
37. Nilsson – a Swedish surname meaning “son of Nils.”
38. Noakes – an English habitational surname for those dwelling near oak trees.
39. Patel – a Sanskrit name meaning “village headman.”
40. Perez – of Spanish origin meaning “son of Pedro” (Peter).
41. Ramirez – hailing from Spain, meaning “son of Ramiro” or “renowned counselor.”
42. Rivera – of Spanish and Italian origin meaning “riverbank.”
43. Riva – an Italian pick for families living near the shore.
44. Russo – a Sicilian “R” surname denoting someone with red hair.
45. Sanchez – of Spanish origin meaning “son of Sancho” (saintly).
46. Schuyler – a Dutch surname meaning “scholar.”
47. Swain – an English option meaning “servant” or “youth.”
48. Torres – of Latin origin meaning “towers.”
49. Wang – a Chinese surname meaning “king” or “monarch.”
50. Zhu – a common Chinese surname meaning “vermilion” or “red.”

50 Handsome Surnames for Boys

These gorgeous surnames carry a sense of charm and sophistication:

1. Austen – derived from Augustine, meaning “great” or “magnificent.”
2. Baker – an English occupational surname for a baker of bread or bricks.
3. Beckham – means “Becca’s homestead” in English; famous for soccer star David Beckham.
4. Bennet – a French surname derived from “benediction” (blessing).
5. Booker – of English origin meaning “scribe” or “book binder.”
6. Brooks – an English and German surname for those living near a stream.
7. Cameron – of Scottish Gaelic origin meaning “crooked nose.”
8. Carson – a Scottish pick meaning “son of the marsh-dwellers.”
9. Carter – of English origin, denoting someone who transports goods by cart.
10. Casey – means “vigilant” or “watchful” in Gaelic.
11. Colton – an Irish surname meaning “descendant of Cómhaltáin.”
12. Cooper – a definitive occupational title for a barrel maker.
13. Crosby – of English origin meaning “village with crosses.”
14. Dior – derived from d’Or, meaning “golden” in French.
15. Easton – of English origin referring to a place in the east.
16. Edison – hailing from the U.K., meaning “son of Edward.”
17. Everett – stems from Old English, meaning “brave as a wild boar.”
18. Finnegan – a variation of Ó Fionnagáin, an Irish surname meaning “son of the fair-haired.”
19. Fisher – a classic English occupational surname for a fisherman.
20. Forbes – a sophisticated Scottish surname meaning “field” or “district.”
21. Foster – originally denoted a “foster parent” or “forester.”
22. Grayson – of Scottish/Irish origin meaning “son of the steward.”
23. Hudson – an English patronymic surname meaning “son of Hugh.”
24. Hunter – of English origin, pointing to one who hunts.
25. Huxley – an English surname meaning “Hugh’s meadow.”
26. Jackson – of English origin, meaning “son of Jack.”
27. Jameson – an Irish option meaning “son of James.”
28. King – hailing from Britain, originally a nickname for someone who acted royally.
29. Landon – an English topographical surname meaning “long hill.”
30. Larkin – of Irish origin, meaning “rough” or “fierce.”
31. Lincoln – an English habitational surname meaning “lake colony.”
32. Mackey – a variation of McKay, meaning “son of fire.”
33. Marshall – of German origin meaning “keeper of horses.”
34. Mason – an occupational name for a stoneworker.
35. Miller – an English/Scottish name for a grain grinder.
36. Nolan – an Irish surname starting with N meaning “champion.”
37. Parker – of English origin meaning “park keeper.”
38. Porter – an occupational name for a gatekeeper.
39. Potter – an occupational surname for a maker of drinking vessels.
40. Saunders – a derivative of Alexander, meaning “defender of men.”
41. Smith – the most common surname, meaning “blacksmith.”
42. Thatcher – of English origin meaning “roof thatcher.”
43. Truett – an English “T” surname meaning “dry tree crossing.”
44. Washington – means “settlement of Wassa’s people.”
45. Weaver – an English occupational surname for a weaver.
46. Webster – of English origin meaning “weaver.”
47. Wellington – an English habitational title meaning “wealthy estate.”
48. Wesley – hailing from Britain, meaning “western meadow.”
49. Weston – an English habitational surname for families from the west town.
50. Wyatt – of British origin meaning “brave in war.”

50 Unique Male Surnames

Stand out from the crowd with these rare and distinctive finds:

1. Adair – a Scottish/Irish surname meaning “oak tree ford.”
2. Archer – a Latin/English occupational name for a bowman.
3. Ashby – hailing from Britain, meaning “ash tree farm.”
4. Bardot – a French name associated with the German name Bardo.
5. Barlow – a habitational surname meaning “bare hill.”
6. Baxter – an English occupational surname for a baker (originally female).
7. Beaumont – of French origin meaning “beautiful mountain.”
8. Blackstone – an English topographical title for those living near dark stones.
9. Boone – a Dutch/English pick meaning “blessing” or “good.”
10. Brewster – an English occupational surname for a brewer.
11. Brighton – a habitational last name meaning “bright town.”
12. Bronson – of English origin meaning “son of the brown-skinned one.”
13. Cassidy – an Irish name meaning “clever” or “curly-haired.”
14. Chancellor – a title for an administrative official.
15. Collier – of English origin meaning “charcoal burner.”
16. Cyprus – a geographical name related to the island of Cyprus.
17. Davies – meaning “son of David” (beloved).
18. Deacon – an occupational title for a cleric or church official.
19. Falkner – a sporty name meaning “falconer.”
20. Finch – a bird name; often a nickname for a cheerful person.
21. Foxton – an English surname meaning “farmstead where foxes are found.”
22. Granger – an occupational name for a farm bailiff.
23. Hendrix – of Dutch/German origin meaning “son of Hendrik.”
24. Iverson – meaning “son of Iver” (archer).
25. Jeter – of French origin meaning “to throw.”
26. Keller – means “cellar” or “cellar master” in German.
27. Latimer – an English occupational surname for an interpreter.
28. Lennon – of Irish origin meaning “lover” or “cloak.”
29. Lightfoot – an English nickname for a fast runner.
30. Mackson – of German origin meaning “son of Max.”
31. Moses – a biblical name meaning “delivered from the water.”
32. Munro – a Scottish name meaning “mouth of the Roe.”
33. Padgett – derived from “page,” meaning young servant.
34. Pascoe – a Cornish variation of Pascal, meaning “Easter.”
35. Pierson – of English origin meaning “son of Piers.”
36. Quiller – an English surname for a scribe or quill maker.
37. Raven – a bird name given to someone with dark hair.
38. Reeves – of English origin meaning “bailiff” or “steward.”
39. Rhodes – derived from Old English for “clearing in the woods.”
40. St. James – a habitational name referencing Saint James.
41. Suzuki – a Japanese “S” surname meaning “bell tree.”
42. Tayson – a rare English surname derived from Taylor.
43. Tennyson – hailing from Britain, meaning “son of Dennis.”
44. Thoreau – of French origin meaning “strength of a bull.”
45. Thurlow – a British title meaning “Thor’s burial mound.”
46. Vinson – of English origin meaning “son of Vincent.”
47. Wainwright – an English occupational surname for a wagon maker.
48. Wilde – of Irish/English origin given to high-spirited men.
49. Wilkes – means “son of William.”
50. Woolf – a fierce German title meaning “wolf.”

Last Names for Boys FAQs

What Are Creative Last Names?

There is no shortage of creative last names that inspire a legacy of vision. Among the most innovative is Schuyler, a Dutch surname that means “scholar.” Surnames with artistic namesakes, like Tennyson, Dior, and Thoreau, also fall within this category. Other honorable mentions include Woolf and Wilde, highlighting those with high-spirited personalities.

What Are Rare Last Names?

The world is a beautiful melting pot of culture, creating many unique names. Among the most memorable English names are Huxley, Wellington, Blackstone, and Foxton. Unique foreign surnames include Cho, Chevalier, Riva, and Ivanova. Of course, no one will ever forget Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff, which holds the record for one of the world’s longest surnames.

What Is the #1 Last Name?

The number one last name varies depending on your locale. Smith has been the #1 American surname for ages, initially describing blacksmiths. The most popular Chinese surname is Wong (or Wang), while the most famous Indian last name is Devi. Of course, we cannot forget about beautiful African surnames like Mohamed and Ali.

Can I Use a Last Name as a First Name?

Absolutely. Using surnames as first names is a major trend in modern naming. It allows parents to honor family heritage (like using a mother’s maiden name) or simply choose a name that sounds distinguished and strong. Names like Carter, Mason, Jackson, and Hudson are all perfect examples of surnames that have successfully transitioned into popular first names for boys.