600 Unique and Cool Last Names for Boys and Girls

Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Mubashir Rafique

Are you hunting for the perfect last name? Look no further! We’ve put together a list of catchy and unique last names, complete with some handy suggestions. Whether you’re naming a character, looking for a pen name, or just curious, you’re bound to find something that stands out. Dive in and discover the name that speaks to you.

I’ve personally handpicked and reviewed each name to ensure quality and uniqueness. I know how frustrating it can be to sift through endless lists, only to find the same old names. That’s why I took the time to verify each entry. You can trust that these names are fresh, distinctive, and ready to impress.

In my opinion, this list has something for everyone. From classic and timeless to modern and edgy, there’s a name here that will fit your needs. I feel confident that by the end of this article, you’ll find a last name that resonates with you, whether for your business, a story, or even a personal rebrand.

You can also discover the perfect pairing for your first name with a last name generator tool!

So, why wait? Jump right in and start exploring. With these carefully chosen names at your fingertips, your search for the perfect last name ends here.

Contents show

Last Names

  1. Lucas
  2. BENSON – Son of Benjamin.
  3. FOWLER – Occupational surname for someone who works with fowl (birds).
  4. BUCHANAN – geographical surname from the area of Buchanan in Stirlingshire, UK. From the Gaelic “buth,” meaning house, and “Chanain” meaning of the canon.
  5. Middleton
  6. Clark
  7. Key
  8. Henderson
  9. Parks
  10. JUAREZ – Son of Suero. Variation of Suarez.
  11. Reilly
  12. EATON – From any number of towns called Eaton in the U.K. Literally means “River enclosure.”
  13. Jarvis
  14. MADDOX – From the ancient Welsh male name “Matoc” meaning “good fortune.”
  15. ADAMS – Family of Adam.
  16. Zimmerman
  17. DIXON – Son of Dick/Richard.
  18. Rose
  19. CONWAY – Irish surname from “Mac Connmhaigh,” a descriptional surname meaning “Head Smasher” or “Mac Connbhuidhe,” meaning “yellow hound”
  20. Clarke
  21. BARKER – Occupational surname for someone who either tanned leather (from the bark of a tree), or from the Old French Berchier, which was a shepherd.
  22. Ochoa
  23. BARBER – Occupational surname for a barber.
  24. SCHULTZ – Occupational surname for a judge or mayor.
  25. RUBIO – Red-headed or someone with a ruddy complexion.
  26. LIN – Chines surname meaning “from the forest.”
  27. Snow
  28. WRIGHT – Occupational surname meaning a craftsman.
  29. Rosa
  30. West
  31. Graham
  32. Monroe
  33. Carey
  34. Miles
  35. Larsen
  36. Durham
  37. TREJO – geographical Spanish surname, for someone from Trexo, a place in Asturias in northwest Spain.
  38. RYAN – Irish surname and given name meaning “descendant of a follower of Rían”
  39. Lott
  40. ROMERO – From or traveler to Rome.
  41. Little
  42. McPHERSON – From the Gaelic surname “Mac an Phearsain,” meaning “son of the parson.”
  43. Berg
  44. HANNA – From the Gaelic “O’hannaigh,” meaning “descendant of Annach” literally meaning “iniquity.”
  45. HARVEY – Worthy of Battle.
  46. Cain
  47. RANDALL – Son of Rand/Rande. Literally means “little shield.”
  48. Farmer
  49. SWANSON – Son of Swan or an occupational surname for a herdsman (swain).
  50. Mullins
  51. Hodges
  52. Baldwin
  53. REED – Red – person with reddish complexion.
  54. Barron
  55. Morin
  56. Howe
  57. Keller
  58. Carney
  59. Hutchinson
  60. WEBSTER – Occupational surname for a weaver.
  61. HANSON – Son of Hans.
  62. WALSH – Welsh, foreigner, stranger – referring to Celt.
  63. Sullivan
  64. WILKERSON – Kin or son of William.
  65. OLSEN – Son of Olaf.
  66. McBRIDE – Son of the servant of Brighid.
  67. O’DONNELL – Family of Donnell/Donald.
  68. DRAKE – Dragon. Most probably used for someone who was brave and formidable in battle.
  69. BROOKS – Family who lived by or near a brook (creek).
  70. VILLA – Homestead.
  71. VAUGHN – From the Welsh “fychan” meaning small, little
  72. HIGGINS – From the Irish surname Ó Huiginn meaning “descendant of Uigin” (Viking).
  73. Craft
  74. HENSLEY – geographical surname for someone who lived in or near Hensley, UK. Literally means “a woody clearing.”
  75. Gill
  76. FOLEY – From the old Gaelic surname, “O’Foghladha,” meaning “Descendant of the pirate.”
  77. BURKE – From the burg (town) of the castle.
  78. Stein
  79. Fox
  80. Ryan
  81. DANIELS – Family of Daniel.
  82. CHASE – Nickname given to a skilled huntsman.
  83. FERGUSON – Son of Fergus.
  84. BELL – Occupational surname for a bell-ringer/news announcer. “Hear ye! Hear ye!”
  85. KOCH – German occupational surname for a cook or kitchen manager.
  86. Johnson
  87. Vance
  88. Fitzgerald
  89. Cole
  90. Ashley
  91. Simmons
  92. McFARLAND – Scottish surname from the Gaelic “MacPharlain” meaning “son of Parlan.”
  93. Holcomb
  94. O’NEAL – Son of Neal.
  95. Ramos
  96. Glover
  97. Avila
  98. BERG – From the mountain.
  99. LITTLE – Surname from a nick name meaning little man.
  100. Mclaughlin

100 Last Names for Boys

  • Anderson
  • Baker
  • Brown
  • Campbell
  • Carter
  • Clark
  • Davis
  • Edwards
  • Evans
  • Garcia
  • Hall
  • Harris
  • Jackson
  • Johnson
  • Jones
  • Lee
  • Lewis
  • Miller
  • Moore
  • Nelson
  • Parker
  • Phillips
  • Robinson
  • Smith
  • Taylor
  • Thomas
  • Walker
  • Williams
  • Wilson
  • Wright
  • Abernathy
  • Beckett
  • Bentley
  • Blake
  • Carter
  • Chase
  • Cole
  • Finn
  • Griffin
  • Hunter
  • Jameson
  • Knox
  • Landon
  • Logan
  • Maddox
  • Mason
  • Owen
  • Riley
  • Sawyer
  • Wyatt
  • Aspen
  • Brooks
  • Forrest
  • Hawthorne
  • Lake
  • River
  • Sky
  • Stone
  • Thorne
  • Willow
  • Austen
  • Chaucer
  • Dickens
  • Emerson
  • Franklin
  • Hawthorne
  • Lincoln
  • Shakespeare
  • Thoreau
  • Twain
  • Aoyama
  • Bellini
  • Chen
  • Cruz
  • Dubois
  • Elías
  • Garcia
  • Hernandez
  • Ivanov
  • Kumar
  • Lee
  • Nguyen
  • Oliveira
  • Patel
  • Ramirez
  • Sato
  • Singh
  • Tanaka
  • Wang
  • Zhang
  • Axton
  • Caspian
  • Draco
  • Everly
  • Jasper
  • Kellan
  • Lucian
  • Onyx
  • Zephyr
  • Zander

100 Last Names for Girls

  • Anderson
  • Baker
  • Brown
  • Campbell
  • Carter
  • Clark
  • Davis
  • Edwards
  • Evans
  • Garcia
  • Hall
  • Harris
  • Jackson
  • Johnson
  • Jones
  • Lee
  • Lewis
  • Miller
  • Moore
  • Nelson
  • Parker
  • Phillips
  • Robinson
  • Smith
  • Taylor
  • Thomas
  • Walker
  • Williams
  • Wilson
  • Wright
  • Avery
  • Blair
  • Brooks
  • Cameron
  • Claire
  • Harper
  • Harper
  • Hazel
  • Kennedy
  • Lily
  • Madison
  • Morgan
  • Olivia
  • Parker
  • Riley
  • Scarlett
  • Sophia
  • Violet
  • Willow
  • Autumn
  • Bloom
  • Everly
  • Forest
  • Harper
  • Isla
  • June
  • Luna
  • River
  • Sky
  • Summer
  • Winter
  • Asimov
  • Bronte
  • Cleopatra
  • Emerson
  • Florence
  • Hawthorne
  • Jane
  • Juliet
  • Monroe
  • Victoria
  • Aiko
  • Anya
  • Belle
  • Chan
  • Daria
  • Elena
  • Flora
  • Imani
  • Isabela
  • Kiana
  • Luna
  • Maya
  • Naomi
  • Olivia
  • Rosalind
  • Siena
  • Talia
  • Ursula
  • Violet
  • Zoya
  • Aella
  • Calliope
  • Ember
  • Indigo
  • Juniper
  • Lyra
  • Nyx
  • Selene
  • Valkyrie
  • Zephyr

Cool Last Names

  1. VELASQUEZ – Son of Velasco.
  2. DYER – Occupational surname for someone who dyed either cloth or hair or hide.
  3. RAYMOND – Counsel protection.
  4. MOSLEY – geographical surname for a family that came from any number of towns named Mosley in the U.K. Unknown meaning.
  5. Sharp
  6. DUNCAN – Irish surname from the Gaelic meaning “brown chief.”
  7. Rocha
  8. SULLIVAN – Irish surname from descendant of Ó Súileabhán (Little Dark Eyes)
  9. SHIELDS – From a shed or shelter.
  10. Lara
  11. OLSON – Son of Olaf.
  12. Dyer
  13. WATTS – Family of Walter.
  14. DIAZ – Son of Diego
  15. MONTOYA – From the hills and valleys.
  16. Michael
  17. Macdonald
  18. Gallegos
  19. Quinn
  20. BRADY – Possibly from the Gaelic surname “Mac Bradaigh” son of the thief, or from the early English “brad-eage” meaning “broad eye” or someone with excellent eyesight.
  21. Kirkland
  22. Jennings
  23. Elliott
  24. VARGAS – From the pasture.
  25. SIMON – One who harkens.
  26. MORA – Blackberry.
  27. CASE – Occupational surname for someone who makes boxes, cases, or chests.
  28. PERKINS – Son of Peter.
  29. WASHINGTON – From the area belonging to Wassa’s people. Wassa was a feminine Anglo-Saxon given name.
  30. McCORMICK – Son of Cormac.
  31. ROCHA – Portuguese surname based on the French surname Roche, which means “lives by the rocky crag.”
  32. Marks
  33. COPELAND – Bought land.
  34. HORTON – From the farm on muddy soil.
  35. KRUEGER – German occupational surname for someone who made or sold glass/pottery “kruog,” or ran an inn “krug.”
  36. GUZMAN – Lived in or near the town of Guzmán, Spain.
  37. William
  38. MOYER – From the ancient Gaelic surname “Mac an Mhaoir” meaning “steward, assistant, right-hand man.”
  39. SALGADO – Galician and Portuguese nickname surname for someone who was witty or wry, from the word salgado meaning “salty.”
  40. Bernard
  41. Mosley
  42. Hughes
  43. PAYNE – Originally meaning pagan.
  44. CROSS – geographical for someone who lived near a crossing, or occupational for someone who carried a cross in church.
  45. Dawson
  46. Vaughan
  47. CLAY – Occupational or geographical surname for someone who worked with clay or lived on clay land.
  48. RICHMOND – geographical surname from any of the towns in England or northern France with that name. Literally means “From the rich hill or mount.”
  49. SCHNEIDER – Occupational surname for a tailor.
  50. Larson
  51. Hoover
  52. TATE – Cheerful person.
  53. Bates
  54. Crawford
  55. Turner
  56. STEPHENS – Family of Stephen.
  57. PETERSON – Son of Peter.
  58. LOPEZ – Son of Lope/Lobe, meaning “wolf.”
  59. STEVENS – Son of Steven.
  60. THORNTON – Lives in or near the town with thorns.
  61. PROCTOR – Occupational surname for a proctor/manager/attorney.
  62. CORDOVA – geographical surname for a family from the ancient city of Córdoba, Spain. Literal meaning unknown.
  63. Cervantes
  64. McDOWELL – From the old Gaelic surname, “MacDubhghaill” meaning son of the dark one.
  65. Skinner
  66. Knowles
  67. TERRY – Power of the Theudo people.
  68. Butler
  69. Langley
  70. JEFFERSON – Son of Jeffery.
  71. STANLEY – Lives near the stone clearing.
  72. EVERETT – Herd of wild boars.
  73. Horne
  74. Cameron
  75. Mueller
  76. HOWE – Lives near a man-made mound or burial mound.
  77. PONCE – Derived from the name Pontius, from the Greek “pontos” meaning ocean.
  78. WALKER – Occupational surname for a person who walked on damp cloth in order to thicken it.
  79. Walls
  80. Robertson
  81. PIÑEDA – geographical surname from several places in Spain. Literally means “forest of pines.”
  82. Peters
  83. Hayes
  84. Hewitt
  85. MARTIN – From the god of Mars.
  86. Robinson
  87. McCANN – From the Gaelic surname “MacCana,” meaning “descendant of the wolf cub.”
  88. LUGO – geographical surname for families from the town of Lugo in Galicia, Spain. Literally means “from the wood grove of Augustus.”
  89. Bennett
  90. Spencer
  91. Holder
  92. Norris
  93. GRIFFITH – Leader with a strong Grip.
  94. KELLY – Irish surname meaning “bright headed” or red-headed. From Ó Ceallaigh.
  95. TANNER – Occupational surname for someone who tanned hides.
  96. KHAN – Chief, ruler.
  97. MILLS – Occupational surname for one who lived near or worked in a mill.
  98. Mccarty
  99. FLOYD – From the Welsh Lloyd or Llwyd, meaning “grey.”
  100. UNDERWOOD – Literally means “below the trees of a forest,” and could be a geographical surname.

Unique Last Names

  1. Hoffman
  2. Wagner
  3. Emerson
  4. BRANDT – Family of Brando, literally meaning “hot-tempered.”
  5. Ayers
  6. GATES – Lives in or behind a gated area.
  7. Terry
  8. Curtis
  9. MATTHEWS – Son of Matthew.
  10. Rowe
  11. GARRISON – Son of Gerard or Gerald.
  12. Herring
  13. HUANG – Chinese surname that means “bright” or “yellow.”
  14. Gillespie
  15. CABRERA – From the place of goats.
  16. FLEMING – Flemish (Belgian/Dutch) person or from Flanders, Belgium.
  17. McCLAIN – Scottish clan name, originally “Mac Gille Eathain,” meaning “son of the servant of Saint John.”
  18. Duffy
  19. MAHONEY – From the Gaelic surname “O’Mathghamhana” meaning “son of Mathghamhain,” literally meaning “bear.”
  20. Merritt
  21. CALHOUN – Variant of the Scottish surname, Colquhoun, meaning “nook” or “corner.”
  22. LEBLANC – French surname for someone who was pale or had very blond hair.
  23. HERRING – Occupational surname for a fisher or seller of herring (fish).
  24. Ross
  25. Mcmillan
  26. Petty
  27. Powell
  28. HAMMOND – From the Norse Viking name “Hamundr,” meaning “high protection.”
  29. CHERRY – Occupational surname for someone who grew or sold cherries.
  30. Holt
  31. Vinson
  32. Ware
  33. Vincent
  34. Wiley
  35. Nolan
  36. Reynolds
  37. CHRISTENSEN – Son of Christian.
  38. Mcpherson
  39. ACOSTA – From the coastal region.
  40. Gamble
  41. YU – Various meanings.
  42. LYONS – Son or family of Lyon.
  43. Moran
  44. GLENN – Lives in or near a valley.
  45. BUSH – Lives near the bush or thicket.
  46. MERRITT – geographical surname for a family who came from Merriott in Somerset, UK. Literally means “the gate at the boundary.”
  47. LESTER – From Leicester, U.K. or the county town of Leicestershire. Might go back to meaning “campers on the river Legra.”
  48. BULLOCK – From the English word “bullock” meaning young steer. Given to a young person who was excitable or energetic.
  49. Sanders
  50. Cunningham
  51. DELACRUZ – Literally translates to “of the cross.”
  52. RIVERS – Lives by the river.
  53. SCHROEDER – German occupational surname for a tailor.
  54. Pitts
  55. CERVANTES – From old Spanish meaning “servant” or the word ciervo, meaning “stag” or a “woman’s man.”
  56. DAVILA – From the village.
  57. Brewer
  58. Haynes
  59. Mack
  60. MORRISON – Son of Morris.
  61. BARNES – Someone who lived or worked in or near a barn.
  62. Ramirez
  63. Mckee
  64. PORTER – Occupational surname for someone who transported items.
  65. Brock
  66. CONRAD – Brave counsel.
  67. Smith
  68. HUTCHINSON – Son of hugh, or son of the close, beloved relative.
  69. RILEY – From the rye clearing.
  70. Harper
  71. Webb
  72. BURNETT – Descriptive surname for someone with brown hair (brunette).
  73. Fletcher
  74. Farrell
  75. Church
  76. Rogers
  77. TUCKER – Occupational surname for someone for a “cloth thickener.”
  78. Boyer
  79. IBARRA – From the valley or hillside.
  80. Decker
  81. SALAS – Literally means “room, hall.” Could be geographical or occupational for someone who worked in a mansion.
  82. Schultz
  83. TRUJILLO – Family from the city of Trujillo, Spain. Literally means citadel of Julian (Turro-Julio).
  84. Hanson
  85. LONG – Surname from a nickname for someone who was tall.
  86. SAWYER – Occupational surname for a woodsman or someone who worked with a saw.
  87. SANDOVAL – From Sandoval, Spain. Literally means “land of forest.”
  88. BLACKBURN – Lives near the dark colored stream.
  89. Kim
  90. ODOM – Son-in-law of a prominent person.
  91. KIRK – Literally means “church” and could be a geographical surname for someone who lived near a church or occupational for someone who worked in a church, like a pastor.
  92. Meadows
  93. Kirk
  94. TODD – Fox.
  95. Donaldson
  96. PARRISH – Someone who lives near Paris, France or near a particular “parish” – a geographical area defined by religion.
  97. BAUER – Occupational surname for a worker.
  98. Davidson
  99. SCOTT – From Scotland.
  100. O’CONNOR – Son of Connor.

Beautiful Last Names

  1. Zamora
  2. Spence
  3. Abbott
  4. Fry
  5. Ellis
  6. MAYS – Either family of Matthew or a nickname for a guy who is a good friend.
  7. WELLS – From the well spring or water hole.
  8. PACHECO – Noble one, or person from France.
  9. PARRA – Spanish/Portuguese surname, meaning “grapevine/trellis.” Possibly used for someone who grew grapes or had a winery.
  10. CANNON – Occupational surname for someone who worked at a house of clergy.
  11. CLINE – From the German “klein” meaning little, small.
  12. HUGHES – Family of Hugh.
  13. CROSBY – Lives by the cross or crossing.
  14. Myers
  15. HOUSTON – From Hugh’s town.
  16. Winters
  17. Moody
  18. JAMES – Family of James (Supplanter).
  19. Foreman
  20. GONZALES – Son/Family of Gonzalo.
  21. Schroeder
  22. MARKS – Family of Mark or Marcus.
  23. SINGH – Lion-like.
  24. Finley
  25. BEARD – Descriptive surname for a man with a very distinct beard.
  26. Brady
  27. WILSON – Son of William.
  28. AYERS – Heir to a fortune or land.
  29. Silva
  30. BLACKWELL – Lives near the black stream.
  31. ASHLEY – From the ash wood or clearing.
  32. GONZALEZ – Son of Gonzalo.
  33. JIMENEZ – Son of Jim/James.
  34. Willis
  35. LE – Vietnamese surname meaning lives near a pear tree.
  36. MARSHALL – Occupational surname for someone who is a lawman or takes care of horses.
  37. Humphrey
  38. tablescraper-selected-row
  39. PACE – The peaceful one. Could have been used as a cynical nickname for someone who was not.
  40. ANTHONY – Unknown meaning.
  41. TANG – Vietnamese surname, meaning “from the Tang dynasty.”
  42. CALLAHAN – From the Gaelic surname “O Ceallachain.”
  43. James
  44. Le
  45. BENTON – From the town with the bent grass.
  46. Acosta
  47. Lindsay
  48. FLOWERS – Occupational surname for someone who works flowers – like a gardener – or with a bow & arrow. The latter derived from the Middle English “flo/fla” meaning arrow, with the addition of the suffix “er” (one who does or works with).
  49. Olsen
  50. Kramer
  51. FRY – Born free.
  52. CUEVAS – geographical surname for someone who lived in or near caves.
  53. SPARKS – Originally a Norse nickname given to someone with dynamic character, full of life.
  54. BANKS – Lives near hillside or ridge.
  55. Waller
  56. Miller
  57. WEAVER – Occupational surname for a weaver of cloth.
  58. Workman
  59. McCALL – From Gaelic surname “Mac Cathmhaoil,” literally meaning “son of the battle chief.”
  60. TAYLOR – From the family of the tailor.
  61. Mccarthy
  62. GILLESPIE – From the Gaelic “Mac giolla Easpuig,” meaning “son of the bishop’s servant.”
  63. Sargent
  64. Nielsen
  65. Cooke
  66. Pearson
  67. MEJIA – Unknown meaning, might be a religious surname referring to the Messiah.
  68. GILBERT – Bright Pledge.
  69. VALENCIA – From Valencia, Spain. Means “valor, courage.”
  70. Salas
  71. ESPARZA – Occupational surname for a professional swordsman/soldier.
  72. Haney
  73. PARK – Korean surname, meaning “gourd.”
  74. McCARTHY – Form of the Gaelic “Mac Carthaigh” meaning son of Carthach (loving).
  75. SAVAGE – Nickname surname for someone who was wild.
  76. HARMON – Form of the name Herman, meaning “army man.”
  77. SALAZAR – From Salazar, Spain. Salazar literally translates to “old hall.”
  78. GRAY – From a nickname for someone with gray hair or house.
  79. Mckay
  80. Gibson
  81. Bradford
  82. Richards
  83. Herman
  84. BURCH – Lives near the birch tree or grove.
  85. JOHNS – Family of John.
  86. JOSEPH – He will add.
  87. Gross
  88. FREDERICK – Peace ruler.
  89. COOPER – Occupational surname for a barrel maker.
  90. Rosales
  91. Chan
  92. McKEE – From the Gaelic surname”Mac Aodh,” literally meaning “son of the fiery one.”
  93. Hooper
  94. YORK – From the ancient city or county of York, UK. Literally means “yew tree.”
  95. Bender
  96. Graves
  97. Ellison
  98. Short
  99. ESQUIVEL – Behind the lime tree.
  100. Tyson

Exploring last names can be a delightful and inspiring journey. Whether you’re searching for a cool name for a girl, a distinctive surname for a guy, a fantastical name for a character, or something uniquely special, I hope this collection has sparked your imagination.

Names carry a lot of weight, and finding the perfect one can make all the difference. I’m confident that within these lists, you’ve discovered a name that resonates with your needs. So, embrace your new last name with pride and let it become a part of your story. Happy naming!