mentally stimulating diversions
Random Quiz
Random Miscellaneous
Games
Create
User Created
Go
Most Popular
Newest
By Rating
By Length
By Favorites
By Difficulty
By Tags
Geography
Entertainment
Science
History
Literature
Sports
Language
Just For Fun
Religion
Movies
Television
Music
Gaming
Miscellaneous
Holiday
Can you name the top 50 first names (given to babies in the US in 2011) that were originally only surnames?
created by
triplet_3
Enter an answer in the box below
Correctly named answers will show up below
Answers do not have to be guessed in order
Source:
SSA data and the Internet Surname Database
First names are ranked according to birth totals in the 2011 SSA data. With multiple spellings, only the most popular is counted for ranking. Names are classed by gender using SSA top 1000 names only.
Also try:
Patronymic Surnames
This quiz has not been verified by Sporcle
Popular trivia games today
TV Debuts: 2008
1767
Unpopulous Neighbors
1240
The Object of the Game
1178
Television Almosts
993
Word Ladder: It's a Trap!
959
US Cities: North to South
922
'90s Pop Group Members
912
Famous Faces
746
And
more...
PLAY GAME
Enter answer:
0
/50 answers correct
10:00
Show Missed Answers
M/F
Name
Surname meaning
M
Skilled worker in stone
F
Son of Maud, Mahalt or Matilda
M, F
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'small, round hill', OR anglicization of Gaelic 'O'Leoghain', meaning 'the descendant of the Warrior'
M
Son of Jacques (John)
M, F
Anglicization of Old Gaelic 'O'Maoilriain', meaning 'heroes/worshippers of Rian' (water)
M
Person from a place called Langdon
F
Son of Adam
M
Person from a 'brade denu', or broad valley
M
Maker or layer of tiles
M
Transporter of goods
F, M
One who makes clothes
M
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'broom/gorse hill' OR son of Brand OR son of a swordsmith
M, F
Derived from Gaelic 'cam' and 'sron', meaning 'person with a crooked nose', OR person from a place of this name
M
Anglicization of Gaelic 'Siol Cuin' or 'Con', meaning 'seed or race of Con'
F, M
From Middle English name Aubri, meaning 'elf-ruler', 'elf-counsel' or 'elf-kingdom'
M
One who tracks and kills game or other animals
M
Contraction of 'Augustine'
M/F
Name
Surname meaning
M
Nickname of a greatly skilled huntsman
M, F
Black haired/dark complexioned OR fair haired/fair complexioned
M
Person from the village of Colaton Raleigh
M
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'a clearing overgrown with bent-grass'
F
Son of Alice, Ellis, Alan or Alister
F
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'ash tree wood or clearing'
M, F
Official in charge of a hunting park
F, M
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'Pacca's land'
M
Maker of barrels or tubs
M
Derived from Gaelic 'Mac Bradaigh', meaning 'descendent of a dishonest chief' OR person with good eyesight OR person from Broad island
F, M
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'rye farm' OR contraction of Gaelic 'O' Raghailligh', meaning 'decendent of Raghallach'
M
Uncertain Scottish origin. A variation is 'Corsan'
F, M
One who plays a particular type of stringed instrument
M, F
Person from a place called Haydon or Heydon
M
Derived from Gaelic surname 'O'Nullain', meaning 'descendant of the crier'
F
Contraction of 'de Sancto Dioniso' (St Denis)
M
Son of a 'greyve', a person in charge of estates or property
M/F
Name
Surname meaning
M
Son of Brice OR an anglicization of Gaelic 'O'Briosain'
M
Spanish/Portuguese variation of early Greek 'didahke', meaning 'doctrine'
F
Son of Coinneach
M
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'settlement to the east'
F
Knight's attendant; an apprentice squire. Later a young male servant to a nobleman
M
Mounted warrior or messenger OR a resident of a 'ryd' or wood clearing
F
Dyer or seller of bright red cloth
M
Person from a place of this name, meaning 'ash tree settlement'
F
Player of pipes or bagpipes
M
Son of Hudde
M
Son of Milo or Mile
F
Steward or official, today developed into the word 'bailiff'
M
Person from a place of this name, original Gaelic name being 'caol'
F
Anglicization of Old Gaelic 'Cinneidigh', meaning 'grim or helmeted head'
F, M
Person from the now capital city of the UK
M
Derived from Old Norse 'Asketill', meaning 'god' and 'sacrificial cauldron'
Javascript is not currently enabled on your browser.
If you do have Javascript enabled:
HIDE THIS WARNING
This site uses javascript to make the magic happen.
Please turn on javascript and reload this page, or use a more current browser (like
Firefox
)
You might also like these games:
Famous Foursomes
Common Passwords
Product Mascots
Loading...
There are
11 comments
for this game.
(Warning: comments may contain spoilers)
First Names That Were Surnames First Quiz
by
triplet_3
Created Jul 21, 2012 in
Miscellaneous
Game Plays 436
Nominate
Report Game
Tags
Popular Quizzes
Baby Names Quizzes
America
United States
Top 50
surname
Last Names
Girl Names
Baby Girl
baby boy
Chocolatl
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 16:34 GMT
2 points
It's a fascinating idea, but I think some of these names should be listed as both male and female. For example, the only Peyton I know is definitely a boy, as are most Sydneys, and there are famous women named Cameron.
triplet_3
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 16:48 GMT
1 point
Ok, good idea. I was going by which gender each name was more commonly used for according to the 2011 data (eg. more girls are named Peyton than are boys), but for some reason I didn't think to say when names are unisex!
triplet_3
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 16:50 GMT
2 points
As some names are used much more often for one sex than the other, what do you think would be a reasonable cut-off point for deciding whether a name is unisex or not? How about saying that a name is unisex if it's in the girls' and boys' top 500?
trusting365
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 17:35 GMT
1 point
Riley and Ashley are other names that go both ways.
triplet_3
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 19:11 GMT
4 points
Ok I've made the changes. For the purposes of the quiz I've counted a name as being unisex if it appears for both sexes in the SSA top 1000 data
debbiedoesnothin
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 20:13 GMT
3 points
Love the name quizzes. This one's very well executed.
triplet_3
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 20:16 GMT
2 points
@Chocolatl: Sydney doesn't appear as a boy's name in the SSA top 1000, so I haven't classed it as unisex as per my comment above. Sidney is unisex, but I think I need to keep spellings separate for the purposes of male/female classification. Do let me know if you disagree, though. If a lot of people disagree then I'll change it. @trusting365: as with Sydney, Ashley isn't a boy's name in the SSA top 1000 (of course, if it was UK data then the picture would be different...)
triplet_3
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 20:17 GMT
1 point
Thanks debbiedoesnothin :)
Chocolatl
:
Jul 21st, 2012 at 22:59 GMT
0 points
Sure, I get that for Sydney. I'm pretty sure that most Americans would think first of Peyton Manning the football player, though!
dancastro
:
Jul 22nd, 2012 at 16:23 GMT
2 points
I have some doubt about Diego. As far as I know it was the other way around: in Spain it began (before AD 1000) as a first name (surnames didn't exist yet) and only later became a surname. According to tradition Diego was the name of El Cid's father.
Chocolatl
:
Jul 23rd, 2012 at 00:02 GMT
2 points
I was always told that Diego derived ultimately from Jacob.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Google+
2007-13 © Sporcle, Inc.
About
 |
Advertise
 |
Feedback
 |
Blog
 |
FAQ
 |
Embed
 |
Sporcle Live!
 |
News
 |
Terms
 |
Jobs
 |
Privacy
 
Partner of USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties
Go to the Sporcle.com Mobile Site →