W Surname Names: Part One

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Americans love surname names, and it's easy to see why. Surnames make great honor names (and often work to honor more than one person). And popular endings like -on and -er make these sound especially trendy. Here I've listed ten W surnames that would work well on a baby--part two to come next Monday.

Wagner- One of the most popular surnames in the United States, Wagner would make a wonderful first name for a son

Walden- Walden isn't just reserved for Henry David Thoreau fans--he's a good heritage choice. He is an Old English name meaning "from the Welshman's hill," perfect for families of English and Welsh descent.

Wallace- Wallace is definitely old man chic, but the nickname Wally makes him more accessible for a little guy. If you like it for a girl, Wallis is the more traditional spelling.

Warner- Warner is a strong German surname that is currently most popular in Costa Rica (who would have guessed?). He's only at #2159 in the U.S., so if you're looking for a more unusual surname name, Warner should go on your list.

Warren- Ooh, Warren is one of my top favorites for boys. He's super sweet, plus the name for a group of bunnies is called a warren--how cute!

Watson- With all the Sherlock Holmes franchises currently out there, it's surprising parents haven't taken notice of Watson. He is a nicknameless name, which is a plus for many parents out there.

Webb- I for one am a huge fan of short names--and I know many of you guys are too! As a short name lover, it can be hard to jump on the surnames trend, but Webb is one I love.

Weber- A slight elaboration of Webb is Weber, another lovely pick for a son. If you like Webb but want a more substantial name, Weber could be the perfect solution.

Webster- Of course, there's always Webster as well. He's definitely a cool name, just be prepared for some dictionary jokes.

Westcott- Wes- names are very in right now, but Westcott seems to have gone undiscovered. Put Westcott on your radar screen, especially if you need a clever way to honor a Scott.

Full Names for Wes

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Wes is such a nice nickname. He's masculine yet soft, which is hard to come by in boys names. Also, Wes Anderson might be the best person ever. (And he proves the name works nicely on its own). Most people only think of him as a nickname for Wesley, but he has some great full name options that are way less common. Take a look.

Expected:
Wesley- He's stayed pretty stable for the past 100 years, except for a large uptick in 1977. In 2007 he was his least popular ever, at 195. He's currently been trending slightly upward, coming in at 155 last year.
Westley- Westley is a new, rather invented name that combines the trendy West with the timelessness of Wesley. He lends himself to West, but there's no reason you can't use Wes.
Weston- Weston has been making leaps and bounds lately. He's climbing up the charts, and at this rate, he's posed to take down Wesley.

Unique:
West- I wouldn't name my son West just to call him Wes, because that's way confusing, but whatever floats your boat.
Westbrook- He's a brand name and a surname, but lends himself to many trendy nicknames like Wes, West, and Brooks.
Westcott- Go old school and call him Scott or Scottie, or contemporary and call him Wes or West.

Unheard of:
Webster- He has all the letters to make Wes, so why not?
Westerfield- It's a long surname, but would work nicely, especially if Westerfield is a family name.
Wesleyan- College has been on the mind lately, and I'm visiting this Connecticut school in a few weeks. A college names post is coming up soon, but until then, think about Wesleyan. It's a little much for a baby, but Wes makes him more manageable.

Chicago Names: City Streets

I'm all about subtle honor names--names that honor someone in a way that isn't obvious or flashy. Using the name of the street such honoree grew up on definitely fits into the "subtle honor" category. In fact, I have the name of the street I was born on on my short list for potential middles. Today I'm featuring Chicago street name--this is the city I live in, after all. I would love to make this a series to compare street names of cities around the country. Let me know which city you'd like to be featured next!