Free · No sign-up · Copy or download

Last Name Generator

Generate random last names and American surnames in one click. Choose common US surnames, rare surnames, double-barreled names or fantasy surnames, up to 1,000 at a time.

Type
  • Carter
  • Bennett
  • Ramirez
  • Foster
  • Nguyen
  • Brooks
  • Sullivan
  • Hoffman
  • Pearson
  • Mitchell
  • Henderson
  • Whitaker
  • Maldonado
  • Holloway
  • Jennings
  • Underwood
  • Tate
  • Gutierrez
  • Cooper
  • Wallace

  • 10 to 1,000 surnames per click
  • Real US surnames and fantasy ones
  • Copy all or download as .txt

How to use the last name generator

1

Pick a surname type

Common US surnames, rare surnames, double-barreled names such as Price-Russell, or fantasy surnames such as Ironshield.

2

Choose how many

Select 10, 20, 50, 100 or 1,000 last names. The list updates when you change an option.

3

Copy or download

Tap Copy on one name, use Copy all for the full list, or download it as a text file. Press Generate more for a new batch.

Last name examples

Here is the kind of surnames you will get. Every click gives a different mix.

Common surnames

  • Smith
  • Johnson
  • Williams
  • Brown
  • Jones
  • Miller
  • Davis
  • Garcia
  • Rodriguez
  • Wilson
  • Martinez
  • Anderson

Rare surnames

  • Persaud
  • Dagostino
  • Littlefield
  • Headley
  • Knowles
  • Burkett
  • Mattson
  • Cottrell
  • Toledo
  • Savage
  • Larsen
  • Higgins

Double-barreled

  • Price-Russell
  • Carlson-Jackson
  • Lopez-Higgins
  • Davis-Savage
  • Houser-Brandt
  • Carrasco-Knowles
  • Richardson-Hayes
  • Bell-Moreno
  • Fox-Mitchell
  • Reed-Santos
  • Cole-Banks
  • Ward-Bishop

Fantasy surnames

  • Riverheart
  • Shadowlight
  • Silverfield
  • Ironshield
  • Crowborn
  • Fireheart
  • Copperstar
  • Blackstar
  • Goldhollow
  • Lionclaw
  • Silkmane
  • Bearbloom

Most common last names in the US

These are the ten most common surnames in the 2010 US Census. The generator favors common names, so they show up often, but it also reaches deep into the list for rarer ones.

Rank / namePeople (2010)
1. Smith2,376,206
2. Johnson1,857,160
3. Williams1,534,042
4. Brown1,380,145
5. Jones1,362,755
6. Miller1,127,803
7. Davis1,072,335
8. Garcia858,289
9. Rodriguez804,240
10. Wilson783,051

Fantasy last name generator

Choose Fantasy surnames to get family names for characters in stories, tabletop games and role-play. Each name joins two words, such as Storm and blade or Raven and wood, to make names like Stormblade, Ravenwood, Ironshield and Silverfield. They sound like noble houses, guilds and clans, and they are easy to say and to remember.

What people use surnames for

UseHow it helps
Writing and fictionGive characters, families and background cast a believable last name.
Family trees and genealogySee what common surnames look like when you plan a sample tree or school project.
Testing and designFill forms, tables and mockups with realistic placeholder data. Download 1,000 surnames as a text file.
Games and role-playName houses, clans and adventurers for tabletop and online games.

Tips for choosing a last name

  • Match the first name. Say the full name out loud. Short first names pair well with longer surnames, like Kate Hollingsworth.
  • Mix common and rare. A cast made only of Smiths and Joneses feels flat. Add a few rare surnames for variety.
  • Avoid repeated sounds. Names like Grace Gray or Mark Marks are memorable but can read as jokes.
  • Keep fantasy names consistent. Pick one style for a family or culture, such as nature words for woodland clans and metal words for smiths.

Need a full name?

Need first and last names together? Try our Random Name Generator for male and female names, or the Nickname Generator and Username Generator for fun names to use online.

Want first names too?

The random name generator gives you full names, first names or last names, male or female, up to 1,000 at a time.

Try the random name generator

Related name generators

Frequently asked questions

Is the last name generator free?

Yes. It is 100% free, with no sign-up and no limit on how many surnames you generate.

What is the most common last name in the US?

Smith is the most common last name in the US, followed by Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones, according to the 2010 Census.

Can I generate fantasy last names?

Yes. Choose Fantasy surnames in the Type menu to get names like Ravenwood, Stormblade and Silverfield.

How do I generate an American surname?

Pick Common surnames, then press Generate. The common list uses the most frequent US family names, such as Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Miller, so every result is a realistic American surname. Choose a count of 10 or more to get a bigger batch.

Is this a surname generator too?

Yes. Last name and surname mean the same thing, so you can use this tool for both.

How many last names can I generate at once?

You can generate 10, 20, 50, 100 or 1,000 per click. Use Copy all or Download .txt to save the list.

Where do the surnames come from?

Real surnames come from the 2010 US Census list of common surnames. Fantasy surnames are made by joining two words.

Do you save the names I generate?

No. Names are generated in your browser and nothing is sent to our server.