151 Badass Last Names Or Surnames, With Meanings

Being a badass is not something bad. Badass last names reflect power, courage, and resilience. They don’t portray anything evil but inculcate perseverance and determination to achieve goals. Hence, such names have a unique appeal. If you wish to know some common badass names, keep scrolling through the post for some unique ones with deep meanings. You can even pick up something you like to have a code name or username.

In This Article

List Of Badass Last Names Or Surnames

1. Abawi

Abawi, badass last names

Image: Shutterstock

The surname Abawi is of Arabic origin and means “brave.”

2. Abbott

Derived from the Old French word abet, this name means “priest.” The name also has its origins in Greek and late Latin as the word abbas means “father.”

3. Abe

Abe is a name of Ainu language origin (Japanese) and means “sun festival.”

4. Abner

Although a personal name, Abner is common as a surname too. It is of Hebrew origin and means “God is my light.”

5. Adamos

With origins in Greek and Hebrew, Adamos means “son of Adams.” It also means “son of the red earth.”

6. Aetos

Aetos originates from Greek and means “eagle of Zeus.” An eagle symbolizes victory, immortality, and strength as a “king of the skies.”

7. Aldine

The name Aldine is inspired by a powerful family who held the estate of Holden in the Parish of Haslingden. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin.

8. Alexander

The name means “defender of the men.”

9. Alexeyev

Alexeyev is a common Russian last name. It is derived from the masculine personal name “Alexey,” which means “Alex‘s.” The name Alex means “defender.”

10. Alexus

With origins in Old Greek, this last name means “defender of men.”

11. Alton

The name Alton is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It means “settlement by the river” and has been derived from the villages of Hampshire, Dorset, and Wiltshire.

12. Alvarez

It is a patronymic surname of Spanish origin and means “son of Alvaro.” It also means “son of a warrior” in Old German.

13. Amherst

The surname Amherst is believed to have originated from Britain”s Anglo-Saxon culture. It was first recorded in a place called Hemhurst in the 13th century.

14. Andino

The name has Italian origins and means “brave.” It is a habitational last name originating from a place called Andino in Castile.

15. Angelopoulos

Meaning “son of an angel,” the name is a form of the first name Evangelos, which means “bringer of the good news.”

16. Antonov

Antonov refers to the “son of Anton” and is a patronymic surname. Anton means “highly praiseworthy” with origins in Greek and Roman.

17. Arden

The name Arden finds its derivation in Celtic and it means “high.” It is a habitational name for someone from Arden in Warwickshire or Arden in North Yorkshire.

protip_icon Trivia
Habitational surnames are derived from the name of places that include towns, farmlands, villages, and country houses.

18. Argento

Argento is a surname of Italian origin and means “silver.” The name is said to have originated as a way of representing a person with silver hair.

19. Argyros

The last name Argyros of Greek origin is patronymic. Derived from the adjective Argyros, this surname means “silvery.” The name connotes strength.

20. Archer

Archer is an English surname derived from the Old French word archer, which refers to a “bowman.”

21. Armstrong

The last name refers to someone with powerful arms. It has Middle English and Scottish origins.

22. Arya

The name is of Indian origin and means “honorable man.”

23. Aslanov

Aslanov means “son of Aslan” and is a patronymic surname. The first name Aslan means “lion” and is of Turkish origin.

24. Athena

Athena is the last name of Greek origin based on the city of Athens. This city of Athens is named after the Goddess Athena, goddess of wisdom.

25. Axton

Axton is a locational name of Anglo-Saxon origin, which is believed to have originated from the place called “Axton” located in the county of Kent.

26. Bailey

The surname Bailey has French, Latin, and English origins. The name originates from the word bailiff, which means “steward.”

27. Balabanov

Balabanov, big man

Image: IStock

Of Russian and Bulgarian origin, the name Balabanov means “big man.” It is a derivation of the Turkish Balaban that means “robust.”

28. Bancroft

The name Bancroft is of Old English origin and means “the enclosure of the slope.”

29. Baros

Derived from the Latin word “barus,” the name means “brave person.”

30. Bartlett

A pet form of Bartholomew, the surname Bartlett is also believed to be a double diminutive form of the terms “Bert” and “Bart.” It usually lends to the meaning “son of Talmay” or “having many furrows.”

31. Beckett

Beckett is an Old English name that also has origins in Ireland. The name has many possible meanings, the most common is “bee-cottage.” It is also said to have derived from the places Beckett in Berkshire or Beckett in Devonshire.

32. Bellamy

This surname is believed to have been derived from the Old French term “bel ami,” meaning “a beautiful friend.” In addition, the given last name could also have been a locational surname carrying the meaning “from Belleme.”

33. Bensen

Bensen is derived from the Latin word Benedictus, which means “blessed.” The name Bensen is patronymic.

34. Bolton

The name Bolton is of Old English origin means “district characterized by bends.” The name gained its reputation due to the Bolton family, powerful figures in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

35. Borisyuk

The name Borisyuk is of Russian origin and means “wolf” or “snow leopard.”

36. Bortsov

Bortsov is a Russian-origin habitational last name that means “wrestler.”

37. Bradley

Bradley is an English surname meaning “broad meadow.” It is derived from the name of a place and consists of the terms “brad,” meaning “broad,” and “leah,” which means “woodland” or “clearing.”

38. Bragg

The surname is derived from the Old English word bragge, which means “a lively person.”

39. Briggs

Briggs is an Old English habitational name referring to “someone living near a bridge.”

40. Bryant

The name has American, English, and French origins. The American and English origins state its meaning as “hill.” In French, it may have been derived from the place Brionne in Northern France.

41. Bugrov

The name Bugrov is of Russian origin derived from a place called Bugor. This habitational name means “hill.”

42. Bushida

Bushida is a popular Japanese last name connoting strength and agility as it means “a Samurai.”

43. Bychkov

The last name Bychkov was common among powerful families. The Russian origin’s last name also speaks of power as it represents “a bull.”

44. Cirillo

The name Cirillo is inspired by a habitational place located in South Central Italy. It also has origins in the Greek name Circe.

45. Chisaka

The notable surname Chisaka is of Japanese origin. It means “a thousand hills.”

46. Collins

Collins is a patronymic surname derived from the name Colin, the diminutive form of Nicholas. It means “to conquer.”

47. Connor

The surname Connor is of Irish origin and is a name of loyalty as it means “lover of wolves.”

48. Cooke

This Scottish origin last name was derived from the Latin occupational name of people who earned their livelihood by working as chefs and cooks, termed as “cocus.” It was also used for people who sold cooked meat or were responsible for running an eatery.

49. Copeland

The surname Copeland is believed to be of Old Norse origin and was used as a locational name for someone who belonged from the town “Copeland” situated in Cumberland.

50. Creed

Creed is a habitational name of Anglo-Saxon origin taken after Cornwall, which had a church called Creed named after St. Crida.

51. Curran

Of Gaelic origin, the name means “spear” and is a name of power.

52. Cutler

Cutler is an occupational name of Old French origin. The word cut refers to a “knife,” thus, this surname refers to a “maker of knives.”

53. Cullen

The surname Cullen means “descendant of Coileán” and is of Gaelic origin. The personal name in Irish means “cub.”

54. Dalton

The name means “valley settlement.” It is a habitational name common in Northumberland and Yorkshire.

55. Davis

Davis is a patronymic surname of Welsh origin and means “son of David.”

56. Decker

The name originates from the Old German name decker. It means “a roofer” and is a common occupational name.

57. Dixon

Of Anglo-Saxon origin, this name means “son of Richard.” This personal name means “powerful.”

58. Dominguez

Dominguez is a Spanish name that means “son of Dominic.” It is a patronymic surname and also a personal name of Roman-Italic origin that means “belonging to God.”

59. Donovan

Donovan, the descendant of a brown-haired man

Image: Shutterstock

The Irish descendent name Donovan means “descendant of Donndubhán.” In anglicized form, it means “descendant of the brown-haired man.”

60. Downs

This surname is derived from the pre-seventh century Old English term “dun” which means “sloping declivity” or “traact of low hills.” It was usually given to people who lived near the hills or similar structures.

61. Delaney

The name Delaney is Gaelic and has its origins in the French word, aunaie, which means “alder grove.”

62. Demetriou

Demetriou means “child of Demetrios.” This name Demetrios means “gift from Demeter.”

63. Diamandis

The name originates from Greek, and it means “diamond.”

64. Drakos

Drakos means “dragon” and is derived from the personal Greek name Drakon. The name represents strength and power.

65. Drozdov

The name reflects spirituality as it means “blackbird.” It is of Russian origin.

66. Easton

The name is of Scottish and English origin. It is a habitational surname meaning “east of the settlement.”

67. Eguchi

A name common to the island of Kyushu, Japan, Eguchi means “mouth of the river.”

68. Elin

Meaning “son of Ellen,” this is a simple Russian last name. Elin also has origins in Scandinavian and Greek, where it means “light.”

protip_icon Trivia
Ellen is an English and Danish short version of Helen. It is also a variant of the name Eleonore.

69. Emerson

Emerson is an English-origin patronymic surname which bears the meaning “son of Emery.” Other sources suggested that it might have been derived from the Anglo-Saxon term “Emars sunu,” which means “son of Emar.”

70. Enger

Enger is a Norwegian habitational name which originated from the plural indefinite form of an Old Norse English word which meant “meadow.”

71. Evans

The name means “son of Evans.” Evans is the anglicized version of the Welsh name Ifan, which means “gracious gift of Jehovah.”

72. Everhart

Everhart is a name of German origin and is a name of strength and courage as it represents a “strong boar.”

73. Ford

Ford is a habitational name given to a person or family living “near the river crossing.” It is of Old English origin.

74. Fawzi

The name Fawzi refers to “victory.” It is of Turkish and Arabic origin.

75. Fletcher

The name is derived from the Old French word flech(i)er, which means “arrow.” As it translates to English, the name has become occupational and refers to an “arrowsmith.”

76. Forbes

Forbes means “son of Fearbhisigh (prosperous man)” and is an anglicized Celtic name.

77. Foreman

The surname Foreman is believed to have two origins. First, it is believed to have been a job description for someone working as a manager for a large farm or estate. Second, it is derived from the terms “fir” meaning “strong” and “man(n)” meaning “servant” or “worker.”

78. Fotos

The name is considered the derivative of the Greek name Fotis, which was derived from the Greek phos meaning “light.”

79. Furukawa

Similar to the last name Kogawa, this common Japanese surname means “old river.” It was a popular name among the Minamoto, Nitta, and northern Fujiwara families.

80. Garcia

Garcia is a Spanish name that means “son of Garcia.” It is the Spanish version of Gerald‘s German origin name, meaning “rule of the spear.”

81. Garin

Derived from the first names Garinus and Guarinus, this name is of German origin. It is also a Russian patronymic last name derived from the first name Gerasim, “honorable elder.”

82. Genji

Genji means “two beginnings” and is a name common in Japan and Asia.

83. Gibbs

Gibbs means “bright pledge.” The surname Gibbs is said to have originated from the medieval personal name Gibs, which later became Gilbert.

84. Goodman

This is an Anglo-Scottish surname with various possible origins. One of them suggests that it was used as a status name for the head of the household. It was also used in Scotland to denote a landowner.

85. Grange

The name Grange is topographic of Old French and Old English origin referring to someone “living near a granary.”

86. Green

It is a descriptive surname that was used for people who either wore green-colored clothes often.

87. Griffin

This last name meaning “fierce,” has origins in Latin, Greek, and Assyrian.

88. Griffith

The name Griffith derives from the Welsh name Gruffudd, and means “strong lord.”

89. Grimes

Badass last name that means masked person

Image: Shutterstock

Grimes is an ancient name with origins in Old Danish and Old Swedish. It is similar to the Old English word Grima, which means “mask.” Hence, this name derives its meaning as “masked person.”

90. Gryffon

The surname Gryffon is believed to have been derived from Welsh personal names similar to Griffith, Griffin or Gruffin.

91. Gunn

The last name Gunn is derived from the Old Norse personal name “Gunnr,” which was mainly used as a masculine name. However, it could also have been derived from the feminine name “Gunnhildr.” This surname originated in the county of Caithness in Scotland.

92. Gushiken

Gushiken surname is of Okinawan origin, one of the Japanese islands. The name composed of three Kanji characters means “strong-willed.”

93. Halifax

The name originates from a place called Halifax in the West Riding of Yorkshire. This place’s name means “remote nook where the coarse grass grows.”

94. Harlow

The name is of Old English origin yet has several meanings. While it means “heaps of rocks” in West Yorkshire, the name means “army” in the areas of Essex and Northumberland.

95. Hasapis

The name Hasapis comes from Greek and is a habitational name that means “butcher.”

96. Hasegawa

Hasegawa is a common name among eastern Japan and the Ryukyu Islands and means “river at the beginning of the strait.”

97. Hayes

Hayes is a Gaelic origin last name meaning “descendant of Aodh.” The personal name Aodh means “fire.”

98. Hightower

Hightower is an Old English name that has been used as a common habitational kind as its root word heah, or high, which refers to “settlements.”

99. Hilton

Hilton is believed to have been derived from the Old English term “hyll” meaning “hill” and “tun” meaning “town.” Thus, it can be related to a town that is surrounded by hills.

100. Holmes

The English surname Holmes is a habitational name used to refer to someone living near “islands.”

101. Houston

A Scottish-origin surname, Houston is believed to be a patronymic surname that came down from the west coast mountains of Scotland and the Hebrides island.

102. Huntley

It is a locational name from the medieval era believed to have both Scottish and English origins. Huntley is derived from the Old English term “hunta” meaning ” hunter” and “leah” meaning “wood clearing.”

103. Ishikawa

Common in Eastern Japan, this is a surname of power as it means “rock river.”

104. Irons

The surname of Anglo-Saxon origin radiates the same characteristic of the metal, “strong.” It also has origins as a habitational name from Airaines in Somme.

105. Ito

Ito is the most common Japanese surname. The name represents several things, the most common rendition meaning “Fujiwara of Ise,” i.e., the clan of Fujiwara from Ise.

106. Jagger

Jagger is an occupational name of Old English origin. The name has a connection to horses as its ancestral version Jag refers to a “jockey.”

107. Jennings

The name is common in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and means “son of John.” The personal name John is of Hebrew origin, meaning “graced by God.”

108. Jenkins

Jenkins is an antique surname of both English and Welsh origin. It is believed to have been derived from the name “Jenkin,” a short form of “John,” meaning “God has graced me with a son.”

109. Kamiyama

Kamiyama means “God” and has origins in Japanese.

110. Keating

The suffix of the name Keating means “son of” while Keat.” It is a derivative of Old English, meaning “kite.” This kite was used as a nickname for a “fierce person.”

111. Keller

The name Keller has origins in Old German and means “cellar.” The name also has occupational meaning as it means “winemaker.”

112. Kido

The most common rendition of this Japanese last name is “wooden door.” It may also mean “castle door,” implying fervor.

113. Knapp

Kanpp is believed to have two origins. Firstly, it is a locational name that originated from places named Knapp. Secondly, it was derived from the Old English term cnoepp, which bears the meaning “hilltop.”

114. Kovalyov

The English name Smithson meaning “blacksmith,” takes its derivation from the Russian surname Kovalyov. It is a common Russian last name.

115. Krul

Krul is a Dutch-origin surname that was originally used as a nickname for someone with curly hair.

116. Langley

Langley has Old Norse origins and is composed of two elements, lang and lif, which means “long life.” It is an alternate version of the personal name Langlíf.

117. Lawson

The surname Lawson is believed to have originated from the “Holy Land.” On the other hand, it is also believed to have originated in the pre-Christian era, and was derived from “Laurentum,” an Italian town famous for laurel trees.

118. Lenkov

Meaning “son of Alexander,” Lenkov is a known surname in Russia. Alexander is the first name of Greek origin, meaning “defender of men.”

119. Lennon

Lennon is the anglicized form of an Irish name “Ó Leannáin,” which means “descendant of Leannán.” The singer John Lennon is a famous bearer of this last name.

120. Lopez

The surname Lopez, derived from the given name, is believed to be of Spanish origin and bears the meaning “son of Lope.”

121. Lykaios

The name Lykaios is a name of nobility as it means “wolf.” It is a derivation of the Greek word Lykos.

122. Magnes

The last name Magnes is believed to have originated in Shetland. The Magnes family was mostly situated around the territories of Orkneys.

123. Markopoulos

Comprising the personal name Mark, which means “consecrated to the god Mars,” the last name Markopoulos means “son of Mark.”

124. Marshall

Meaning “lover of horses,” this Scottish surname is an occupational name.

125. Mason

"Mason,

Mason is a name of English and Scottish origins and means “one who works with stone.”

126. Matsumura

The name is from Japan and is a common name originating from the Ryukyu Islands. It is a topographic one as it means “pine tree village.”

127. Maverick

Maverick is a Welsh-originated surname and given name that is derived from the term “mawr-rwyce” where “mawr” meaning “large and great” and “rwyce” meaning “hero.” Thus, the given last name can be related to the meaning “valiant hero.”

128. McKay

This surname is derived from the Old Gaelic name “MacAodh” wherein “Mac” means “son of” and the personal name “Aodh” means “fire.”

129. McKenna

McKenna is the English version of the Irish and Scottish surname Irish, Mac Cionaoith. While Mac means “son of,” Cionaoith or Cionadh refers to “the fire or sun God.”

130. Meyer

Meyer is a surname with several origins including Dutch, Jewish and German. It means “manager” in Middle High German.

131. Molotov

Molotov means “hammer” and is a Russian surname.

132. Morris

The surname Morris has its origins in Norman, and it means “of the marsh.” It is also the English version of the Old French name Maurice.

133. Murray

In Scottish, it denotes someone “living near a sea settlement.” The name also has Irish origin, meaning “descendent of Muireadhach,” which was a name given to different families from various parts of Ireland.

134. Nash

Nash is a common English and Welsh origin name. It is habitational, referring to someone living near the “ash tree.”

135. Nelsons

The last name means “son of Nell.” This patronymic surname, an extended version of the personal name Nell, is of Irish origin. Nell, Neal, or Niall, in Gaelic, means “champion.”

136. Otake

Originating from the southeastern seaboard and in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, this name means “large bamboo” and is a name that symbolizes strength and resilience. “Great warrior” is its other least known rendition.

137. Penn

This historically famous American and British surname is believed to have been an occupational name for an impounder or shepherd. Penn is related to the meaning “a cattle enclosure” in Old English.

138. Petrov

Petrov is a patronymic surname that has origins in Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian, Russian, and Serbian. It is derived from the Greek Petros, which means “rock.”

139. Pierce

The surname Pierce is a patronymic surname meaning “son of Peter.” The personal name derives from the Old French Pierre and Latin Patra, which means “stone.”

140. Quinn

Quinn is a common surname of Irish origin meaning “descendant of Conn.” The name Conn is derived from the Old Irish Cond, which means “intellect.”

141. Quinney

The last name is the Irish version and the patronymic surname of the English Canice or Kenny, which means “handsome” in Scottish.

142. Rodgers

The name means “son of Roger.” In Old French and Old German, Roger means “famous spearman.”

143. Sanchez

This patronymic last name means “son of Sancto.” It is believed to have been derived from the medieval name Sancho, meaning “sanctified.”

144. Sawyer

Sawyer is an occupational surname of Old English origin meaning “sawyer of the wood.”

145. Sone

Sone is a Japanese surname worthy of its tag as it means “ancestor.” It may also mean “foot,” implying the roots of a family.

146. Sullivan

The surname Sullivan is derived from the Irish súildhubhán, which means “black-eyed.” The name can also be used to refer to a vigilant person as it also means “hawk-eyed.”

147. Turner

The name Turner has many derivations. In English and Scottish, it refers to a person working with wood and hence is an occupational name. In German, the surname Turner refers to a “one working in a high tower.”

148. Underwood

Underwood is a habitational name of Old English and Scottish origin referring to “someone living near the woods.”

149. Weber

Weber is the English version of Old German origin and is an occupational name given to weavers.

150. Winchester

This locational surname is derived from the Celtic origin word “Venta” and the Latin word “castrum,” meaning “fortress” or “camp.”

151. Zimmerman

Zimmermann in German means “carpenter.” This is a common surname among Germans.

Tips For Choosing The Right Badass Last Name

When selecting a badass last name for a character, consider factors that align with their personality, background, and the overall tone of the story. Think about cultural significance—choose a name that reflects the character’s heritage or cultural context to add depth and authenticity. Pay attention to the sound and meaning of the name. The right last name should feel natural yet distinctive, adding a memorable flair to the character’s identity.

Discover More Names

When you have to choose a name for your baby, a few hundreds of names may not be just enough. Keep digging our mine of baby names until you find that one precious gem.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can a person change their last name to a badass one?

In most countries, you may change your last name to a new one, including a badass one. You may check the legal procedure in your country for changing the surname.

2. Are there any negative connotations associated with badass last names?

Not necessarily. These last names are not bad words. They also have a history and good meanings associated with them. But there could be exceptions where a badass surname could have a negative meaning.

3. Can a person with a badass last name be taken more seriously in certain professions?

Some people have surnames depicting their family profession. However, a surname cannot determine your professional expertise or skill. Neither can a badass surname get one preference in a profession nor will it change people’s attitudes towards you.

4. What are some examples of badass last names for fantasy characters?

Badass last names for fantasy characters often evoke a sense of power, mystery, or a connection to their world’s lore, making them memorable and distinct. For a warrior or a fierce leader, names like Bloodthorn, Stormbreaker, or Ironclaw suggest strength and ferocity. For a cunning rogue or a mysterious sorcerer, names such as Shadowbane, Nightshade, or Blackthorn convey a sense of danger and secrecy. Each of these names sounds striking and hints at the character’s background, personality, or role within their universe, enriching the story and the world they inhabit.

Badass surnames have an element of mystery and courage that makes them attractive and powerful. Our list of badass last names has several powerful last names that can add extra charm to any first name. You may pick your favorite one and use it as a nickname for yourself, your friend, or any loved one.

Infographic: Badass Surnames Inspired By Greek Mythology

If you have decided to give your little one a badass surname or last name, this infographic lists some of the unique surnames of Greek origin. Have a quick look at each name and its significance to choose the right one for your little rebel star.

unique surnames of greek origin (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • Being a badass is not inherently harmful but reflects power, courage, and resilience.
  • Badass last names symbolize perseverance and determination to achieve goals and have a strong, unique appeal.
  • Badass surnames have elements of mystery and courage, making them attractive and powerful.
  • These powerful last names can enhance any first name and are great for nicknames or use by friends and loved ones.
  • Some common badass surnames, like Armstrong, Gunn, Evans, or Morris, have historical roots that evoke strength.
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Shikha is a writer-turned-editor at MomJunction, with over seven years of experience in the field of content. Having done a certification in Relationship Coaching, her core interest lies in writing articles that guide couples through their courtship to marriage and parenthood.

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Srija Chanda Burman
Srija holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Calcutta and a PG Diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her interest in editing ranges across niches, including academics, human psychology, and child development.

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Praven is an English literature expert. He did his bachelors in English from Delhi University and masters in English from Manipur University. Besides, he holds a certificate in multimedia design and content creation from NIELIT Imphal and presented papers at various national and international conferences.

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