Forenames and surnames
What's in a [sur]name? This page URL: http://www.nationalfinder.com/surnames/index.htm
Compiled by Roger Harris © 1998-2005
The following lists started off as a single list of interchangeable
Television and big-screen film credits are a rich source of interesting
As the list lengthened the need for different categories became
I may have to add a new category soon. It will contain names which
My thanks for additional information go to Renzo Leon. Roger Harris. Personal names on-line
Personal names in books
Categories
Interchangeable surnames and forenames
Updated: 26 May 2002
Many personal names are plausible when reversed, eg.
Douglas Allen and Allen Douglas. Others, eg. Jack Tomkins
(Tomkins Jack), are not reversible.
The following list contains surnames which may also be used
as forenames.
Each name
A numeral 1 appears in column one to indicate names which
I consider to be perfectly reversible.
In column two, m=male and f=female and 'm' and 'f' refer to
the names which appear on the same line.
Thus, there are
1.. ff = female/female names
2.. fm = female/male names
3.. mf = male/female names
4.. mm = male/male names
-------------------------------------------------------------
forename surname source
---------- -------------- -----------------------------
m* Marion *
mm Roy Abraham ;
1 mm Lincoln Abraham ;
1 mm Arthur Abraham ;
1 mm Neville Abraham ;
mm William Abraham ;
* Abrahams ;
mm Robert Adam ;Architect, died 3 Mar 1792
1 mm Leonard Adam ;
1 mm Samuel Adam ;
* Adams ;
mm Andrew Alexander ;
John Alexander ;
Caroline Alexander ;
Jim Alexander ;
mm Harvey Alexander ;
mm Nicholas Alexander ;
1 fm Joyce Alexander ;
mm Brian Alexander ;BBC R4 broadcaster
1 mm Barrie Alexander ;
1 mm Alfred Alexander ;
mm Ian Alexander ;Computer consultant
Garth Alexander ;journalist
ff Marion Alexandra ;
mm George Allan ;
* Allen ;
1 mm Douglas Allen ;
mm John Allen ;
fm Julie Allen ;Psychiatrist
fm Katharine Allen ;Marriage broker
1 mm Keith Allen ;Actor, Independent, 3mar1998
1 mm Leonard Allen ;Psychiatrist
fm Mary Allen ;
1 mm Michael Allen ;Management consultant
1 mm Thomas Allen ;Opera singer
mf John Allison ;
1 mm Maurice Andre ;
mm Christopher Andrew ;
Kenneth Andrew ;
mm Christopher Andrew ;Professor
Christopher Andrew ;university professor
* Andrews ;
1 mm Patrick Anthony ;Author
mm Andrew Anthony ;journalist
fm Alice Arnold ;broadcaster
Thomas Arnold ;
1 mm Matthew Arnold ;
mm Michael Arnold ;lawyer
fm Janet Arnold ;
mm Steven Arnold ;actor
1 mm Christopher Arnold ;Author, Plough Publ
fm Sue Arnold ;journalist
Charles Arthur ;
1 mm John Arthur ;Clockmaker, Edinburgh, 19th Century
1 mm Charles Arthur ;Journalist - technology
1 mm Stuart Arthur ;Thatcher, Devon
fm Rosamund Aubrey ;Amnesty Int
1 mm John Aubrey ;Priest
mm Oliver August ;journalist
fm Jane Barney ;
1 fm Lucy Barry ;Recruitment consultant
1 mm David Benedict ;Journalist
1 mm Walter Benjamin ;
fm Hetty Benjamin ;
fm Gina Benjamin ;
mm Robert Benjamin ;
Robert Benjamin ;film-maker
fm Beatrice Bennett ;
mm William Bennett ;journalist
1 mm Jeffrey Bernard ;Writer, Soho
mm Jeremy Bruce ;
mm Kenneth(Ken)Bruce ;disk jockey
mm Philip Bryan ;football hooligan
fm Deborah Cameron ;
mm Michael Cameron ;Psychiatrist
John Casey ;university professor
mm Samuel Casper ;
mm Thomas Cecil ;Earl of Exeter, 1604
mm William Cecil ;Lord Burghley, 1558
mm Jonathan Charles ;
fm Philippa Charles ;
fm Caroline Charles ;couturier
mm Roy Charles ;IT recycling
fm Virginia Charles ;Marriage broker
?m S Christopher ;
1 mm Warren Christopher ;USA negotiator
mf Freddy Claire ;
mf John Clare ;Poet
1 mf Anthony Clare ;Psychiatrist
mm Barrie Clement ;Journalist
* Clements ;
bm Toby Clifford ;
mm William Clifford ;pre-Einstein physicist
mm Max Clifford ;Publicist
mm Jonathan Clifford ;publishing
Michael Cole ;
Marigold Coleman ;magazine editor
Richard Conrad ;
mm Peter Conrad ;author
mm Andrew Craig ;
mm Ian Craig ;
m? Matt Damon ;
* Daniels ;
fm Amelia David ;forensic scientist
1 mm Laurence David ;
mm Peter David ;
* Dawn ;
Matthew Dean ;
mm Ian Dennis ;
mm Margaret Dennis ;Civil servant
mm Felix Dennis ;publisher
1 mm Adrian Desmond ;
mm Richard Desmond ;publisher
mm Peter Dick ;
mm Alastair Donald ;photographer
1 -m Alton Douglas ;
fm Mary Douglas ;anthropologist
fm Carolyn Douglas ;family therapist
1 mm David Douglas ;Telecommunications
mm Victor Douglas ;
Iain Edgar ;sales manager
Philip Edward ;
* Edwards ;
Julie Emanuel ;
mm David Emanuel ;couturier
fm Elizabeth Emanuel ;couturier
1 mm John Evelyn ;Author
mf Max Florence ;
Valentina Francis ;
fm Bridget Francis ;
George Francis ;
1 mm Trevor Francis ;Football manager
1 fm Christine Francis ;Recruitment consultant
mm Michael Franklin ;
fm Caroline Gabriel ;
mm Allen Gavin ;
fm Patricia Gavin ;
mm Eddie(EdwardGeorge ;Governor, Bank of England
fm Janet George ;
1 mm John George ;
mm Kenneth George ;science teacher
mm Peter George ;
fm Sara George ;
R Gerald ;
mm Godfrey Gideon ;Journalist
Hazel Gilbert ;
1 mm Andrew Gilbert ;
fm Hazel Gilbert ;
mm Joshua Gilbert ;
1 mm Lewis Gilbert ;
Andrew Gilbert ;
Leigh Gilbert ;art director
1 mm Stephen Gilbert ;Author
mm Ian Godfrey ;
mm Edward Gordon ;
mm Ivor Gordon ;classic car sales
mm Douglas Gordon ;film-maker, deceased
Lyndall Gordon ;writer
fm Barbara Gough ;Advertising
Adam Graham ;
1 mm Jack Graham ;
mm Barry Graham ;
mm Robert Graham ;Journalist
mm George Graham ;Journalist
mm Ian Grant ;architect
fm Helen Gregory ;dinner lady
mm Mark Gregory ;
mm Philip Hammond ;
1 mf Neil Hannah ;
fm Debby Harry ;singer
mm Rudy Harry ;
1 mm Charles Harvey ;editor
fm Fiona Harvey ;
mm Graham Harvey ;
mm Jonathan Harvey ;
1 mm Keith Harvey ;National Power PLC
mm Kevin Harley ;
mm Michael Harvey ;journalist
mm Paul Harvey ;author
fm Sally Harvey ;
mm Terry Harvey ;author
mm William Harvey ;discovered circulation of blood
mm Alan Henry ;
mm Oliver Henry ;
mm Donald Henry ;
fm Zoe Henry ;
mm Patrick Henry ;astronomer
mm David Henry ;IT Recruitment
fm Cicely Herbert ;
mm David Herman ;Company director
mf Gavin Hester ;Heroin addict
mf Robert Hope ;computer specialist
1 mm Emanuel Howard ;
fm Melanie Howard ;
mm Anthony Howard ;
fm Gillian Howard ;Lawyer
1 mm Hammond Innes ;
* Isaacs ;
1 mm David Jack ;Manager
m Sonia Jacob ;
Rahul Jacobs ;
* Jacobs ;
* Jacobs ;
Paul Jacques ;
1 mm Daniel James ;
fm Kathleen James ;
mm Peter James ;
mm Desmond James ;
mm William James ;
mm John James ;
fm Wendy James ;
mm Andrew James ;
fm Judith James ;
mm Henry James ;author
mm Gregory James ;author
1 mm Michael James ;Computer Shopper mag
1 mm Samuel James ;Computer Shopper mag
1 mm Oliver James ;Journalist
mm Richard James ;journalist
mm Ryan James ;murder suspect
fm Victoria James ;
1 mm Paul Jarvis ;publisher
1 mm Malcolm Jeffrey ;fruit label collector
mm Timothy Jeffrey ;
mm Peter Job ;
1 mm Elton John ;Entertainer
mm John Joseph ;
mm Andrew Joseph ;
fm Claudia Joseph ;
Oliver Joseph ;
mm Alan Joseph ;
mm Robert Joseph ;
1 mm Clifford Joseph ;Journalist
Gillian Joseph ;news reader
1 mm Martyn Joseph ;guitarist
* Josephs ;
mf Eric Joyce ;
mf Robert Joyce ;
1 mf James Joyce ;
mf Lawrence Joyce ;
mf Peter Joyce ;Author
Hettie Judah ;
mm Percy Julian ;medical researcher
fm DeAnne Julius ;banker
mm Anthony Julius ;lawyer
James Kaye ;
mm Allan Kurt ;
Graham Lawrance ;
mm Charles Laurence ;journalist
mm Ivan Lawrence ;
fm Laraine Lawrence ;
mm Michael Lawrence ;
Josephine Lawrence ;actress
fm Josie Lawrence ;Actress
mm John Lawrence ;Photographer
mm Anthony Lawrence ;photographer
Richard Lawrence ;services director
Monica Lee ;
Veronica Lee ;
mm Sidney Lee ;Editor, biographer
m? Allen Lee ;journalist
Daniel Leon ;
fm Donna Leon ;
mm Renzo Leon ;
fm Mary Leonard ;
mm Thomas Leonard ;journalist
Samantha Leslie ;
fm Denise Lester ;
1 mm Barry Lewis ;
mm David Lewis ;
fm Miriam Lewis ;
Sinclair Lewis ;Author
mm Leslie Lewis ;Publican
mf William Lily ;15th Century grammarian
mm John Llewellyn ;
mm Kevin Lloyd ;
1 mm Stephen Lloyd ;Author
mm John Lloyd ;Journalist
ff Dany Louise ;social worker
fm Stella Lucas ;
?f B Lucy ;
Matthew Lynn ;journalist
mm Frazer MacDonald ;journalist
Cameron Macintosh ;theatre impressario
mm Robert Malcolm ;
1 mm Derek Malcolm ;Journalist
mf Geoffrey Marcy ;astronomer
ff Sandra Margo ;
mf Anthony Margo ;
fm Sally Mark ;
Barnaby Martin ;
mm Clifford Martin ;
mm Steven Martin ;
mm Roger Martin ;
mm Christopher Martin ;
fm Linda Martin ;
fm Josie Martin ;Artist
Michael Martin ;
Peter Martin ;journalist
mm Andrew Martin ;Journalist
fm Anne Martin ;Psychiatrist
* Matthews ;
mf Michael Maude :cricketer ?
fm Petra Michael ;
mm Alun Michael ;Government minister
mm Brian Milton ;microlite pilot
mm Yitzchak Mordecai ;
mm Sheridan Morley ;writer
1 mm Charles Morris ;
1 mm David Morris ;
mm Morton Morris ;
fm Pamela Morris ;Journalist
1 mm Brian Morris ;Writer
1 mm John Mortimer ;Writer
mm David Moses
mm Alasdair Murray ;
mm Ian Murray ;
mm Graham Murray ;publishing
mm Jeremy Nathan ;
mm Eric Neal ;
mm Peter Neil ;
mm Andrew Neil ;Newspaper editor
1 mm Bruce Nelson ;
fm Diane Nelson ;
1 mm Fraser Nelson ;journalist
fm Susan Nelson ;
Hillary Neville ;
David Nicholas ;
Lindsay Nicholle ;
ff Elizabeth Nicol ;
mf Hubert Nicolle ;insurance consultant
mm Donald Norman ;
Matthew Norman ;
mm Barry Norman ;
1 mm Caspar Norman ;BBC
1 mm Peter Norman ;Journalist
mm Matthew Norman ;journalist
mf Paul Olive ;marine biologist
mf Steve Olive ;
mm Gary Oliver ;
1 mm Robert Oliver ;
Stanley Oliver ;
1 mm Howard Oliver ;
mm David Owen ;
mm John Patrick ;
fm P Patrick ;
1 mm Alexander Patrick ;Computer Shopper
mm Christopher Paul ;trade unionist
1 mm Martin Paul ;
fm Wendy Paul ;Evesham Micros
mm Charles Paul ;
fm Lucy Paul ;
ff Therese Penny ;Computing
mm John Percival ;
mm Colin Percival ;university student
mm Ralph Percy ;
fm Norma Percy ;BBC
Martin Percy ;theologian
mm Nicholas Peregrine ;
mm James Perry ;
mm Timothy Perry ;journalist
mm Paul Ralph ;
mm Peter Ralph ;
mm Mark Raphael ;
1 mm Bernard Reuben ;
Kimberley Reynolds ;
* Roberts ;
Ivan Robin ;photographer
Jeremy Robin ;photographer
fm Jennifer Rodger ;Journalist
* Rogers ;
ff Lilian Rose ;
mm Jonathan Rose ;
ff Dinah Rose ;
ff June Rose ;
mf Damon Rose ;
1 mf Malcolm Rose ;
ff Maureen Rose ;Dress-maker
mf Stephen Rose ;
1 mm Eric Rose ;
ff Phillipa Rose ;actress
mm Justin Rose ;golfer
mf Paul Rose ;llama farmer
ff Judy Rose ;llama farmer
James Ross ;
fm Sally Roy ;
mm James Rubin ;
1 mm Isaac Rubin ;
mm Anthony Rudolph ;
mm Eric Rudolph ;
mm Paul Rudolph ;architect
m? Damon Runyon ;
mm Frank Russell ;
mm Mark Russell ;
?m * Samuel ;
mm Edgar Samuel ;
* Samuels ;
ff Linda Saul ;
mm Roger Saul ;Mulberry Group PLC
Guy Sharon ;
mm Barnett Sheridan ;
bf Robin Shirley ;Computers
ff Stephanie Shirley ;F International (aka Steve Shirley)
ff Janet Shirley ;Poet
Carolyn Simon ;
mm Jeffrey Simon ;
fm Carolyn Simon ;
1 mm Daniel Simon ;
mm Neil Simon ;Playwright
Kevin Sinclair ;
mm Daniel Sinclair ;
mm Michael Solomon ;
* Solomons ;
Thomas Spencer ;
Valerie Spencer ;
mm Andrew Spencer ;
Elizabeth Spencer ;
1 mm Nicholas Spencer ;journalist
1 mm Charles Spencer ;Journalist
f? Helen Stacey ;murderess
David Stanley ;
fm Jane Stanley ;
fm Helen Stanley ;Author
Martin Stephen ;school headmaster
mm Robyn Steven ;
Colin Steven ;
fm Christine Stewart ;
mm William Stewart ;
mm Patrick Stewart ;Actor
mm Brian Stewart ;advertising
fm Martha Stewart ;cookery books
mm Alexander Stewart ;Cricketer
mm David (Dave)Stewart ;singer
1 mm Peter Stuart ;
Marie Stuart ;author
mf Maurice Suzanne ;
fm Ellen Terry ;Actress
Richard Thomas ;
fm Susan Thomas ;
1 mm Samuel Thomas ;
fm Monica Thomas ;
Russell Thomas ;
fm Elsie Thomas ;
mm Christopher Thomas ;
1 mm David Thomas ;
mm Mark Thomas ;comedian
mm Allen Thomas ;company direrctor
1 mm Thomas Thomas ;lexicographer, circa 1587
mm Peter Tom ;company director
mm William Trevor ;writer
1 mm Mark Vernon ;Journalist
* Veronique ;
mm Edward Victor ;literary agent
mm Andrew Vincent ;
mm Mark Vincent ;
mm Noel Vincent ;
fm Harriet Walter ;
m- Gough Whitlam ;Politician
Jay Wilbur ;
* Williams ;
Benjamin Wolfe ;
* Wolfe ;
* Wolff ;
* Woolf ;
fm Jane Woolf ;
* Zacharias ;
Surnames which are also nouns
Updated: 18th May 1999
Some of the following surnames are also verbs and they are listed
under that heading.
Surname
---------------
Jack Album ;
David Almond ;novelist
Leah Amethyst ;
Oliver August ;
Joanna Bale ;
Kenneth Ball ;
Colin Barker ;journalist
Robin Baron ;
Andrew Barrow ;
Charles Batchelor ;
Paul Bean ;
Paul Bean ;
Lenny Beige ;comedian (stage name?)
David Bell ;
Anthony Bell ;
Gregory Berry ;
Pat Berry ;
David Bird ;
John Bird ;
Helen Bishop ;
Christopher Bishop ;
Victor Bishop ;
Edward Black ;
Christopher Bland ;
Peter Bleach ;arms dealer
Trevor Blench ;
James Blitz ;
Diane Blood ;
Geoffrey Booth ;
Martin Booth ;writer
Phil Box ;
Mary Braid ;
Michael Brain ;Musician
Lawrence Brass ;lawyer
Paul Bray ;journalist
Maggie Bridge ;
Leonard Brown ;
Matthew Buck ;
Angela Bush ;
Michael Butcher ;Journalist
Katherine Butler ;
* Cake ;
Alan Cane ;journalist
James Cannon ;
Brian Carter ;
Stephen Case ;CEO, AOL
Stephen Castle ;journalist
Graham Cave ;
Michael Chance ;
Dennis Cherry ;
Harry Child ;
Amanda Church ;
Ray Clay ;
Nigel Cliff ;
Charles Clover ;
Peter Coffee ;Author
Kenneth Cork ;accountant
Richard Cork ;Art critic
Oliver Cotton ;actor
Jane Couch ;professional lady boxer
John Cox ;
Jane Crane ;
Gerry Crest ;
Peter Croft ;
Ian Croft ;
Michael Cross ;
Debbie Cross ;sales manager
Sheryl Crow ;
Ada Crown ;
Daniel Curry ;
Christopher Damp ;
Alastair Darling ;UK Government minister
* Dawn ;
Ronald Demon ;Researcher
Stuart Diamond ;
Anthony Dinner ;
Peter Dove ;
Jonathan Dove ;
J. Dove ;
John Draper ;
Clare English ;Broadcaster
David Eton ;(name of school and town)
William Fair ;
Larry Farmer ;
Anthony Feather ;
Vivienne Feather ;
Robert Feather ;
Justin Field ;
Julia Finch ;
Paul Foot ;politician
David Fox ;
Hilary Fox ;
Gordon Fox ;
Glenys France ;
Elizabeth France ;Data Protection Registrar
Peter Freitag ;
Deborah Frieze ;
Raymond Furlong ;
Anita Gale ;
Keith Gentry ;Personnel recruitment
Martin Gill ;
Norma Glass ;
Leonard Gold ;
Christopher Green ;journalist
David Grout ;
Paul Groves ;
David Guest ;journalist
Rodger Hake ;
David Hands ;
Ivan Harbour ;
Clay Harris ;broadcaster [his forename is a noun]
Ronald Harrow ;
Colin Hart ;
Rona Hart ;
Michael Heap ;
Derrick Heaven ;Diplomat
Peter Hedges ;
Ian Hill ;
Helen Hill ;
Damon Hill ;racing car driver
Geoffrey House ;
Roger House ;
Elspeth Inch ;
Michael Jay ;
Joyce Kiddie ;
Richard Kite ;
Henrietta Lake ;
Larry Lamb ;actor
Alyson Lane ;
Wally Leaf ;
Jeremy Leaf ;estate agent
Amanda Lean ;
Geoffrey Leech ;
* Look
Donna Love ;
Philippa Marsh ;
Virginia Marsh ;journalist
Nigel Maunder ;
Lorien Mead ;
Robin Mead ;
Gerald Mill ;
Daniel Millet ;
Colin Monk ;
Stephen Moss ;
Joanne Moss ;
Steven Moth ;
Richard Neighbour ;Computer specialist
Benedict Nightingale ;Theatre critic
Cherry Norton ;
John Onions ;
Roger Page ;
Harry Partridge ;
Frank PerenBoom ;Musician
Alan Pike ;
John Pilgrim ;
Michael Pilgrim ;
Susan Pink ;
Timothy Pitcher ;
Dianne Place ;
Sadie Plant ;
Barbara Porch ;
Reginald Porter ;
Michell Press ;
Heather Rainbow ;
Louise Rainbow ;
Steven Ranger ;
Nicholas Ray ;
Victor Rice ;
Max Roach ;
Hugh Roach ;
Ian Roast ;
Sheila Rock ;
Malcolm Rose ;
Maureen Rose ;Dress-maker
Joy Sable ;
Adam Sage ;
Brent Savage ;
Brent Savage ;
Daniel Scripture ;
Victor Shack ;
Paul Shave ;
Raina Sheaf ;
Paul Shore ;
Bernard Silver ;
Debbie Silver ;
Karen Silver ;
John Singer ;
Clifton Sink ;
Andrew Sky ;football agent
David Snapper ;
Ralph Spark ;
Joe Spring ;
Matthew Spring ;Musician
Robert Springer ;
Steven Squibb ;
Timothy Stammers ;journalist
Timothy Steel ;
Nikki Strange ;
Jack Straw ;British Government Minister
Peter Style ;
Michael Sugar ;
Richard Swan ;
Marion Teal ;
Richard Tilt ;
Frank, Sir Tombs ;one-time head of UK Inland Revenue
Henry Tricks ;
Ian Trill ;
Lynne Truss ;writer, journalist
Philip Turtle ;
Andrew Verity ;
Michael Wagen ;(German for wagon)
Michael Walk ;
Mark Waltz ;
Donald Weeks ;author
Mike Whine ;
Liam White ;
Michael White ;
Michael Winch ;
Michael Winner ;
Leo Winter ;
Stephen Wood ;
David Wood ;
Clive Wood ;
Jonathan Wren ;
Henry Wrong ;
Philip Yam ;
Surnames which are also verbs
Updated: 18th May 1999.
Some of these surnames are also nouns and are listed additionally
under that heading.
Surname
---------------
Ian Browse ;
Nigel Reeks ;
Richard Tilt ;
Henry Tricks ;
Ian Trill ;
Lynne Truss ;writer, journalist
Michael Walk ;
Mark Waltz ;
Simon Wane ;town hall manager
Mike Whine ;
Non-hyphenated multi-part surnames
Updated: 18th May 1999.
These surnames may be split into two sub-words which can
be included in a plausible sentence as indicated. In each
case the internal boundary is indicated by a capital letter.
A few surnames have eluded my attempts to invent a sentence.
Some of the sentences required the insertion of a comma between
the sub-words. These examples will have to do until I think of
a better example.
Multipart surname
---------------
John BedFord ;"Are you still in bed, Ford?"
Larry BowDen ;
Paul CarMan ;"Hey, check dat car, man."
Jeffrey DuckWorth ;"What is your duck worth?"
Digby FairWeather ;[Musician] "We are expecting fair weather."
Richard FriedMan ;"Gimme da eggs fried, man."
Timothy LightBody ;"The car had a light body."
Richard NewTon ;
Harry PartRidge ;"The terrain was part ridge and part plateau."
Frank PerenBoom ;[Musician] (pear tree)
Heather RainBow ;
Louise RainBow ;
Richard Smallwood ;
Surnames which are not misspelled, apparently
Updated: 18th May 1999.
After looking at surnames and forenames for years I am prepared to
believe almost any spelling to be correct. The following are interesting
because they are probably all correct yet they give me the impression
that they are not. I have suggested for each name an alternative
"correct" spelling and a reason.
Surname
---------
? Chen ;Cohen [omission]
? Folwer ;Flower [transposition]
? Harrold ;Harold [typo]
Andrew Seviour ;Saviour [typo]
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