Alongside the -n surnames currently finding favour (Mason, Harrison, Jenson, Maddison and co), -ee surnames are perhaps the most popular sound for surnames-turned-first names. The most popular surname-firstname used in 2011 in England and Wales for boys was Riley, while Lacey won the poll for girls. Other top 200 favourites include Harley, Bailey, Corey, Bradley, Marley, Mackenzie, Ashley, Darcy, Macey, Courtney and Casey.
It isn't hard to see why these names have gained popularity. The top rankings are littered with the coverted "ee" sound: Harry, Alfie, Charlie, Lily, Emily, Sophie and Ruby are all in the Top 7. There is also a precedence for the sound among surname-firstnames. Some are so long established, we actually forget their origins. You'd be forgiven for forgetting Beverley, Dudley, Lindsey, Hayley, Kelsey, Tracy, Stanley, Percy, Wesley and Sidney all started out as such.
The list contains an additional selection of -ee surnames. Some have already seen a little usage as firstnames; others are waiting to be discovered.
| Abrey Addey Alfrey Alvey Amberley Amery Ansley Appley Ardley Arley Ashby Audley Avely Barclay Beckley Bellaby Bellamy Bickley Bingley Bissy Blakeley Body Bonamy Bracey |
Bramley Brayley Brierley Cassidy Colley Consedy Corby Cordrey Corley Daly Damary Danby Dancey Darby Darley Debney Delaney Digby Ealey Ellery Ellerby Emery Everley Farley |
Fernley Fillery Finney Fleury Forley Foxley Galey Greeley Hadley Hardy Hartley Hatley Henley Hennessy Henty Huntley Imrie Ingrey Jeary Jennery Kembry Kemmery Kempsey Kenley |
Kennedy Kennerley Kesby Kiersey Kimsey Kingsley Kinley Kinnerley Kinsey Kinsley Kirby Knightley Landrey Langley Laverty Limsey Lindley Livesey Madeley Mailey Mallory Maxey Medley Morley |
Murphy Nateby Oakley Orrey Quincy Quinney Rafferty Rainey Raleigh Ramsey Reaney Renny Ridley Rigby Ripley Romilly Rowley Saxby Sealey Selby Sibley Silby Summerby Tawney
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Tempany Temperley Thackeray Thorsby Thorley Tilsley Tinsley Vaisey Varley Vicary Wacey Waley Waverley Weatherby Wellesley Whitley Wiley Wilkie Willacy Willoughby Winley Yardley Zealey Zelley
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