Can We Guess Your Last Name?

By: Teresa McGlothlin
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can We Guess Your Last Name?
Image: Taphouse_Studios/E+/GettyImages

About This Quiz

Whether you realize it or not, your last name gives away a lot about you. It can reflect your family's background and culture. Some say that names are even associated with certain personality traits, and we're here to put the theory to the test. 

You might be asking — how on earth can you figure out my last name using a bunch of quiz questions. The truth is, we can only take an educated guess based on the answers you provide. With each response, you're opening up a little window to your personality. With your personality, you're pointing us in the direction of those name traits we were mentioning. We'll carefully decipher the code you give us until we have it just right. 

Unless your name is something rare like Jingleheimerschmidt, it shouldn't be that difficult to figure out how you sign your John Hancock. It all depends on your honesty, though. Level with us about your name, and — without directly asking — we'll pick up the name vibes you're throwing down. Will we get it right, or will we get it wrong? Scroll down to play the last name game and find out what's really in a name. 


Q1 Alphabetical Seating
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When you were in school and you were assigned alphabetical seats, where did you sit?
The middle of the room
The back of the room
I was usually in detention.
The front of the class

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Q2 Baby Name
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Some celebrities choose wild names for their kids. Which one would you use?
North
Blue
Scout
Rumor

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Q3 Like Name
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Do you like your first name, or do you wish it was something else?
It could always be worse.
It's a little plain for my personality.
I like it, I guess.
I've considered changing it.

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Q4 Last Choice
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Which of these last names would be your last choice?
Johnson
Butts
Stalker
Quiche

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Q5 Married
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Do you think it's weird for a woman to keep her last name after getting married?
To each their own ...
I wouldn't dream of giving up my name.
I think hyphenated names are cool.
It's a tradition to take the other partner's last name.

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Q6 Dog
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How do you feel when you meet a dog with a sophisticated name like Archibald the III?
I feel a little less intelligent.
I assume the owners are quirky.
I don't feel any way about it, really.
I think sophisticated pet names are the way to go.

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Q7 Pet Rock
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If you had to name a pet rock, which name would you choose?
Oliver Stone
Lava McHot
Gravellina
Rock "The Rock" Johnson

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Q8 Trace Last Name
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Can you trace your last name back to its origin?
I've never tried!
It's seemingly impossible.
I know exactly where we came from.
No, but one of those genealogy tests might help.

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Q9 US President
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Which former U.S. president has the best last name?
Truman
Eisenhower
Washington
Bush

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Q10 Nickname
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Do your friends call you by name, or do they use a nickname?
I answer to a lot of nicknames.
They use a shortened version of my name.
They use my name.
I have one specific nickname.

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Q11 Sign Contract
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When you sign your name on a contract, can we read it?
I have very tidy handwriting.
It's nearly indecipherable.
It's a little sloppy.
I always use my initials.

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Q12 Pet Name
Unsplash by Laura Briedis
In relationships, which of these pet names do you prefer to be called?
My name
Honey
Baby
Sweetheart

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Q13 Heritage
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Does your last name give away your family's heritage?
There are mixed theories about that.
It says a lot about where we're from.
It's been altered over time.
It totally gives away our neighborhood.

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Q14 Trouble Pronouncing Name
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When you meet new people, do they often have trouble pronouncing your last name?
No, but it gets confused for another name a lot.
Some people can mispronounce anything.
All the time!
Not usually, but it happens.

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Q15 Food Name
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If they were to give a food your last name at your local diner, what kind of food would it be?
A drink
A sandwich
A sundae
A salad

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Q16 Famous Last Name
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Can you think of any famous people who share your last name?
I think there's an actor with the same name.
No, but a lot of regular people have it.
I can't think of any famous people with the same name.
There are a few of them!

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Q17 Tells Other About You
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What do you think your last name tells other about you?
It says that I'm wealthier than I actually am.
I think my last name makes me sound plain.
It tells people that my family was made from immigrants.
My last name says I'm in charge.

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Q18 Spell Name
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When you place an order for a pizza, do you have to spell out your last name?
Never
Once in a while
All the time
It depends where I order.

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Q19 Kid Name
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Did you have a lot of trouble learning to write your name as a kid?
I had trouble writing everything.
Not really
Some of the letters gave me trouble.
I still struggle with it.

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Q20 Same Last Name
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Are you ever mistaken for someone with the same last name?
Yes! A celebrity!
No
Sometimes
Before they see me, maybe.

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Q21 Giftshop Trinket
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Would you have a hard time finding your first name on a gift shop trinket?
It's not as hard as it used to be.
It's easy to find.
It's impossible to find.
I carry a marker for that reason.

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Q22 Park Named After
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If they named a park after you, what sort of park would it be?
Office park
Wilderness area
Amusement park
Skate park

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Q23 Name In Lights
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Have you ever seen your name in lights?
Not yet, but I will.
No, but I have a swanky nameplate on my desk.
I have!
No, but I've seen it on a takeout restaurant window.

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Q24 Appearance
Unsplash by Noah Buscher
Do you think your looks embody your last name?
No, I'm not living on a farm with 17 children.
I think it suits me.
No. My looks are much nicer than my last name.
It couldn't be a more perfect match.

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Q25 Date Same Last Name
Unsplash by Jonathan J. Castellon
Would you ever date someone with the same last name you have?
My town is far too small for that!
Been there—done that.
I don't think I could do it.
Only if I'm sure we're not related

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Q26 Special
Andrew Brookes/Cultura/GettyImages
What do you think is special about your name?
My name is a really old name.
Many distinctive people have had the same last name.
My name is strong sounding.
It's a name that others wish they had.

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Q27 Animal Last Name
Fazer44/Moment/GettyImages
If you could have an animal name as a last name, which one would it be?
Anaconda
Jaguar
Kangaroo
Humpback-Whale

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Q28 Friendss Last Name
Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision/GettyImages
Is there anyone in your life who refers to you by your last name only?
My coworkers do that.
No one really does that.
My high school friends still call me by my last name.
I'm not sure I would enjoy that nickname.

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Q29 Painting
Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich/Cultura/GettyImages
Let's pretend you painted a masterpiece. Would you sign your entire name?
I would use my initials.
I would sign my first, last and middle names.
I think using only a last name is appropriate.
My first initial and my last name would do.

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Q30 Test
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Are most of the slots for names on tests big enough to hold your last name?
I never have a problem.
Sometimes, they are a little slim.
There's never enough space.
I haven't taken a test in a very long time.

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