50 Names That Mean You Live in the North East
Do you know a lot of kids named Maeve and Rowan, Connor and Max? You might just live in the North East of the USA.
Behind the national data on the most popular baby names, each region has its own favorites, and the North East — here, the six states of New England plus Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey — is no exception.
Parents in the North East especially love girl names that are sweet with attitude, modern nature choices, and gently fading last names.
For boys, North East style leans towards quirky sounds that are masculine but not macho, with plenty of up-and-coming last names, buttoned-up classics, and a strong dash of Irish.
Read on for our analysis of what brings North-Eastern baby names together, and makes the region stand out from the rest of the States.
Top Baby Names in the North East USA
All the North-Eastern states share at least a few of their most popular names with the national Top 10. The state closest to the norm is Massachusetts, which shares all its top ten names with the whole US, except for one boy name and one girl name: Nora and Jack make the Top 10 in Massachusetts, instead of Luna and Elijah nationally.
But there is little agreement between the states. Only three names are in the Top 10 in all nine North-Eastern states: Charlotte and Amelia for girls, and Liam for boys.
Instead, states’ Top 10 lists show a mixture of forward-looking names on the rise, like Eleanor and Isla, Owen and Jack, along with some conservative choices that have fallen faster elsewhere, like Harper and Michael.
Of course, they also reflect each state’s unique population: so New York and New Jersey have Jewish names like Leah, Joseph and David in their Top 10, while Vermont prefers outdoorsy options like Hudson and Wyatt, Juniper and Iris.
Top 100 Baby Names in the North East
There are 47 girl names and 38 boy names shared by all the North East states in their Top 100. All of these are also in the USA’s Top 100 except for Maeve and Connor.
Maeve is a fast-rising name that is likely to enter the US Top 100 soon, while Connor is falling and just left the national Top 100 last year. But both reflect the strong influence of Irish heritage on North-Eastern parents.
Girl Names Especially Popular in the North East USA
For baby girls, parents in the North East love names that are feminine with attitude: think spunky vintage nicknames like Elsie and Molly, quirky classic Phoebe, and long-yet-punchy Genevieve.
Other popular girl names include nature names like Rowan and Rose, and well-loved last names that remain popular here while they are fading in the rest of the country, like Mackenzie.
Here are ten girl names that are relatively more popular in the North East states than in the rest of the USA.
Elsie
This vintage nickname is at number 189 nationally, but makes the Top 100 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Emerson
Ranking 171 nationally, but in the Top 100 in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine. Emersyn also ranks higher than its national place (135) in several North East states, and is in the Top 50 in Maine.
Genevieve
Number 166 nationally, higher in most North-Eastern states and in the Top 50 in Rhode Island, and the Top 100 in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Mackenzie
Number 142 nationally, Mackenzie is in the Top 100 in every North East state, and makes the Top 50 in New Hampshire.
Molly
Number 200 nationally, but ranking higher than this in every North East state and in the Top 100 in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Phoebe
Number 215 nationally, but more popular in most North East states, and a Top 100 name in Vermont, Maine, and Rhode Island.
Rose
Number 120 nationally, but a Top 100 name in Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, New York, and Connecticut!
Rowan
Number 276 nationally, but in the Top 200 in most North East states, and in 62nd place in nature-loving Vermont.
Vera
Number 225 nationally, but inside the Top 200 in most North East states, and number 46 in Vermont.
Vivian
Vivian has just dropped out of the national Top 100 to number 103, but is still going strong in the North East, ranking in Maine’s Top 20, and in the Top 100 in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Maybe longtime Boston quarterback Tom Brady's use of Vivian for his daughter influenced the name's popularity with New England Patriots fans.
Other girl names that are proportionally more popular in the North East of the USA:
Boy Names Especially Popular in the North East USA
For baby boys, parents in the North East states are all about the gentle, offbeat masculine sounds. Some end in a vowel, like Arlo and Bodhi, and others with a soft sound like August and Ellis.
The favored last names as first names are vintage gentlemen like Beckett and Elliott, rather than occupational names. There are also slightly square classics, like Graham and Malcolm, and a strong Irish influence in names like Quinn, Finn, and Declan.
Below are ten boy names particularly popular in the North East of the States.
Arlo
Number 170 nationally, but in the Top 100 in Maine and Vermont.
Beckett
Number 196 nationally, but makes the Top 100 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
Dominic
Dominic has slipped down to number 103 nationally, but is still well within the Top 100 in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. These states have large Italian populations, where Dominic is still popular.
Elliott
Number 169 nationally, but in the Top 100 in Maine and Vermont, and relatively popular in several other North East states.
Finn
Number 177 nationally, but more popular in most North East states, and a Top 100 name in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Finnegan is also disproportionately popular in Maine and New Hampshire. The Northeast's large Irish-American population favors these Irish names.
Griffin
Number 231 nationally, but in the Top 100 in Vermont and Maine, and in the Top 200 in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
Malcolm
Number 286 nationally, but in the Top 200 in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
Max
Number 157 nationally, but a Top 100 name in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, and New Jersey. Maxwell is also disproportionately popular in the North East, and makes the Top 100 in New Hampshire and Maine.
Quinn
Number 444 nationally, but more popular than this in every North East state, and in the Top 100 in Vermont. Another Irish-American favorite.
Vincent
Number 124 nationally, but ranks in the Top 100 in New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.
Here are more boy names that are relatively more popular in the North East USA than elsewhere:
- Arthur
- Ashton
- Atlas
- August
- Austin
- Bodhi
- Brayden
- Calvin
- Connor
- Declan
- Emmett
- George
- Graham
- Harrison
- Hayden
- Jaxson
- Jude
- Milo
- Myles