Southern Names: From Faulkner, Tennessee Williams and more

Looking at this list, I’ve concluded that the only thing better than Southern names are Southern book titles. Plus they have names hidden within them–Beaulah, Moses, Absalom, Tiffany.

What about Siddalee from “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood”, Idgie and Buddy from “Fried Green Tomatoes at The Whistlestop Cafe” and Rucker from “Cold Sassy Tree.” All cute, Southern fried names.

I profiled Sully today, too! Fantastic name. And this is a fantastic list! I must say, though, that I never encountered most of these in all my years growing up in the South, and I encountered many, many uniquely southern names. I think Literature names are just in a class of their own, a beautiful, beautiful class.

I’ll list some of my favorites from home. and you of course have to put Ms. or Mr. in front of the *first* names, because that’s how they’re always addressed. and ALL of the double names are kept in tact:

Mary Love
Mary Dudley
Carol Ann
Noni Kate
Janeann
Mary Alice
Avalou
Velvet
Sarah Claire (Sally)
Bettylou (3 of them)
Ann Bruce (2)
Damaris
Tomasina
Georgia Meade
Frankie (by way of Frances)

Hagan
Hoke
Harlan
Sterling
Charles Ed
Tommy Clarence
Kip
Royce
Jasper
Thurman

Is Meridian male or female? I love the sound of it. My other favorite from the list is Temple but I don’t know if I would be brave enough to use it. It’s not a name for everyone!

Great post! Southern names are the best, not that I’m biased or anything! :p

@Marginamia – I adore double names! They are almost expected in my neck of the woods for girls. When I was younger I thought they were hokey and “old lady” but now on a child I think they are so endearing! They run rampant in my own family and my cousins and I are upholding the tradition. Some of our grandmothers/great aunts/ect names are

Mary Lou
Althea Mae
Cricket Lee (!)
Ada Ruth
Kerry Sue
Nancy Gayle
Mollie Kay

We’re taking a modern twist on the tradition. My cousin, Cheri Kay, recently named her little girl Kenzie Kay, and my other cousin, Brandi Anne, named her girl Zoe River nn Zoe Riv. If my little bun in the oven turns out to be a girl, we’re naming her Josephine Wren nn Jovie Wren!

Calpurnia really makes me smile but to my OH, Calpurnia was his beloved childhood kitty. Off limits to me. But He’s allowing Portia in the middle (to lessen possible “piggy” teasing), so I happily go along.
Idgie was Imogen (or Imogene, I forget). Neat nickname.
Celie’s on our list for a girl, it would be Cecily’s main nickname.

from the boys, Binx, Cash & Tull all have that abrupt stop I love in a boys name. Ignatius is a family name for me & Rufus is just behind Rex on our boy list!

There are a bunch of Southern names we love!

Forgot to mention, Faulkner is one of my very favorite occupation names! means “one who cares for Hawks”. how awesome is that!?!

I recently noticed that a lot of my sister’s friends have southern sounding names (We do live in the south)- Lillie Jo, Whitney Grace, Danner (family surname)

@Marginamia–Your list is so fun, it reminds me of an old episode of “The Simpsons” where the country singer Lurleen had siblings named Vonda Mae and Piney Jo.

Tull is actually the surname of Cora and Vernon in As I Lay Dying, so not a character.

I also really like Jewel, Cora, Addie and Samson from As I Lay Dying.

And Maribelle, Frankie, Idabel, Sapphia, Verena, Cash, Chance, Emmet, Josiah, and Rufus.

What about Dewey Dell?

Beautiful names on this list…

Girls
Ada – on my list
Eliza – on my list
Leora – my sister’s name <3
Meridian – love this name

Boys
Ignatius – oh this name is great!
Loch – nice strong name

From Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothea Allison–for girls Carr, Alma, Reese (a girl in the book but I have a nephew named Reese)…Grey and Garvey for boys