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Place Names for Babies

  1. Sundance

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "sun dance"

    • Description:

      Long synonymous with the American outlaw Harry Longabaugh, aka The Sundance Kid, who got his nickname from the town of Sundance, Wyoming, where he was incarcerated as a teenager. The place name Sundance was taken from the sun dance ceremony practiced by local Native American tribes.
  2. Cluny

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "from the meadow"

    • Description:

      Likable Irish surname name, but bound to be confused with Clooney.
  3. Hartford

    • Origin:

      English surname

    • Meaning:

      "deer ford"

    • Description:

      British habitational surname that calls to mind the Connecticut capital
  4. Luxor

    • Origin:

      Place name, Egyptian

    • Meaning:

      "palaces, castles"

    • Description:

      Luxor is just waiting to be discovered as a baby name. It has a lot going for it — an easy and fashionable nickname (hello, Lux!), unisex appeal, and a place name connection. Luxor is the modern-day name for the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. It was derived from the Arabic term al-ʾuqṣur, referring to palaces or castles.
  5. Assisi

    • Origin:

      Italian place-name

    • Description:

      This lovely Umbrian hill town became a striking first name for the young daughter of Jade Jagger.
  6. Arbel

    • Origin:

      Hebrew place name

    • Description:

      In Israel, Mount Arbel is a mountain in the lower Galilee. Jewish parents have adopted it as a name for their sons and daughters for the mountain's historic and religious significance.
  7. Cytherea

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "from the island of Cythera"

    • Description:

      Cytherea, a place-name that is the home of Aphrodite, seems stuck in ancient Greece.
  8. Lexington

    • Origin:

      English place name

    • Description:

      Lexington is rising as a place name used just about evenly for the genders. For Americans, it's got a patriotic ring, given the importance of Lexington, Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. Lexington, Kentucky, in horse country, is another famous place with the name.
  9. Arlington

    • Origin:

      English habitational surname, place name

    • Meaning:

      "the noble's town"

    • Description:

      Similar in sound to Arlo, Remington, and Arthur, this surname style and place name could make a patriotic choice in the US, with its connections to Arlington National Cemetery. Given to 7 girls and 22 boys in a recent year, it is making moves up the charts, albeit small ones.
  10. Everest

    • Origin:

      Place-name, world's tallest mountain

    • Meaning:

      "from Évreux"

    • Description:

      Everest has an attractive enough sound and lofty enough meaning to come into style, à la Sierra. George Lucas bestowed this aspirational name on his baby daughter in 2013 and it has been climbing up the charts ever since. Currently in the US Top 1000 for boys, it was also given to around 100 girls in a recent year.
  11. Laredo

    • Origin:

      Place-name

    • Description:

      We've seen babies with Texas city names like Austin, Houston and Dallas--, why not the unexplored Laredo, which has a lot of cowboy charisma? Laredo might make for a more modern and creative namesake for an Uncle Lawrence/Larry--as could the related Laramie.
  12. Kenya

    • Origin:

      Place name, Kikuyu

    • Meaning:

      "mountain of white"

    • Description:

      Kenya, a name borrowed from the East African nation and theoretically unisex, is now used mostly for girls. While it's had its ups and downs since entering the US Top 1000 in 1968, it currently ranks lower than spelling variant Kenia.
  13. Russia

    • Origin:

      Russian place name

    • Description:

      Consider ODESSA instead.
  14. Kerala

    • Origin:

      Indian place name

    • Description:

      Kerala, the name of the most beautiful and touristed state of India, has recently debuted on the U.S. extended popularity list as a first name for girls. And why not? Kerala sounds lovely and rhythmic and in tune with the Kardashian-influenced taste for all names K.
  15. Moab

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "from my father"

    • Description:

      Moab is a Biblical name and an ancient place name. In the Old Testament, Moab was the son of Lot. The Kingdom of Moab, in modern-day Jordan, was Biblically significant for often being in conflict with Israel.
  16. Stanford

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "stony ford"

    • Description:

      Even if you're a loyal alumnus, consider something less ultraupright, like Yale or Cal.
  17. Sequoia

    • Description:

      Sequoia is a masculine name derived from the name of the massive redwood trees native to California, which were themselves named after Sequoyah (c.1770-1843), the Cherokee silversmith who created a syllabary for the Cherokee language. As a given name, Sequoia evokes qualities of strength, longevity, and natural majesty—sequoia trees are among the largest and longest-living organisms on Earth. This name has gained modest popularity in the United States since the late 20th century as part of the trend toward nature-inspired names. While still uncommon, Sequoia appeals to parents seeking a distinctive name with Native American connections and powerful natural symbolism. Though listed here as masculine, it's worth noting that Sequoia is used for children of all genders.

  18. Mojave

    • Origin:

      Native American tribal and place-name

    • Description:

      Resonant place-name of the beautiful Southern California desert.
  19. Glasgow

    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name

    • Description:

      An undiscovered place-name with an appealing o-sound ending.
  20. Houston

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "Hugh's town"

    • Description:

      As far as Texas place names go, Houston is more unique than Austin and Dallas and more attractive than Marfa.