Place Names for Babies

One of the most picturesque and enchanting areas of France could become a distinctive baby name.

More unusual than Dakota or Austin, Colorado conjures images of majestic mountains and windswept wilderness. Some will prefer the more preppy Aspen, but Colorado feels like the true explorer.

Similar in sound to Meredith, this could be an interesting choice for parents looking for a unique name. Merri is an obvious and appealing nickname.

Rumors abound about Waneta, which is a Canadian place name. Some say it's an Anglicization of Juanita, while others claim it's a Native American name. Interestingly, Waneta is a common name among the American Amish.

An actual Hawaiian first name would convey the aura of the islands more originally and effectively.

Vanderpump Rules star Stassi Schroeder put this place name on the map when she used it for her daughter Hartford Charlie Rose.

Name of a tiny Bahamian island that's better suited to a girl.

Evokes picture-postcard image of colorful Indonesia. Bali Barret is a Paris fashion insider who oversees women's style for Hermes. Bali rhymes with tally or galley.

Mythical wonderland makes strong, evocative first name for either gender.

More distinctive than Grace and more creative than Presley, Graceland is a contemporary name that could catch on with parents searching for a unique honorific.

A Catalan county name used for both girls and boys in its homeland.

The familiar Irish city and bay is one place-name that seems distinctly masculine.

In America, it is inextricable from the popular '90s line dance, but Macarena is a traditional feminine name in Spain. It is used in honor of the Virgin of Hope of Macarena, an epithet of the Virgin Mary. Macarena is also the name of a hip neighborhood in Seville.

Derby might be considered a word name or a surname-name. In England, it would be pronounced darby, causing confusion with that similar name.

The capital of Kenya makes a melodic and worldly name.

Fiji is a pleasingly quirky place name that's been little used for babies, but could work for either a boy or girl. Though it has been used quite a lot for fancy bottled water, we don't think it quite qualifies as a water name.

A southwestern city name that could make a distinctive alternative to Dallas.

With its trendy -o ending and connotations of luxury, we think the name of one of the smallest and wealthiest countries in the world has rich baby name potential. Jeannie Mai Jenkins and Jeezy used it for their daughter, born in 2022, which may have contributed to the debut of Monaco as a girl's name in the US charts the same year.

Originally the name of a town in northern England, Airton and common variant Ayrton have taken on lives of their own as first names in Portugal and Brazil. This version is closely associated with Brazilian soccer player Airton Ribeiro Santos.

City name less mellifluous than Paris, London, or even Trenton. It was the name of the character portrayed by Leonardo di Caprio in "Gangs of New York."