Patriotic Baby Names

Presidential surname adopted as a first by numbers of midcentury African-American parents.

One of the Great Lakes and a city next to it, named after a Native American people. This name swings between being more popular for boys and girls, but is currently rare for both. It could also be short for a, Er- name like Erasmus. Be aware that it sounds like the word "eerie".

Lincoln, Tyler, Taylor, Jackson, Jefferson, Harrison, McKinley, Grant, Kennedy, Carter -- yes. Washington -- probably not.

Alaska's Denali National Park is the home of the highest mountain in the US, officially renamed Denali in 2014, endowing the name with a lofty feel. Twice as many girls as boys were given the name in 2021, but the gender gap is closing.

Glory sounds fresh and uplifting and a lot more modern than Gloria (which is definitely feeling the stirrings of a revival, though some might still view it as a terminal Old Lady name). Glory, as in "Glory Be" and "Old Glory," has both a religious and a patriotic flavor.

Solemn but soaring name with patriotic symbolism.

Another meaningful word name that actually dates back to pre-Emancipation days.

Charleston is one of those baby names that may become more popular thanks to its nickname Charlie, now used about equally for boys and girls. If you want to call your daughter Charlie but believe she needs a more formal name, you might try Charleston instead of Charlotte. And Charleston is a lovely city in South Carolina.

Americus, the foundation for the place-name America, is a Latin name meaning "home ruler". Relatives include the Italian Amerigo and the German Emmerich.

Forget Patience and Charity: Here's a Colonial name (and sentiment) that seems perfect for modern times.

With Arley, Arlo, Remington, and Kensington on the rise, Arlington might also start to appeal. The surname style name could make a patriotic choice for those in the US, evoking Arlington National Cemetery, which is maintained by the military and considered the most hallowed ground in the States. Given to 7 girls and 22 boys in a recent count, it is currently a rare option.

The New Jersey cities of Camden and Trenton are in, but the name of the state has not caught on to anywhere near the same extent, possibly due to its association with knitted pullovers and reality TV. Nevertheless, Jersey peaked as a masculine name in 2022, when it was given to around 60 boys.

A winning unisex word name, fresher than Victoria or Victor. While Victory ranked only once on the US Top 1000, in 1918 at the end of World War I, it's a Top 25 name for girls in France.

The only of the four cardinal direction names to not have caught on. But if North can work, why not South?

Like Justice and Peace, this word name makes a very strong statement. Ving Rhames chose it for his boy.

This one's cutting right to the chase, but with such names as Justice and Peace on the rise, why not? And we guarantee your seven-year-old son will love it, though your 17-year-old, maybe not so much. Could be used as a middle name, as Talisa Soto and Benjamin Bratt did.

A sixties-style name that might work best as a middle.

Exalted names like King, Royalty, and Messiah are all the rage—President seems like the next logical step.

A big, bold, ultra-rare virtue name. Could it follow in the footsteps of Justice and Liberty?

As a name, a bit too p. c.