Place Names From Around the World: Girls

Overly trendy western place-name, as stated in the title of our book Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana.

Sicily is a lilting Italian place-name that sounds like the elegant British Cicely -- which you might consider a plus or a minus.

An attractive North Carolina unisex place name, Raleigh's soft sound is particularly appropriate for a girl.

A beautiful and evocative place-name that deserves wider use, Sahara brings to mind deserts and heat. Derived from Arabic, it is the name of the world's largest hot desert, located across the North of Africa. Similar in appearance to Sarah and Zahra and similar in feel to Savannah, it was selected by reality TV star Georgia Harrison for her daughter Sahara Jean Stacey in 2025.

Given to children of both sexes as far back as colonial times, this carries a lot of baggage. However, parents continue to take the risk. Actress America Ferrera may be have inspired some families to choose the name. Ferrera's Honduras-born mother shares her unusual name.

Long before the current place-name craze, a pair of the more daring pop singers of the Age of Aquarius picked this name for their daughters. Jefferson Airplane's Grace Slick used the conventional spelling, the Mamas and the Papas's Michelle Phillips went further afield with Chynna (of the group Wilson Phillips).

Chyenne is an alternative spelling of Cheyenne, a name derived from the Native American tribe. The Cheyenne people, whose name in their Algonquian language means 'red speakers' or 'strangely speaking people,' have historically lived in the Great Plains region. This variant spelling maintains the same pronunciation while offering a more distinctive look. Chyenne emerged in popularity during the late 20th century when parents began seeking names with indigenous origins and cultural significance. The name conveys strength and natural beauty with connections to American heritage. While less common than the traditional spelling, Chyenne has maintained consistent usage, particularly in North America.

Not yet on the place-name map, this name has Shakespearean ties via the Duke Of Albany character in King Lear.