Names That Mean Place

A Scottish place name and surname, originally called Earre Ghàidheal (or "coast of the Gaels"), owing to the fact it was one of the first places Irish settles established themselves in Scotland. Also spelled as Argyle when used as a surname, the name is pronounced with a sharp 'eye' sound and was given to three babies in Scotland in a recent year. To put that in context, as many babies were called Argyll as were called Barnaby, Oren, and Leland. 

Argyll

Associated best perhaps with the British broadcaster, natural historian, writer, and conservationist, Sir David Attenborough, this would certainly make a bold choice and big namesake for any baby. 
 
Derived from an English place name, meaning "fortified place belonging to Eadda (or Adda)" — Eadda being Old English given names meaning "wealth, fortune, riches" — it was <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9q3yv2vyypo">chosen as a middle name </a> by a Welsh couple, in honor of the 100th birthday of the respected environmentalist and documentary maker. 
 
In the case of Sir David Attenborough, the name would be pronounced AT-uhn-buhr-uh, though AT-uhn-bruh is also heard in the UK and AT-uh-buh-ro may be used in the US.

Attenborough

A sleek and pretty French name, that can be one of two things: a place name, borrowed from a commune in the south of France or a compound name, blending Marie and Lys. As a place name, it likely means "mother lily" from mair and lys, however as a smoosh name, it could mean "beloved lily", "bitter lily", or possibly "sea lily" too.
 
Familiar in France, it was particularly popular in the 90s and 2000s, peaking in 2007 when it reached the Top 200. While it has now fallen out of favor, the similar Maëlys (the feminine form of Maël meaning "chieftain, lord") is still in the charts.

Maylis

A surname-style choice, in the same vein of Remington, Kingston, Lexington, and Montgomery, Wilmington is the name of various places in the UK and the US. The meaning is debated, with some sources suggesting it means "Wilhelm's (or William's) estate", while others interpret it as meaning "the desired settlement". 
 
Yet to appear in the US stats, it may be a bold way to nickname Will, an intriguing option for those honoring a William or a Wilmer, or as an alternative to other on-trend last names.

Wilmington

A popular destination but a rare baby name, Manhattan is derived from the Munsee Lenape language. It refers to the hickory trees that grew in the area and were used to make bows. The place name first appeared in the US stats for girls back in the early 2000s and has been used quietly ever since. It took until 2015 for it to enter the stats for boys but nicknames Manny, Matty, or even Hank might make it more familiar.



 

Manhattan

One of many spelling variations of Journey, this form firs appeared in the US stats in 2017, and has been given to a small number of girls since. 

Journni

Used sporadically for girls but very rarely for boys, this place name does have one notable bearer: actor, boxer, and Civil Rights activist, Canada Lee. He was born Leonard Lionel Cornelius Canegata but a mispronunciation of his surname led him to go by Canada. 
 
The name itself comes from kanata, drawn from the Native American language of Iroquoian, in which it means "village".

Canada

Spiritual, stylish, nature-connected, and bright, Eden-Rose is a hyphenated choice, given to around 20 babies in England and Wales each year. 

Eden-rose

Bringing to mind a luxury hotel group and a type of cabbage, Savoy was also the name of a historic region of Europe. Derived from the Latin sappinus via the French Savoie, it means "fir (tree)", and has been appearing sporadically in the US stats since the 20th-century. Predominantly given to boys (in small numbers), it has very occasionally ranked for girls too.

Savoy

An interesting, off-beat place name that feels similar to the likes of Harlem, Memphis, and Bristol, Orleans is currently undiscovered as a given name. The English form of the French Orléans, it derives from the Latin Aurelianum, meaning "gold". Also used as a surname, lending it a similar feel to Bellamy or Collins, Orleans appears on the map a number of times across the globe. The French city gives its name to The Île d'Orléans in Quebec, Orléans in Ontario, Orleans in Massachusetts and New Orleans in Louisiana.

Orleans

Kaena is a pleasant sounding unisex Hawaiian place name, the westernmost point of the island of Oahu, though it is also associated with the Hawaiian word for "show off", when not spelled as Ka'ena.

Kaena

Caria is both a rare elaboration of Cara and Carrie and and the name of an ancient region of Asia Minor. Given to a handful of girls in the US since the 50s, it is rarely given to more than 10 babies in a single year.
 
As an elaboration, it derives from either Caroline (vias Carrie) meaning "free man", or from the Irish and Italian Cara, meaning "beloved, dear" and "friend". As an ancient place name, it connects to a region of what was once Anatolia and is now modern day Turkey. The name may have come from the king of the region, Car or Kar, who may or may not have been the same Kar of Megara in Greek mythology.

Caria

Albany

Predominantly used for girls in the US, there's no reason this surname-style name couldn't be considered as a unisex option — alternative spelling Aniston is after all. With similar sounds to Addison, Ashton, and Anderson, it's also the name of a city in Alabama which was named for one of the founder's daughter-in-law, Annie. 

Anniston

With other Cornish names like Elowen and Jago catching people's attention, the mythical sounding Mithian might prove an unexpected and magical feeling choice. Traditionally called Mydhyan, Mithian is a village in Cornwall that sits between St Agnes and Perranporth.
 
While the exact meaning is unknown, one theory suggests Mithian could be a derivative of the Welsh midd, associating it with a pit or pool in a river, though it could also come from the Old English mydhen meaning "maiden", or from mith, relating to mystical creatures, magic, and legend. 
 
Used for the name of a Princess in the BBC series, Merlin, it feels gentle, mystical, and strong at the same time.

Mithian

An Albanian and Kosovan name with a gentle sound, Milot appears on the map as a town in north-western Albania. While the exact meaning of the name is unknown, theories include that it means "honey" or "sweetness", or that it comes from the Slavic element milŭ meaning "gracious, dear". A notable bearer is footballer Milot Rashica.
 
Milot is also used as a place name in Haiti, and as a French surname, in which case it is likely a variation of Millet, an occupation name given to those who grew or sold millet.

Milot

Also spelled as Ajourney, Ajournei, Ajournie, and Ajourni, this creative spin on the modern word name might have been inspired by the phrase "life is a journey". Of all the single journey forms of the name, the Ajournee spelling as proved most popular, given to at least 100 girls since it first appeared in the US stats in 2011. 

Ajournee

A rare spelling of Journey, it's up to you if you want to pronounce it JUR-nee or JUR-nye (to rhyme with bye or Kai). It appeared in the US stats for the first time in 2009 and has been used very occasionally in the years since. 

Journye

A luxurious and dramatic sounding choice, Versailles is a French place name, best associated with the Palace of Versailles, home to King Louis XIV before the French Revolution. With its strong "EYE" end sound, it shares some of the appeal of Levi or Silas, but with the grandeur of names like Sir, Prince, King, and Valor. 
 
Possibly meaning "to turn around" , "plowed land", or "slope", though this is only speculation, the name entered the US stats for boys in 2024, when it was given to seven babies. It had previously only ranked for girls and is occasionally used as a French surname.

Versailles

While Odessa may be more familiar in the US, Odesa is the Ukrainian spelling of the sea port, named by Catherine the Great for Homer's Greek epic, The Odyssey. As such, it may be interpreted as meaning "voyage" or "long journey".
 
While Odessa ranked in the US Top 1000 until the 1950s, Odesa is rarely heard, with just five babies receiving the name in 2023: only the second time it has ever appeared in the stats. This spelling may appeal to those, however, who like the name, but want to honor the Ukrainian spelling.