Names That Mean Place

While Blaney might sound like a nickname for the Scottish Blaine (and Blane) — and this is one possible origin for it — it may also be an Irish surname and place name. As such, it refers to either the point or tip of a river (borrowed from the Welsh blaenau) or to a village in Northern Ireland, whose name comes from Bléinigh meaning "creeks".
 
More traditionally used in the last name spot (as in racing driver, Ryan Blaney), it has occasionally be used as a given name too.

Blaney

This unique and enchanting name is very popular in the Basque Country. As a first name, Uxue derives from the town of Ujué and has religious significance: according to legend, the town was founded after a dove led a shepherd to an image of the Virgin Mary hidden in the rocks.

Uxue

Journey meets Janae and Renae in this spelling alternative to the spiritual, adventurous word name. Whether you say it as JUR-nee, JUR-nae, or jur-NAE is up to you. 

Journae

Also spelled Kephirah, Kfira, Kephira, and Kefirah, Chephirah is an Old Testament, Biblical place name, mentioned in the Book of Joshua. It likely derives from the Hebrew kephir meaning "village" and "young lion", and is sometimes seen as a feminine form of Kfir. It might be worth noting however, that the name is also close to Hebrew word for "heresy".
 
The current-day location of the town is in Palestine, known as Khirbet el-Kafira.

Chephirah

While Nuri is typically used for boys in Arabic, the Nurie spelling is used across Ethiopia and a number of Slavic counties as a feminine choice. Meaning "my light" from its Arabic roots, it has a gentle and uplifting feel. 
 
Used internationally, it may also be a diminutive of the Spanish, Catalan, and Portuguese Nuria, a place name meaning "place between the valleys" or as a feminization of Nuri or Nuriel, meaning "my fire" and "fire/light of God".

Nurie

The name of a lake and city in Minnesota, US, Onamia has its roots in the Indigenous Ojibwe language. Originally called Onamanii-zaaga'iganiing, the name means "red ochre lake" or "vermillion lake". 
 
Rarely used as a given name, Onamia could be of interest to those who have Ojibwe heritage or ties to Minnesota, or those looking at alternatives to Naomi.

Onamia

Associated with a historic region of Europe, a luxury hotel group, and to a type of cabbage, Savoy comes from the Latin sappinus, via the French Savoie. Meaning "fir (tree)", it has appeared sporadically in the US charts for boys since the 20th-century, though it has only ever been given in small numbers.

Savoy

An unusual place name with a sea-inspired meaning, Embrun is a commune in the southeast of France, as well as a town in Ontario, Canada. Sometimes known as the "Nice of the Alpes", Embrun could get its name from an Occitan and French word meaning "seaspray". 
 
Embrun could make an intriguing choice for those who enjoy travel or have a connection to the place, though it is worth keeping in mind that the French and English pronunciations of this name are noticeably different.

Embrun

A unusual take on word name Journey, that's also appeared in the US stats as Ajourney, Ajournie Ajournee, and Ajourni. This form has been given to around 10 girls since 2010. 

Ajournei

A twist on the modern word name, this form might play on the idea that "life is a journey". It has also been spelled as Ajourney, Ajournei, Ajournee, and Ajourni. 

Ajournie

Xalo may be a Spanish place name, located in Valencia and also known as Jalón. As such, it may mean "extravagance" or "pleasure", or "milestone, land marker". Alternatively, it could be inspired by the Bulgarian Zalo, meaning "healthy", though it's just as likely it's a modern creation, based on Xander, Xavier, Arlo, and Milo. 
 
It debuted in the US stats in 2024 when it was given to five boys.

Xalo

An interesting and as yet undiscovered place name, Orleans feels similar to the likes of Harlem, Memphis, and Oslo. The English form of the French Orléans, it ultimately derives from the Latin Aurelianum, meaning "gold".
 
Also used as a surname, lending it a similar feel to Devereux or Olsen, Orleans appears on the map a number of times. 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

With the stylish sounds of Arden, Arlo, and Ruben, Arbon is an unusual place name. It appears on the map in Switzerland, where it is used for both a historic town and a district in the north east of the country. The current name emerged from the Latin name for the place, Arbor Felix, meaning "happy tree".
 
Alternatively, the name may derive from the surname D'Abernon or D'Aubernoun, borne by a Norman nobleman, whose family originated from the parish of Abernon in Normandy, France. It could equally draw inspiration from the French place name, Arbonne, meaning "place of tree stumps".

Arbon

Journey is a modern, spiritual word choice, but this variation specifies that a child is on one specific path, an idea that may appeal to some parents.

Ajourney

Thrace refers to a region in Southeast Europe, home of the Thracian people. In Greek mythology, Thrace was a sorceress, daughter of Oceanus and Parthenope.