Names That Mean Settlement

A surname name, most popularly associated with actor Heston, has a blue-blooded ring to it. Charlton is also a more unusual pathway to evergreen nickname Charlie.

Quinby is a fresh surname-y spin on the popular Quinn. A familiar surname with a zippy sound, it may appeal to those who also enjoy Darby, Toby, and Alby, but want something one of a kind, yet to appear in the US stats.

Quirky and cute.

A WASPy surname that fits in with names like Clayton, Layton, and Payton. Drayton peaked in 2012, when it was given to 78 baby boys in the US.

Ever- names are currently red-hot, but surname-style Everston is still waiting to be discovered.

Do you really want to name your baby after a hotel? Or a famous-for-being-famous starlet?

A dignified yet gentle surname name occasionally heard in England and the West Indies.

Down-to-earth surname name with a drawl, also associated with cereal and dog food.

Butler name, and also that of the rat in Charlotte's Web.

Braxton has been a major hit of the 21st century for boys, and now parents are looking at it with fresh eyes for their daughters.

More user-friendly, though less substantial, than Bartholomew.

A jaunty nautical-sounding name.

Carleton has a great meaning behind it, and should really have more popularity than it has found to date. You can shorten it to Carl or keep it upscale and formal in the longer form. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk lends the name some sporty credentials, while American artist Carleton Wiggins confirms this name's Victorian earnestness.

Sweet and southern-feeling, maybe thanks to Horton Foote, author of Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, not to mention the Dr. Seuss connection.

Brock plus.

Quincy may be unisex, but Quimby is decidedly feminine — at least according to the stats, it's never been used for boys. Perhaps it's because of Beverly Cleary's children's book heroine Ramona Quimby, or the queen-related meaning. In either case, Quimby is a quirky, unexpected choice for a daughter.

All names ending in ville are in nowheresville.

Love Quinn but find it too popular? Quinby is a rare spin on names in the Quinn and Quincy constellation, familiar as a surname and a fresh nonbinary choice.

A more feminine take on Braxton.

In Wuthering Heights, Cathy's milquetoast husband; Heath is so much more appealing.