60 Names That Mean You Live in the Midwest
Know a lot of babies named Vivian and Lincoln? You might just live in the Midwest.
We analyzed the most popular names by state to find which names are used more in the twelve core Midwestern states — that's Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin — than in the rest of the USA.
The Top 10 baby names in the heartland are mostly in line with the rest of the county, but there are a few differences. The most common top boy name is Oliver (in eight out of twelve states), and the most frequent top girl name is Charlotte (in seven states).
You'll find names like Hudson, Asher, and Owen, and Eleanor, Nora, and Harper in many Midwestern states' Top 10, although they don't make the Top 10 names nationally.
Other particularly Midwestern styles include last names as first names (for both sexes), cool cowboy names for boys, and sweet feminine vintage revivals for girls. Read below for 60+ names that Midwestern parents love even more than the rest of the country.
Names less popular in the Midwest include biblical/Jewish classics like Hannah and Jacob. Sarah and Aaron don't make the Top 100 in any Midwestern state (they are Number 95 and 72 nationally), and even Noah is relatively low down the Top 10 in most of the Midwest: it only makes the Top 3 in Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio.
You'll also see fewer Spanish names like Mateo and Elena through most of the Midwest — apart from urban Illinois — and in general, multicultural non-anglo names are less popular. Fading 90s and 00s names, like Ryan and Jordan, Skylar and Jade, are falling even faster in the Midwest than they are nationally.
These names are popular nationwide, but especially so in the heartland.
Popular Midwestern Girl Names
Baby girl names in the Midwest blend spirited vintage revivals, like Clara and Ruby, with modern favorites like Kinsley and Nova. Many of the names above average popularity are unisex in style and use, like Oakley and Eden — but there are also feminine choices like Aurora and Josephine on the list.
Harper has dropped out of the US Top 10, but remains in the Top 10 for all the Midwestern states. However, the Midwest is ahead on other names that are still up-and-coming in the rest of the country. For example, Eleanor is in the Top 10 in most of the Midwest, but not (yet) nationally.
Here are ten girl names that are way above average popularity in the heartland, plus a list of more below.
Cora
This vintage charmer ranks at Number 75 in the US, but higher in every Midwestern state except Illinois. It is most popular in North Dakota, at Number 18.
Ellie
Ellie in its own right is Number 33 nationwide, but is even more popular in 11 out of 12 Midwestern states (all except Illinois). It's the 3rd most popular girl name in North Dakota!
Eloise
The Midwest leads the way with Eloise: it is Number 86 nationally, but ranks higher in every Midwestern state — especially in Wisconsin, where it is Number 35.
Everly
Everly is Number 57 nationwide, but ranks higher than this in every Midwestern state except Illinois. It is most popular in North Dakota, at Number 20.
Hadley
Another place name-style girl name, Hadley is Number 111 in the US, but is in the Top 100 of every Midwestern state except Illinois. It ranks highest in North Dakota, at Number 32.
Hazel
A revived tree name, Hazel is the 27th most popular girl name in the US, but ranks higher in every Midwestern state except Illinois. It makes the Top 10 girl names in Nebraska (the highest, at Number 6), Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Lydia
Lydia ranks at Number 93 nationally, but is more popular in every Midwestern states. It is most popular in South Dakota, at Number 28.
Piper
Parents in the Midwest are setting the trend for Piper. It ranks at Number 113 in the US, but is in the Top 100 in every state except Illinois. It is again most popular in South Dakota, at Number 22.
Quinn
One of the most popular unisex names, Quinn is Number 73 for girls in the USA, but is more popular in every Midwestern state except Indiana. It ranks highest in South Dakota, at Number 19.
Vivian
Vivian ranks at Number 103 in the US, but is in the Top 100 in every Midwestern state. It is more popular in Nebraska, at Number 30.
Below are other girl names more popular than in most of the Midwest than they are nationally:
- Aurora
- Claire
- Clara
- Eden
- Eleanor
- Ella
- Elsie
- Emersyn
- Everly
- Harper
- Josephine
- Josie
- Juniper
- Kinsley
- Lainey
- Lyla
- Maeve
- Millie
- Nora
- Nova
- Oakley
- Oaklynn
- Paisley
- Parker
- Remi
- Ruby
- Rylee
- Violet
- Willow
- Wren
Popular Midwestern Boy Names
Boy names punching above their weight in the Midwest show some strong trends. Last names as first names are especially popular, such as Lincoln — which even makes the Top 10 in several states — and Walker, which is rising fast everywhere, but especially in the Midwest.
Midwestern parents love cowboy names for boys, like Beau and Easton, but also old-time revivals like Calvin and Graham. There's a strong trend for two-syllable boy names here, although Jack does make the Top 10 in several Midwestern states.
Here are ten boy names that are particularly popular in the Midwest, plus a list of even more.
Beau
This handsome-yet-rugged option ranks at Number 89 in the USA, but higher in 11 out of 12 Midwestern States (all except Illinois). It is most popular in Wisconsin, at Number 30.
Bennett
Bennett is Number 83 nationally, but ranks higher in every Midwestern state — especially Iowa, where it's Number 17.
Brooks
Midwesterners are well ahead of the curve here. Brooks is Number 76 nationally, but is more popular in every Midwestern state. It even makes the Top 10 (Number 9) in South Dakota!
Cooper
This new-wave occupation name is Number 53 in the US, and more popular in every Midwestern State. It's a Top 10 name in North Dakota, ranking in 9th place.
Emmett
Emmett is Number 115 nationwide, but is in the Top 100 in every Midwest state except Indiana. It is most popular in South Dakota at Number 27.
Everett
Proving that Midwesterners really love names ending in -ett, Everett ranks at Number 81 nationally, but higher in every Midwestern state. It is most popular in North Dakota at Number 29.
Lincoln
This presidential name is Number 54 in the USA, but more popular all across the Midwest. In both Indiana and Ohio, it ranks at Number 10.
Miles
Miles is Number 55 nationally, but ranks higher in every Midwestern state except Indiana. It is most popular in Minnesota, at Number 18. Myles and Milo are also more popular than the national average in the Midwest.
Walker
Another up-and-coming occupational name, Walker is Number 78 in the US, but more popular in every Midwestern state except Illinois. It ranks highest in North Dakota, at Number 22.
Weston
This quintessential cowboy name is Number 82 nationwide, but more popular in every Midwestern state except Illinois. It is most popular in North Dakota at Number 26.
The following boy names are also more in most of the Midwest than they are nationally:
- Archer
- Asher
- Atlas
- August
- Beckett
- Calvin
- Carson
- Declan
- Easton
- Graham
- Harrison
- Hudson
- Jameson
- Milo
- Myles
- Nolan
- Rowan
- Ryker
- Sawyer
- Waylon
- Wesley
- Wyatt
Unique State Favorites in the Midwest
These names are only in the Top 100 in one state in the Midwest — and many are not in the US Top 100 either. Unique state favorites reflect the ethnic makeup of the state: so, for example, we find more Spanish and Italian names in Illinois, and more Muslim names in Minnesota.
They also reflect population size. North and South Dakota, which have the smallest populations and the fewest babies, have more unique names in their Top 100 because the lower rankings are highly changeable. Just one or two extra babies with a name each year are enough to boost a name into the Top 100, or make it drop out.
There were no unique Top 100 names in Missouri or Ohio, meaning that these states are most in line with the rest of the Midwest, and with national trends.
Illinois
- Alina
- Ariana
- Bella
- Christian
- Damian
- Gael
- Giovanni
- Kayden
- Leonardo
- Lorenzo
- Natalia
- Nicholas
- Sienna
- Valentina
- Valeria
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
North Dakota
South Dakota
Wisconsin
Read our full list of Popular Names by State.