Trending Names in the Southeast USA

Updated Mon May 05 2025

Parents in the Southeastern United States are naming their babies with a unique blend of tradition and innovative modern style.

We analyzed the most popular names by state to find which names are used more in the twelve Southeastern states — that's Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia — than in the rest of the USA.

It's worth noting that, with high proportions of Black Americans living in the Southeastern States, many of these names represent Black American baby name trends, which are distinguished for both innovation and preserving history.

Top Baby Names in the Southeast

The most popular names in all the Southeastern states combined are national favorites Olivia and Liam. Liam is the top boy name in eight of the twelve states, and Olivia is the top girl name in six.

The Top 10 names in the Southeast are mostly in line with the national US rankings, with just a few differences. For girls, Harper makes the list in the Southeast overall, and in most states, instead of Luna. It seems you can't have both!

For boys, John and Levi make the Top 10, instead of Mateo and Theodore nationally. John is one of the most defining boy names of the region: it is Number 26 in the USA, but ranks in the Top 10 in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee — the core Southern states. Here, it is traditional to pass on family names, and often children have a family name first on their birth certificate, but use their middle name for everyday.

These are the Top 10 baby names in the Southeast:

You'll also find names such as Mary, Elizabeth, Nova, Waylon, Hudson, and Asher in many Southeastern states' Top 10 lists. All the names below were used at least 50% more in the Southeastern States — Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia — than in the rest of the USA, in 2023.

Unisex Names Trending in the Southeast

More than any other region of the US, many of the names especially popular in the Southeast are given to boys and girls. These incorporate many styles: last names, positive-energy words, place names, and trending sounds. Here are our favorites:

Last Names as First Names Popular in the Southeastern US

Bestowing a family name as a first name is a huge naming practice in the American South. Several surnames that are popular for boys nationally, are also disproportionately popular for girls in the Southeast. While each family has its own favorites to honor, here are some that would be great for any child.

Word Names Trending in the Southeast

The Southeastern states are leading the way with powerful, uplifting word names. These can be words with spiritual meanings, or have connotations of royalty, luxury, and prized qualities. They also include names from nature including Magnolia, a plant widespread in the region and the state flower of Mississippi. 43% of baby girls named Magnolia are born in the Southeastern states.

Many word names are used proportionately more in the Southeast in multiple spellings: so Journey makes the list, and so do Journee, Journei, Journi, and Journii.

Some of the best:

Demure Girl Names in the Southeast

In total contrast, Southeastern parents also love girl names that are traditional, borderline old-fashioned, often saintly or virtuous, and gentle with quiet strength.

Only in the Southeast does Mary — the ultimate demure name — rank so highly. A quarter of Americans live in the Southeast states, but over 40% of baby girls named Mary are born there. Mary ranks below the Top 100 nationally, but is a Top 10 name in Alabama and Mississippi — often used as part of a double name, like Mary Catherine.

Other girl names in this style include:

Biblical Boy Names Favored in the Southeast

For boys, the thundering "iah" names of the Old Testament are very on trend, as well as places and books of the bible. Some particularly popular in the Southeast are:

Nicknames Popular in Southeastern States

Every region has its favorite nicknames and diminutives. Those beloved in the Southeast are sweet, friendly and retro — perfect for a new generation to reinvent.

Popular Place Names in the Southeast

Another fertile source of inspiration is place names, whether they be cities, states, countries, or mountains. Bonus points for those with cool sounds, like Cairo (containing cool "Kai").

Modern Names Southeastern Parents Love

Parents in Southeastern states are embracing baby names with cool, modern sounds such as Kai, Bry, Kay, boy names ending in ari and iri, and for girls, anything ending in lee, lyn, or lani.

Believe me when I say this list could run into the hundreds, but here is just a selection of names that are particularly popular in the Southeast now, but were nowhere to be seen thirty years ago.

Mom, Dad and Grandparent Names Loved in the Southeast

By contrast, these names peaked in popularity 30, 40 or even 50+ years ago, but they're holding on more in the Southeast than anywhere else — maybe because of the strong tradition of passing on family names, or because people aren't afraid to use names they love, regardless of their popularity.

Some of these are making a comeback, like Fallon and Denis, while others look like they'll be confined to the Southeast for a while yet.

Berry Favorites: Southeastern Names

Are you a Southeasterner at heart? Here are more names disproportionately popular in the region, which we think will appeal to our community of name lovers. Which ones are on your list?

About the Author

Clare Green

Clare Green has been writing for Nameberry since 2015, covering everything from names peaking right now to feminist baby names, and keeping up-to-date with international baby name rankings. Her work has featured in publications such as The Independent and HuffPost. Clare has a background in linguistics and librarianship, and recently completed an MA dissertation researching names in multilingual families. She lives in England with her husband and son. You can reach her at clare@nameberry.com