180+ Southern Names for Girls and Boys
- Jessup
Description:
Jessup is a masculine name with English origins, primarily used as a surname before transitioning to occasional first-name usage. It evolved from the medieval personal name 'Joseph,' meaning 'God will add' or 'God increases.' Historically found in English counties like Yorkshire and Gloucestershire, Jessup has the distinctive quality of sounding both traditional and rare. As a first name, it offers a fresh alternative to the more common Jesse or Joseph, while maintaining familiar sounds. The name has a strong, concise quality with its two syllables and crisp ending. Though uncommon as a given name, Jessup appeals to parents seeking names with historical depth and an English heritage connection without being commonly used.
- Sister
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a female who has one or both parents in common with another"Description:
Sister is an old-timey nickname-name for girls, ranking in the Top 1000 as a proper name for girls until the beginning of the 20th century. But more often, Sister was used as a nickname in the truest sense of the word, not a short form ala Kathy but a nickname in the way that Chip and Bud are. Or maybe Junior is a more appropriate name analogy: Sister was sometimes the nickname given to the only girl in a family of boys, so literally a descriptive word name like Junior.
- Ellie-mae
Description:
Ellie Mae is a sweet, double-barreled feminine name combining two popular diminutives. Ellie, originally a nickname for Eleanor or Elizabeth, derives from Greek and Hebrew origins meaning "bright, shining one" or "God is my oath." Mae, traditionally a variation of May, references the spring month and carries associations with renewal and warmth. This combination gained cultural recognition through the character Ellie Mae Clampett from the 1960s TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies," giving it a charming Southern flair. The name exudes a countrified sweetness and vintage appeal that has seen renewed interest amid the trend toward nostalgic, homespun names. The pairing creates a melodious, accessible name with a friendly, unpretentious character that works well across various ages.
- Bubba
Origin:
American nicknameDescription:
The original southern Good Ol' Boy.
- Macon
Origin:
French place-nameDescription:
What with Mason scooting up the charts, this attractive place-name, with its thick Georgia accent, could make a more distinctive alternative.
- Bayou
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
A slow and sultry southern choice that's definitely cool for babies of either gender.
- Darl
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
This name of a character in Faulkner's As I Lay Dying is short, sweet and Southern-sounding.
- Charleston
Origin:
American place-nameMeaning:
"Charles' town"Description:
Charleston is one of those baby names that may become more popular thanks to its nickname Charlie, now used about equally for boys and girls. If you want to call your daughter Charlie but believe she needs a more formal name, you might try Charleston instead of Charlotte. And Charleston is a lovely city in South Carolina.
- Bayard
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"russet-haired"Description:
An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse.
- Suellen
Origin:
Compound name, blending Susan and EllenMeaning:
"shining lily"Description:
Suellen is a smoosh name that combines two classic names into one that feels both mid-century and modern, a little like Carolyn, a bit like Elowen. Notably used by Margaret Hill in her novel, Gone with the Wind, Suellen peaked in the 1940s and is rarely used today.
- Temple
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller near the temple"Description:
Rather formal word name that has been used occasionally over the years, most notably for the autism activist and animal expert Temple Grandin.
- Dacey
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"from the south"Description:
Dacey is a delicate and lacy Irish name with real possibilities.
- Alabama
Origin:
Place-name; ChoctawMeaning:
"vegetation gatherers"Description:
Alabama is a hot southern place-name, picking up from Georgia and Savannah. This is not a geographical name come lately, though--there have been girls named Alabama dating back well over a century.
- Nonnie
Description:
Nonnie is a charming feminine name with several possible origins. It may function as a diminutive nickname for names like Yvonne, Leona, or Fiona, or it could be derived from the Italian 'nonna' meaning 'grandmother,' giving it a warm, familial quality. In some cases, it represents a pet form of Eleanor or similar names. Nonnie has a distinctly affectionate and playful sound, making it feel approachable and friendly. While uncommon as a formal given name, it has occasional usage in English-speaking countries, particularly in the southern United States. Its rarity makes it distinctive, while its sweet, simple phonetics give it an endearing quality that works well across different ages.
- Maribelle
Origin:
English, combination of Mary and BelleMeaning:
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"Description:
Variant of Maribel
- Taurus
Origin:
Sign of the Zodiac, LatinMeaning:
"bull"Description:
The Zodiac name hasn't caught on like Leo or Aries, though it did appear in the US Top 1000 for five consecutive years back in the '70s.
- Padget
Origin:
English and French variation of PageMeaning:
"page, attendant"Description:
This unusual offshoot of Page is one of the undiscovered unique baby names, with lots of energy and charm. Actress Paget Brewster, star of Criminal Minds, presents another spelling possibility. She comes from a family of unique names--her mother is Hathaway, her father Galen.
- Louvinia
Description:
Louvinia is an uncommon feminine name with possible roots in Latin 'lupa' meaning 'she-wolf' or as a variation of Lavinia, an ancient Roman name. This elaborated form adds distinctiveness to its potential root names. Louvinia saw limited usage in the southern United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries but remains exceedingly rare. The name carries a vintage, melodious quality with its flowing syllables and Victorian sensibility. The 'Lou' beginning gives it a familiar, approachable sound, while the full name maintains an air of uniqueness and sophistication. Those named Louvinia might appreciate their name's uncommonness and historical connections, though they likely need to help others with spelling and pronunciation.
- Temani
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"from the south"Description:
This biblical name is also a Hebrew term for someone from Yemen, since that country is south of Israel.
- Clytie
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"glorious or renowned"Description:
Clytie was a sea nymph who loved the sun god Helios, who spurned her. She turned into the heliotrope flower.