College Baby Names

Name of pastoral Vermont town and college sounds too stiff and starchy.

Despite its appearance, McGill is not related to any of the Gil- names, including Gilbert, Gilford, and Gilson. The "gill" piece is derived from the Gaelic word gall, meaning "foreigner." Yet, it could still be used to honor a Gil in your life.

With Yale and Brown in the mainstream, why not this upscale college name and surname as well.

English surname most notably used by Ashley Hebert for her son in 2014.

Emmanual is a variant spelling of Emmanuel, a masculine name derived from the Hebrew 'Immanuel,' meaning 'God is with us.' This name carries significant religious importance in Christianity, appearing in both the Old and New Testaments, most notably as a prophetic name for Jesus Christ in the Book of Isaiah. The spelling Emmanual, with the 'a' and 'u' transposed, emerged as an alternative form, though less common than the traditional Emmanuel or the shortened Manuel. The name has been used consistently throughout Christian countries for centuries, with peaks in popularity often corresponding to periods of religious revival. Its spiritual significance and melodious sound have ensured its enduring appeal across many cultures.

This Macallister variation is strongly associted with Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Unless it's your alma mater, it might be wise to stick with the original.

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.

Columbia is a rarely used name with many associations. From the eighteenth century it has been used as a female personification of the United States, often appearing as a flag-draped patriotic figure. And as such it's inspired a plethora of place and company names, from the District of Columbia to Columbia University to Columbia Records, and songs like "Columbia, Gem of the Ocean." A character called Columbia appears in The Rocky Horror Picture Show.