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International Baby Names · Nature, Place and Word Names

American Place Names

Pamela Redmond

By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026

Names221

Pages12

Total Names221

Across 12 pages

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Showing 181–200 of 221

Lansing
Dutch and English surname
"son of Lans; family of Wlanc"
Lansing is perhaps best known as the state capital of Michigan, which was named after the town of Lansing, New York. The original Lansing was named in honor of John Lansing Jr., a Chancellor of New…
Louisiana
French place-name
Louisiana is a geographic spin on the Louise theme. Pretty, if a bit of a syllable overload. Short form Lou or Lulu lightens it.
Maine
American Place-name
Strong, spare, and highly unusual -- there were no babies recorded of either gender receiving this name in one recent year -- place-name referring to the northernmost state in New England. All state…
Maricopa
Spanish, meaning unknown
The Maricopa people are a Native American tribe who have lived on the banks of the Gila River for centuries. The tribe calls themselves Piipaash or Piipaa (meaning "people") — the term Maricopa is…
Maryland
English
"Mary's land"
A fun, unexpected way to honor your home state or a Mary in your life. As geographical girl names such as Ireland, Scotland, and Oakland slowly rise up the charts, Maryland could be a future favorite.
Maryland
English
"Mary's land"
Maryland appeared on the charts as a male name before a female one, but these days it's all girl.
Maui
Hawaiian place name and Polynesian mythology name
While Maui was a male trickster god in Polynesian mythology, the well-known Hawaiian place name Maui can work for either gender.
Mesa
Spanish, Thai
"table; April"
This multicultural option can refer to a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table" or to the month of April in Thai.
Moab
Hebrew
"from my father"
Moab is a Biblical name and an ancient place name. In the Old Testament, Moab was the son of Lot. The Kingdom of Moab, in modern-day Jordan, was Biblically significant for often being in conflict…
Mojave
Native American tribal and place-name
Resonant place-name of the beautiful Southern California desert.
Nashville
Place name
The state capital of Tennessee — and the capital of country music — has seen some use for boys in recent years, now that more parents are daring to use meaningful place names. While not as popular as…
Newport
English place-name
"new port"
For sailors or jazz lovers. Or smokers of menthol cigarettes.
Nolita
Latin
"unwilling"
A saucy Latin name that also defines a trendy New York area north of Little Italy.
Norfolk
English
"place of the northern people"
Would make a difficult choice even for those with ties to the Virginia city or British county.
Philadelphia
Greek place-name
"brotherly love"
Place-name mentioned in the New Testament and not yet on the name map. Philadelphia Thursday was the character played by Shirley Temple in John Ford's 1948 "Fort Apache."
Portland
English
"land near the port"
There are two lovely Portlands, in Maine and Oregon, but not many babies with their name.
Provo
Place-name
Provo is the name of a conservative Utah city that's unlikely to be among the most fashionable place-names. You'd do better with Utah.
Rochester
English
"stone camp or fortress"
Rochester was Jack Benny's famous valet and sidekick, played by early African-American comic Eddie Anderson.
Sanibel
Spanish
"Santa Isybella"
An island off the coast of Florida makes an intriguing name choice. Sanibel was originally named Santa Isybella, after Queen Isabella of Castille, and was later shortened to San Ybel and eventually…
Shenandoah
Native American place-name
While some sources assign the place-name the romantic meaning "beautiful daughter of the stars," the Virginia region itself says the name is of uncertain Native American origin with many possible but…