American Place Names

Tribeca was the term created for New York City's TRIangle BElow CAnal Street. Stangely enough--that aside--it almost does sound like a plausible girls' name, nicknamed Becca.

An actual Hawaiian first name would convey the aura of the islands more originally and effectively.

Maryland appeared on the charts as a male name before a female one, but these days it's all girl.

An unlikely place name today, but one that was found among enslaved people in the 1800s.

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.

Manhattan is the smallest yet one of the most populous New York City boroughs. The area was historically inhabited by Munsee Lenape and Wappinger tribes of Native Americans, and the name Manhattan is derived from the Munsee Lenape language. Hickory trees that were used to make bows grew on the southern part of Manhattan, which inspired the term manaháhtaan, from the Munsee Lenape words for "gather" and "bow."

Unlike many other western city names, Tulsa has not proved attractive to parents. The name derives from Tallasi, meaning "old town" in the Creek language. Elvis Presley played a character named Tulsa in the 1960 musical comedy G. I. Blues.

Athens the city takes its name from Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and courage. If you prefer place names to mythological names and like gender neutral names better than those that are gender distinct, Athens may be a good alternative to Athena.

Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".

If you like your place names bold and undiscovered.

American place and tribe name, derived via French from the Dakota word ayúxba "sleepy ones".

As far as Texas place names go, Houston is more unique than Austin and Dallas and more attractive than Marfa.