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.

One of the major American city names that's very unlikely to catch on as a baby name, although a small number of children are given the name each year.

Beautiful downtown Burbank -- about as glamorous a place-name as Akron...or Detroit.

This state name — it comes from the Ute tribe — has a strong but feminine sound.

Vail is an uncommon feminine name with multiple potential origins. Primarily recognized as a surname and place name, it derives from the Old French 'val' meaning 'valley.' The most famous reference is the Colorado ski resort town of Vail. As a given name, it has the appeal of being short, strong, and distinctive. Vail carries connotations of natural beauty and outdoor adventure due to its geographical associations. Though traditionally more common for boys, it has been occasionally used for girls, fitting with the trend of adopting surname and place names as feminine given names. Its rarity makes it an unconventional choice for parents seeking a name with natural undertones and brevity.

Rochester was Jack Benny's famous valet and sidekick, played by early African-American comic Eddie Anderson.

This name of the North Dakota city has been used for at least one female (we know, because she wrote to us) but it doesn't meet the Social Security's five-baby threshold to ever make it onto the official records for either sex. But it certainly can work as a first name as well as or even better than many place-names. After all, it rhymes with Margo!

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

There are two lovely Portlands, in Maine and Oregon, but not many babies with their name.

Evocative of the lush islands, Hawaii is a place name that will transport you — at least in spirit.

More unusual than Dakota or Austin, Colorado conjures images of majestic mountains and windswept wilderness. Some will prefer the more preppy Aspen, but Colorado feels like the true explorer.

Lacks the cachet of some newer place-names.

Would make a difficult choice even for those with ties to the Virginia city or British county.

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.

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

Alaska's Denali National Park is the home of the highest mountain in the US, officially renamed Denali in 2014, endowing the name with a lofty feel. Twice as many girls as boys were given the name in 2021, but the gender gap is closing.

Visitors to Hawaii's Garden Isle may want to commemorate the island's beauty with this place-name.

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 borrowed from Spanish.

If you live in the city, you might call your urban baby Urbana; if you live in the suburbs--don't even think of Surbana.

The name of the capital city of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, which is thought to come from a Kansa word meaning "good place to grow potatoes".