Preppy Names
Preppy names are suggestive of the American preppy subculture, associated with generationally wealthy members of the elite who attend Ivy League universities. Preppy style draws from upper-class British tradition, as do preppy baby names. Some of the preppiest baby names are upper-crust English surnames, such as Jameson and Hollister.
Traditional baby names can also read as preppy in the right context. Choices common in the British royal family, such as Victoria and William, feel especially appropriate for a preppy baby.
Along with Victoria, other preppy girl names in the US Top 1000 include Caroline, Hadley, Sloane, and Tinsley. In addition to Jameson, other preppy boy names in the US Top 1000 include Fletcher, Graham, Harrison, and Reid. Names inspired by preppy institutions include Oxford, Phillips, Princeton, and Yale.
Preppy names may also be inspired by preppy icons, real and fictional. John F. Kennedy and Princess Diana of Wales give their names a preppy sense, as do Holden Caulfield of J.D. Salinger’s A Catcher in the Rye, and Blair Waldorf, a character on the preppy TV show Gossip Girl.
If your closet is filled with polo shirts and penny loafers or you like both lacrosse and Lacoste, you may want to consider a preppy baby name. Explore our comprehensive collection below, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Adrian
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"man of Adria"
- Alden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"old, wise friend"
- Alistair
Origin:
English spelling of Alasdair, Scottish version of AlexanderMeaning:
"defending men"
- Ames
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"friend"
- Arden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"valley of the eagle; high"
- Arlen
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"hare land"
- Aston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"eastern settlement"
- Aubrey
Origin:
English from French version of German AlbericMeaning:
"elf ruler"
- Augustine
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"great, magnificent"
- Banks
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"one who lives on the hillside or riverbank"
- Barclay
Origin:
English and ScottishMeaning:
"where birches grow"
- Barrett
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"bear strength"
- Bates
Origin:
English diminutive of Bartholomew
- Beau
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"handsome"
- Beaumont
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"beautiful mountain"
- Bennett
Origin:
English, medieval form of BenedictMeaning:
"blessed"
- Benton
Origin:
English surname and place nameMeaning:
"bent grass enclosure"
- Blaine
Origin:
Irish and ScottishMeaning:
"slender, angular"
- Blair
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"dweller on the plain"
- Booth
Origin:
English and ScottishMeaning:
"small dwelling place, shed"
- Bridger
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"lives near the bridge"
- Brighton
Origin:
English place-name
- Bronson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of brown-haired one"
- Brooke
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"small stream"
- Brooks
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"of the brook"
- Bryant
Origin:
Variation of Brian, IrishMeaning:
"strong, virtuous, and honorable"
- Brynn
Origin:
Spelling variation of Bryn, WelshMeaning:
"hill"
- Bryony
Origin:
Latin flower nameMeaning:
"to sprout"
- Buchanan
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"place of the cannon"
- Buffy
Origin:
Diminutive of Elizabeth
- Cabot
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"to sail"
- Caldwell
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"cold stream"
- Calloway
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"pebbly place"
- Camden
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"winding valley"
- Camilla
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"young ceremonial attendant"
- Campbell
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"crooked mouth"
- Carlisle
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the walled city"
- Carlton
- Caroline
Origin:
French, feminine variation of CharlesMeaning:
"free man"
- Carrington
Origin:
English, Scottish surnameMeaning:
"from Carrington"
- Cassidy
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"curly-haired"
- Cecily
Origin:
Feminine variation of CecilMeaning:
"blind"
- Charlotte
Origin:
French, feminine diminutive of CharlesMeaning:
"free man"
- Chet
Origin:
Diminutive of ChesterMeaning:
"fortress, walled town"
- Chip
Origin:
Pet name for Charles
- Claiborne
Origin:
French, GermanMeaning:
"boundary with clover"
- Claire
Origin:
French form of ClaraMeaning:
"bright, clear"
- Clarke
Origin:
Variation of Clark
- Clinton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hilltop town"
- Colby
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from a coal town"
- Collins
Origin:
Surname derived from Nicholas or ColinMeaning:
"people of victory or pup"
- Conrad
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"brave counsel"
- Courtney
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"short nose"
- Crawford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"ford where crows gather"
- Cricket
Origin:
Nature name
- Crosby
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"village with crosses"
- Dalton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"the settlement in the valley"
- Darby
Origin:
Irish or Norse, "free from envy, or, from the deer estate"Meaning:
"free from envy, or, from the deer estate"
- Dashiell
Origin:
Anglicization of French surname de Chiel, meaning unknown
- Davis
Origin:
Surname derived from David, HebrewMeaning:
"beloved"
- Dean
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"church official"
- Delancey
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"from Lancey"
- Delaney
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dark challenger"
- Desmond
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"one from south Munster"
- Dorian
Origin:
Greek, name of a tribe
- Drexel
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"to turn"
- Duncan
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"dark warrior"
- Edith
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"prosperous in war"
- Eleanor
Origin:
English variation of French Provencal Alienor, meaning unknown
- Elizabeth
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"pledged to God"
- Elle
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"she"
- Elliott
Origin:
Variation of ElliotMeaning:
"Jehovah is God"
- Ellis
Origin:
English surname derived from Elijah or Elias or WelshMeaning:
"benevolent"
- Elton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the old town"
- Emerson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Emery"
- Emmeline
Origin:
Old French form of archaic German AmalMeaning:
"work"
- Emmett
Origin:
English masculine variation of Emma, GermanMeaning:
"universal"
- Emory
Origin:
Spelling variation of Emery, English from GermanMeaning:
"industrious"
- Ewing
Origin:
English from GreekMeaning:
"noble, well-born"
- Fairbanks
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"bank along the pathway"
- Faulkner
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"falconer"
- Ferris
Origin:
Irish, EnglishMeaning:
"strong man or ironworker"
- Fielder
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller in open country"
- Fifer
Origin:
Scottish occupational nameMeaning:
"piper"
- Fitzgerald
Origin:
Irish and ScottishMeaning:
"son of Gerald"
- Fletcher
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"arrow-maker"
- Flynn
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"descendant of the red-haired one"
- Forbes
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"field"
- Ford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller at the ford"
- Forrest
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller near the woods"
- Frances
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"from France; free man"
- Francis
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"Frenchman or free man"
- Frederick
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"peaceful ruler"
- Gareth
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"gentle"
- Garrison
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Garret"
- George
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"farmer"
- Giles
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"young goat"
- Graham
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"gravelly homestead"
- Grant
Origin:
Scottish from FrenchMeaning:
"large"
- Greeley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"pock-marked, scarred"
- Greer
Origin:
Scottish, contraction of surname Gregor; LatinMeaning:
"alert, watchful"
- Gregory
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"vigilant, a watchman"
- Hadley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"heather field"
- Haines
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"the vined cottage"
- Hale
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"someone who lives in a hollow"
- Hamilton
Origin:
English and ScottishMeaning:
"treeless hill"
- Hammond
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"mountain home"
- Harding
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of the courageous one"
- Harper
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"harp player"
- Harris
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Harry"
- Harrison
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Harry"
- Hart
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"stag"
- Hartford
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"deer ford"
- Hathaway
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"one who lives near the heath"
- Hawkins
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hawk"
- Hayes
Origin:
English surname and nature nameMeaning:
"hedged area"
- Henry
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"estate ruler"
- Holden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hollow valley"
- Hollis
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dweller at the holly trees"
- Hollister
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"dweller by the holly tree"
- Hoyt
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"long stick"
- Hudson
Origin:
English place-name and surnameMeaning:
"Hugh's son"
- Hugh
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"mind, intellect"
- Hunter
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"one who hunts"
- Hutchinson
- Ingram
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"angel-raven"
- Ives
Origin:
English variation of YvesMeaning:
"yew wood"
- Jack
Origin:
English, diminutive of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- James
Origin:
English variation of Jacob, HebrewMeaning:
"supplanter"
- Jameson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of James"
- Jane
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- Jennings
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"son of John"
- Jentry
Origin:
Spelling variation of Gentry, EnglishMeaning:
"aristocracy"
- Jones
Origin:
English surname derived from JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- Kate
Origin:
English, diminutive of KatherineMeaning:
"pure"
- Katherine
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"pure"
- Keaton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"shed town"
- Keats
Origin:
English literary nameMeaning:
"kite"
- Keen
Origin:
English, IrishMeaning:
"bold, brave; battle"
- Kellen
Origin:
German; IrishMeaning:
"swamp; slender"
- Kelly
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"war"
- Kendall
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"valley of the river Kent"
- Kennedy
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"misshapen head"
- Kensington
Origin:
Place name
- Kerry
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dark, dark-haired"
- Kiefer
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"barrel maker; pine"
- Kimball
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"warrior chief"
- Kip
Origin:
American diminution of Christopher
- Knox
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"round hill"
- Lachlan
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"from the fjord-land"
- Langston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"tall man's town"
- Larkin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"rough, fierce"
- Latham
Origin:
English from ScandinavianMeaning:
"the barn"
- Laughlin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dweller at the fjord-land"
- Laura
Origin:
English from LatinMeaning:
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
- Lawson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Lawrence"
- Leighton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow town"
- Louis
Origin:
German and FrenchMeaning:
"renowned warrior"
- Mac
Origin:
Scottish or IrishMeaning:
"son of"
- Macallister
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of Alasdair"
- Madeline
Origin:
English variation of MagdalenMeaning:
"high tower or woman from Magdala"
- Malcolm
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"devotee of St. Colomba"
- Margaret
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"pearl"
- Marlowe
Origin:
Variation of Marlow, EnglishMeaning:
"driftwood"
- Maxfield
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"Mac's field"
- Mccarthy
Origin:
Irish surnameMeaning:
"son of Cárthach"
- Mercer
Origin:
French occupational nameMeaning:
"a merchant"
- Meredith
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"great ruler"
- Merrill
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"sea-bright"
- Merritt
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"boundary gate"
- Miles
Origin:
English form of MiloMeaning:
"soldier or merciful"
- Missy
Origin:
English, diminutive of Melissa
- Montgomery
Origin:
NormanMeaning:
"man power"
- Murphy
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"sea warrior"
- Nicholas
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"people of victory"
- Niels
Origin:
Danish variation of Nicholas; Dutch diminutive of Cornelius
- Oakes
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"near the oaks"
- Oxford
Origin:
English place-nameMeaning:
"from the oxen crossing"
- Padget
Origin:
English and French variation of PageMeaning:
"page, attendant"
- Paige
Origin:
English, occupational nameMeaning:
"page to a lord"
- Palmer
Origin:
English surname and occupationalMeaning:
"he who holds the palm"
- Parker
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"park keeper"
- Payton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fighting man's estate"
- Phillip
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"lover of horses"
- Phillips
- Pierce
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Piers"
- Piper
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"pipe or flute player"
- Powell
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Howell"
- Prescott
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"priest's cottage"
- Preston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"priest's estate"
- Princeton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"princely town"
- Quade
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"son of Uaid"
- Quentin
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"fifth"
- Quincy
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"estate of the fifth son"
- Radley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"red meadow"
- Rawlings
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"son of Raul"
- Reagan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little king"
- Reese
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"ardor"
- Reeve
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"bailiff"
- Reid
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"red-haired"
- Remington
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"place on a riverbank"
- Rhett
Origin:
English from DutchMeaning:
"advice"
- Rhodes
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"where roses grow"
- Rhys
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"ardor"
- Richard
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"dominant ruler"
- Rivers
Origin:
Nature name and surname, EnglishMeaning:
"rivers"
- Royce
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of the king"
- Rush
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"basket weaver"
- Rutherford
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"cattle ford"
- Sargent
Origin:
Spelling variation of Sergeant, LatinMeaning:
"to serve"
- Saxon
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"people of the dagger"
- Sayer
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"woodcutter or reciter"
- Schuyler
Origin:
DutchMeaning:
"scholar"
- Scout
Origin:
Word name
- Sebastian
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"person from ancient city of Sebastia"
- Sheffield
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the crooked field"
- Shepherd
Origin:
Occupational nameMeaning:
"sheep hearder"
- Sheridan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"searcher"
- Sinclair
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"from the town of St. Clair"
- Skipper
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"captain"
- Sloane
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"raider"
- Smith
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"blacksmith"
- Spencer
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"house steward, dispenser of provisions"
- Stanton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"stony town"
- Sumner
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"summoner"
- Sutton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the southern homestead"
- Tabitha
Origin:
AramaicMeaning:
"gazelle"
- Tad
Origin:
Diminutive of Thaddeus, AramaicMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Taggart
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"son of the priest"
- Tandy
Origin:
Native AmericanMeaning:
"flower"
- Tanner
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"leather tanner"
- Tate
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"cheerful"
- Tatum
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"Tate's homestead"
- Taylor
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"tailor"
- Teagan
Origin:
Irish or WelshMeaning:
"little poet or fair"
- Teague
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"bard, poet"
- Thad
Origin:
Short form of Thaddeus or variation of Tad
- Thaddeus
Origin:
Aramaic, meaning unclear, possibly from TheodoreMeaning:
"gift of God"
- Thatcher
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"roof thatcher"
- Thayer
Origin:
French variation of TaylorMeaning:
"tailor"
- Thornton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"place in the thorns"
- Tiernan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little lord"
- Tierney
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"descendent of a lord"
- Tinsley
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"Tynni's meadow"
- Topher
Origin:
Diminutive of Christopher
- Trey
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"three"
- Tucker
Origin:
English occupational nameMeaning:
"fabric pleater"
- Vaughn
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"small"
- Victoria
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"victory"
- Wallis
Origin:
Variation of WallaceMeaning:
"a Welshman, Celt"
- Warner
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"army"
- Waverly
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"meadow of quivering aspens"
- Wesley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"western meadow"
- Wharton
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"farm near the river"
- Whitley
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"white meadow"
- Whitney
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"white island"
- Wilder
Origin:
Surname or word name
- William
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"resolute protection"
- Windsor
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"riverbank with a winch"
- Worth
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"enclosure, homestead"
- Wright
- Yale
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"fertile upland"
- Yardley
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"wood clearing"
- Yates
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"gate"
- York
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the yew estate"