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Place Names

danayoung
By danayoung
Updated Mon May 22 2023
  1. Albany

    • Origin:

      Scottish place name

    • Description:

      Not yet on the place-name map, this name has Shakespearean ties via the Duke Of Albany character in King Lear.
  2. Alexander

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "defending men"

    • Description:

      Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree.
  3. Aspen

    • Origin:

      Nature and place-name

    • Meaning:

      "a poplar tree that quakes in the breeze"

    • Description:

      Aspen is part of two groups of stylish and unique baby names: nature names and place-names. The name of a graceful tree in the poplar family with heart-shaped leaves so delicate they quiver in the gentlest breeze, Aspen is also the name of a trendy Colorado ski resort. Aspen started as a unisex name possibility but now is much more frequently worn by girls.
  4. Atlanta

    • Origin:

      Place name

    • Meaning:

      "Atlantic Ocean"

    • Description:

      The capital of Georgia is far from the ocean, but got its name from the Western and Atlantic Railroad which ran through the city. Best known as a hub of industry and transport, and for its roles in the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement, it has never been popular as a baby name despite sounding like one. Its peak popularity was in 1995, the year before Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games.

  5. Augusta

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Augustus, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts and stately homes, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, and the renewed interest in clunky classics like Gwendolyn and Winifred for girls, Augusta might just appeal to contemporary parents.
  6. Austin

    • Origin:

      English, shortened form of Augustine, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      Austin is one of the most attractive city names for babies, with an appealing southwestern feel and place-name panache.
  7. Berkeley
    • Berlin
      • Dallas

        • Origin:

          Place name, surname and Irish

        • Meaning:

          "meadow dwelling, valley house, skilled"

        • Description:

          A laid-back cowboy name which feels both cool and gentle, Dallas has ranked in the US Top 500 since records began in 1880. Never super popular but surprisingly never out of style, Dallas is given to nearly 1400 boys in the US every year.
      • Davis

        • Origin:

          Surname derived from David, Hebrew

        • Meaning:

          "beloved"

        • Description:

          Davis is a fresh way to say David. Some sources define it as "son of David," but we see it as a surname spin on the original. While David is an everyman name, Davis has some creative edge -- and still gets you to the classic guy nickname Dave.
      • Denver

        • Origin:

          English or French place-name and surname

        • Meaning:

          "green valley or from Anvers"

        • Description:

          Yet another creative character name from Toni Morrison, Denver was a daughter of Sethe's in the novel Beloved. Today Denver is most familiar as the name of the largest city in Colorado, used almost equally for girls and boys.
      • Dublin

        • Origin:

          Irish place-name

        • Description:

          With Galway and Ireland in play as names (not to mention Shannon and Kerry), there's no reason this one can't work, too.
      • Everest

        • Origin:

          Place-name, world's tallest mountain

        • Meaning:

          "from Évreux"

        • Description:

          This twist on the popular Everett takes it to lofty heights and gives it a geographical and nature-inspired link. The snow-capped Everest could make a name that stands out without feeling too out there, and it may be seen more often in the classroom (that is, outside of the textbooks) in coming years.
      • Geneva
        • Helena

          • Origin:

            Latinate form of Helen, Greek

          • Meaning:

            "torch; shining light"

          • Description:

            Helena is one of those classic names that just misses making the US Top 1000 girl names for its entire history, falling off for a single year in 1992. Since then it's been drifting lazily up the charts, and makes a perfect choice if you want a name that both fits in and stands out.
        • Hudson

          • Origin:

            English place-name and surname

          • Meaning:

            "Hugh's son"

          • Description:

            Hudson has risen quickly up the charts over the past 30 years, getting a lot of its style value from New York's Hudson River. That makes it a nature name and a place name that's also got the fashion gloss of New York City.
        • Henley
          • Hensley
            • Ireland

              • Origin:

                Place name

              • Description:

                Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin put Ireland on the map when they chose it as a first for their daughter, saying that geographic names were a family tradition. And it seems they were a bit ahead of the curve (or trendsetting)—Ireland has been among the fastest-rising names of recent years. Other Irish place names include Shannon, Kerry, Galway, and Dublin.
            • Jackson

              • Origin:

                English

              • Meaning:

                "son of Jack"

              • Description:

                Jackson is one of those names that's much more popular than you think, coming in near the top of our annual Playground Analysis, which ranks names by grouping all their spellings together. Last year, more than 13,000 baby boys were named Jackson -- along Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn, Jaxsen, and Jaxsyn -- which counted together makes it the Number 5 boys' name.