State Names California Edition

Lake

Nature name

This body of water runs deep; the best of a group of new possibilities that includes Bay, Ocean, River, and the more established Brook. It has received attention via the actress Lake Bell. Lake would…

Madera

Madera is a feminine name with Spanish origins, derived from the word meaning 'wood' or 'timber.' This nature-inspired name carries connotations of strength, resilience, and natural beauty. In…

Marin

Latin

"of the sea"

Marin is a lovely county north of San Francisco, and a lovely baby name on the rise, one which sounds more refreshing than the more familiar Marina. As a place-name, Marin is pronounced with the…

Mariposa

Spanish

"butterfly"

Mariposa is a rare, romantic choice with an intriguing meaning. Uncommon but not unknown, Mariposa is an elegant entrant in the nature names category. And it comes with the adorable nicknames Mari or…

Nevada

Spanish place-name

"covered in snow"

Named for its snowcapped mountains, Nevada is a state name which, unlike Carolina, Montana, and Dakota, has been relatively undiscovered. Warning: today's unvisited place-name could become tomorrow's…

Orange

Fruit or color name

An unlikely choice, but in this era of Apple, Navy, Golden, and Mint, you never know. In fact, Orange does have some historical grounding as a feminine name, appearing in Medieval times as Orange,…

Rice

English nature name

As nature names get more popular, parents look to undiscovered nature words and terms that can be turned into baby names. Rice is certainly undiscovered, but may not make the transition from word to…

Sandy

Diminutive of Sandra or Alexandra, Greek

"defending men"

Nickname name in the era of Grease . Sandy fits well in the era of boyish nicknames for girls - a la Scottie and Stevie - or as an alternative to the rapidly rising Goldie. While it peaked in 1960,…

Sequoia

Native American, Cherokee

"sparrow"

This name of a giant tree, itself named for a nineteenth-century Cherokee who invented a way to write his tribe's language, makes a strong, stately statement.

Shasta

Place-name, Sanskrit

"teacher, guide, ruler"

A Californian mountain name revered by healers and spiritualists, Shasta has a New Age, cowboy feel. The mountain takes its name from the Indigenous American tribe, the Shasta people - though this…

Sonoma

Place-name

Sonoma, the name of a beautiful northern California wine-growing region, might inspire some parents. Other California place names beyond Sonoma: Marin, Berkeley, Sierra.

Sonora

Place-name

Sonora may be a more unusual and melodic choice than Sierra, but this Mexican state name may sound too much like Senora to work as a name.

Trout

Word name

"freshwater fish"

Trout is probably best left to the fish, but if it is a family surname, it might work better in the middle. You could always try Mina (Hindi form of Pisces), Trafford (a fishy surname), or Minnow…