Country And Capital Names

Most names with the Ab beginning, including the more familiar Abigail and Abner, mean father, as does this streamlined Arabic choice. American children might recognize Abu as the name of Aladdin's pet monkey in the Disney film.

This Ethiopian boy name looks like a shortening of popular Addison, but has separate roots. Nonetheless, with Addison's popularity, Addis would fit in while standing out as a boy's name in English-speaking countries. Addis means "new", as seen in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, meaning "new flower".

Most Africas today would be named for the continent, but the name actually existed in Scotland in medieval times, where there was a Celtic queen named Affrica. Africa has also been a Spanish name for girls since 1421. The church of the Virgin "Nuestra Senora de Africa" is in Ceuta, the Spanish city she is Patron of, in North Africa.

Given to children of both sexes as far back as colonial times, this carries a lot of baggage. However, parents continue to take the risk. Actress America Ferrera may be have inspired some families to choose the name. Ferrera's Honduras-born mother shares her unusual name.

Amman is a masculine name with rich historical and geographical connections. Most notably, it shares its name with the capital city of Jordan, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The name has Semitic roots and in Arabic can relate to concepts of security, safety, and trustworthiness. In some cultures, it may be a variant of Aman, meaning 'peace' or 'security.' The name also has connections to ancient Ammonites, a Semitic people mentioned in biblical texts. As a personal name, Amman remains relatively uncommon in Western countries but has seen some usage among families with Middle Eastern heritage or those seeking names with international significance. It carries connotations of strength, history, and cultural depth, with a straightforward, strong pronunciation that works well across different languages.

City name less mellifluous than Paris, London, or even Trenton. It was the name of the character portrayed by Leonardo di Caprio in "Gangs of New York."

Andorra is the pretty name of a pocket-sized princedom in the Pyrenees, noted for its skiing.

A phonetically attractive place-name that can be used for babies but rarely is.

South America provides a continent of interesting, undiscovered names -- Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, and the tango-rhythmed Argentina.

Asmara is a feminine name with beautiful cultural significance. It shares its name with the capital city of Eritrea in East Africa, giving it geographical importance. The name has origins in Arabic and Ethiopian languages, where it can mean 'love' or 'she who is loved.' In Sanskrit traditions, Asmara can relate to romantic love or desire. The name flows melodically with its three syllables and gentle ending, giving it a soft yet distinctive quality. Asmara remains relatively uncommon in Western countries, making it an appealing choice for parents seeking a name with cultural depth and uniqueness while carrying warm, affectionate meanings.

Athens is one of the newer place names, used for both baby boys and girls. The Greek city got its name from Athena, goddess of wisdom and courage.

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.

Austria is an nteresting, appealing, unexplored geographic destination, much fresher than American cousin Austin.