Southern Names

  1. Dixie
    • Origin:

      Latin, French
    • Meaning:

      "I have spoken; tenth"
    • Description:

      A sassy, spunky, punchy kind of name, Dixie can also be considered a place name, one that has become problematic because of its association with the antebellum South. The Dixie Chicks recently dropped Dixie from their band name because of its association with slavery and white privilege.
  2. Easton
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "eastern town"
    • Description:

      Easton is a stylish Ivy League-ish place and surname name, more modern than Weston, on its way up for both sexes as part of the new direction baby names are taking, as in North and West. Easton was used for her son by Jenna Elfman--and by Elizabeth Rohm for her daughter.
  3. Emmett
    • Origin:

      English masculine variation of Emma, German
    • Meaning:

      "universal"
    • Description:

      Emmett, honest and sincere, laid-back and creative, is on the rise as a male cognate of the megapopular Emma and Emily, not to mention being a character in the popular Twilight series.
  4. Flint
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "born near outcrop of flint"
    • Description:

      Flint is one of the new macho names on the rise today, part old-school tough guy, part rebel. You won't find a tougher, steelier-sounding name; it's part of a genre on the rise along with cousins Slate, Stone and Steel.
  5. Flynt
    • Georgia
      • Origin:

        English, feminine variation of George
      • Meaning:

        "farmer"
      • Description:

        Georgia is so rich, lush and luscious, it's almost irresistible. Georgia's now a rising star among the feminizations of George, helped by associations with the southern state (named for British King George II) and painter Georgia O'Keeffe, with the Ray Charles song "Georgia On My Mind" or maybe "Sweet Georgia Brown" playing in the background.
    • Grace
      • Origin:

        English, virtue name
      • Description:

        Grace, a simple and pure virtue name which originally referred to divine grace, is a fashionable classic. In the early 2000s, it seemed headed for the Top 10 but pulled back from the upward trajectory, which you may consider a very good thing.
    • Grayson
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "the son of the bailiff"
      • Description:

        Grayson, which you might think of as a Jason-Mason substitute, has been rising through the US Top 1000 since 1984 and has ranked in the Top 100 since 2011.
    • Guthrie
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "windy place"
      • Description:

        Guthrie, one of the most attractive Scottish names that's also a surname, has a particularly romantic, windswept aura, with a touch of the buckaroo thrown in.
    • Harper
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "harp player"
      • Description:

        You might think of Harper as the hottest name of the last decade, jumping from obscurity to the Top 10, where it remained until last year.
    • Hattie
      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Harriet
      • Meaning:

        "estate ruler"
      • Description:

        In the USA, Hattie is one of those nicknames that is now more popular than its parent name, Harriet. In England, however, Harriet is still by far more popular than Hattie, while in Australia, Harriet is highly popular while no data exists on Hattie. In the US, we’d like to see Harriet get more usage but we’re happy to see Hattie again.
    • Hollis
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "dweller at the holly trees"
      • Description:

        Hollis is a surname-name used quietly for both genders. At last count, it was given to over 200 baby boys and 160 baby girls in the US. Now a Top 1000 name for boys, it could well break into the charts for girls too in the coming years.
    • 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, nearly 17,000 baby boys were named Jackson -- along Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn, Jaxsen, and Jaxsyn -- which counted together makes it the Number 3 boys' name.
    • Jaxon
      • Origin:

        Spelling variation of Jackson
      • Meaning:

        "son of Jack"
      • Description:

        Jaxon has been mostly climbing in popularity since it entered the Top 1000 in 1997, proving that many parents have decided to rev up the cool factor of Jackson by giving it this streamlined spelling. (Though we still prefer the original.)
    • Jaxson
      • Origin:

        Variation of Jackson, English
      • Meaning:

        "son of Jack"
      • Description:

        One of several phonetic spellings of Jackson moving up the charts, Jaxson entered the Top 100 in 2013 and has remained there since. It's also picking up steam in England and Wales.. Actor Eric Mabius used it as his son Rylan's middle name.
    • June
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "young"
      • Description:

        June, a sweetly old-fashioned month name derived from the goddess Juno, was long locked in a time capsule with June Allyson (born Ella) and June Cleaver, but is rising again especially as a middle name.
    • Kennedy
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "misshapen head"
      • Description:

        This attractive surname name still projects that Kennedy family charisma. While it didn't come into widespread use until long after the deaths of martyred heroes President John F. or Senator Robert Kennedy, Kennedy is now one of the most popular unisex names for girls as well as the top girls' name starting with K. This is one name that manages to sound trendy and classic at the same time.
    • Levi
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "joined, attached"
      • Description:

        Levi, lighter and more energetic than most biblical names, with its up vowel ending, combines Old Testament gravitas with the casual flair associated with Levi Strauss jeans.
    • Macon
      • Origin:

        French place-name
      • Description:

        What with Mason scooting up the charts, this attractive place-name, with its thick Georgia accent, could make a more distinctive alternative.
    • Magnolia
      • Origin:

        Flower name, from French surname
      • Meaning:

        "Magnol's flower"
      • Description:

        Magnolia, a sweet-smelling Southern belle of a name made famous via the iconic Edna Ferber novel and musical Showboat, is one of the latest wave of botanical names, along with unexpected blossoms Azalea and Zinnia. It is named for French botanist Pierre Magnol.