Southern Baby Names

Jessy

Jessy is a sweet, familiar name used for girls, though it occasionally appears as a male name as well. Typically considered a diminutive of Jessica (which comes from the Hebrew name Yiskah, meaning…

Maribelle

English, combination of Mary and Belle

"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"

Variant of Maribel

Beulah

Hebrew

"married"

A name with a sound that is both unique and familiar, Beulah is a Biblical name, reminiscent of Bella, Luna, and Selah. In the Bible, Beulah is a place, applied to the land of Israel by the prophet…

Sue

Diminutive of Susan

Much-used midcentury diminutive, now fallen far from favor even as a middle name.

Willie

Diminutive of Wilhelmina or Willa, feminine forms of William, German

"resolute protection"

Willie is one of the adorable boyish nicknames newly fashionable for girls, rarer than Billie. It definitely makes the somewhat-fearsome Wilhelmina more fun and approachable. The -ie spelling…

Mayella

Compound name, combining May, Mary, Margaret or Maya with Ella

"Maytime fairy; beloved fairy; pearl-like fairy; fairy mother"

A sunny sounding name, Mayella is a smoosh name with various meanings, depending on which etymological root you follow for May . The name is perhaps most associated with Mayella Ewell in Harper Lee's…

Amabel

Latin

"lovable"

Amabel is an older name than Annabel and a lot more distinctive. Amabel was a very common name in the twelfth and thirteen centuries, then was revived during the nineteenth century British fad for…

Flossie

Diminutive of Florence

"flourishing, prosperous"

Flossie was an extremely popular Florence nickname that was used independently in the early twentieth century, given to over five hundred girls per year a century ago. Appealing, sweet as candy…