Group 4 - States

Georgia

English, feminine variation of George

"farmer"

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…

Alaska

Native American

"great land"

State name Alaska stems from an Aleutian word for the land mass itself. The number of baby girls named Alaska has doubled in the past five years, and is sure to continue increasing as more place…

Arizona

Place-name from Papago Indian

"little springs"

We usually think of place-names as a modern invention, but in fact Arizona ranked on the US Top 1000 from its inception in 1880 until 1911, when it vanished below the surface. It peaked at Number 510…

California

Place name, Spanish from Arabic

"land of Califia, land of the caliph"

Has not caught on as much as other Golden State place-names — Sierra, Marin, West, or even Francisco — probably because of its length. The state of California got its name from the 16th-century…

Tennessee

Native American, Cherokee, place-name

"bend in the river; meeting place"

Young rocker Tennessee Thomas has brought this former one-person name over to the girls' side -- though the census roles of North Carolina in 1850 included a female named Tennessee and called Tincy.…

Maine

Place-name

Strong and spare state name, maybe better in the middle -- or for a boy.