Trending Names in the Southwest USA
The Southwestern United States are famous for their deserts and canyons, fast-growing cities, and cowboy culture with a strong Mexican influence. Did you know the region also has its own unique baby naming style?
We analyzed the most popular names by state for four Southwestern states — Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma — to discover which names parents are using disproportionately more in this region.
The results? A fascinating list of 100+ names that are used at least 50% more in the Southwest than the rest of the USA. Discover them below.
Top Baby Names in the Southwest
First, the most popular names in all the Southwestern states combined are Liam and Noah, Olivia and Emma, in line with the rest of the USA.
But the rankings soon diverge from national trends. Popular Spanish girl names Camila and Sofia are in the Southwestern Top Ten, and for boys we find Santiago and Sebastian, and modern cowboy names Levi and Ezra.
These are the top ten names in the American Southwest:
All the names below were given to babies at least 50% more in the Southwest States — Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma — than in the rest of the country, in 2023.
Popular Mexican Names in the Southwest
As you’d expect from the region bordering Mexico, with some of the highest proportions of Spanish speakers in the US, Mexican baby name trends spill across the border and have a strong influence on parents in the Southwestern states.
The Number 1 names in Mexico, Sofia and Santiago, are popular across the USA — but especially so in this region. Other popular Mexican names are more localized to the Southwest.
For example, Renata is the tenth most popular girl name in Mexico, but ranks at Number 473 in the US. 13% of Americans live in the Southwest, but 42% of American baby girls named Renata in 2023 were born in this region.
Other favorites include classic Spanish names like Paola and Estefania, Rodrigo and Gonzalo, and long, lyrical options such as Rogelio, Rosalinda, and Ariadne. There’s also the shockingly overlooked place name Grecia, biblical Yair, and Samadhi, which is a state of consciousness in Buddhism… could this be the next Bodhi?
The names below were in the Top 500 baby names in Mexico in 2021 (the most recent data available), but almost all rank below the Top 1000 in the USA.
- Adolfo
- Ailyn
- Ariadne
- Brenda
- Estefania
- German
- Gonzalo
- Grecia
- Humberto
- Isai
- Katia
- Lizbeth
- Mariajose
- Maribel
- Mariel
- Mauricio
- Montserrat
- Orlando
- Paola
- Paulette
- Renata
- Rene
- Rodolfo
- Rodrigo
- Rogelio
- Rosalinda
- Samadhi
- Yair
- Yuliana
Cowboy and Cowgirl Names Popular in the Southwest
The Southwest is the heartland of cowboy and caballero culture in the US, and we see that reflected in parents’ baby name choices.
Names evocative of Western lifestyle include last names as first names for boys and girls — though never the same for both — punchy vintage nicknames, and choices reflecting the rugged natural landscape.
The following cowboy names are proportionally most popular in the Southwestern states.
- Arley
- Banner
- Coy
- Cutter
- Gentry
- Heston
- Jentry
- Joe
- Kanyon
- Kasey
- Kutter
- Lulu
- Mickey
- Reyes
- Rico
- Roper
- Rubie
- Sterling
- Suttyn
- Teller
- Timber
- Tuff
- Woodrow
- Wylie
Spiritual Names of the Southwest
Surrounded by Hispanic Catholicism, many parents in the Southwest use Marian names — not just popular compounds like Maria Jose, but also the beautiful smoosh Mailen, and modern coinage Airam (read it backwards). Other popular religious girl names are heaven-inspired Caeli and Aracely, and the acronym Debanhi — which became more popular following a tragic news story of 2022.
For boys, Southwestern parents like biblical choices such as Isai and Hiram — is it a coincidence that’s so close to Airam? Names ending in -el are especially popular, both genuinely Old Testament ones like Oziel, and modern blends such as Santiel.
Multicultural Names Beloved in the Southwest
Beyond the Spanish names, here is a selection of names from other cultures that are especially popular in Southwestern States. Like Samadhi, Nirvana is a name from Indian religions that is relatively more used here. Several of these names are Japanese, including Broly, a character from the Dragon Ball Z anime and manga series.
Mix’n’Match Girl Names Popular in the Southwest
For girls, Southwestern parents love to mix and match prefixes like Jay, Kay and Wryn, with endings like -lee, -lynn, and -lani. This style is also popular in the American South, and most of these names are particularly popular in the borderline-Southern states of Texas and Oklahoma.
Berry Favorites: Southwestern Names
Finally, here are some names beloved in the Southwest that we think will particularly appeal to our community of name lovers. If they’re not on your list already, they might be soon!
- Alethea
- Azul
- Dove
- Eiza
- Gema
- Gilbert
- Itzae
- Jet
- Lluvia
- Mayeli
- Mirabel
- Noelia
- Orlando
- Perseus
- Quetzaly
- Santi
- Sol
- Townes
- Xavian
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