Each State's Unique Favorite Name on Nameberry
What is your state's unique favorite name? The name that's disproportionately beloved in your area?
If you live in New Mexico, the answer is Nayeli. If you're in Idaho, it's Pike.
We compared the Top 500 most searched names on Nameberry in 2024 in each state and identified the names that appeared on only a single state's list.
The highest-ranking unique name is listed after the colon (and on the map above), but other quirky favorites are listed for states with multiple one-offs.
Find your state's unique favorite below!
Alabama: Queen
Regal word name Queen is a Berry favorite in Alabama, along with goddess name Idalia and brisk surname Jones.
Alaska: Darby (m)
Handsome and posh Darby was only searched in Alaska last year. Other names uniquely favored in Alaska include Anchor and Akiro, Suvi and Stian, and, of course, Alaska itself.
Arizona: Esai
Along with Esai, Arizona residents are particularly interested in Kadence.
Arkansas: Jake
This friendly, everyman nickname — one that's particularly popular among Gen Z — is a unique favorite in Arkansas.
California: Natalia
Natalia is a Top 100 name on the national scale but is far more popular than average in California, which has one of the largest Hispanic populations in the US.
Colorado: Ziva
A zesty international choice connected to a fertility goddess, Ziva is attracting attention in Colorado.
Connecticut: Renelle
Connecticut was the only state searching for Renelle, a rare French name, along with other European gems Marcella and Kermit.
Delaware: Khaza (m)
Khaza was the trendiest in 2022 when it cracked the Top 1000, but Berries in Delaware are still fascinated by this Arabic choice, chosen by rapper Kevin Gates for his son.
D.C.: Aya
A Traveling Lite name recently used by Hilary Swank, Aya is attracting fans in our nation's capital. D.C. Berries are also partial to Fatoumata, Selby, Winona, and Hawthorne.
Florida: Legend
This narrative, grandiose name — popularized by singer John Legend — is a Florida favorite.
Georgia: Keiran
Kieran is the typical Irish spelling but Georgia Berries are uniquely interested in Keiran, influenced by Keira Knightley.
Hawaii: Uilani
A traditional Hawaiian name meaning "heavenly beauty", it's no surprise Uilani tops the list of Hawaii's quirky favorites. Others include Keahi, Kailea, Kainalu, and the royal name Lili'uokalani.
Idaho: Pike
The brisk fish name Pike was Idaho's most unique favorite name last year.
Illinois: Anton
Illinois is the only state with a consistent quirky favorite between 2022 and 2023. Anton is a variation of Anthony used widely across Europe.
Indiana: Griffin (f)
Is Indiana ahead of the curve when it comes to boy names for girls? In addition to Griffin, Indiana Berries were interested in Wendell as a girl name.
Iowa: Toula
Iowa Berries must be fans of My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Along with Toula, the name of the film's protagonist, our Iowa readers are uniquely searching for Corbett — as in Nia Vardalos's costar, John Corbett.
Kansas: Auberon
Soft, Shakespeare-adjacent Auberon was uniquely favored in Kansas last year.
Kentucky: Darlene
Kentucky Berries love the now-grandma name Darlene. For boys, Silvio is the state's unique favorite.
Louisiana: Savita
Savita — a Hindi name that means "sun" — was the most-searched name in Louisiana last year.
Maine: Joy
Maine Berries were interested in Joy last year, along with other 20th-century favorites Joanna and LeRoy.
Maryland: Ellen
Maryland readers searched for not-so-quirky girl names in 2024: Jessica and Penny also made their list of unique favorites.
Massachusetts: Mairead
With Massachusetts's large Irish population, it's fitting that Mairead — a Gaelic name related to Margaret — is their state's quirky favorite.
Michigan: Larissa
Feminine and international Larissa is favored in the Mitten State.
Minnesota: Calandra
This lyrical Greek bird name — Calandra means "lark" — is finally getting its due among our Minnesota Berries.
Mississippi: Yarik
This Russian nickname was most favored in Mississippi, along with Kamilah and Eudora for girls — the latter associated with Mississippi author Eudora Welty.
Missouri: Sherin
A Persian name that's virtually one-of-a-kind for American babies, Sherin is intriguing Missouri Berries, as well as the similar-looking Sheridan.
Montana: Corentin
Corentin is a French saint's name associated with fish. Other nature-adjacent choices unique to Montana include Jay and Rye.
Nebraska: Ellery (m)
These days, Ellery is much more common as a girl name, but Nebraska Berries are interested in the original male variation.
Nevada: Cecil
Nevada loves Cecil — a charming grandpa name due for a comeback.
New Hampshire: Calantha
New Hampshire Berries searched for Calantha — a floral Greek choice — more than any other state in 2024. Also on their list of unique favorites: Moon, Zeus, and Lucine.
New Jersey: Alfred
New Jersey loves a throwback name! Alfred was the top unique choice in the Garden State, followed by mom names like Stephanie, Ashley, and Andrea, and dad names Richard, Sean, and Shane.
New Mexico: Nayeli
Spanish names are particularly popular in New Mexico, naturally. Along with Nayeli, other Spanish choices uniquely favored in the state include Araceli and Marcello.
New York: Eilis
New York Berries are disproportionately searching for Eilis — the name of the protagonist of Colm Toibin's Brooklyn, played by Saoirse Ronan in the film adaptation.
North Carolina: Abaddon
A bad-boy demon name, Abaddon is a controversial choice attracting attention in North Carolina. For girls, the state's top unique pick is Alaina.
North Dakota: Dragomir
Dragomir is a Slavic name popular in Eastern Europe...not North Dakota. Nevertheless, North Dakota Berries are interested in the name, along with choices like Hanson, Evanthe, Kasai, and Pixie.
Ohio: Finneas
This unconventional spelling of Phineas — made famous by Billie Eilish's brother Finneas O'Connell — is a favorite in Ohio.
Oklahoma: Karmen
Karmen was particularly popular in Oklahoma in 2024, along with common Choctaw names Tula, Chito, Talako, and Issi.
Oregon: Busy
Busy, a quirky nickname for Elizabeth associated with actress Busy Philipps, was most-searched in Oregon last year.
Pennsylvania: Evian
Yes, like the water brand. Pennsylvania Berries were also especially interested in Barron, the name of the youngest Trump child.
Puerto Rico: Wolfgang
This German name is surprisingly most-searched in Puerto Rico, followed by other extravagant names like Tisiphone and Amarantha for girls, Emmanuel and Beauregard for boys.
Rhode Island: Hayden (f)
Along with the female form of Hayden, Rhode Island Berries were uniquely interested in names like Hannelore, Kinley, Julien, and Gwydion in 2024.
South Carolina: Angelica
Angelic yet spunky Angelica was the top quirky favorite in South Carolina.
South Dakota: Diandra
Not only was Diandra the top name uniquely searched in South Dakota last year, it was the top name searched, period! Ander — the top boy name unique to SD — also makes the Top 20 overall.
Tennessee: Aeliana
Ancient Latin Aeliana was especially beloved in Tennessee in 2024.
Texas: Jinx
Texas Berries were uniquely interested in Jinx — a Bond Girl name with mischievous energy.
Utah: Ammon
A popular Mormon name, it's no surprise Ammon tops Utah's list of quirky favorites. Others include Dallin, Finnick, and Oslo.
Vermont: Gwenna
The Cornish name Gwenna was Vermont's most-searched name in 2024. Other unique favorites in Vermont include Fenn, Murray, and Larkin.
Virginia: Lou (f)
In 2024, Virginia was the only state to count the latest middle name du jour among its most searched names.
Washington: Fitzroy
An English surname with regal ties, Fitzroy is a pleasantly surprising choice for the Pacific Northwest.
West Virginia: Alarik
The Scandinavian spelling of Alarik was uniquely favored in West Virginia last year.
Wisconsin: Corrine
In 2024, Wisconsin Berries were particularly interested in Corrine — a French name typically spelled Corinne.
Wyoming: Truman
This presidential, cowboy-esque name is well-suited for the West. Wyoming also loves Tenley and Esti, Cedar and Frost.
To see the official tally of the top names in each state, click the button below.