Place Names for Babies

Transferred from the geographical name, Jerusalem is a sacred city in many religious traditions, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is given to around a dozen babies of each sex per year in the US.

An interesting Canadian province and city name that has some literary history as the name of a character in Dickens's Bleak House; could make a distinctive choice for parents with northern roots.

Alaska's second most populous city makes a baby name with a preppy, even aristocratic, flavor.

Severe surname choice.

Athens the city takes its name from Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and courage. If you prefer place names to mythological names and like gender neutral names better than those that are gender distinct, Athens may be a good alternative to Athena.

If you live in the city, you might call your urban baby Urbana; if you live in the suburbs--don't even think of Surbana.

An undiscovered place-name with an appealing o-sound ending.

Vail is an uncommon feminine name with multiple potential origins. Primarily recognized as a surname and place name, it derives from the Old French 'val' meaning 'valley.' The most famous reference is the Colorado ski resort town of Vail. As a given name, it has the appeal of being short, strong, and distinctive. Vail carries connotations of natural beauty and outdoor adventure due to its geographical associations. Though traditionally more common for boys, it has been occasionally used for girls, fitting with the trend of adopting surname and place names as feminine given names. Its rarity makes it an unconventional choice for parents seeking a name with natural undertones and brevity.

Valletta is the capital city of Malta. It takes on an air of attractiveness via model Amber Valletta and could make an appealing alternative to the somewhat dated Valerie.

Juliet sound-alike Joliet actually derives from the name Jolie, and was historically a term of endearment, later a surname. It's an attractive alternative to Juliet names and could work to honor a Joe or Joseph in your life.

This Caribbean island and popular travel destination is known for its stunning white sand beaches and bright blue waters. The name Aruba is thought to stem from the word Oruba, meaning "well-situated island" in the native Caiquetio language.

A pleasing place-name that hasn't yet appeared in the baby name atlas.

Prideaux is a Cornish place name and surname that is occasionally attested as a girls' first name. It likely stems from the French phrase "pré de eaux", meaning meadow of waters. For fans of Margaux, Prideaux might be a less-common and very pretty alternative.

The Maricopa people are a Native American tribe who have lived on the banks of the Gila River for centuries. The tribe calls themselves Piipaash or Piipaa (meaning "people") — the term Maricopa is borrowed from Spanish.

Some parents are turning to rivers and other bodies of water in the search for undiscovered place-names, and this has the feel of a Viennese waltz.

Unexplored Moroccan place name, conjuring up images of camels and palm trees and domed minarets.

Cool tropical Latin word name.

Zanzibar is an island region off the coast of Tanzania. It's never been recorded as a baby name, but for those with a connection to Zanzibar, it's an intriguing and unique option chock full of zesty Zs.

Bardou is a holiday destination in France, known for its pictureque village nestled in mountains. It is also a region of Guinea. As a name, it is more commonly known from its English derivation, meaning axe-wielding wolf.

A geographical name that does the samba...and was also borne by a Celtic saint: a winning combination. Well used in the Creole community.