Place Names for Babies

Rumors abound about Waneta, which is a Canadian place name. Some say it's an Anglicization of Juanita, while others claim it's a Native American name. Interestingly, Waneta is a common name among the American Amish.

This delicate Umbrian place name would make a unique path to Ellie.

Idalah is a town in Zebulon that makes a distinctive first name for a modern girl. Where the boys get most of the ancient yet unusual Biblical names, Idalah is one for the girls' side.

For sailors or jazz lovers. Or smokers of menthol cigarettes.

A city name that sounds more legit than most because of its similarity to Peyton and other such names in circulation.

The name of the capital city of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County, which is thought to come from a Kansa word meaning "good place to grow potatoes".

Lindus or Lindos was one of the most important towns in ancient Rhodes. Lindus also was the native place of Cleobulus, one of the Seven Sages of Greece.

One place-name that's far off the beaten track, and better for girls, despite the connection with the dated Irma.

A perfect example of what a difference a single letter can make. Add an 'a' to the ho-hum Cathy and you have the old name for China, often used by such poets as Edna St. Vincent Millay and Ezra Pound.

Name taken from a hermitage dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Aitzpea was the name of Basque actress and director Aitzpea Goenaga.

Cool tropical Latin word name.

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

There are two lovely Portlands, in Maine and Oregon, but not many babies with their name.

Popular etymology derives this West African country's name from the Wolof words sunu gal, "our canoe". It's an appealing image, of a nation of people all in the same boat. Some country names have taken off as baby names, but this one, not yet.

Martinique is a Caribbean island that’s part of the Lesser Antilles, and is a region of France. This could be a fresh way to honor a Martin or Martha.

Mythical wonderland makes strong, evocative first name for either gender.

A pretty private park in Manhattan, doesn't quite make it as a baby name.

American place and tribe name, derived via French from the Dakota word ayúxba "sleepy ones".

This name of Angola's capital city has occasionally been used for baby girls.