Place Names for Babies

If this name makes you think of Victorian novels, it's because Fairfax was part of Mr Rochester's name in Jane Eyre, and the surname of a minor character in Jane Austen's Emma. It has a distinctly aristocratic feel, despite its straightforward meaning. Fairfax is also a city in Virginia.

One of the most picturesque and enchanting areas of France could become a distinctive baby name.

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

Attractive but somewhat unwieldy place-name name.

The name America is given to around 100 baby girls each year, mostly within the Hispanic and Latin American communities. The national charts do not record diacritical marks like accents, but at least some of those baby girls spell their names with one. Model América González is among them.

Has much too strong of a Brooklyn accent.

A city and river in Scotland; this is upbeat and cheery, but doesn't seem that appropriate as a name.

Bardou is a bright-as-a-button name that despite its zippy, modern feel is actually as old as the earth.

Lisa Loeb used this intriguing name as the middle for her son Emet.

A Catalan county name used for both girls and boys in its homeland.

Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".

This state name -- it comes from the Ute Indians -- has a strong but feminine sound.

The name of an island in the English Channel that might make an attractive first name, but would work better for a boy.

Ibiza — a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea — stems from the Arabic word Yabisah, meaning "land".

There are more charming places -- and place-names -- for your child.

Montego Bay is a beach resort in Jamaica.

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.

Brittany is firmly a mom name today, but Britain could easily be her daughter. The Britton spelling variation is more common for both genders.

Variant of Kendall

This Canadian city name would make a unique but very wearable choice for a son or daughter. Cal is a good nickname — skip Gary.