American Place Names

A rare geographical option which has never been given to more than 50 baby girls per year in the US, but is familiar to everyone. The actual meaning of the state's name, which comes from that of a local tribe, is unknown, but it has often been said to mean "people of the west wind".

Gentle and southern-inflected, redolent of the North Carolina landscape.

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

An actual Hawaiian first name would convey the aura of the islands more originally and effectively.

Zuma is a name that can appeal to almost anyone — just pick your association! There's former South African president Jacob Zuma, the Malibu beach, video game, and more. Children will associate it with the male Paw Patrol character — which may explain why Zuma is becoming more popular among dogs.

An island off the coast of Florida makes an intriguing name choice. Sanibel was originally named Santa Isybella, after Queen Isabella of Castille, and was later shortened to San Ybel and eventually Sanibel. Would make a unique alternative to Annabel or Isabel.

Maryland appeared on the charts as a male name before a female one, but these days it's all girl.

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.

This name of the North Dakota city has been used for at least one female (we know, because she wrote to us) but it doesn't meet the Social Security's five-baby threshold to ever make it onto the official records for either sex. But it certainly can work as a first name as well as or even better than many place-names. After all, it rhymes with Margo!

Tribeca was the term created for New York City's TRIangle BElow CAnal Street. Stangely enough--that aside--it almost does sound like a plausible girls' name, nicknamed Becca.

Missouri, the name of a tribe, a state and a river, derives from the Illinois word mihsoori meaning "dugout canoe". It became a somewhat popular American girls' name in the mid-19th century.

One of the unisex western names that rode in with Dakota and Montana.