American Place Names
- Mesa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"table"Description:
Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".
- Vermont
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"green mountain"Description:
Place-name waiting to be discovered.
- Shenandoah
Origin:
Native American place-nameDescription:
While some sources assign the place-name the romantic meaning "beautiful daughter of the stars," the Virginia region itself says the name is of uncertain Native American origin with many possible but no definitive meaning. No matter: Shenandoah is a lovely name that's rare but usable.
- Malibu
Origin:
Ventureño Chumash, Native AmericanMeaning:
"the surf sounds loudly"Description:
Malibu, the name of a California beach city, evokes sunshine, surfing, and glamour. With its fashionable "oo" sound — as seen in names like Luna and Ruby — Malibu is an unexplored place name worth considering.
- Providence
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"divine protection or care"Description:
A Puritanical virtue name and also a place name, belonging to the state capital of Rhode Island and several other towns and cities in the US.
- Athens
Origin:
Greek place nameDescription:
Athens is one of the newer place names, used for both baby boys and girls. The Greek city got its name from Athena, goddess of wisdom and courage.
- Bergen
Origin:
ScandinavianMeaning:
"lives on a hill"Description:
Norwegian city name heard much more often as a last name than a first.
- Vegas
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"meadows"Description:
Viva Las Vegas? What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? We think not. Maybe Vega, the name of an actual heavenly star?
- Aberdeen
Origin:
Scottish place-nameDescription:
Amiable, undiscovered geographic option.
- Joliet
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"little pretty one"Description:
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.
- Prescott
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"priest's cottage"Description:
Preppy P surname, and a potential way to honor a Scott.
- Sundance
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"sun dance"Description:
Long synonymous with the American outlaw Harry Longabaugh, aka The Sundance Kid, who got his nickname from the town of Sundance, Wyoming, where he was incarcerated as a teenager. The place name Sundance was taken from the sun dance ceremony practiced by local Native American tribes.
- Alameda
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"cottonwood grove"Description:
Common California place-name that could work for a girl.
- Lansing
Origin:
Dutch and English surnameMeaning:
"son of Lans; family of Wlanc"Description:
Lansing is perhaps best known as the state capital of Michigan, which was named after the town of Lansing, New York. The original Lansing was named in honor of John Lansing Jr., a Chancellor of New York and mayor of Albany. He was of Dutch parentage.
- Taos
Origin:
American place-nameDescription:
This beautiful New Mexican pueblo locale has long attracted artists and skiers, and now may attract some baby namers as well.
- Vegas
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"meadows"Description:
One of the major American city names that's very unlikely to catch on as a baby name, although a small number of children are given the name each year.
- Zuma
Origin:
American place-name and ArabicMeaning:
"peace"Description:
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.
- Rochester
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"stone camp or fortress"Description:
Rochester was Jack Benny's famous valet and sidekick, played by early African-American comic Eddie Anderson.
- Chicago
Origin:
American place name, AlgonquinMeaning:
"wild garlic"Description:
When Kim Kardashian and Kanye West named their daughter Chicago — after West's hometown — we expected it to rise for baby girls. But American parents have taken to Chicago as a boy name. It's been given to more boys than girls every year since 2018.
- Atlanta
Origin:
Place nameMeaning:
"Atlantic Ocean"Description:
The capital of Georgia is far from the ocean, but got its name from the Western and Atlantic Railroad which ran through the city. Best known as a hub of industry and transport, and for its roles in the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement, it has never been popular as a baby name despite sounding like one. Its peak popularity was in 1995, the year before Atlanta hosted the Olympic Games.