American Place Names
- Albany
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
Not yet on the place-name map, this name has Shakespearean ties via the Duke Of Albany character in King Lear.
- Disney
Origin:
French surnameMeaning:
"from Isigny"Description:
The Disney surname is derived from the French d'Isigny, referring to someone from the Norman town of Isigny. Isigny may be etymologically related to the Germanic name Iso.
- Chicago
Origin:
American place name, AlgonquinMeaning:
"wild garlic"Description:
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have done it again for their third child: Chosen a name that feels iconic yet strangely inevitable. They named North and Saint's younger sister Chicago, after Kanye's hometown. The name Chicago derives from a Native American word for "wild garlic," which once grew plentifully in the Illinois city, the third most populous in the US.
- Detroit
Origin:
Place nameDescription:
Detroit, the name of the down-on-its-heels Michigan city, has a so-far-out-it's-gotta-be-cool quality. A handful of boys were named Detroit last year, and if you have ties to the Motor City -- familial or musical -- you may want to consider it, especially as a middle name.
- Mojave
Origin:
Native American tribal and place-nameDescription:
Resonant place-name of the beautiful Southern California desert.
- Lexington
Origin:
English place nameDescription:
Lexington is trending as a unisex name, used just about evenly for the genders. For Americans, it's got a patriotic feel, given the importance of Lexington, Massachusetts in the Revolutionary War. Lexington, Kentucky, in horse country, is another well-known city with the name. Short form Lex is user friendly.
- Yuma
Origin:
North American IndianMeaning:
"son of a chief"Description:
The a ending gives it a feminine feel.
- Cimarron
Origin:
Spanish, EnglishMeaning:
"wild, untamed"Description:
Cimarron is a Great Plains city and river name used by Edna Ferber as the title of a popular novel. The Cimarron people of Panama were previously enslaved Africans who had escaped from their Spanish masters and lived together in defiance of colonial rule. In the 1570s, they allied with Francis Drake of England to defeat the Spanish conquest.
- Hawaii
Origin:
Proto-Polynesian place nameMeaning:
"place of the gods"Description:
Evocative of the lush islands, Hawaii is a place name that will transport you — at least in spirit.
- Cleveland
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hilly land, from the cliff"Description:
A presidential and place-name that's not a stand-out in either category.
- Mesa
Origin:
SpanishMeaning:
"table"Description:
Mesa is the term for a flat-topped mountain, derived from the Spanish word for "table".
- Joplin
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"son of Job"Description:
Used as a first name for a handful of girls every year, Joplin could be seen as a distant cousin of other -lin names, like Caitlin, Brooklyn and Braelynn. We think it works even better as a musical middle name possibility for fans of Janis... or Scott. Both great connections — albeit very different from one another.
- Aberdeen
Origin:
Scottish place-nameDescription:
Amiable, undiscovered geographic option.
- 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.
- Yosemite
Origin:
Native American tribal nameMeaning:
"those who kill"Description:
The evocative name of one of our most beautiful national parks -- yes, but also the bombastic cartoon character, Yosemite Sam.
- 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.
- Abilene
Origin:
English from HebrewMeaning:
"grass"Description:
New Testament, Texas, and Kansas place-name more fitting for a girl.
- 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.
- Athens
Origin:
Greek place nameDescription:
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.
- Utah
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
This would make a startling but likable choice; poet Dylan Thomas used it for a character in his play "Under Milk Wood."