Unique Place Names for Babies

  1. Paros
    • Origin:

      Greek, place-name
    • Description:

      A Greek island and popular summer destination, Paros received its name after Parus, a son of the Arcadian king Parrhasius.
  2. Cardiff
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      The capital of Wales makes a distinct and attractive name possibility. Cardiff appeared on the US baby name charts for the first time in 2022.

  3. Palermo
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      Son of Sicily.
  4. Fargo
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      Fargo as a baby name? Though we haven't heard of any babies named for this frigid North Dakota city, it's certainly on the map of possibilities.
  5. Jakarta
    • Origin:

      Place name
    • Description:

      Jakarta, the name of the capital and largest city of Indonesia, is located on the island of Java. Both Jakarta and Java could make interesting and unusual choices for a girl.
  6. Tessin
    • Origin:

      German place name
    • Description:

      Tessin is a German surname drawn from several places in or near the Mecklenburg region of northeastern Germany. Rare as a first name, it can work for boys or girls.
  7. Tangier
    • Origin:

      Place name
    • Description:

      Unexplored Moroccan place name, conjuring up images of camels and palm trees and domed minarets.
  8. Clovelly
    • Origin:

      Place name
    • Meaning:

      "ravine under the mill"
    • Description:

      Combining the sounds of familiar Ellie with the spark of contemporary Clover, Clovelly has a hint of Everly, Chloe, and Romilly about it too. Currently a very rare choice, and likely to remain so for now.
  9. Tama
    • Origin:

      Maori, Meskwaki
    • Meaning:

      "son or boy; crash of thunder"
    • Description:

      A simple, easily-translated Maori name that coincides with a stormy Meskwaki name (also spelled Taimah) used as a country and city name in the US.
  10. Tucson
    • Origin:

      American place-name
    • Description:

      A southwestern city name that could make a distinctive alternative to Dallas.
  11. Newport
    • Origin:

      English place-name
    • Meaning:

      "new port"
    • Description:

      For sailors or jazz lovers. Or smokers of menthol cigarettes.
  12. Topeka
    • Origin:

      Place name from Kansa
    • Meaning:

      "place of potatoes"
    • Description:

      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".
  13. Portland
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "land near the port"
    • Description:

      There are two lovely Portlands, in Maine and Oregon, but not many babies with their name.
  14. Senegal
    • Origin:

      Country name
    • Description:

      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.
  15. Mithian
    • Origin:

      Cornish place name
    • Meaning:

      "unknown meaning"
    • Description:

      With other Cornish names like Elowen and Jago catching people's attention, the mythical sounding Mithian might prove an unexpected and magical feeling choice. Traditionally called Mydhyan, Mithian is a village in Cornwall that sits between St Agnes and Perranporth.
  16. Martinique
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      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.
  17. Glasgow
    • Origin:

      Scottish place-name
    • Description:

      An undiscovered place-name with an appealing o-sound ending.
  18. Bolivia
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      If you're tired of Olivia, you could be the first on your block to introduce this unique sound-related place-name with Latin flair.
  19. Diani
    • Origin:

      Unknown origin
    • Description:

      A globetrotting placename — Diani Beach is a popular tourist destination on the Indian Ocean in Kenya. It's similar enough to Dion and Diana to feel namelike, although it is actually very rare in the US.
  20. Provence
    • Origin:

      French place-name
    • Description:

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