50 Names That Mean You Live in New England
Do you know a lot of kids named Maeve and Vivian, Declan and Otto? You might just live in New England.
Behind the national data on the most popular baby names, each region has its own favorites, and New England — the six states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont — is no exception.
New England parents especially love girl names that are sweet with attitude, inspired by nature, and gently fading last names.
For boys, New England leans towards quirky sounds that are masculine but not macho, with plenty of well-loved last names, buttoned-up classics, and a strong dash of Irish.
Read on for our analysis of what brings baby names together in the north east corner of the USA, and makes the region stand out from the rest of the States.
Top Baby Names in New England
All the states of New England share at least a few of their most popular names with the national Top 10. Every state's Top 10 includes national favorites Amelia, Charlotte, Emma, Sophia, Noah, and Theodore.
The state closest to the national norm this year is Connecticut, which shares eight out of its top ten boy and girl names with the whole US. Madison, Sofia, Luca and Jack make the Top 10 in the Constitution State, instead of Evelyn, Luna, Elijah, and Mateo.
The most divergent state is Vermont, whose small population means that the most popular names are more changeable. Just one extra baby can determine whether a name makes it into the Top 10 or not.
Each state's rankings have their own mixture of forward-looking names on the rise, like Eleanor and Isla, Owen and Levi, along with some conservative choices that have fallen faster elsewhere, like Harper and Michael.
For the most popular names in individual states, read our guide to popular names by state.
Top 100 Baby Names in New England
There are 45 girl names and 44 boy names shared by all six New England states in their Top 100. All of these are also in the USA’s Top 100 except for Declan.
Declan is a traditional Irish name, though in its native Ireland it's less popular today than it was on older generations. In the States, It rose steadily in the 2000s, hovered around #100 for a few years, and is now starting to fall — though it's still a well-used name in the Top 200. Like many names below, it reflects the strong influence of Irish heritage on New England parents.
Girl Names Especially Popular in New England
For baby girls, parents in New England love names that are feminine with attitude: think spunky vintage nicknames like Maisie and Molly, quirky classic Phoebe, and long-yet-punchy Genevieve.
Other popular girl names include nature-inspired choices like Rowan and Rosalie, and well-loved last names that remain popular here while they are fading in the rest of the country, like Mackenzie and Quinn. (And yes, there are some Irish names here too!)
Here are ten girl names that are relatively more popular in New England than in the rest of the USA.
Callie
This spirited nickname ranks at #179 nationally, but is more popular in five New England States (all except Maine). It makes the Top 50 in Vermont.
Eliza
Feisty vintage Eliza is #116 in the USA, but is a Top 100 name in New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut (and slightly higher than the national rank in Maine, too). Other old-timey revivals especially popular in New England include Clara, Cora, and Vera.
Genevieve
Ranking at #166 nationally, but higher all over New England, and in the Top 100 in Vermont.
Isla
New England is leading the trend with this up-and-coming favorite. Isla is in the Top 20 girl names in almost every New England state (and #22 in Connecticut), but currently ranks 33rd nationally.
Maeve
New England parents are also leading the trend with this ancient-yet-fresh Irish name. Maeve has just entered the US Top 100, ranking at #73, but it is higher all over New England, and is even in the Top 10 girl names in New Hampshire.
Maisie
This sweet nickname is #293 in the US, but is more popular in every New England state — especially Vermont, where it is #57, and New Hampshire, where it is #104.
Quinn
This unisex surname ranks at #85 for girls nationally, but is more popular throughout New England, and highest in Maine at #28.
Phoebe
Phoebe is #191 in the US, but ranking higher in most New England States, and in the Top 100 in Vermont and Massachusetts.
Rosalie
This floral, feminine name is most popular in Vermont at #45. It ranks at #182 nationally, but is also higher than this in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Vivian
Vivian is still going strong in New England, ranking in the Top 50 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, but is #87 nationally. Vivienne is also more popular in New England than nationwide. Boston quarterback Tom Brady's daughter Vivian may have influenced the name's popularity with New England Patriots fans.
Other girl names that are proportionally more popular in New England:
- Adeline
- Cecilia
- Clara
- Cora
- Eloise
- Freya
- Hadley
- Lillian
- Lyla
- Mackenzie
- Margaret
- Maya
- Molly
- Natalie
- Nora
- Peyton
- Piper
- Rowan
- Sophie
- Vera
Boy Names Especially Popular in New England
For baby boys, parents in New England states are all about the gentle, offbeat masculine sounds. Some end in a vowel, like Arlo and Otto, and others with a soft sound like August and Ellis.
The favored last names as first names are vintage gentlemen like Beckett and Elliot, and names ending in "son" like Greyson. Relatively popular classics include Thomas and George, and we see the influence of New England's sizeable Irish-American population in names like Finn and Desmond.
Below are ten boy names particularly popular in New England.
Arlo
This fast-rising boy name, popular in Britain, is #158 in the US. It ranks higher in five New England states (all except Rhode Island), especiallyin Maine where it is #49.
Callum
This peaceful Scottish name is down at #222 nationally. It's more popular in every New England state, reflecting the strong Scottish and Irish heritage of the region. Callum ranks highest in New Hampshire, at #79.
Calvin
Another cool Cal name that is more popular everywhere in New England than in the US as a whole (it's #152 nationwide). Calvin is in the Top 100 in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire & Rhode Island.
Desmond
Distinguished Desmond, another Irish heritage choice, ranks at #401 nationwide, but higher in every New England state. It is most popular in Vermont, at #109.
Elliot
This vintage gentleman is #178 in the USA, and even more popular all over New England. It is highest in New Hampshire, at #67. The spelling Elliott is also relatively popular in the region.
Finn
New England parents were early adopters of this Irish (and Star Wars) name. Nationwide it is #188, but it ranks higher in all six New England states, and makes the Top 100 in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
George
This transatlantic classic is #136, but New England parents love it more than the average. George is a Top 100 name in Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, and just below in New Hampshire.
Jackson
A modern classic surname, Jackson is popular everywhere (ranking #28 in the US), but really popular in New England. It ranks higher in every state, and is a Top 20 name in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.
The spelling Jaxson is also relatively popular in the region, but Jaxon is less popular than the national average in five out of six states.
Maxwell
Maxwell is #184 in the US, and higher-ranking all over New England. It is #68 in New Hampshire, and also in the Top 100 boy names in Massachusetts.
Otto
New England parents love the European vibe of Otto (which is also among the most viewed names on Nameberry). While it ranks at #281 nationally, it is more popular across New England especially in Maine, where it is #69.
Here are more boy names that are more popular in New England than they are nationwide:
- Arthur
- August
- Avery
- Bennett
- Cole
- Declan
- Ellis
- Emmett
- Felix
- Greyson
- Harrison
- Hunter
- Landon
- Logan
- Milo
- Myles
- Robert
- Thomas
- Tristan
- Vincent