City Names for Babies

Has a lively and swaggering sound, and also some unfortunate associations with Reno, city of gambling and failed marriages.

The y makes it seem more like a name and less like an animal, but it's still not as appealing as several Leo choices.

Politics aside, the Cuban capital is one of the most rhythmic of place-names. The question is: can politics be put aside?

Richmond is a place-name — it's the capital of Virginia — that makes a fresh way to honor an ancestral Richard.

What with Mason scooting up the charts, this attractive place-name, with its thick Georgia accent, could make a more distinctive alternative.

The Vale of Tempe is an important place in Greek mythology as well as a real place in Greece. The ancient poets wrote of it as the halcyon dwelling of Apollo and the Muses. The modern cities in Arizona and Australia are named for the Greek Tempe, which is pronounced tem-pee.

The capital of Kenya makes a melodic and worldly name.

The name of the resort city on Spain's Costa del Sol is pronounced mar-BAY-a, setting it apart from the bella-name competition -- though many English speakers won't realize that.

Rockers Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz put a new baby name on the map when they chose this downscale New York borough name for their son. The Bronx, the place, was named for early Dutch settler Jonas Bronck. Might Bronx become the next Brooklyn? We'd be surprised if it did.

Juneau, the name of the city in Alaska, has rightfully taken a back seat as a name to the classic Juno. Most famous reference: When the pregnant teenager is introduced in the movie "Juno," the prospective adoptive father says, "Oh, like the city in Alaska." Juno takes a deep breath and then says simply, "No."

Japanese city name not yet on the map for babies, but why not?

This uppity name has been a fast climber in recent years, but we still think it's a bit much. Even abroad, where the connection to the prestigious university will be weaker, any name beginning with "Prince" will sound pretentious.

Viva Las Vegas? What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas? We think not. Maybe Vega, the name of an actual heavenly star?

Edgy German capital with definite possibilities as a baby name.

Aspen's sibling.

Unlike many other western city names, Tulsa has not proved attractive to parents. The name derives from Tallasi, meaning "old town" in the Creek language.

This name of one of the most romantic cities in the world could easily find its way onto an American baby girl's birth certificate.

A capital place-name possibility.

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.

The name of the capital city of the Philippines is just conceivable as a baby name, giving off the faint scent of vanilla.