Names Off The Beaten Path
You don't need a roadmap to find the perfect name for your baby. While some geography-inspired baby names such as Austin and Brooklyn are loud and proud, other parents may want something a little subtler. These names are a great way to honor heritage, or perhaps just remember a honeymoon destination.
1. Isla
Isla is one of the most popular names of the 2020s thus far, and we see no sign of it stopping. Taking inspiration from the gorgeous Scottish island of Islay, Isla is the perfect name for parents wishing to reconnect with Celtic roots. You probably already know this, but Isla is pronounced EYE-la, with a silent 's'.
2. Caspian
Bookworms may associate this name with The Chronicles of Narnia, but before Caspian was a prince, it was the name of the world's largest lake. The Caspian Sea is situated at the border of two continents, between the steppes of Central Asia and the plains of Eastern Europe. The sea takes its' name from the ancient Caspi people who used to live along it.
3. Genevieve
Still thinking of Paris long after your honeymoon? We can't think of a better way to honor the city of light and love than by naming your daughter after her patron saint. This name is a beautiful alternative to the more common Jennifer.
4. Raleigh
If you're fatigued by all the Rileys cluttering up class rosters, you could shake things up by bringing a Raleigh into the mix. The City of Oaks in North Carolina was named after Sir Walter Raleigh, one of Elizabeth I's most important statesmen. Raleigh means "deer's meadow".
5. Siena
Siena is a central Italian city known for its art museums, Medieval architecture, and horses. The city takes its name from a beautiful burnt orangey-brown clay that shaped Renaissance art. Both the color and the name are normally spelled with two 'n's.
6. Aspen
If you can't get enough of the cold and hope that your child will follow in your footsteps, then naming them after a famous ski resort is sure to encourage them! Aspen, Colorado is one of the most famous (and upscale) skiing towns in America. The town gets its name from the Aspen tree with its delicate, heart-shaped leaves.
7. Florence
What's old is new, and names from the turn of the 20th century are making a big splash in the 21st century. Florence—Firenze, in Italian—is the largest city in romantic Tuscany. The name derives from a Latin word meaning "good luck" or "to blossom".
8. Troy
Let's go way back in time to one of the best-known cities you won't find on any map, unless you know where to look. The site of the legendary Trojan War, the mythical city of Troy is better known to archaeologists as Hisarlık, Turkey. A modern interpretation of this name derives its meaning from a word for "foot soldier".
9. Alba
The Scots don't call their country Scotland, at least not in Scottish Gaelic. To them, their country is known as Alba. Alba derives from an ancient root meaning "white".
10. Stirling
The last Scottish name on this list we promise, you are probably more familiar with the more popular spelling of this name: Sterling, as in a sterling reputation. Stirling, however, is the gateway to the Scottish Highlands, an important site in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Stirling means "pool in the river".
11. Marietta
Marietta, Georgia is a beautiful city just outside of Atlanta with tranquil vibes, warm weather, and a vibrant cultural scene. The meaning behind the name is a little fuzzy, with many historians believing that Thomas Willis Cobb named it for his wife, Mary.
12. Carson
Carson City is the capital of Nevada, named after rugged outdoorsman Kit Carson. The meaning behind this name is as straight-forward as it gets: "son of Carr". Carson would fit right in with other names ending in -son such as Grayson and Hudson.
13. Valencia
Valencia, Spain has been called the CIty of Sands and the City of Joy. The city's name comes from a Latin word for strength or valor, in honor of the glorious dead. Hopefully this Spanish name encourages your baby to take ample siestas.
14. Rhodes
Rhodes isn't just a city in Greece, it's a whole island! Like many ancient cities, the etymology is a little murky, with definitions ranging from roses to pomegranates to snakes. Rhodes was once home to a massive statue of the sun god, Helios, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
15. Sofia
Both Sophia and Sofia made America's top 10 female names last year and show no sign of slowing down. This lovely and serene name means "wisdom" in Greek. Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Europe
16. Devon
Devon is one of the westernmost counties in England known for its beautiful coastline and stunning national parks. The name comes from some of its earliest inhabitants and means "deep valley dwellers". This is fitting, as the county is known for rolling hills and deep valleys.
17. Lourdes
Lourdes is a tiny market town in the hills of France that made it onto the map in a big way. In 1858, a peasant girl named Bernadette saw the first of several visions of Mary. From then on, Lourdes became known as a site of grace and healing, which we wish for any baby.
18. Shiloh
Those who paid attention in history class might recognize this name as the site of a brutal battle during the Civil War. For a slightly more upbeat namesake, Shilioh was also one of the main centers of worship in the Old Testament. The most likely meaning of this name is "tranquil".
19. Marin
Marin County, California is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in the state—and that's saying something! Marin derives from a Latin name "pertaining to the sea". Fitting for a county with such beautiful coastline.
20. Salem
If you're due in October, you could name your baby after the spookies town in America. While the Salem Witch Trials are nothing to celebrate, the town has taken their spooky reputation and ran with it, especially when the leaves start to change. This name derives from the Arabic Salim, meaning "healthy".
