Place Names People Haven't Taken Yet

  1. Andorra
    • Origin:

      European place-name
    • Description:

      Andorra is the pretty name of a pocket-sized princedom in the Pyrenees, noted for its skiing.
  2. Augusta
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Augustus
    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"
    • Description:

      Augusta is a dignified name reminiscent of wealthy great-aunts, but with the fashion for both August and Gus for boys, Augusta could get some fresh energy.
  3. Canaan
    • Origin:

      Biblical place name
    • Description:

      Pronounced KAY-nan, this Old Testament place name has a strong modern feel. It was one of the fastest-rising names of 2015, breaking into the Top 1000.
  4. Cayman
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      This name's connection to the Caribbean Cayman Islands gives it a nice resortish feel, while still feeling like an in-tune-with-style boy's name.
  5. Corsica
    • Origin:

      Place-name
    • Description:

      Corsica, the picturesque Mediterrean island birthplace of Napoleon, makes an easy switch from atlas to baby name book, with its delicate, feminine ending. Just don't consider neighboring island Sardinia.
  6. Denver
    • Origin:

      English or French place-name and surname
    • Meaning:

      "from Anvers"
    • Description:

      Before there was Aspen, Denver was the Colorado city name of choice, and it reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015 after a 14 year absence as a stylish two-syllable boys’ name with its trendy -er ending. Its decade of greatest use was the 1920s, when it reached as high as Number 422.
  7. Dover
    • Origin:

      British place-name
    • Description:

      Two-syllable place-names are stylish, and this one is attached to a British city noted for its white chalk cliffs, but there are a couple of minuses: associated with the fish, Dover sole, and also rhymes with the doggy Rover.
  8. Ellicott
    • Florence
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "flourishing, prosperous"
      • Description:

        Florence is back, returning to the US Top 1000 girl names in 2017 after a nearly 40 year absence. Other English-speaking countries have been quicker to welcome Florence back into fashion.
    • Geneva
      • Origin:

        Swiss place-name or French
      • Meaning:

        "juniper tree"
      • Description:

        Unlike its somewhat formal Swiss city namesake, this is a lively and appealing place-name that also has a real history as a female name.
    • Genoa
      • Origin:

        Italian place-name
      • Description:

        One of the newer geographical site names, it has the advantage of sounding like a real girl's name because of its jen beginning and feminine a ending.
    • Holland
      • Origin:

        Dutch place name
      • Meaning:

        "wooded land"
      • Description:

        Holland is one of the coolest geographical names, unadorned and elegant, evocative of fine Rembrandt portraits and fields of pink and yellow tulips. It first entered the US Top 1000 in 2014.
    • India
      • Origin:

        Place name, from the River Indus
      • Description:

        Euphonious and long stylish in England, India was one of the fastest-rising names on the 2013 list, after jumping 240 spots back into the Top 1000.
    • Iona
      • Origin:

        Scottish place-name
      • Description:

        This name of a small island off the coast of Scotland is trending upwards along with other I names.
    • Ireland
      • Origin:

        Place name
      • Description:

        Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin put Ireland on the map when they chose it as a first for their daughter, saying that geographic names were a family tradition. And it seems they were a bit ahead of the curve (or trendsetting)—Ireland has been among the fastest-rising names of recent years. Other Irish place names include Shannon, Kerry, Galway, and Dublin.
    • Malindi
      • Patagonia
        • Roma
          • Origin:

            Italian place-name
          • Description:

            Never as popular as Florence; today's parents might prefer Venezia, Verona, or Romy. It is also a Hindu name meaning "one with shiny hair" and is another name for the goddess Lakshmi.

        • Sicily
          • Origin:

            Place-name
          • Description:

            Sicily is a lilting Italian place-name that sounds like the elegant British Cicely -- which you might consider a plus or a minus.
        • York
          • Origin:

            English
          • Meaning:

            "from the yew estate"
          • Description:

            Brisk, preppy York is an underused classic with the potential to really shine in the 21st century. It's most familiar as a place name — York is a city in England — and surname. New York City and State were named after the Duke of York.