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American Place Names

American baby names come from a range of sources, just like Americans themselves. There are Native American baby names, American place names for babies, names important in American history and namesakes for American heroes and artists, and baby names invented by Americans and used primarily in the US.

Along with Savannah and Lincoln, American baby names ranking in the US Top 100 include Madison, Maverick, and Kennedy. Unique American names gaining visibility range from Denali, the name of Alaska's highest peak, to Jaxton, an American invention.

We are using the word American here in its generic sense, referring to the US only. We realize Canada and Mexico along with several other countries are part of America or more specifically North America. Also, many names popular in the US such as Emma and Liam, while widely used names for American babies, are not included on this list as they have different etymological origins and are not identified as uniquely American.

Here, a curated selection of the best American baby names.

Savannah

Meaning: flat tropical grassland

Origin:Spanish
407
Augusta

Meaning: great, magnificent

Origin:Feminine variation of Augustus
702
Nola

Meaning: white shoulder

Origin:Gaelic
274
Cody

Meaning: helpful, pillow

Origin:English
455
Helena

Meaning: torch; shining light

Origin:Latinate form of Helen, Greek
115
Alexandria

Meaning: defending men

Origin:Variation of Alexandra, Greek
1019
Madison

Meaning: son of Matthew

Origin:English
245
Atlanta

Meaning: Atlantic Ocean

Origin:Place name
5867
Catalina

Meaning: pure

Origin:Spanish variation of Catherine
660
Lincoln

Meaning: town by the pool

Origin:English
234
Austin

Meaning: great, magnificent

Origin:English, shortened form of Augustine
318
Austin

Meaning: great, magnificent

Origin:English, shortened version of Augustine
2727
Phoenix

Meaning: dark red

Origin:Arizona place-name and Greek
123
Phoenix

Meaning: dark red

Origin:Greek
1170
Orlando

Meaning: famous throughout the land

Origin:Italian variation of Roland
333
Memphis

Meaning: Enduring and beautiful

Origin:Greek and Coptic place-name
1331
Memphis

Meaning: Enduring and beautiful

Origin:Greek and Coptic place-name
4614
Jackson

Meaning: son of Jack

Origin:English
389
Zion

Meaning: highest point

Origin:Hebrew
488
Carmel

Meaning: garden

Origin:Hebrew
2376