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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.

Dallas

Meaning: skilled

Origin:Place-name and Irish
3008
Astoria The meaning of Astoria is theorized to mean ...
Origin:Place name
704
Arlington The name Arlington has multifaceted origins ...
Origin:English habitational surname, place name
3437
Arlington The name Arlington has multifaceted origins ...
Origin:English habitational surname, place name
22607
Louisiana Louisiana is a name that is generally chosen...
Origin:French place-name
5812
Montgomery

Meaning: man power

Origin:Norman
750
Alaska

Meaning: great land

Origin:Native American
2317
Sundance

Meaning: sun dance

Origin:English
3206
Sundance

Meaning: sun dance

Origin:English
9805
Olympia

Meaning: from Mount Olympus

Origin:Greek
683
Denver

Meaning: from Anvers

Origin:English or French place-name and surname
1302
Denver

Meaning: green valley or from Anvers

Origin:English or French place-name and surname
4917
Nevada

Meaning: covered in snow

Origin:Spanish place-name
9773
Nevada

Meaning: covered in snow

Origin:Spanish place-name
8428
Charleston The meaning of Charleston is ‘town of King C...
Origin:American place-name
5053
Charleston The meaning of Charleston is ‘town of King C...
Origin:English
7711
Salem

Meaning: safe

Origin:Biblical place-name or Arabic
739
Salem

Meaning: safe

Origin:Biblical place-name or Arabic
1467
Philadelphia

Meaning: brotherly love

Origin:Greek place-name
8443
Indiana

Meaning: land of the Indians

Origin:American place-name
1479