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Wherever Did You Find that Name?

© Kristen Hanley Cardozo

Person, place, or thing becomes a more literal question lately. A baby born today is as likely to be named Brooklyn or Jordan as Valerie or Robert. Place names can be unique, or they can seem overly trendy or simply silly. How does a parent decide whether or not to use a place name, and where did the trend come from?

The use of place names is ancient. Leonardo DaVinci is a prime example. The man's given name was Leonardo, and DaVinci was a descriptive term to say that his father was born in the city of Vinci in Italy. Although DaVinci wasn't a formal, given name, it does show that the idea of place names as personal names is not new.

The more recent trend in place names seems to have been sparked, as are so many naming trends, by soap operas and celebrities. Dakota and Montana peaked back in the mid nineties, but others have risen to take their places.

In general, I would advise against place names. There are exceptions to my rule...names that have been accepted for several generations, or place names that were originally personal names. However, for the most part, place names tend to tie a child to a particular location, and if that location is Camden, New Jersey, you may want to think twice.

A big "do not do" with place names is respellings. If the name is a familiar place name, it will be pronounced the same way, regardless of spelling. A new spelling is confusing at best.

Following are place names categorized by my own personal standards. Make use of this how you will.

Traditional Place Names
These names are place names that have been in use as personal names for years. They share the common trait of sounding familiar as given names.
Beverly
Chelsea
Darcy Technically, this is D'Arcy, as in "of Arcy".
Devon
Erin
Florence
Georgia
Israel Technically a personal name, although, of course, the place is better known.
Jordan
Kent
Kimberly
Lorraine
Sydney
Troy
Virginia

Popular Place Names
I am not crazy about most of these names (although a few do appeal to me) but they have gotten enough use to be somewhat mainstream. I still suggest caution.
America
Arden
Arizona
Asia
Aspen
Brittany
Brooklyn
Camden
Caspian
Cheyenne
China
Dakota
Dallas
Dane
Denver
Eden
Geneva/Geneve
Houston
India
Italia
Jamaica
London
Madison
Milan
Montana
Nevada
Paris
Phoenix
Roma
Sahara
Savannah
Shiloh
Siena
Valencia
Venetia
Verona
Vienna

Please Don't Use These
Every name here is one I've at least seen suggested or considered or even used on baby name websites. I strongly, strongly advise against them.
American
Antarctica
California
Florida
Havana
Hawaii
Irak
Irania
Kansas
Kashmir
Korea
Labrador
Madrid
Malaysia
Jersey
Ohio
Saruc
Tuscany
Utica
Vegas
Whyoming

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