The Best Baby Names Inspired by Travel
Are you a regular traveler? A gypsy who flits from one country to the next glamorous or adventurous destination who also just happens to have a baby on the way? Perhaps the travel is more of the dreaming and planning variety rather than the real lifestyle you lead.
Regardless, you can definitely take inspiration from the names of cities, states, countries and even attractions that could be a perfect match for your little babe. Here are some of the trendiest baby names inspired by travel that just might give your little one a glimpse of wanderlust.
Paris
There is no doubt that Paris is an elegant, historical city with an internationally renowned art, fashion and literature heritage. France's capital city is also known for wonderful food (croissants, baguettes, crepes) and some of the most fashionable styles to date.
The parents of Paris Jackson and Paris Hilton must certainly have hoped some elegance and a sense of chic would be imparted to their daughters.
Adelaide
This Australian capital city is lesser known amongst travelers than Sydney and Melbourne. It has played home to major arts festivals and is known in Australia for being both the rainy city and the city of churches.
Adelaide, as a name, is derived from the Germanic name Adalheidis (meaning "noble natured"). There are several variations of it, including Adalyn, Addie and even Adele.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a New York City borough named after the Dutch village of Breukelen. It's also a destination in Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.
Brooklyn Beckham, the famous son of Victoria “Posh” Beckham and David Beckham, has established himself as a photographer and student now living in the United States.
Georgia
Both a country in The Caucasus region and a U.S. southern state, Georgia is a popular name with various origins. The country of Georgia’s motto, “Strength is in unity,” provides quite the mantra for your little one, while Ray Charles’ “Georgia on My Mind” already offers an ode that you can play while baby is still in utero.
Daughter of Jerry Hall and Rolling Stones’ frontman Mick Jagger, Georgia May Jagger also epitomizes rockstar-model coolness.
Atlanta
Atlanta is a city with a lot of history, known as the cradle of the civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. After all, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born here.
Atlanta de Cadenet, daughter of actress, model and socialite Amanda de Cadenet and ex-Strokes musician Nick Valensi, is a famous example of how glamorous this name can be.
Francisco
The hippy-turned-hipster vibe of San Francisco makes this name a popular one among new, trendy parents who enjoy this City by the Bay.
This name of Spanish origin means “Frenchman or free man." Plus, several famous baseball players are named Francisco, including Francisco Lindor and Francisco Cervelli of Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates fame, respectively.
Sydney
Australia’s unofficial capital city, Sydney is home to the world famous Opera House and a major cultural and economic hub of the country. If travelers don’t go for the Opera House, they certainly go for the Harbour Bridge and the heavenly white sand and sparkling sea of Bondi Beach.
Famous Sydneys include Sydney Leroux, a female Canadian-born Olympic medalist soccer player, and Sydney Pollack, the male film director.
Sienna
This popular girls’ name is derived from the Italian city of Siena (sometimes spelled Sienna). After all, Sienna was amongst the top 10 names given to baby girls from 2006 to 2007 in several states of Australia. It has also been popular in Great Britain and New Zealand, and continues to rise in popularity in the U.S., currently ranked No. 186 on the Social Security Administration's (SSA) baby name list.
Perhaps the most famous Sienna is British-American actress Sienna Miller.
Austin
Austin is the state capital of Texas, known as the “weirdest” place in Texas with its “Keep Austin Weird” slogan. Naming your kid after the Live Music Capital of the World would be perfect if you’re also interested in music.
Currently ranking No. 80 on the SSA baby name list for boys, the name has dropped from the No. 23 spot in 2000.
Sofia
The capital of Bulgaria, Sofia is the largest city in this European country. It also happens to be the fifth most popular girl’s name on the SSA’s baby list (spelled as Sophia); however, this spelling version is still ranked No. 17.
Located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, the city is midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea. It is home to the country's major universities, museums and galleries and also the commercial hub of Bulgaria. In 2013, it was classified as Europe's most affordable capital city to visit. A popular actress, Sofia Vergara is inspiration for any parent seeking a feminine name with European flair.
Juneau
Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is the anglicized spelling of Juno. For the adventurous parent, naming your child after this remote location is quite unique, but it really could have several meanings.
The titular character played by Ellen Page in the 2007 movie, the name Juno can equally be a male or a female name. Juno was Jupiter's wife, the goddess of finance and queen of the heavens in Roman mythology.
Camden
A Scottish name meaning “winding valley,” several cities and neighborhoods carry this popular name. Perhaps best known, however, is the London Borough of Camden, famous for being a haven of counter culture with a bustling open-air market and active night scene. It’s also a popular port city in New Jersey.
This boy’s name is growing in popularity in the U.S., currently ranking No. 152, up from No. 362 in 2000.
India
This South Asian country is home to more than 1.4 billion people. Many associate the country with the spiritual practice of yoga and the home of spicy, tangy food. It is home to the Taj Mahal and the city of Varanasi, where the dead are released into the river to ease their travel into the afterlife.
Cultural and intriguing alike, it is also popular in Hollywood — at least as a name. Chris Hemsworth, the famous Australian actor, and his Spanish actress wife Elsa Pataky named their daughter India Rose.
Chicago
Incorporated in 1837, in less than 70 years, Chicago had already become the fifth-largest city in the world. An international destination for culture, finance, commerce, technology and transportation, the Windy City is well known for its skyscraper-studded skyline and for inspiring the musical “Chicago.”
And, of course, we can’t forget that the third child of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West is named Chicago, or Chi for short.
Chelsea
Chelsea as a city and a suburb can be found in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. As a neighborhood in New York City, Chelsea is praised for its art galleries, dance clubs, LGBTQ-friendly community and cultural events. It is also one of the best known football clubs in the United Kingdom.
Currently ranked No. 470 on the SSA’s baby name list, this name has declined in popularity since ranking No. 140 in 2000. But maybe it’s time for a comeback?
Dominic
A mountainous Caribbean island nation, Dominica is a travel destination not to miss if you are seeking tropical rainforests, waterfalls, volcanoes, gorges and lakes. Here, locals speak Dominican Creole French, a French-based Creole, while in the nearby Dominican Republic, Spanish is predominantly spoken.
Famous Dominics include Dominic Cooper, the British actor who starred in “Mamma Mia!"
Dominique
If you like the name Dominic for a boy, then why not Dominique for a girl? This name has dropped down in popularity to the No. 906 spot on the SSA list from No. 259 in 2000, which means it's more unique than ever.
Popular American gymnast Dominique Dawes was likely influential in the naming of several Dominiques in the late 1990s, after famously getting a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics as well as bronze medals in the 1992 and 2000 Summer Olympics.
Savannah
If you're not so inclined to name your daughter Georgia, perhaps something more unique like Savannah appeals. Separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River, there's something historic and romantic about this city with its antebellum architecture, horse-drawn carriages and cobblestone squares.
This name has a classic “Scarlett O’Hara” feel that’s been in the SSA’s top 100 list for the past 20 years, currently ranked No. 45.
Florence
Another Italian city, Florence is known for its Renaissance art and architecture and has one of the most iconic cathedrals in the country. This Latin girl’s name means “flourishing and prosperous.”
The city inspired the name of the famous founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale — after all she was born there. But the name has made a more recent comeback with the growing popularity of band Florence + the Machine, headed up by Florence Welch.
Do I Need To Have Traveled There?
If you feel weird about naming your baby after a place you’ve never traveled, don’t! Only you can decide if you want to play by strict rules around whether you think you need to name your child after a place with sentimental value.
And as international citizens thanks to the ubiquity of social media, the world is our oyster. We can be inspired and motivated by people, places and ideas from all over the globe. Who’s to say that you won’t travel there in the future, anyway?