Place Name Boy Names
691 place name boy names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
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There is a reason so many boys are walking around with a map in their name. A place carries weather, distance and a bit of grit, and parents searching for place name boy names are usually after exactly that texture — something that sounds lived-in rather than looked-up. The American-road tier does it best. Dallas is broad-shouldered and instantly familiar. Denver comes with thin mountain air and an easy grin. Dakota keeps its plains-and-prairie hush, and Remington is the longest, most cinematic of the bunch, with a ready-made nickname waiting inside it.
Cross the ocean and the mood shifts from open road to old stone. Rome is one syllable of empire. Cairo is warm and rhythmic and still genuinely uncommon in the U.S. Zaire has a river behind it and a sound unlike anything else on the list. For families who want the map buried a little deeper, the English-place surnames do the quiet work: Preston, Clayton, Sutton and Paxton all started as somewhere before they became someone, and none of them will ever need spelling twice.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, the place it comes from, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Place Name Boy Names
Hayden#161 in the U.S.Hay valley or hedged valley; from Old English haeg (hay or hedge) + denu (valley)▶Dallas#238 in the U.S.From the meadow dwelling; from the valley place▶Shiloh#278 in the U.S.Peaceful; place of rest; the one to whom it belongs▶Preston#299 in the U.S.Priest's estate; settlement of the priests▶Clayton#300 in the U.S.Clay settlement; a place built on clay soil▶Remington#307 in the U.S.Settlement on the rim; the farm of the raven-family▶Dakota#319 in the U.S.From the Dakota Sioux word 'dakotah', meaning 'friend', 'ally', or 'those who are considered fr▶Sutton#332 in the U.S.From the Old English 'suth' (south) and 'tun' (settlement, farm, town), meaning 'southern settl▶Paxton#338 in the U.S.From an Old English place name and surname, from 'Poecc's tun' (Poecc's settlement) or possibly▶Cairo#341 in the U.S.From the Arabic Al-Qahira, meaning 'the victorious' or 'the conqueror', a name associated with ▶Bradley#403 in the U.S.From Old English brad meaning broad and leah meaning woodland clearing or meadow; a topographic▶Rome#452 in the U.S.From the name of the ancient city Roma, used directly as a given name; the city's own etymology▶Zaire#503 in the U.S.From the Kikongo word nzadi o nzere meaning 'the river that swallows all rivers,' referring to ▶Denver#518 in the U.S.From the English surname Denver, derived from the French place-name d'Anvers (from Antwerp, Bel▶Kolton#594 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Colton, from the Old English place-name and surname meaning 'settlement nea▶Colby#615 in the U.S.From an Old Norse-English place-name and surname, composed of Old Norse Koli (a personal name m▶Westley#619 in the U.S.Variant of Wesley, from a place-name and surname composed of Old English west ('west') and leah▶Boston#620 in the U.S.From the English town of Boston, Lincolnshire, named for Saint Botolph and his stone church: fr▶Kasai#639 in the U.S.Primarily a place name from the Kasai River in the Democratic Republic of Congo; used as a give▶Memphis#640 in the U.S.From the ancient Egyptian city Men-nefer, meaning enduring and beautiful or good place; Memphis▶Princeton#653 in the U.S.From the English place name Princeton, composed of prince (from Latin princeps, meaning first o▶Houston#675 in the U.S.From the Scottish surname Houston, from a place name meaning Hugh's town — a settlement owned o▶Salem#679 in the U.S.Peace; safe; complete; from Hebrew shalem (whole, complete, peaceful), sharing the root with sh▶Peyton#684 in the U.S.Fighting man's estate; from Old English paega (fighting man, warrior) + tun (settlement, estate▶Westin#689 in the U.S.From the western settlement or estate; a surname-turned-given-name from Old English west + tun ▶Dax#692 in the U.S.From the French city Dax, derived from the Latin Aquae Tarbellicae and later d'Ax; also used as▶Layton#714 in the U.S.English surname and place name from Old English leac (leek) and tun (settlement, enclosure, far▶Kamden#718 in the U.S.Spelling variant of Camden, from the Old English surname and place name meaning 'winding valley▶Westyn#724 in the U.S.Creative spelling variant of Weston, from Old English west (west) and tun (settlement, farm), m▶Brixton#744 in the U.S.From the London district name Brixton, from Old English meaning 'Brixi's stone' or 'Brixi's set▶Keaton#771 in the U.S.Place of hawks or shed town; an English surname from the Old English place name Ketton or Ceatt▶Riggs#776 in the U.S.Son of Ridge or one who lives by a ridge; an English surname from the Old English hrycg meaning▶Dutton#779 in the U.S.Dudda's settlement or Dudda's farm; an English surname from the Old English place name Dutton i▶Everest#796 in the U.S.Dweller by the boar wood or forest; an English surname from a place name combining Old English ▶Landen#813 in the U.S.Long hill; variant of Landon, from Old English lang (long) + dun (hill, down)▶Santana#855 in the U.S.Spanish place name and surname derived from Santa Ana (Saint Anne), composed of the Latin sanct▶Stanley#863 in the U.S.From the Old English place name Stanleah, composed of stan (stone) and leah (meadow, woodland c▶Orlando#873 in the U.S.Italian form of Roland, from Old High German Hruodland, composed of hruod (fame, glory) and lan▶Jericho#886 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yericho, possibly derived from yareach (moon) reflecting the city's ancient associa▶Trenton#887 in the U.S.Trent's settlement; from the city of Trenton, New Jersey, named for William Trent who founded i▶Aspen#920 in the U.S.The aspen tree (Populus tremula); from Old English aespe (aspen tree, quaking tree)▶Arden#943 in the U.S.Eagle valley; from Celtic ard (high) + den (valley); or the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, En▶Landyn#952 in the U.S.Long hill; Y-spelling variant of Landon/Landen, from Old English lang (long) + dun (hill, down)▶Devon#955 in the U.S.Defender; deep valley dwellers (the Dumnonii tribe); English county name Devon, from the Celtic▶Harlem#971 in the U.S.From Dutch Haarlem, composed of haer meaning sandy soil or wooded area and lem meaning home or ▶Quinton#976 in the U.S.Variant of Quentin, from Latin Quintinus meaning fifth, a diminutive of Quintus; also influence▶Kingsley#984 in the U.S.King's meadow; from Old English cyning (king) + leah (clearing, meadow)▶Harley#1017 in the U.S.Hare's meadow; from Old English hara (hare) + leah (clearing, meadow)▶Lyle#1018 in the U.S.The island; from Old French l'isle (the island), a place-name for someone from an island▶Leighton#1039 in the U.S.Herb garden settlement; from Old English leac-tun (leek garden/farm, herb settlement)▶Kelvin#1080 in the U.S.From the River Kelvin in Glasgow, Scotland; of Gaelic origin, possibly from caol abhainn (narro▶Rodney#1085 in the U.S.Hroda's island; or island of reeds; from Old English Hroda + eg (island), a Somerset place name▶Canaan#1087 in the U.S.Lowland; the land of Canaan; from Hebrew Kena'an, possibly from kana (to be low, humble, to be ▶Gordon#1089 in the U.S.Great hill; spacious fort; from Scots Gaelic Gordan, from a Berwickshire place name, possibly f▶Aven#1154 in the U.S.River; from Celtic abona (river, water) — the root that gives the River Avon in England its nam▶Dayton#1188 in the U.S.David's town; from the English place name Dayton (day's town or possibly from the personal name▶Adrien#1192 in the U.S.From Hadria; from the Adriatic; French form of Adrian, from Latin Hadrianus (of the city Hadria▶Crosby#1198 in the U.S.Cross farm; farm at the crossroads; from Old Norse kross (cross) + byr (farm, settlement)▶London#1209 in the U.S.Possibly from Celtic Londinium (the Roman name for London) of uncertain meaning — possibly 'wil▶Kendall#1231 in the U.S.Valley of the River Kent▶Wylie#1234 in the U.S.Well-watered meadow, spring clearing▶Marley#1238 in the U.S.Pleasant wood or clearing▶Harlow#1251 in the U.S.Heap of rocks; army hill▶Monroe#1282 in the U.S.Mouth of the Roe River; from the place name▶Trent#1299 in the U.S.The trespasser; the flooding river▶Benton#1305 in the U.S.Town in the bent grass or curved land▶Clifford#1340 in the U.S.Ford by the cliff; cliff crossing▶Ross#1359 in the U.S.Headland, promontory; high cape of land▶Sidney#1374 in the U.S.Wide island; Saint Denis's island▶Ripley#1398 in the U.S.Strip of land; narrow clearing▶Westen#1399 in the U.S.Western settlement; town in the west▶Milton#1428 in the U.S.Mill settlement; village with a mill▶Huxton#1437 in the U.S.Hugh's settlement; Hugh's town▶Ridley#2248 in the U.S.reed clearing, cleared meadow▶Raleigh#2273 in the U.S.meadow of roe deer▶Brooklyn#2282 in the U.S.broken land, marshland▶Stratton#2356 in the U.S.Settlement on a Roman road; from Old English straet (paved Roman road, from Latin strata via: p▶Rye#2431 in the U.S.The rye grain; island; from Old English ryge (the cereal grain Secale cereale) — also a place n▶Eastyn#2444 in the U.S.From the east; eastern settlement; Y-spelling variant of Easton, from Old English east (east) +▶Bradford#2994 in the U.S.Broad ford; a wide river crossing place▶Kipton#3012 in the U.S.Sheep town; sheep settlement▶Ruston#3029 in the U.S.Settlement near the rust-colored stone or earth▶Weldon#3033 in the U.S.Hill near a spring or well▶Aarvik#3036 in the U.S.Possibly 'eagle bay' or 'river bay,' from Old Norse arn/á and vík▶Holton#3057 in the U.S.An Old English habitational surname from a place called Holton, combining hol (hollow or low-ly▶Stockton#3085 in the U.S.English place-name and surname from Old English stocc (tree stump, post) and tun (settlement, e▶Bently#3098 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Bentley, from Old English beonet (bent grass) and leah (clearing, meadow, w▶Oaklan#3130 in the U.S.Variant of Oakland, from Old English ac ('oak') and land ('land'), meaning 'land of oak trees'▶Tilden#3141 in the U.S.From Old English, a surname derived from a place name meaning 'fertile valley' or 'tilled dene ▶Lawton#3184 in the U.S.From the Old English hlāw (hill, burial mound) and tun (settlement, enclosure), meaning 'settle▶Wellington#3260 in the U.S.From Wellington, Somerset — an Old English settlement name of debated elements — made famous as▶Ziyon#3263 in the U.S.Variant of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem that became shorthand for the holy city and the promised▶Carlisle#3271 in the U.S.From the city of Carlisle, from Brythonic Caer Luel — 'fort of Luguvalos', a name honoring the ▶Haddon#3283 in the U.S.Heather hill; from English place names combining Old English haeth, 'heather, heath', with dun,▶Jordon#3288 in the U.S.Variant of Jordan, from the river whose Hebrew name Yarden means 'to descend, flow down'▶Walton#3315 in the U.S.From English place names meaning 'walled town', 'wood town', or 'Briton settlement' — Old Engli▶Berkley#3327 in the U.S.Birch-tree clearing or meadow; a spelling of Berkeley, from Old English beorc, 'birch', plus le▶Drayton#3336 in the U.S.From English place names combining Old English dræg — a portage or slope where boats and loads ▶Egypt#3337 in the U.S.The country name, from Greek Aigyptos — traced to Egyptian Hut-ka-Ptah, 'temple of the soul of ▶Harlo#3342 in the U.S.W-less spelling of Harlow, from English place names usually parsed as 'army hill' or 'mound of ▶Reno#3433 in the U.S.From Reno, Nevada — named for Civil War general Jesse Lee Reno, whose surname anglicized French▶Wyndham#3444 in the U.S.From the Norfolk town Wymondham — 'Wigmund's homestead' in Old English — via the aristocratic s▶Mayford#3472 in the U.S.Mayford reads as a compound surname name pairing May, which can mean a meadow or the month, wit▶Kendell#3551 in the U.S.Double-l spelling of Kendall — the English town 'valley of the river Kent'; a surname-name▶Khairo#3552 in the U.S.Readable as a spelling of Cairo — Arabic al-Qahira, 'the victorious' — or built on Arabic khair▶Lexington#3559 in the U.S.From the place-name Lexington — ultimately an Old English settlement name — famous as the site ▶Burwell#3586 in the U.S.Burwell is an English surname taken from a place-name, combining the Old English burh, 'fortifi▶Aran#3595 in the U.S.From the Aran Islands of Ireland (Irish Árainn, 'kidney-shaped ridge'); also a biblical Aran; a▶Beaumont#3604 in the U.S.From French beau, 'beautiful', plus mont, 'mountain/hill' — 'beautiful mountain'; a Norman plac▶Erin#3616 in the U.S.From Irish Éirinn, a form of Éire, 'Ireland'; a poetic name for the island itself, used for bot▶Berwyn#3626 in the U.S.Berwyn is a Welsh name shared with a range of hills in North Wales, usually read as joining an ▶Lynnox#3644 in the U.S.Modern spelling of Lennox — from a Scottish place/clan name, 'field of elm trees' (Gaelic leamh▶Cashel#3696 in the U.S.From Irish caiseal, 'stone fort, ring-fort' (from Latin castellum, 'castle'); the famous Rock o▶Kendal#3727 in the U.S.Single-l spelling of Kendall — the English town 'valley of the river Kent'▶Milano#3737 in the U.S.From Milan — Latin Mediolanum, 'in the middle of the plain' — Italy's fashion capital as a name▶Belmont#3768 in the U.S.From a French place name and surname, 'beautiful mountain' (bel, 'beautiful,' + mont, 'hill; mo▶Alston#3782 in the U.S.From Old English place/surname — 'Aelfstan's town' (elf-stone) or 'noble stone' readings▶Bluford#3797 in the U.S.Bluford is an English-style surname used as a first name, most naturally read as a place name m▶Creighton#3801 in the U.S.From the Scottish place/surname Crichton — 'border/rock settlement' readings — university-famou▶Holston#3910 in the U.S.From the Holston River (settler Stephen Holstein's anglicized name) and holly-stone surname lin▶Kingsten#3927 in the U.S.-sten styling of Kingston — Old English 'king's settlement' — reggae-royal▶Kodiak#3928 in the U.S.From Kodiak Island — Alutiiq qikertaq, 'island' — home of the giant Kodiak bear▶Newton#3945 in the U.S.Old English niwe-tun, 'new settlement' — Sir Isaac's apple-dropping estate▶Rolla#3955 in the U.S.Rolla is an early-American given name of debated origin: it most likely reflects the old German▶Zhaire#3972 in the U.S.Zh- styling of Zaire — the African river/nation name (from a Kikongo word for 'river'); routes ▶Denton#3995 in the U.S.From Old English denu, 'valley', plus tun, 'settlement' — 'valley town'▶Asberry#4003 in the U.S.Asberry is a variant of Asbury, an English surname from a place name meaning 'fort' or 'manor b▶Klyde#4016 in the U.S.K-spelling of Clyde — from the Scottish river Clyde, an old river-name of uncertain meaning▶Ashten#4069 in the U.S.-en spelling of Ashton — Old English aesc-tun, 'ash-tree settlement/town'▶Bradlee#4075 in the U.S.-lee spelling of Bradley — Old English brad, 'broad', plus leah, 'clearing, meadow'▶Orton#4107 in the U.S.Orton is an English surname taken from any of several places called Orton, whose name usually j▶Clide#4134 in the U.S.Clide is a simplified spelling of Clyde, which comes from the River Clyde in Scotland. The rive▶Prescott#4147 in the U.S.From an English surname/place-name — 'priest's cottage' (Old English preost-cot)▶Delmont#4158 in the U.S.Delmont joins the French-derived del, of the, with mont, mountain, following the pattern of Ame▶Whitten#4175 in the U.S.From an English surname/place-name — Old English hwit, 'white', plus tun/stan, 'settlement/ston▶Wayburn#4184 in the U.S.Wayburn is a surname turned given name, most likely from an English place name combining a 'way▶Bankston#4193 in the U.S.From an English surname — 'settlement by the bank/slope' (Banks plus -ton)▶Berlin#4195 in the U.S.From the city of Berlin — likely from a Slavic word for 'swamp/marshland'; etymology debated▶Cavan#4202 in the U.S.From the Irish county Cavan ('the hollow') or the name Caomhán, 'handsome, gentle'; routes laye▶Cyprus#4204 in the U.S.From the Mediterranean island Cyprus — linked to copper (kupros) and the cypress tree; etymolog▶Elim#4214 in the U.S.From Hebrew Elim — a biblical oasis with twelve springs and seventy palm trees; 'palm trees, st▶Harden#4224 in the U.S.From an English surname/place-name — Old English hara, 'hare', plus denu, 'valley' — 'hare vall▶Malvern#4246 in the U.S.Malvern is a place-name and surname taken up as a first name. It comes from the Malvern Hills o▶Fayette#4251 in the U.S.Fayette is the American clipped form of Lafayette, taken up in tribute to the Marquis de Lafaye▶Heywood#4294 in the U.S.Heywood is an English place-and-surname name from Old English, combining 'hege' (hedge or enclo▶Whittaker#4298 in the U.S.From an English surname — Old English hwit, 'white', plus aecer, 'field' — 'the white field'▶Hanford#4308 in the U.S.Hanford is an English surname taken from one of several places so named, combining Old English ▶Brayton#4322 in the U.S.From an English surname/place-name — 'broad settlement' or 'Bryni's town' (Old English); routes▶Chadwick#4325 in the U.S.From an English surname/place-name — 'Chad's dairy farm or settlement' (Old English wic, 'farm,▶Littleton#4331 in the U.S.Littleton is an English place-and-surname name from Old English, combining 'lytel' (little) and▶Denali#4332 in the U.S.From Koyukon (Athabaskan) Denali, 'the high one, the great one' — North America's tallest mount▶Easten#4335 in the U.S.-en spelling of Easton — Old English, 'east town/settlement' or 'toward the east, the dawn'▶Anzio#4345 in the U.S.Anzio is the name of a coastal town in the Lazio region of Italy, south of Rome. In antiquity, ▶Kapri#4360 in the U.S.K-spelling of Capri — the Italian island (possibly from Latin capra, 'goat', or Greek kapros, '▶Kelso#4367 in the U.S.From the Scottish town Kelso — Old English calc-hoh, 'chalk ridge/spur'▶Norval#4398 in the U.S.Norval is a Scottish surname and place-name meaning 'from the north valley' (north + val), popu▶Acre#4414 in the U.S.From the word acre — Old English aecer, 'a field, tilled land' — also the ancient city Acre (Ak▶Athen#4430 in the U.S.Modern coinage echoing Athens/Athena (the goddess of wisdom and the Greek city); etymology of t▶Atley#4431 in the U.S.From an English surname — Old English aet leah, 'at the wood/clearing/meadow' — 'dweller at the▶Dreux#4447 in the U.S.From the French town Dreux and the name Drogo — possibly Germanic 'to carry/bear' or 'ghost'; r▶Olney#4458 in the U.S.Olney is an English place-name and surname, traced to Old English elements meaning 'Olla's isla▶Needham#4459 in the U.S.Needham is an English place-and-surname name from Old English, combining a first element read a▶Kolston#4488 in the U.S.K-spelling of Colston — Old English, 'Col's settlement' or 'the coal town'; routes layered▶Rawleigh#4494 in the U.S.Rawleigh is a spelling variant of Raleigh, an English surname taken from a place name built on ▶Phenix#4511 in the U.S.Spelling of Phoenix — from Greek phoinix, the mythical bird reborn from its own ashes; also a U▶Arlington#4566 in the U.S.From an English place-name/surname — Old English, 'the settlement of Aerel's people'; a famed V▶Dresden#4587 in the U.S.From the German city Dresden — from Old Sorbian Drezdzany, 'dwellers of the riverside forest/al▶Huntlee#4604 in the U.S.-lee spelling of Huntley — Old English, 'the hunter's meadow/clearing'▶Koltyn#4630 in the U.S.K-/-yn spelling of Colton — Old English, 'the coal town' or 'Cola's settlement'; also echoes 'c▶Macon#4635 in the U.S.From the French city Macon (and the Georgia city named for it); the French name is of Gaulish o▶Odell#4651 in the U.S.From an English place-name/surname — Old English wad-hyll, 'woad hill' (where the dye-plant woa▶Warrick#4680 in the U.S.Spelling of Warwick — Old English, 'dwellings by the weir/dam' or 'fortified place'; routes lay▶Dakotah#4719 in the U.S.-h spelling of Dakota — from the Dakota (Sioux), 'friend, ally, those who are allied'▶Malden#4733 in the U.S.From the English place and surname Malden/Maldon, understood as 'hill with a cross or monument'▶Gaetano#4739 in the U.S.Italian form of Caietanus — 'from Gaeta' (a coastal town in Italy)▶Hadley#4744 in the U.S.From an English place-name — Old English haeth, 'heather/heath', plus leah, 'meadow, clearing' ▶Haidyn#4747 in the U.S.-yn spelling of Hayden — from Old English, 'the heather hill' or 'the hay valley'; routes layer▶Londyn#4794 in the U.S.-yn spelling of London — the great English city (its ancient name's origin debated); here for b▶Rochester#4809 in the U.S.Rochester is an English place-name and surname meaning roughly 'stone fort' or 'Roman camp', fr▶Bostyn#4898 in the U.S.-yn spelling of Boston — from the English city/place, 'Botulf's stone/town'; here for boys▶Brently#4899 in the U.S.Spelling of Brantley/Brentley — from Old English, 'from the burnt clearing' or 'the steep meado▶Coltyn#4903 in the U.S.-yn spelling of Colton — from Old English, 'the coal town' or 'Cola's town/colt settlement'; ro▶Verdun#4922 in the U.S.Verdun is a place-name given as a first name in honor of the French city, site of a long and de▶Haydon#4928 in the U.S.-don spelling of Hayden — from Old English, 'the heather hill' or 'the hay valley'; routes laye▶Hesston#4930 in the U.S.Double-s spelling of Heston — from Old English, 'the brushwood/heath settlement'; routes layere▶Indie#4933 in the U.S.From 'indie' (independent), and/or a short form of Indiana/India (from the Indus river); here f▶Jezreel#4949 in the U.S.From Hebrew Yizre'el, 'God sows; God will plant/scatter (seed)' — a biblical valley and name▶Lennyx#4967 in the U.S.-yx spelling of Lennox — from Scottish Gaelic Leamhnachd, 'place of elms; the elm grove'▶Rigby#4995 in the U.S.From an English surname — from Old Norse hryggr, 'a ridge', plus byr, 'a farm/settlement' — 'th▶Stanton#5013 in the U.S.From an English place-name/surname — Old English stan, 'stone', plus tun, 'town/settlement' — '▶Tex#5019 in the U.S.From 'Tex' — a nickname for a Texan (from Texas, ultimately Caddo táyshaʼ, 'friends, allies')▶Texas#5020 in the U.S.From the U.S. state Texas — from the Caddo táyshaʼ, 'friends, allies' (via Spanish Tejas)▶Tyre#5024 in the U.S.From Tyre — the ancient Phoenician city, from Semitic tsor, 'a rock'; also a modern Tyree echo;▶Arlie#5061 in the U.S.From Arley/Earlie — Old English, 'the eagle meadow' or 'the hare meadow' (an -ie form); routes ▶Brazos#5074 in the U.S.From the Brazos River — from Spanish Los Brazos de Dios, 'the arms of God'; a place/word-name▶Britt#5075 in the U.S.Short form of Britton/Brittany — 'a Briton; from Brittany' (a Celtic people/region); here for b▶Burton#5076 in the U.S.From an English place-name/surname — Old English burh, 'fortress/fortified', plus tun, 'town' —▶Cyprian#5083 in the U.S.From Latin Cyprianus, 'from Cyprus' (the Mediterranean island, sacred to Aphrodite/Venus)▶Dayne#5086 in the U.S.-ay- spelling of Dane/Dean — 'a Dane (from Denmark)', or from Old English denu, 'a valley'; rou▶Ellington#5095 in the U.S.From an English place-name/surname — Old English, 'the town/settlement of Ella's people' (Ella,▶
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Frequently Asked
What are good place names for a boy?
Dallas, Denver, Preston and Remington are the most-used, while Cairo and Rome stay rare enough to feel like a discovery.