Southern Baby Names

224 Southern names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.

Southern baby names carry the warmth of a wraparound porch and the polish of a cotillion all at once — genteel, sturdy, and full of family history. They lean on surnames worn as first names, sun-drenched place names, and the kind of soft drawl that makes a name easy to call out across a yard.

What makes a name feel Southern?

Three traditions define the style: family surnames worn as first names, like Landry, Benton and Courtland; place names such as Savanna and Charleston; and terms of endearment like Honey and Jewel that double as given names.

Southern girl names

Girls’ names in this style tend to be sweet but not delicate — Shelby, Ansley and Tinsley have that polished, preppy lilt, while Kinslee, Annalee and Azaleah add a floral, contemporary twist.

Southern boy names

Boys’ names lean rugged and surname-strong: Baylor, Truett and Tripp all sound at home on a football roster or inside a family Bible.

Heirloom Southern names

Grandparents’ names are having a moment, too — old-fashioned charmers like Willadeen, Vertie and Orbie feel freshly distinctive precisely because they skipped a generation.

Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.

Southern Girl Names

Oliviamae#14785 in the U.S.A written-together double name: Olivia, from the Latin oliva ('olive tree'), joined to Mae — a ▶Azilee#14849 in the U.S.Azilee is an opaque early-1900s Southern given name with no settled origin. It may join an A- o▶Sarann#14932 in the U.S.A compound of Sara (Hebrew Sarah, 'lady; princess') and Ann (from Hannah, 'grace; favour'), wri▶Versie#15084 in the U.S.Versie is a Southern American girl's name whose origin is uncertain; it most plausibly arose as▶Alease#15780 in the U.S.Alease is an American respelling that reads as a blend of Elise (a short form of Elizabeth, 'Go▶Charlsie#15787 in the U.S.Charlsie is an affectionate feminine of Charles or a pet form of Charlotte, both from the Germa▶Elease#15923 in the U.S.Elease is a variant of Elise, the French short form of Elisabeth, from Hebrew Elisheva, 'God is▶Emmalou#15951 in the U.S.Emmalou is a run-together double name joining Emma - the Germanic 'whole' or 'universal' - with▶Alcie#16020 in the U.S.Alcie is best explained as a short, affectionate form of Alcina (Greek-inspired, 'strong-minded▶Idamae#16153 in the U.S.A vintage-style compound of Ida ('industrious; work') and Mae (a form of Mary/May, 'pearl; the ▶Asalee#16169 in the U.S.Asalee reads as a Southern American compound, most plausibly the name Asa, from the Hebrew for ▶Ivalee#16188 in the U.S.Ivalee is an early-1900s Southern blend joining Iva, a short traditional name, with the popular▶Sissy#16277 in the U.S.Sissy began as an affectionate word for a sister, from a child's shortening of the word, and be▶Gennie#16326 in the U.S.Gennie is a diminutive of Jennie and Virginia; through Jennie it links to Jane/Jean ('God is gr▶Billijo#16491 in the U.S.Billijo is an American compound of Billie and Jo, run together as one name. Billie is a pet for▶Sarahbeth#16506 in the U.S.Sarahbeth fuses Sarah, the Hebrew name for 'princess' or 'noblewoman,' with Beth, a pet form of▶Lulabelle#16667 in the U.S.Lulabelle is an early-twentieth-century American compound joining Lula - a pet form of Louise o▶Mattye#17005 in the U.S.Mattye is a spelling variant of Mattie, a pet form of Martha (Aramaic, 'lady, mistress') or Mat▶Luvenia#17051 in the U.S.Luvenia is a Southern American girl's name of uncertain origin; the most plausible reading link▶Sadiemae#17173 in the U.S.Sadiemae is a modern joined double name: Sadie, a pet form of Sarah (Hebrew, 'princess; noblewo▶Texie#17520 in the U.S.Texie reads as a homespun American coinage of the late 1800s South, formed with the fond -ie en▶Sueellen#17770 in the U.S.Sueellen joins Sue and Ellen into one written name. Sue is short for Susan or Susanna, from Heb▶Marysue#17925 in the U.S.Marysue joins Mary and Sue into one written name, in the Southern tradition of solid double nam▶Bobbiejo#17969 in the U.S.Bobbiejo is a Southern double name joining Bobbie — a pet form of Roberta or Barbara — with Jo,▶

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Frequently Asked

What are Southern baby names?

Southern baby names are rooted in the Southern U.S. naming tradition — family surnames used as first names, sun-belt place names, and old-fashioned favorites passed down through generations. They tend to sound warm, polished, and steeped in family history.

What are popular Southern girl names?

Shelby, Ansley, Tinsley, Kinslee and Annalee are popular Southern girl names, prized for their polished, preppy sound.

What are popular Southern boy names?

Baylor, Truett, Tripp, Benton and Courtland are classic Southern boy names, many borrowed from family surnames.

Why do Southern families use surnames as first names?

The custom honors family lineage — a mother’s maiden name or a grandparent’s surname is often passed down as a child’s first name, a tradition especially strong across the South.

How many southern baby names are on More4Kids?

More4Kids lists 224 southern baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.