Timeless, Lyrical, and Retro-Cool—These 250 Southern Baby Names Are Everything

Whether you're expecting or you simply like to plan far, far ahead, reading about baby names, whether charming and timeless or spunky, is always fun. Some of our favorites as of late? Those made popular by moms and dads living east of the Mississippi River. In fact, Southern names offer so much lyrical beauty and retro-cool vibes that we're tempted to legally change our own monikers.

Here, we've rounded up 250 of our favorite Southern baby names, each with a meaning that's more unique and conversation-starting than the last. Some are inspired by Southern cities, a few pay homage to musicians and literary greats from the region, and others simply exhibit the charm and natural beauty of the landscape. So scroll through for Southern baby name inspiration to call your little one something extra special.

Meaning: "My father is joy" or "My father rejoices"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Land of meadows"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Son of Adam"; origin: English

Meaning: "Noble natured"; origin: German

Meaning: "Thicket clearers"; origin: Native American

Meaning: "Defender of men"; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Kind, nourishing"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Industrious, striving"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Grace, beauty"; origin: Hebrew, French

Meaning: "Grace, gracious"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "He (God) has favored me"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Gracious, full of grace"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Sunrise"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Dry"; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Bringer of joy"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Beautiful"; origin: French

Meaning: "Bright, birdlike"; origin: English

Meaning: "Dark clearing"; origin: English

Meaning: "White, fair"; origin: French

Meaning: "Pretty, cheerful"; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "Free man." Feminine derivative of Charles or Carolus; origin: French, Latin, German

Meaning: "Clever, curly haired"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Free man." Feminine derivative of Charles or Carolus; origin: French, Latin, German

Meaning: "Free man, petite." Feminine derivative of Charlot; origin: French

Meaning: "Clear, bright"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Merciful, gentle"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "A flower"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Steadfast"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Maiden"; origin: Latin

Meaning: Named for the jumping insect; origin: American

Meaning: "Day's eye." Derived from the Old English word dægeseage; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Allies, friends"; origin: Native American

Meaning: "Seductive, delightful"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Born fourth," as in the fourth letter of Greek alphabet; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Tenth." A reference to the ten-dollar notes labeled "Dix" (and known as "Dixies") that were circulated in pre-Civil War Louisiana; origin: French

Meaning: "Gift of God." Diminutive of Dorothy; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Gift of God." Diminutive of Dorothy; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Light"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "My god is bountiful." Derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Son of Ellis"; origin: English

Meaning: "Fairy." Derived from the Middle English word faie; origin: Middle English

Meaning: "A flower." Named for naturalist Alexander Garden, who classified the gardenia during the 18th century; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "Farmer." Feminine derivative of George; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Farmer." Feminine derivative of George; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Blessing, favor." Derived from the Latin word gratia, meaning "favor" or "thanks"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "A harpist"; origin: Middle English

Meaning: "Ruler of the home." Derived from Henri/Henriette; origin: French

Meaning: "Ruler of the home." Feminine diminutive of Henri; origin: French

Meaning: "My god is bountiful." Derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "God is gracious." Feminine derivative of John; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "He (God) will increase"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "He (God) will increase"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "A cypress evergreen tree." Derived from the Latin word iuniperus; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Misshapen head"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Bearer of Christ." Derived from the Greek Christophoros; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Beloved person"; origin: Middle English

Meaning: "Laurel"; origin: Italian

Meaning: "Famous warrior"; origin: German

Meaning: "Light"; origin: French

Meaning: "Lovable"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Son of Matthew"; origin: English

Meaning: "Month of May"; origin: English

Meaning: "A flower." Named for 17th-century French botanist Pierre Magnol; origin: French

Meaning: "Bitter, beautiful"; origin: Spanish, French

Meaning: "Of wondrous beauty." Derived from Latin word mirabilis; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Mouth of the Roe river"; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "An evergreen shrub." Derived from Greek word myrtos; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Bright, shining one." Diminutive of Helen or Eleanor; origin: Greek, English

Meaning: "Light." Diminutive of Honora; origin: Greek

Meaning: "An olive tree"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Church, cemetery"; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "Weaver"; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Ancient"; origin: Latin

Meaning: A combination of Rae (short for Rachel, meaning "ewe, female sheep") and Lynn (meaning "lake"); origin: American, Hebrew, Welsh

Meaning: "A roe deer's meadow"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Fourth born"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Pear" or "pearl"; origin: Spanish, Italian

Meaning: "Courageous"; origin: Irish, Gaelic

Meaning: "Princess"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Treeless plain"; origin: Spanish

Meaning: "Red in color." The name of Scarlett O'Hara, a character in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel, Gone With the Wind, set in the antebellum South; origin: French

Meaning: "Serene, calm"; origin: English, French

Meaning: "Season, half-year”; origin: German

Meaning: "Lily"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Leaping water"; origin: Native American

Meaning: "Hay field"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Battle mighty"; origin: English

Meaning: "Triad." Derived from the Latin word trinitas; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Twilight, star"; origin: English, French

Meaning: "A violet." Derived from French violette, a derivative of the Latin viola; origin: French, Latin

Meaning: "Virginal, pure"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Alive." Derived from Latin word vivus; origin: Latin

Meaning: "White island"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "A tree." Derived from Middle English word wilwe; origin: Middle English

Meaning: “Firstborn daughter” or “eldest daughter”; origin: Native American

Meaning: "Father"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "One, unity"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Fiery one"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Wise counsel"; origin: English

Meaning: "Immortal one"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Great forest"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Happy, blessed"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Man of Attica." Made popular by Atticus Finch, one of the main characters of Harper Lee's 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, set in 1930s Alabama; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Great, magnificent"; origin: English

Meaning: "Father of peace"; origin: Scandinavian

Meaning: "One who lives on the hillside or riverbank"; origin: English

Meaning: "Small, slow stream"; origin: Native American

Meaning: "Handsome"; origin: French

Meaning: "Bent grass enclosure"; origin: English

Meaning: "Resolute protection"; origin: English

Meaning: "Yellow"; origin: Gaelic

Meaning: "Good, a blessing"; origin: French

Meaning: "Wide river crossing"; origin: English

Meaning: "Dweller near the burnt land"; origin: English

Meaning: "Of the brook"; origin: English

Meaning: "A male deer"; origin: English

Meaning: "Friend"; origin: American

Meaning: "From the fortress"; origin: French

Meaning: "From the narrow forest"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Son of the marsh-dwellers"; origin: Scottish, Irish

Meaning: "Transports goods by cart"; origin: Irish, Scottish, English

Meaning: "Wood carver"; origin: English

Meaning: "Free peasant's settlement"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Settlement near the clay pit"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Glory"; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Settlement by the cliff"; origin: English

Meaning: Unknown. Derived from the Gaelic name cluaidh and sharing a name with the river in Scotland that flows through Glasgow; origin: Gaelic

Meaning: "Charcoal"; origin: English

Meaning: "Young creature"; origin: Irish, Scottish, Gaelic

Meaning: "From the coal or dark town"; origin: English

Meaning: "Lover of hounds"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Holy river; hound of the plain"; origin: Welsh, Irish, Gaelic

Meaning: "Horn"; origin:Latin

Meaning: "Cross"; origin: Spanish

Meaning: "Valley"; origin: English

Meaning: "Beloved"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Son of David"; origin: Welsh

Meaning: "Messenger, servant"; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Leader”; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Warrior, nobleman"; origin: English

Meaning: "East-facing place"; origin: English

Meaning: "Ascended, uplifted, high"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Yahweh is God"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Benevolent"; origin: Welsh

Meaning: "Noble, renowned"; origin: English

Meaning: "Wise"; origin: Norse, Scandinavian

Meaning: "Son of Emery"; origin: German

Meaning: "Industrious, strong"; origin: English, German

Meaning: "Brave power"; origin: German

Meaning: "Brave as a wild boar." The name of Rhett Butler, a main character in Gone With the Wind; origin: German, English

Meaning: "To swindle"; origin: English

Meaning: "Fair, white"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Dweller at the ford"; origin: English

Meaning: "Free landholder"; origin: English

Meaning: "Fellow, companion"; origin: English

Meaning: "Worker of the granary"; origin: English

Meaning: "Large"; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "Bold warrior"; origin: Scandinavian

Meaning: "Lives near the stag's spring"; origin: English

Meaning: "Fire"; origin: English

Meaning: "Hedged area or forest"; origin: English

Meaning: "Hedged area or forest"; origin: English

Meaning: Named for a lost village in England; origin: English

Meaning: "Estate ruler"; origin: German

Meaning: "Brother of the exalted one"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Hugh's town, settlement on the hill"; origin: Irish, Gaelic, Old English

Meaning: "High guardian, brave heart"; origin: German

Meaning: Shortened form of huckleberry, a North American shrub. Made popular by Mark Twain's 1884 novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; origin: American

Meaning: "Hugh's son"; origin: English

Meaning: "Son of Jack"; origin: English

Meaning: "Supplanter"; origin: English, Hebrew

Meaning: "Supplanter"; origin: English, Hebrew

Meaning: "Treasurer"; origin: Persian

Meaning: "Beloved of Jehovah"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Son of Jeffrey"; origin: English

Meaning: "Appointed by God"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Supplanter." Diminutive of James; origin: English, Hebrew

Meaning: "Son of Jordan"; origin: English

Meaning: "Born of fire, handsome"; origin: Scottish, Irish

Meaning: "Round hill"; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "Dweller by the wood or clearing"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Joined, attached"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Resolute protection"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Town by the pool"; origin: English

Meaning: "Brave"; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "To make"; origin: English

Meaning: "Fortunate, son of Madoc"; origin: Welsh

Meaning: "One who looks after horses"; origin: French

Meaning: "A merchant"; origin: French

Meaning: "Who is like the Lord"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Settlement with a mill"; origin: English

Meaning: "Man power"; origin: Norman-French

Meaning: "At the ash tree”; origin: Middle English

Meaning: "Son of Neil”; origin: English

Meaning: "Rest, comfort." Derived from the Hebrew word nōach; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: "Olive tree"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Bear cub"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Gold town"; origin: French

Meaning: "Park-keeper"; origin: English

Meaning: "Poecc's settlement"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "One who pierces the valley"; origin: French

Meaning: "Priest's town"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Son of Rhys"; origin: Welsh

Meaning: "Red-haired"; origin: English

Meaning: "Place on a riverbank"; origin: English

Meaning: "Powerful protector"; origin: German

Meaning: "Riverbank." Derived from the Latin word ripa; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Red-head"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "Woodcutter"; origin: English

Meaning: "To listen." The nickname of Jean Louise Finch, a character in To Kill a Mockingbird; origin: French

Meaning: "Forest, woods"; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Genuine, of high quality"; origin: English

Meaning: "Friend"; origin: Native American

Meaning: "Gift of God"; origin: Aramaic

Meaning: "One who makes or lays thatching material (a roofer)”; origin: English

Meaning: "Fabric pleater"; origin: English

Meaning: "Wrathful, hater"; origin: Greek

Meaning: "Place of alders"; origin: English

Meaning: "Staff bearer"; origin: Latin

Meaning: "At the river crossing"; origin: English

Meaning: "Cloth-walker"; origin: English

Meaning: "Wagoner"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Western meadow"; origin: English

Meaning: "From the western town"; origin: English

Meaning: "Hunter"; origin: German

Meaning: "Crafty"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Determined fame"; origin: German

Meaning: "Son of Will"; origin: English

Meaning: "Dweller at the Roman fort"; origin: English

Meaning: "Wine's town"; origin: English

Meaning: "Brave in war"; origin: English

Meaning: "Fertile upland"; origin: Welsh

Meaning: "The gates"; origin: Middle English

Meaning: "God strengthens"; origin: Hebrew

Meaning: Named for the parish of Pembury in Kent, England; origin: English

Meaning: “Town of Alffrith”; origin: English

Meaning: "Clever, curly haired"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Unintelligible speakers"; origin: Native American Sioux

Meaning: "From the waterfall"; origin: Irish

Meaning: "Alert, watchful"; origin: Scottish

Meaning: "Son of the steward"; origin: English

Meaning: "Dweller at the holly trees"; origin: Old English

Meaning: "Rose water"; origin: Persian

Meaning: "Carrier of Christ'; origin: Greek

Meaning: "From the low valley"; origin: German

Meaning: "Good place to live"; origin: Egyptian

Meaning: "Priest's meadow"; origin: English

Meaning: "Counsel"; origin: Irish, Gaelic

Meaning: "A scholar"; origin: Dutch

Meaning: "Mighty warrior"; origin: Native American

Meaning: "A small brown songbird"; origin: Old English