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.

Southern Baby Names for Girls

Abigail

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

Abilene

Meaning: "Land of meadows"; origin: Hebrew

Addison

Meaning: "Son of Adam"; origin: English

Adelaide

Meaning: "Noble natured"; origin: German

Alabama

Meaning: "Thicket clearers"; origin: Native American

Alexandria

Meaning: "Defender of men"; origin: Greek

Alma

Meaning: "Kind, nourishing"; origin: Latin

Amelia

Meaning: "Industrious, striving"; origin: Latin

Annabelle

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

Annalee

Meaning: "Grace, gracious"; origin: Hebrew

Annamae

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

Annie

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

Aurora

Meaning: "Sunrise"; origin: Latin

Azalea

Meaning: "Dry"; origin: Greek

Beatrice

Meaning: "Bringer of joy"; origin: Latin

Belle

Meaning: "Beautiful"; origin: French

Birdie

Meaning: "Bright, birdlike"; origin: English

Blakely

Meaning: "Dark clearing"; origin: English

Blanche

Meaning: "White, fair"; origin: French

Bonnie

Meaning: "Pretty, cheerful"; origin: Scottish

Caroline

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

Cassidy

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

Charlene

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

Charlotte

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

Clara

Meaning: "Clear, bright"; origin: Latin

Clementine

Meaning: "Merciful, gentle"; origin: Latin

Clover

Meaning: "A flower"; origin: Old English

Constance or Connie

Meaning: "Steadfast"; origin: Latin

Coralee

Meaning: "Maiden"; origin: Latin

Cricket

Meaning: Named for the jumping insect; origin: American

Daisy

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

Dakota

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

Delilah

Meaning: "Seductive, delightful"; origin: Hebrew

Delta

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

Dixie

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

Dolly

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

Dottie

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

Eileen

Meaning: "Light"; origin: Irish

Elizabeth

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

Ellison

Meaning: "Son of Ellis"; origin: English

Faye

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

Gardenia

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

Georgia

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

Georgina

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

Grace

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

Harper

Meaning: "A harpist"; origin: Middle English

Harriet

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

Hattie

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

Isabella

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

Jean

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

Jolene

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

Josie

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

Juniper

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

Kennedy

Meaning: "Misshapen head"; origin: Irish

Kit

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

Lemon

Meaning: "Beloved person"; origin: Middle English

Loretta

Meaning: "Laurel"; origin: Italian

Louella

Meaning: "Famous warrior"; origin: German

Lucille

Meaning: "Light"; origin: French

Mabel

Meaning: "Lovable"; origin: Latin

Madison

Meaning: "Son of Matthew"; origin: English

Mae

Meaning: "Month of May"; origin: English

Magnolia

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

Maribelle or Maribel

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

Mirabella

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

Monroe

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

Myrtle

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

Nellie

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

Nora

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

Olivia

Meaning: "An olive tree"; origin: Latin

Paisley

Meaning: "Church, cemetery"; origin: Scottish

Penelope

Meaning: "Weaver"; origin: Greek

Priscilla

Meaning: "Ancient"; origin: Latin

RaeLynn

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

Raleigh

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

Reba

Meaning: "Fourth born"; origin: Hebrew

Rita

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

Rylee or Riley

Meaning: "Courageous"; origin: Irish, Gaelic

Sadie

Meaning: "Princess"; origin: Hebrew

Savannah

Meaning: "Treeless plain"; origin: Spanish

Scarlet or Scarlett

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

Serenity

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

Summer

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

Susannah

Meaning: "Lily"; origin: Hebrew

Tallulah

Meaning: "Leaping water"; origin: Native American

Hayley

Meaning: "Hay field"; origin: Old English

Tillie

Meaning: "Battle mighty"; origin: English

Trinity

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

Twyla or Twila

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

Violet

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

Virginia

Meaning: "Virginal, pure"; origin: Latin

Vivian

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

Whitney

Meaning: "White island"; origin: Old English

Willow

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

Wynona or Winona

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

Southern Baby Names for Boys

Abbott

Meaning: "Father"; origin: Hebrew

Ace

Meaning: "One, unity"; origin: Latin

Aiden

Meaning: "Fiery one"; origin: Irish

Alfred

Meaning: "Wise counsel"; origin: English

Ambrose

Meaning: "Immortal one"; origin: Latin

Ardy

Meaning: "Great forest"; origin: Latin

Asher

Meaning: "Happy, blessed"; origin: Hebrew

Atticus

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

Austin

Meaning: "Great, magnificent"; origin: English

Axel

Meaning: "Father of peace"; origin: Scandinavian

Banks

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

Bayou

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

Beau

Meaning: "Handsome"; origin: French

Benton

Meaning: "Bent grass enclosure"; origin: English

Billy

Meaning: "Resolute protection"; origin: English

Blaine

Meaning: "Yellow"; origin: Gaelic

Boone

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

Bradford

Meaning: "Wide river crossing"; origin: English

Brent

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

Brooks

Meaning: "Of the brook"; origin: English

Buck

Meaning: "A male deer"; origin: English

Buddy

Meaning: "Friend"; origin: American

Burke

Meaning: "From the fortress"; origin: French

Calhoun

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

Carson

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

Carter

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

Carver

Meaning: "Wood carver"; origin: English

Charleston

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

Clayton or Clay

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

Cletus

Meaning: "Glory"; origin: Greek

Clinton or Clint

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

Clyde

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

Cole

Meaning: "Charcoal"; origin: English

Colin

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

Colton or Colt

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

Connor

Meaning: "Lover of hounds"; origin: Irish

Conway

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

Cornelius

Meaning: "Horn"; origin:Latin

Cruz

Meaning: "Cross"; origin: Spanish

Dale

Meaning: "Valley"; origin: English

Davis

Meaning: "Beloved"; origin: Hebrew

Dawson

Meaning: "Son of David"; origin: Welsh

Deacon

Meaning: "Messenger, servant"; origin: Greek

Duke

Meaning: "Leader”; origin: Latin

Earl

Meaning: "Warrior, nobleman"; origin: English

Easton

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

Eli

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

Elijah

Meaning: "Yahweh is God"; origin: Hebrew

Ellis

Meaning: "Benevolent"; origin: Welsh

Elmer

Meaning: "Noble, renowned"; origin: English

Elvis

Meaning: "Wise"; origin: Norse, Scandinavian

Emerson

Meaning: "Son of Emery"; origin: German

Emmett

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

Emory

Meaning: "Brave power"; origin: German

Everett or Rhett

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

Finch

Meaning: "To swindle"; origin: English

Finn

Meaning: "Fair, white"; origin: Irish

Ford

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

Franklin

Meaning: "Free landholder"; origin: English

Gatlin

Meaning: "Fellow, companion"; origin: English

Granger

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

Grant

Meaning: "Large"; origin: Scottish

Gunnar

Meaning: "Bold warrior"; origin: Scandinavian

Hartwell

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

Hayden

Meaning: "Fire"; origin: English

Hayes

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

Haywood

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

Hemingway

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

Henry

Meaning: "Estate ruler"; origin: German

Hiram

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

Houston

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

Howard or Howie

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

Huck

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

Hudson

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

Jackson or Jaxon

Meaning: "Son of Jack"; origin: English

Jacob

Meaning: "Supplanter"; origin: English, Hebrew

James

Meaning: "Supplanter"; origin: English, Hebrew

Jasper

Meaning: "Treasurer"; origin: Persian

Jedidiah or Jed

Meaning: "Beloved of Jehovah"; origin: Hebrew

Jefferson

Meaning: "Son of Jeffrey"; origin: English

Jeremiah

Meaning: "Appointed by God"; origin: Hebrew

Jimmy

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

Judson

Meaning: "Son of Jordan"; origin: English

Kenneth

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

Knox

Meaning: "Round hill"; origin: Scottish

Lee

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

Levi

Meaning: "Joined, attached"; origin: Hebrew

Liam

Meaning: "Resolute protection"; origin: Irish

Lincoln

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

Lockhart

Meaning: "Brave"; origin: Scottish

Macon

Meaning: "To make"; origin: English

Maddox

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

Marshall

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

Mercer

Meaning: "A merchant"; origin: French

Micah

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

Milton

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

Montgomery

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

Nash

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

Nelson

Meaning: "Son of Neil”; origin: English

Noah

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

Oliver

Meaning: "Olive tree"; origin: Latin

Orson

Meaning: "Bear cub"; origin: Latin

Orville

Meaning: "Gold town"; origin: French

Parker

Meaning: "Park-keeper"; origin: English

Paxton

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

Percival or Percy

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

Preston

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

Price

Meaning: "Son of Rhys"; origin: Welsh

Reed

Meaning: "Red-haired"; origin: English

Remington

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

Richmond

Meaning: "Powerful protector"; origin: German

River

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

Rufus

Meaning: "Red-head"; origin: Latin

Sawyer

Meaning: "Woodcutter"; origin: English

Scout

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

Silas

Meaning: "Forest, woods"; origin: Greek

Sterling

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

Texas or Tex

Meaning: "Friend"; origin: Native American

Thaddeus

Meaning: "Gift of God"; origin: Aramaic

Thatcher

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

Tucker

Meaning: "Fabric pleater"; origin: English

Ulysses

Meaning: "Wrathful, hater"; origin: Greek

Vernon

Meaning: "Place of alders"; origin: English

Virgil

Meaning: "Staff bearer"; origin: Latin

Wade

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

Walker

Meaning: "Cloth-walker"; origin: English

Wayne

Meaning: "Wagoner"; origin: Old English

Wesley

Meaning: "Western meadow"; origin: English

Weston

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

Wilder

Meaning: "Hunter"; origin: German

Wiley or Wylie

Meaning: "Crafty"; origin: Old English

Wilmer

Meaning: "Determined fame"; origin: German

Wilson

Meaning: "Son of Will"; origin: English

Winchester

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

Winston

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

Wyatt

Meaning: "Brave in war"; origin: English

Yale

Meaning: "Fertile upland"; origin: Welsh

Yates

Meaning: "The gates"; origin: Middle English

Zeke

Meaning: "God strengthens"; origin: Hebrew

Unisex Southern Baby Names

Amherst

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

Arlington

Meaning: “Town of Alffrith”; origin: English

Cassidy

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

Cheyenne

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

Dallas

Meaning: "From the waterfall"; origin: Irish

Greer

Meaning: "Alert, watchful"; origin: Scottish

Greyson or Grayson

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

Hollis

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

Julep

Meaning: "Rose water"; origin: Persian

Kit

Meaning: "Carrier of Christ'; origin: Greek

Loudoun

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

Memphis

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

Presley

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

Quinn

Meaning: "Counsel"; origin: Irish, Gaelic

Skylar, Skyler, or Schuyler

Meaning: "A scholar"; origin: Dutch

Tennessee

Meaning: "Mighty warrior"; origin: Native American

Wren

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

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