Paris
Florence
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked; Peaked at #7 in 1902
Meaning: Flourishing, prosperous
The band Florence and the Machine gives the turn-of-the-century—er, last century—girl's name Florence a distinctly current edge, which the femininity of the Latin-derived Italian place name softens.
Sydney
Popularity rank in the US: #98
Meaning: Saint Denis
The unisex moniker Sydney is steady as a rock—not too popular, not too strange, just familiar enough. As a place name, it's Australia's premier city, but another choice from down under would be Adelaide.
Bristol
Popularity rank in the US: #418
Meaning: The city of Bristol
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's eldest daughter aside, it's as if Americans had never heard of this seaside town in the south of England. As a British-derived place name, Bristol is just as prim and refined as you'd expect.
Odessa
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked; Peaked #278 in 1909
Meaning: A long journey
Clearly no one's putting money down on a vacay to the Ukraine just now, but Odessa, the port town along the Black Sea, retains its vibrant, post-Soviet reputation. As a Greek place name, it's associated with Catherine the Great, and what more could you want for a regal girl child?
China
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked; Peaked at #816 in 1992
For some Nixon-era parents, China conjured up the exotic Far East—and then-edgy socialites and celebs chose it for their girls (think actress-model China Chow and musician Chynna Phillips). Decades later, it doesn't have quite the same edge, but the quirky spelling helps.
Asia
Popularity rank in the US: #741
Meaning: East
Like China, Asia is a place name that doesn't have quite the evocative quality it had when your parents were young. But in Italy, it has celebrity cred by way of Italian actress Asia Argento.
