Few places in the world are as absolutely special as the great state of Texas. Whenever anyone tries to tell us that Texas is "such a great Southern state," we have to bite our tongues to stay polite. Maybe it's part of the South, in some ways? But really, it's just its own thing, and people who haven't spent a ton of time there can never really understand. (We do think that folks can move to Texas at some point and understand its glory — we draw the line at saying someone has to be born in Texas to understand Texas. That seems a bit much). Either way, we're so enamored with the Lone Star State, and its ability to create its own style, whether it's the classic "Everything is bigger than Texas" (and we have seen the hats and hair to prove it), or the inclusion of quirky places like Austin and Marfa, which only seem like they wouldn't fit in.
But just because we're all about some Texas love doesn't mean we're not interested in taking a peek at names inspired by other places! Whether we're trying to avoid having a kid whose name is identical to three or four of her classmates', or we're trying to ensure that our kid can pick up her name on any little souvenir license plate in the US, it's a good idea to familiarize ourselves with the 20 most popular baby girl names in America. We're also curious about the baby boy names that define each state and the baby girl names that do the same thing — which one's Texas? And which one's Louisiana? We also love a good nickname as a first name when we're looking for some baby name inspiration.
Texas is diverse, with vibrant cities like Houston and Dallas, but also beautiful stretches of land and open sky. But all parts are about the independence and self-reliance the state personifies. For those looking for unusual baby names that reflect the spirit of Texas, look no further.
TARRANT
Tarrant County, established in 1849, has a population of over 2 million, making it the third-most populous county in Texas. We think the name Tarrant, which is originally a last name, would be a cool name for a kid of either gender.
AUSTIN
How cool is a kid named Austin! For whatever reason, the name Austin strikes us as impossibly cool, and it's also a great homage to the capital of the great state of Texas, which was named after Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas."
SABINE
The Sabine River is 510 miles long and stretches from Texas to Louisiana, eventually leading to the Gulf of Mexico. It's beautiful, and has had several songs and stories written about it. We think Sabine would be a beautiful name for a baby girl.
HARRIS
Harris County was named for John Richardson Harris, an early settler of Harrisburg, Texas, which eventually became Houston, Texas. We think that a baby boy named Harris is cool, and it's a neat variation on other names that get nicknamed Harry, like Harold and Harrison.
BLUEBONNET
The Texas state flower is the Bluebonnet, and we think it's an unusual and charming baby name for a baby girl. The nickname "Blue" is absolutely adorable, as is "B.B." This girl will absolutely stand out in her class — and it's a great gift for a kid who's an aspiring singer-songwriter.
ESTRELLA
Naming a kid "Star" is pretty cool, but also might be a little too on-the-nose for some parents who want their Lone Star State affiliations a bit less obvious. The name Estrella is a variation on Stella, and also means star. It peaked in popularity in 2009, but there's still time to bring it back!
VEGA
Juan Vega was responsible for creating the artwork for the official state seal of Texas, along with Douglas Young. We think that Vega is an awesome name for a baby boy, and honors both the artist and the state itself.
AMITY
The Texas state motto has been "Friendship" since 1930, and what better way to honor the friendliest state in the union than by naming a kid after it? Amity is a name meaning friendship, from the Latin amicitia. It's an unusual, vintage choice for a baby girl, and an interesting one.
HUNTER
Hunter works for either a baby boy or a girl, and Hunter Peak is an exceptionally gorgeous mountain in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, featuring rare fossilized reefs. Few associate Texas with mountain ranges, but the mountains in western Texas are some of the most beautiful in the world
KNOWLES
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, known to most of us as simply the amazing Beyoncé, was born and grew up in Houston. Knowles is a last name that we think would make an absolutely fantastic first name for a baby of either gender.
OWEN
The wonderful and hilarious actor Owen Cunningham Wilson is a native of Dallas, and he also attended college at the University of Austin. Any one of his three names would make a fantastic first name for a baby, but we're especially partial to Owen.
STETSON
It's impossible to think of a Texas cowboy and not picture him wearing a Stetson cowboy hat. We think the name Stetson is charming for a baby boy. While the original Stetson was first developed by John B. Stetson himself in Colorado, the image is inseparable from the Lone Star State.
CORMAC
Cormac McCarthy may have been born in Rhode Island, but he wrote one of the greatest Texas novels of all time: All The Pretty Little Horses, set in San Angelo, Texas. We think Cormac would be a wonderful name for a baby boy.
MAE
Willie Mae Thornton, known primarily by her stage name, Big Mama Thornton, was born in Alabama, but she was one of the originators of Texas blues. She was also the first person to record "Hound Dog," later made famous by Elvis Presley. We think Mae is a gorgeous name for a baby girl.
DALLAS
The city of Dallas is a beautiful one, and while the name may originally be a last name — the origin is a surprisingly uncertain one, although many think it was named for George M. Dallas — we think "Dallas" is an excellent name for a baby boy.
ROSE
Dinosaur lovers rarely get to find a good baby name for a kid through their love of dinos, but here we are: Glen Rose is the home of Dinosaur Valley State Park, which features models of dinosaurs, and real preserved dino tracks. We think Rose is a gorgeous name for a baby girl.
HAMILTON
Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve was formed thousands of years ago, but it remains one of the most beautiful places in the world. The waterfall is idyllic, and it makes a great swimming hole or picnic spot. We think Hamilton is a great name for a baby boy.
CADDO
Caddo Lake, on the east border of Texas, is an amazing place for anyone who loves nature and getting away from it all. Honor this impulse and the great state of Texas simultaneously with the name Caddo, which we think is lovely for a boy or a girl.
ANTONIO
San Antonio is the oldest municipality in Texas, but it's also one of the fastest-growing. Celebrating a profound connection with the city by naming a baby boy Antonio is a lovely idea — and besides, it's just a great boys' name all around.
JUDD
The artist Donald Judd may have been from Missouri, but installations in Marfa, Texas, are famous and frankly amazing. We think the artist's last name, Judd, would make a wonderful first name for a baby boy.
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