With 2020 being an election year it has us thinking about the future of our democracy as well as presidents past and present. Along with the smash hit musical Hamilton, there's plenty of reasons for Americans to be inspired or interested in our nation's past. And for parents-to-be, many of their names are unusual and cool and may serve as inspiration for their baby's name.
We took a look at the list of all US presidents and saw plenty of names to choose from that could make a comeback. Some are more known, like Kennedy and Jackson, after JFK and Andrew Jackson, respectively. But others are not as well-known — like James Monroe and McKinley. There are even names we thought of that are slight twists on the original man's name. Like Rose for Roosevelt and Theo for Theodore Roosevelt. Take a look at the ideas below and happy naming!
LINCOLN
Lincoln is a name that can be for any gender and it is the last name of President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president. According to Baby Name Wizard the name originated from a town in northeast England and literally can translates to "lake or pool."
KENNEDY
Kennedy is another name that transcends genders and is becoming a more popular name. It may or may not be due to the cult obsession with the presidential royalty (yes, an oxymoron) of the Kennedy dynasty. Baby Name Wizard notes it means "helmeted head," which is slightly less presidential, but kind of funny.
BOBBY
In 2020, there are more than a handful of names that can be either male or female and Bobby is one of them. And coincidentally, it's also a riff off of Robert F. Kennedy's name, who was known as Bobby Kennedy. While he wasn't president (he was the US Attorney General), he was the president's brother. Bobby is derived from "fame" and "bright," according to Baby Name Wizard which is interesting.
QUINCY
John Quincy Adams was one of the earlier presidents and his middle name, Quincy, is one of the more unusual presidential names. According to Baby Name Wizard, Quincy is French and is derived from Normandy in France, and means "fifth" although President Adams was actually the sixth president.
GARFIELD
Garfield isn't just the name of the hungry orange cartoon cat (named after the creator's grandfather). It's also the name of James Garfield, the 20th president of the US. According to Nameberry, it's a name of English origin and means "triangular field."
ROSE
Theodore aka Teddy Roosevelt is one of the most prolific presidents in American history. His last name Roosevelt isn't a typical name, but Rose is and can be derived from the last name of Teddy. And that means the floral name can also be for a girl.
BARACK
Barack Obama was the 44th president and has one of the most unusual names on the list. He's of both Kansas and Kenyan descent and was born in Hawaii. According to Baby Name Wizard, Barack is a Swahili name and means "blessing."
HUSSEIN
Barack Obama has an unusual first name but his middle one makes for a great name too: Barack Hussein. Hussein means "Good" according to Nameberry. It also can pay homage to the Islamic faith from which it originates.
LYNDON
Landon is a popular boys name but for those looking for a name that is presidential, we found Lyndon to be regal. Lyndon is derived from Lyndon B. Johnson, also known as LBG, who was the 36th president. Linden is another spelling.
ALEXANDER
Alexander Hamilton has to be one of the most popular presidents, or at least the coolest, in these modern times thanks to the Broadway show by Lin-Manuel Miranda: Hamilton. Alexander has been on the top of lists over the years, but now it has a fresh connotation.
HAMILTON
Hamilton is a less safe name to choose when wanting to name a child after Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, but his popularity is unmatched and it is a name that holds a lot of history. It means "blunt hill" according to Baby Name Wizard.
CARTER
Jimmy Carter, aka James Carter, is the oldest living president. He's done lots of good for this country, including his work for Habitat for Humanity. James is one of the most common names in the country right now, but Carter is more quirky and literally means someone who who transports goods.
MADISON
Madison is a popular girls' name, but it can have presidential meaning for those who want it. The inspiration comes from President James Madison, who was one of the Founding Fathers and served as the nation's fourth president.
MONROE
Monroe is the name of one of Mariah Carey's kids, and many like the name and think of it in relation to actress Marilyn Monroe. But the name also has presidential ties. James Monroe was the fifth president and the last of the Founding Fathers to serve as president. His last name, Monroe, means "red marsh."
THEO
President Theodore Roosevelt's life is full of inspiration. We think Theodore makes a cute baby name and we went a step further to modernize it. Enter Theo. It means "God's gift" according to Baby Name Wizard.
REAGAN
Ronald Reagan is either loved or hated. But regardless of one's political feelings toward the former president, his last name, Reagan, makes a good baby name. According to Baby Name Wizard, Reagan, which has typically been a girls' name but can be a name for either sex, means "judgment" or "decision."
FORD
Ford is another name that is rising in popularity and is super cool as it has ties to President Gerald Ford. Ford was the 38th president and took over after Richard Nixon resigned following the Watergate scandal. Ford means "river crossing" according to Nameberry.
MCKINLEY
McKinley is one of the more modern and quirky presidential names on our list (besides Monroe). It is inspired by President William McKinley, the 25th president. McKinley is an Irish surname and means "Son of Fionn Ghall," which was the name given to Viking invaders who were fair-haired.
JACKSON
Andrew Jackson is the inspiration for including Jackson on this list, despite the name being already quite popular. But it's all the more reason to consider it as a name. Jackson was the seventh president of and "sought to act as the direct representative of the common man."
