Which baby names are the most disproportionately popular in each U.S. state?
Name blog Republic of Names has your answer — a bunch of cool lists of the most distinctive baby names by state. Here are some highlights for about half of the states.
In Alabama:
- Crimson – Crimson Tide is the University of Alabama football team.
- Krimson
In Alaska:
- Aurora
- Denali – Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska is North America’s highest peak.
- McKinley
In Arizona:
- Ariza
- Helios
- Nizhoni – Nizhóní is a Navajo word meaning “it/he/she is pretty/beautiful.”
- Sedona – Sedona is a city in Arizona.
In California:
- Eztli – Eztli is a Nahuatl (Aztec) word meaning “blood.”
- Sissi
In Colorado:
- Matix
- Story
- Trindon – Trindon Holliday played pro football in Colorado.
- Zeppelin
In Florida:
- Kervens
- Woodley
In Idaho:
- Ammon
- Brigham
- Hyrum
In Indiana:
- Jolisa
In Iowa:
- Kinnick – Kinnick Stadium is where the Iowa Hawkeyes football team plays.
In Kansas:
- Creighton
- Ignatius
In Louisiana:
- Beaux
- Jacques
- Marigny – Foubourg Marigny is a New Orleans neighborhood.
- Montreal
In Maine:
- Baxter – Baxter is a state park in Maine.
- Libby
In Mississippi:
- Swayze
In Missouri:
- Chancellor
- Messiah
In Montana:
- Tuff
In Nevada:
- Berenice
- Halo
- Love
In North Carolina:
- Chatham
In North Dakota:
- Briggs
- McCoy
In Oklahoma:
- Gentry
- Jentri
- Jentry
- Kutter
- Tuck
- Tuff
In Oregon:
- Alder
- Autzen – Autzen Stadium is where the Oregon Ducks football team plays.
- Avenir – Avenir is a French word meaning “future.” It’s also on the Washington state list below. In fact, nearly two-thirds of last year’s Avenirs were born on the west coast: 10 in Washington, 7 in California, 5 in Oregon. Anyone know why?
- Cedar
- Forest
- Maple
- Opal
- Pepper
- Sequoia
- Sol
In Tennessee:
- Bray
- Mabry – Joseph Alexander Mabry is a Tennessee folk figure.
- Parthenia
In Texas:
- Brazos – Brazos is a Spanish word meaning “arms.” The Brazos River in Texas was originally called Rio de los Brazos de Dios, or “River of the Arms of God.”
In Utah:
- Korver – Kyle Korver played pro basketball in Utah.
- Lesieli
- Navy
- Parley
- Viliami
In Vermont:
- Arlo
- Juniper
In Washington, D.C.:
- Egypt
- Harlem
In Washington (state):
- Avenir – see Oregon
- Rio
- Valkyrie
- Zephyr
In West Virginia:
- Remington
In Wisconsin:
- Charisma
- Croix
- Ruthann
In Wyoming:
- Temperance
See the original post for the rest. You might also be interested in checking out the “most regional” baby names in the US.
Update, 5/31/2018: Figured out Avenir!