Years ago I posted about Livonia, a baby both born on and named after a Pullman car. Recently I wondered: What other Pullman car names would have made good baby names?
So I downloaded a big spreadsheet of over 12,000 Pullman car names from The Pullman Project and was slightly surprised to see that thousands of them could have been baby names, if we allow for the splitting of compound car names (like Fort Miley, Glen Norman, Meredith College, and West Willow).
Here are a handful of examples. On the left are relatively common/familiar names, and on the right are some unexpected choices.
| Alana, Archer, Arnold | Adriatha, Arundel, Arvonia |
| Baxter, Becket, Bradley | Bantry, Bellonia, Besco |
| Calvin, Catalina, Clyde | Cadesia, Clarnie, Clymer |
| Dana, Deborah, Dwight | Darlow, Dathema, Dodona |
| Edith, Eileen, Elmo | Edminster, Emalinda, Etherley |
| Finley, Flavia, Floyd | Fithian, Flaxton, Florilla |
| Gary, Georgette, Grayson | Gavarnie, Gilia, Gloxinia |
| Harper, Harriet, Hector | Harista, Humela, Hythe |
| Iona, Isabella, Ivan | Irvona, Isleta, Ixion |
| Jessica, Jordan, Julia | Jacelia, Jathniel, Justitia |
| Kara, Keith, Kenneth | Keinath, Kenia, Kittson |
| Laurel, Lewis, Linden | Lauveta, Leolyn, Lysander |
| Madison, Marco, Maude | Mardonia, Mayence, Morganza |
| Nicola, Noel, Nora | Narinda, Nasby, Norlina |
| Olivia, Omar, Otis | Oaklyn, Olanda, Oxus |
| Parker, Perry, Philippa | Penlyn, Pipila, Pixley |
| Quincy | Quarren |
| Rebecca, Riley, Ronald | Rexis, Risley, Ruxton |
| Sarah, Scott, Susanne | Salphrona, Sarver, Sibley |
| Thora, Tracy, Tyler | Tascott, Tilden, Tisonia |
| Vanessa, Vernon, Victoria | Varick, Vinora, Vivita |
| Wesley, Wilson, Wren | Welby, Wescott, Wexford |
Which of the names above do you like best?
Image: Adapted from Pullman car exterior (public domain)
