Val Peterson writes about travel, home, and the outdoors. She earned her BA from UMass Amherst and enjoys hiking.

Southerners love their sweet tea, hush puppies, and fried okra, but even more importantly, they grow up with a love for their history and their strong family bonds. Southern names often bring to mind cotillions, derbies, and well-worn battlefields.

These Southern baby names for boys and girls will reflect your pride of living south of the Mason-Dixon line. The girl names reflect the femininity and heritage of the South, and the boy names are rugged and distinguished. Next to helping ensure you have a healthy baby, there is almost nothing more important than a name that a child can proudly carry throughout their life. This list of uniquely Southern baby names gives you hundreds of great choices for naming your baby with a nod to your great culture and history.

Classic Southern Baby Names

• Jolene
• Annamae
• Travis
• Beau
• Hank
• Waylon
• Betty
• Maribelle
• Hunter
• Loretta
• Barbara
• Preston

Southern Baby Girl Names

These baby girl names will remind you of flowers, lace, prairies, and old-fashioned values. You will probably be able to think of many famous and historically significant women with these names. Your beautiful baby girl with be a true feminine belle of the South.

Southern Names for Baby Boys

These baby boy names will remind you of cowboys, presidents, hunters, country singers, soldiers, battlefields, and good ol' boys. You can be sure that when you name your son one of these names he is carrying on the Southern tradition. Take a sip of sweet tea and have a good look at some genuinely Southern names.

Country Boy Names

Girl Names Reminiscent of the Countryside

Cowboy and Cowgirl Names

Civil War Names

Old-Fashioned Boy Names

Classic Names for Girls

Baby Name Poll

What Are Southern Boy Names Inspired By?

Southern baby boy names tend to have one of the following traits:

• They sound tough or macho, such as Blade or Ryker. They make you think of cowboys and 4x4s.
• They're inspired by Southern capitals or states, like Montgomery, Tex, or Houston. These names make you think about history.
• They're inspired by the first or last names of Civil War figures, such as Lee or Marshall. These names feel distinguished.
• They have Anglo-Saxon origins, like Albion, which is literally the original namesake of England, or be Anglo-Saxon in general, like George or Frederick.
• They're inspired by nature, such as Ridge, Colt, Hunter, or Wade.

Some of the famous people that have had these names are: Montgomery Gentry, Tex Ritter, Robert E. Lee, and Hunter Hayes.

What Are Southern Girl Names Inspired By?

Southern baby girl names tend to have the following traits:

• They come from nature, like Willow, Clementine, or Daisy. These names are delicate and feminine.
• They are named after Civil War battles or battlefields, like Harper or Chantilly. These names are both a nod to history yet are still girly.
• They are inspired by Southern states and towns, like Dallas, Virginia, or Georgia.
• They originate from old-fashioned women's names of the 1800s, like Olivia, Clarabelle, or Victoria.

Some of the famous women that have had these names are Adelaide Clemens, Harper Lee, and Virginia Dare.

The Importance of a Name

When having a baby, there is a lot of pressure on the parents to name their child appropriately. In families where grandparents, uncles, and aunts are involved, the expectation that you would name your child after them is high.

This is especially so in Southern families where tradition is highly regarded. If you are under this kind of baby-naming pressure, pick a name that NO ONE in your family has. This way there is no jealousy or awkwardness involved!

It is said that children grow into their name. And you can often observe this in people that you know. So if you name a boy Tex, he might grow up to have a big personality. And if you name a girl Clementine, she might grow up to love long skirts, ribbons, and makeup.

With this list you can ensure you christen your child with a legacy of southern and country pride!

Questions & Answers

Question: My husband is stuck on the name “Crocket” for a boy, and I’m not a fan. Any ideas of names that could compare that might persuade him to change his mind?

Answer: Congrats on your baby. My suggestions are Sawyer, Rider, Winchester, Colt, and Walker. These are influenced by western/frontier/cowboy culture.

Question: I need a middle name for “Braxton Turner” any help?

Answer: Yes, my recommendations are Lee, Steele, and Chase.

Question: We have the middle name decided, but cannot agree on a first name. What sounds good for a southern sounding name? ____ Claire Hansen.

Answer: I like Hayley Claire, Caroline Claire, & Mackenzie Claire. Good luck!

Question: We are thinking Paul Watson for our boy. But our last name is Palmer, do you think it’s mean give our boy initials, PP?

Answer: I never actually thought of it being mean because my husband's initials are PP too. But kids make fun of everything. If it's not someone's name it will be about something else. You would really have to go with your gut on this one.

Question: What middle name do you think works good with Luke?

Answer: I like Luke Easton or Luke Montgomery.

Question: What is a good southern name with middle name Thomas?

Answer: Tucker Thomas or Walker Thomas.

Question: What first name would go with River as the middle name for a boy?

Answer: My suggestions are:

Noah, North, Stone, and Thorne.

Question: What’s a good first name if their middle name would be Mary?

Answer: Prudence, Virginia, or Eileen are my suggestions.

Question: What do you think of the name "Lake Andrew Vaughn"?

Answer: That is not bad, but for some reason, I like "Andrew Lake Vaughn" more.

Question: What do you think about "Jennings" for a Southern baby name?

Answer: That is very unique for a first or middle name and I think it has a southern ring to it.

Question: How do you like Una Mae as a Southern babyname?

Answer: This is a very late 1800s-sounding name. I love it.

Question: Thoughts on Braxton Hicks as a potential boy name?

Answer: While the name sounds nice, it is also the medical term for a type of contraction some women feel during pregnancy, named after the famed doctor, John Braxton Hicks.

Question: What do you think of the name "Rhett"? It's a good old southern name, right?

Answer: Yes, very "Gone with the Wind."

Question: We are having a 4th child. Even though we're not sure about the gender yet, we are struggling with a boys name. We like unique names and have a Kaz(boy), Hartley (girl) and Brekker(boy) at home. Any boy suggestions?

Answer: Ryker, Duke, or Rebel are my suggestions. I love your unique naming style by the way.

Question: What’s a good middle name for Caroline?

Answer: Caroline Faye and Caroline Rose are my suggestions.

Question: Is Luke a good southern name?

Answer: Yes, I think so.

Question: Do you like the name Brennley better for a girl or boy?

Answer: That sounds like a name that could go for a boy or girl. I was thinking of spelling variations such as Brenlee or Brenleigh as well, and it still looks like the name is good for both sexes.

Question: What is a good middle name for Brantley Taylor?

Answer: How about Brantley Marshall Taylor?

Question: What is a good middle name for Gunner Macom or Braxton Macom?

Answer: Gunner Maxwell Macom or Braxton Lee Macom.

Question: My son will be named after his father and will be a III so I'm looking for a good southern nickname that comes from his name somehow. His initials are G.E.B. and his first and middle names will be Gordon Eugene. So GEB, of course, has come to mind as well as Gene or Genx and Gordy but I'm still interested to hear more ideas. Do you have any other southern nicknames from the initials G, E, and B?

Answer: Hello, I like your ideas. I cannot think of any direct derivatives for Gordon Eugene. However, a suggestion for a "G" name is Gunner.

Question: Is Shepherd Kane Scott a good southern name?

Answer: It sounds pleasantly unique to me, and a little southern.

Question: I have a daughter named Penelope but call her Penny for short what name do you recommend for a sibling?

Answer: I like that name, both long and short versions. Did you want other sibling names that start with a "P" so they match? Even though it's not on the list, Persephone is pretty, or Percy for short. I also recommend Prudence (Prudey), Presley, Piper, Porter, and Prescott.

Question: For country sounding names, I like Parks, she likes Harrison. What do you think?

Answer: Yes, I like Harrison Parks ____________ a lot. Go for it.

Question: Would Dawson be a good Southern name?

Answer: Yes, that sounds like a great Southern name.

Question: What do you think about the names "Grant Kingston," "Diego Rhett," and "Saylor Dakota" for a southern/country baby name? (The first two names are boys, and the last one is a girl’s.)

Answer: I like the first and third names. You could also consider "Sayler" as a spelling variation, if you wanted.

Question: What is a good middle name for Cheyenne?

Answer: My suggestions are Dakota and Presley.

Question: Is Blakeley a good southern country name?

Answer: Yes, Blakeley is a great name!

Question: Thank you for this beautifully compiled list of names. My son shall be named Tucker. Is it a good name?

Answer: Yes, the name Tucker has a great country feel to it. It reminds me of the setting of Huckleberry Finn for some reason. Thanks for your kind words!

Question: What about Dixi as a baby name?

Answer: Dixi is proudly southern.

Question: What are good first names for the middle names (boy and girl) William and Lynn or Ann?

Answer: I like Chase William and Preston William. Also Dakota Lynn, Sierra Lynn and June Ann and Shelby-Ann.

Question: Is Winston Tucker, Ryker Tex, Holt Lee, Weston Ray, Waylon Ray for boys, and then Sailor Grace, Harper Faylon for girls good Southern names?

Answer: Yes, those are distinctive names that sound Southern to me.

Question: Is Tucker Wade a good country boy name?

Answer: Yes -- perfect.

Question: Is Montgomery Kayde Wilson a good name?

Answer: Yes, it's both unique and Southern sounding.

Question: What could be a good Southern middle name for MaeBelle or AnnaBeth?

Answer: I suggest MaeBelle Mackenzie or AnnaBeth Irene.

Question: I'm looking for a pen name for a book I'm writing, but still, I want to keep it southern since I hail from the deep south. I like "Coby Rae Brook." Is that a good name?

Answer: Yes, it is unique as well. It sounds like a good name for your purpose.

Question: I like Tucker Lee and Colton Wayne for boys. What do you think?

Answer: I think those are great choices for boys.

Question: What do you think of Benjamin Douglas Dietz?

Answer: Hi, this is a nice and classic name pairing for a boy.

Question: Trying to decide between Colton Reed or Carter Bo?

Answer: I like Colton Reed. It sounds like a wealthy country name to me.

Question: How do these names sound for southern-themed names: Grant James, Brantley Hunter, and Cassidy Dakota?

Answer: I like the last two sets of names quite a bit.

Question: My husband wants to name our daughter "Tusk Gemerald Browne," but I'm unsure about this name for obvious reasons. Do you have any similar names to Tusk that we could compromise with?

Answer: If you are looking for similar sounding names I suggest Tessa Gem Browne, Tulsa Geraldine Browne.

Question: I am naming my son Thaddeus. Some middle names I am thinking about are Leviticus, and Montgomery. Have any other suggestions? Our last name is DeMayo if it helps.

Answer: I think Thaddeus Montgomery and Thaddeus Marshall are great names

Question: What is a good name that goes with the name Arlette?

Answer: I like Arlette June and Arlette Dakota.

Question: What do you think of "Jax (instead of Jackson) Chevelle Hays"?

Answer: I think that is a very unique name string. I really like the first name.

Question: I would like to change my name. What country name would you suggest for a girl?

Answer: There is a great variety to choose from. Some of my favorite girl names are Summer, Penelope, Dakota, Claire, and Adelaide. Have fun with this change!

Question: What a good middle name for Colton Jones?

Answer: I like Colton Crawford Jones.

Question: My daughter's name is Anna Parsley (family name, first and middle) - we're having trouble thinking of a sibling name for a girl. Suggestions?

Answer: How about Adeline Penelope?

Question: I cannot find a "T" boy name that I like. My husband's name is Tyler. Any suggestions? I prefer something uncommon.

Answer: Personally I like Tex and Trigger.

Question: What’s a good middle name for Grayson?

Answer: Grayson Gunner and Grayson Walker are my choices.

Question: I like the name Ridge for a boy. What’s a good middle name?

Answer: I like Ridge Crawford or Ridge Walker.

Question: Does Nellie Walker sound like a countryside name?

Answer: Yes, it reminds me of Little House on the Prairie.

© 2014 Pop Culture World

Comments

Cheyenne Dallas Loll on August 16, 2020:

Having girl triplets and I love the name Kinsey-Kate Magnolia Loll,Harper-Hayes Elodie Loll,Montgomery-Mae Clementine Loll and have no idea if they flow good together

jitszn on August 05, 2020:

what’s a good second for a pair of boys, so far i have tanner?

Pop Culture World (author) from United States on June 13, 2020:

Yes, River Reed is a nice name as it also honors a family member.

Tina Petts on June 03, 2020:

My son and his finance r having a baby don’t know gender yet but his younger brother died and he wants Reed as middle name after him he likes River for first name but I’m not sure about River Reed?? Any suggestions?

Madison wainwright on April 15, 2020:

What is a good middle name for ridge