Travel Baby Names
The most popular travel-inspired baby names for boys and girls
Naming your baby is an incredibly personal decision that will literally last a lifetime. While traditionally many parents have named their children after close family members, loved ones, or even prominent historical figures and celebrities, recent years have seen parents get a little more creative when thinking up potential baby names.
One baby-naming trend that is particularly popular is travel-related baby names, which sees parents naming their child after a favourite holiday destination, honeymoon spot, or even the city where they were conceived!
But, which travel baby names are becoming the most popular? And which locations around the world are increasingly common to find written on a birth certificate? Well, we conducted a study to find out the most popular names between 2000-2020!
The most popular travel-inspired baby names in the USA
The most popular travel-inspired baby names for boys in the USA
1. Preston
Babies named: 56,922
Preston is the most popular travel baby name for boys in the United States with 56,922 baby boys receiving the name. There are towns called Preston that can be found in both Connecticut and Idaho. However, the original Preston is a city in the Northwest of England, in the county of Lancashire.
2. Dakota
Babies named: 38,655
Dakota is the second most popular boys’ travel-related baby name, with 38,655 babies being named after the two US states. The name has seen a surge in popularity in the late 20th century, and several notable Dakotas have risen to celebrity status, most notably American actress Dakota Fanning.
3. Israel
Babies named: 33,380
In third place for boys’ travel baby names is Israel with 33,380 babies named for the country. While it may be true that people have been called Israel for longer than the country has existed, probably due to the name’s religious connotations for both Christians and Jewish people, the name has seen a surge in popularity in recent decades.
The most popular travel-inspired baby names for girls in the USA
1. Sydney
Babies named: 105,777
The most popular travel-related baby name for girls in the USA is Sydney, with 105,777 girls being named after the iconic Australian city. Sydney has been a popular name for a while now, and the glowing reputation of the city as a cultural hub and beautiful holiday destination seems to have only increased its popularity.
2. Alexandria
Babies named: 41,132
Alexandria is the second most common girls’ travel baby name, with 41,132 girls receiving the name. The city of Alexandria in Egypt was home to some of the wonders of the ancient world, including the Pharos Lighthouse and the Great Library of Alexandria, both of which were destroyed over the ages, though the city still attracts many tourists each year.
3. London
Babies named: 37,419
In third place is London, which has had 37,419 baby girls named after it in the USA. The capital of the United Kingdom, London is one of the world’s major cities and cultural melting pots, attracting an endless stream of visitors all year round. It’s no wonder that people want to connect their children with one of the most famous and beloved cities in the world.
The countries that inspire the most baby names in the USA
1. Israel
USA Total: 36,273
The most popular country to name your baby after in the USA is Israel, with a total 36,273 babies receiving the name. This is far more than any other country in our study and shows that the name Israel is also becoming popular for girls as well as boys.
2. India
USA Total: 9,207
India is the country with the second-highest number of babies named after it in the USA with a total of 9,207. The large South Asian country is a popular destination for backpackers and those on a gap year as it offers a cultural experience that is a world away from anywhere else on the planet. India also has incredible cultural sites, such as the Golden Temple and the Taj Mahal, as well as incredible wildlife sanctuaries such as the tigers of Ranthambore National Park, all of which make it a truly memorable vacation destination.
3. Kenya
USA Total: 9,127
In third place, with 9,127 US babies named after it, is Kenya. This East African country is filled with jaw-dropping scenery and natural landscapes. From traversing Mount Kilimanjaro to going on safari in the Maasi Mara Reserve to witnessing the epic migration of wildebeest, there are endless reasons why a visit to Kenya would leave a lasting impression that could even inspire your choice of baby names!
The capital cities that inspire the most baby names in the USA
1. London
USA Total: 44,556
London is the most popular capital city to name your baby after, with a total of 44,556 babies receiving the name in the USA. With so many iconic locations to visit, from Buckingham Palace to Big Ben, London is sure to leave a lasting impression on any visitor.
2. Kingston
USA Total: 34,196
The capital city of Jamaica, Kingston is the second most popular capital city to name your baby after. Between 2000 and 2020 there have been 34,196 babies named after the city, which is a popular Caribbean destination for holidaymakers after some sun, sea and relaxation.
3. Paris
USA Total: 24,025
In third place, with 24,025 babies named after it in the USA, is Paris. The French capital is well-regarded as one of the most romantic destinations in the world and is home to a huge number of picturesque sites, beauty spots and tourist attractions that make a visit to the city an experience you’ll remember for a lifetime.
The most popular travel-inspired baby names in the UK
The most popular travel-inspired baby names for boys in the UK
1. Chester
Babies named: 3,410
Chester is the most most popular travel-related baby name for boys in the UK, with 3,410 babies being named after the city. The county seat of Cheshire, Chester’s quaint and attractive appearance makes it a popular destination for many Brits looking to get away for the weekend. The city’s significant Roman history is also a major draw for visitors with a cultural itch to scratch.
2. Preston
Babies named: 3,082
In second place is the city of Preston, which was also popular in the United States. In the UK, as many as 3,082 babies have been called Preston between 2000 and 2020, which while considerably lower than the numbers in the USA, is still an impressive amount given the countries’ comparative sizes.
3. Phoenix
Babies named: 2,738
Taking third place is the city of Phoenix, capital of Arizona, which shares its name with 2,738 British babies born since 2000. One of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, Phoenix is popular for its outstanding spas, hotel resorts and golf courses, as well as its ample job opportunities and affordable cost of living.
The most popular travel-inspired baby names for girls in the UK
1. Florence
Babies named: 21,962
Florence is the most popular travel-inspired baby name for girls in the UK, with 21,962 girls being named after the Italian city. Florence is a beautiful city crammed with exquisite architecture, impressive sculptures and many museums showing off the city’s long history as a cultural driving force in Italy. Some of the most popular tourist attractions are the Duomo Cathedral and the Uffizi Gallery, where you can see some of the most famous works by Da Vinci and Botticelli.
2. Skye
Babies named: 11,456
The second most popular travel baby name for girls in the UK is Skye, with 11,456 girls receiving the name. The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular holiday destinations, providing visitors with beautiful island scenery and an escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life.
3. India
Babies named: 6,158
India is the third most popular travel baby name for girls in the UK, with 6,158 girls being named after the country. India has been a popular travel destination for Brits for many years, in part due to the long shared history between the two countries, but also because of the endless list of amazing sights to experience.
The countries that inspire the most baby names in the UK
1. India
UK Total: 6,158
India is also the most popular country for babies in the UK to be named after, with 6,158 babies sharing its name. Visitors to India can experience a huge range of different cultures and cuisines as they travel from region to region, while cultural and natural attractions abound across the country.
2. Mali
UK Total: 1,380
The West African country of Mali shares its name with 1,380 babies in the UK, making it the second most popular country to name your baby after. Unfortunately, Mali is currently experiencing a period of instability, making it unsafe for travellers to visit the country at this time.
3. Israel
UK Total: 1,041
In third place is Israel, which has seen 1,041 babies being named after it between 2000 and 2020. The Israeli city of Tel Aviv is a popular holiday destination, known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, while the city of Jerusalem attracts cultural and religious tourists from all over the world.
The capital cities that inspire the most baby names in the UK
1. Paris
UK Total: 3,646
Paris is the most popular capital city for UK parents to name their babies after, with 3,646 children receiving the name from 2000 to 2020. The iconic city of love is one of the most visited cities in Europe and features a huge number of iconic landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre Museum, home of many famous artworks including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
2. Vienna
UK Total: 998
With 998 babies names for the city, Vienna is the second most popular capital city to name your baby after in the UK. The Austrian capital has a lot to offer the visiting tourist; the city is home to the beautiful architecture of Schönbrunn Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral, as well as museums dedicated to famous Viennese individuals such as Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud.
3. Cairo
UK Total: 989
Cairo is the third most popular capital city to name your baby after in the UK, with 989 babies sharing its name. The Egyptian capital is a great place to experience modern Egyptian culture, as well as being a stone’s throw from the Sphinx and Pyramids that still stand from the days of ancient Egypt.
Methodology
We wanted to find out which travel-related baby names are the most popular in both the USA and the UK. To do this, we used baby name data from the US Census Bureau and the ONS for the years 2000 to 2020.
We created a list of potential travel-related baby names using a wide variety of inspirations including country names, capital cities, rivers, mountains, general travel-related terms, and other major cities and travel destinations from around the world.
We then cross-referenced this list with our baby names data to find out which travel terms were used as baby names the most.
The names of several locations were removed as they were too commonly used, making babies with these names less likely to have been named after the location.