Named after one of southern California’s Channel Islands, the name Catalina is said to mean “pure” in both Spanish and Portuguese.
What’s in a name? For some parents, a name is generational; giving your child the name of relatives and ancestors holds personal significance. For others, it’s the chance to give a child a name that’s inspiring and worldly, with influences from places around the globe.
If you’ve ever traveled to a place where the culture and lifestyle feels effortlessly beautiful, then perhaps consider naming your little one in its honor. There are endless monikers that evoke femininity and grace that come from all seven continents, so many that it may actually be hard choosing just one.
Below are 20 baby girl names inspired by places around the world.
Florence
Romantic and whimsical, this gorgeous name comes from the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, where you’ll find several masterpieces of Renaissance art and iconic architecture.
Bristol
An urban city in southwestern England, the name Bristol is derived from Old English and translates to “place at the bridge.” Although typically recognized as a boy’s name in several countries, the name is quickly gaining popularity for girls because of its androgynous sound.
Catalina
Named after one of southern California’s Channel Islands, the name Catalina is said to mean “pure” in both Spanish and Portuguese.
Sahara
The Sahara Desert covers most of North Africa and is one of the largest deserts in the world — likewise, the name Sahara is powerful and exotic, and translates to “The Great Desert.”
Holland
Known as a main region and former province of the Netherlands, the name Holland for a baby girl is bright and sweet.
Delancey
Although the name is derived from Irish origin, Delancey is also a popular New York City street located on the Lower East Side.
Adelaide
If you have dreams of traveling to the land Down Under, then Adelaide — the coastal capital city in South Australia — might be the perfect name for your baby girl. The name also stems from the German “Adelheid,” which translates to nobility.
Vienna
Known mainly for being Austria’s capital, Vienna is a pleasant name that carries sophistication, but has the possibility for several sweet nicknames like Vee or ViVi.
Eleadora
A rare name that was given to many saints, Eleadora means “gift of the sun” in both Greek and Spanish.
Bethany
Although Bethany is recognized as a Biblical name — it’s the little village located about a mile-and-a-half east of Jerusalem — it’s also the name of a small coastal town in Delaware.
Kenya
Feminine yet strong, Kenya is an East African country that’s surrounded by beautiful savannah, valleys, and mountains. Named for Mount Kenya, the name roughly translates to “mountain of whiteness.”
Salem
Witchcraft aside, the name Salem has several origins, all with meaningful translation. In Arabic, the name Salem means “peace,” while the Islamic translation is “safe and free.”
Geneva
Derived from the Old French word “genevre,” which means “juniper berry,” this lovely name is also the name of a picturesque city in Switzerland.
Amari
With two significant meanings in African (“Possess great strength) and in Arabic (“moon”), Amari also has two famous namesakes, being both a village in Nepal and a province on the Greek island of Crete.
Shasta
Mount Shasta is a volcanic peak in Northern California, but is also a Sanskrit term that means “teacher.”
Abilene
Beautifully translated as “Land of Meadows” in Hebrew, Abilene is also the name of a small city in Texas.
Dixie
With several different meanings, the name Dixie derives from English roots, and most notably references the states south of the Mason-Dixon line in the U.S.
Mercia
This unique name is derived from one of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in central Britain and translates to mean “Mercy.”
Lourdes
What could be more lovely than to be named after a small town in the foothills of France? The name was perhaps most notably in the spotlight when Madonna chose the name Lourdes for her daughter decades ago, it’s proven to be a timeless name.
