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Baby Names Inspired by Southern Cities

Baby Names Inspired by Southern Cities

By Nellah Bailey McGough

August 01, 2016

Sarah Wolfe Photography/Getty Images

I was born in Opelika, AL when my dad was in Vet School at Auburn University. As a joke, my father had his classmates convinced that they were going to name me Mississippi Magnolia and call me Miss Mag for short (we’re from Mississippi). However, they still managed to name me another unusual name. I was named for the wife of a Mississippi Governor, related on my father’s side. To this day, if you run across someone named “Nellah Bailey,” they’re more than likely kin to me.We ponder and stew over the perfect baby name to add to that all-important family tree which will be eternally documented in the annals of history. There’s no crystal ball to determine the personality of a newborn, therefore, making it a daunting task to bestow a name on a child that will follow (or haunt) them for life. Did Augustine and Mary Washington know that their son, George, would one day have a name that is forever tied to American History? How about Scott and Andrea who named their baby daughter after singer/songwriter James Taylor? Did they have any inkling that their daughter, Taylor Swift, would become an international sensation? If you're on the hunt for the perfect Southern name, take a look at a map of the South for some inspiration. Seriously, if you’re in the “what do we name this baby” dilemma, we’ve found some awesome baby names inspired by Southern cities from each state that would be great choices.Related: Happy Halloween-Inspired Baby Names

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Stella

Credit: Daniela Solomon/Getty Images

Stella, TN

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Camden

Credit: Julie Fairman/Getty Images

Camden, FL

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Franklin

Credit: Sarah Wolfe Photography/Getty Images

Franklin, TN

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Hope

Credit: JBI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images

Hope, AR

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Harrison

Credit: Blend Images - KidStock/Getty Images

Harrison, AR

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Savannah

Credit: Daniela Solomon/Getty Images

Savannah, GA

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Raleigh

Credit: Praveenkumar Palanichamy/Getty Images

Raleigh, NC

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Manning

Credit: Elysee Shen/Getty Images

Manning, SC

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Alexandria

Credit: Thanasis Zovoilis/Getty Images

Alexandria, LA

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Adair

Credit: LucidSurf/Getty Images

Adair, OK

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McLean

Credit: Morsa Images/Abel Mitja Varela/Getty Images

McLean, VA

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Butler

Credit: Lucy von Held/Blend Images/Getty Images

Butler, AL

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Ava

Credit: Bodler/Getty Images

Ava, MO

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Nash

Credit: Marc Romanelli/Blend Images/Getty Images

Nash, OK

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Macon

Credit: David A Land/Blend Images/Getty Images

Macon, GA

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Charlotte

Charlotte, NC

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Dallas

Credit: Lesley Magno/Getty Images

Dallas, TX

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Barclay

Credit: Sarah Salmela/Getty Images

Barclay, MD

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Marianna

Credit: Daniela Solomon/Getty Images

Marianna, FL

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Kenner

Credit: Allen Donikowski/Getty Images

Kenner, LA

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Sellers

Credit: Jessie Cowan/Getty Images

Sellers, SC

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Hastings

Credit: Annie Morris/Getty Images

Hastings, FL

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Daphne

Credit: Bradley Hebdon/Getty Images

Daphne, AL

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Abbott

Credit: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc./Getty Images

Abbott, WV

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Addison

Credit: Sarah8000/Getty Images

Addison, WV

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Jackson

Credit: Mike Kemp/Getty Images

Jackson, MS

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Ellington

Credit: Tara Moore/Getty Images

Ellington, MO

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Burke

Credit: Suzme/Getty Images

Burke, VA

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Campton

Credit: Catherine Delahaye/Getty Images

Campton, KY

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Laurel

Credit: Elena Sigtryggsson/Getty Images

Laurel, DE

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Abilene

Credit: Saenco Oleg/Getty Images

Abilene, TX

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Baby Names Inspired by Southern Cities

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Stella

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Camden

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Franklin

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Hope

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Harrison

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Savannah

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Raleigh

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Manning

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Alexandria

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Adair

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McLean

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Butler

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Ava

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Nash

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Macon

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Charlotte

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Dallas

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Barclay

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Marianna

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Kenner

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Sellers

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Hastings

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Daphne

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Abbott

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Addison

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Jackson