The baby name Avalon blends the sounds of Ava and Evelyn, with the added appeal of legend.
Thanks to Chantal and Heather for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
AVALON IN LEGEND
In the legends of King Arthur, Avalon refers to an island. King Arthur retreated to the island after suffering wounds in battle.
Sorceress Morgan le Faye called it home. The author Geoffrey of Monmouth reported that the sword Excalibur was forged there.
It’s part-paradise, part-magical realm.
The name Avalon comes from the same roots as apple. In Old Welsh, the word was abal. In Breton, it is aval. We translate Avalon as island of apples. Poetic, maybe, but basically correct.
Other legends include the island. It appears in a twelfth century French tale, and folklore lists Avalon as the birthplace of the mermaid Melusine, to name just two.
AVALON AS A PLACE NAME
Debate rages over the location of Avalon.
After all, proving King Arthur’s historical existence is a popular past time. Tantalizing clues point to Avallon, France, a tiny town settled since Roman times in the Burgundy region. A fifth century king who may have inspired the Arthurian legends disappeared nearby. Others point to a twelfth century find at Glastonbury Abbey, and other locations also vie for the title of the real Avalon.
Real places across the English-speaking world bear the name:
- One of the earliest European settlements in North America is Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula
- Surf Avalon Beach in Australia … or New Jersey
- Santa Catalina Island’s Avalon Bay and the adjacent city of Avalon are historic tourist destinations in Los Angeles County, California
Theaters and performances venues also use the name, some of them nearly as legendary as the medieval stories. San Francisco’s Avalon Ballroom was a big deal in the 1960s. Brooklyn’s Avalon Theater operated from the 1920s into the 1980s.
It’s also a sensible Toyota sedan, a very popular series of novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and a landmark 1982 album from Roxy Music.
HOW POPULAR IS THE BABY NAME AVALON?
A romantic place name with ties to medieval legend and a stylish sound? That seems like a promising start.
But the baby name Avalon has never caught on in the US. Just 114 girls and 8 boys were named Avalon in 2023.
Even at its most popular, in 2014, just 158 girls received the name – well short of the number required to make the US Top 1000.
The name debuted in US Social Security data back in 1907, when five girls received the name. US Census records report it was in use even earlier.
UNDISCOVERED GEM
The baby name Avalon fits with recent generations of girls’ names, from Allison to Brooklyn to Adeline. It blends all that romantic backstory with a very current sound.
If you’re after the perfect stands-out, fits-in name, then Avalon could be the perfect choice for you.
What do you think of the baby name Avalon?
First published on October 18, 2012, this post was revised and updated on August 30, 2024.
I named my daughter Avalon, born 2014, and we get compliments almost every time we introduce her! It’s easy to pronounce, I don’t have to spell it out for anyone, but it is unusual enough to stand out.
I agree, Avalon reminds me of Avonlea. Avonlea has been one of my favorite girls name for about 5 years now. I remember the moment so well. I was at home doing laundry (I think?) and had the tv on. The announcer said, in a dramatic voice, “Anne of Avonlea”……. and it struck me then and there what a beautiful name it was! I would still love to use it, but have since discovered this site as well as Swistle’s blog, and have added so many girls names to my list, it will be hard to pick. ๐
I agree that it should be name of the day!
I saw some kind of special about people considering plastic surgery a few years ago and there was an actress going by the name Avalon Anders, and I think she was in her late twenties. Could be a stage name, obviously, but I remember thinking it sounded nice.
Avalon always makes me think of Avonlea, because my best friend wanted to use Avonlea for a girl as a tribute to Anne of Green Gables, her favorite book. Are the two names related at all?
I feel like I should like Avalon more. Perhaps if I were more of a Camelot buff. But truly I prefer Camelot, Morgana, or Nimue. Melusine also intrigues.
In a recent obit the deceased was survived by his widow Avalon and I was struck by how contrary Avalon* felt on a 60-something. I would have expected Avalon to be their grandchild’s name, because Avalon feels completely modern, unlike the “old-lady chic” Ava and Evelyn.
*Although, Avalon and Lavonne could be twins born in 1945.
I quite like the name and the potential nickname Ava. I met an Avalon when I went to go give blood, she was the nurse and I was quite surprised and delighted to hear her name.
Like it better than most place names. Avalon and Eden would be a cute sib set (Xanadu would have to be their brother!)
I knew a woman named Xanadu. She worked with my brother. Her brother also had an unusual name that I can’t remember…
I kind of like Avalon. It’s not my style, but it has a pleasant sound. I’m also surprised that it’s not more common.