Alabama baby names blend a strong sense of tradition with the state’s Southern roots and a certain country sensibility. It’s the kind of place where Mary still ranks in the girls’ Top Ten, while Stetson and Legend sneak into the boys’ Top 100.
In terms of size and population, it’s solidly in the middle. The state ranks 24th in terms of population and 30th largest by size. It blends mountains and caves, rivers, cities, and beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.
Looking at the most popular names in the state, it feels a little bit jumbled. Lots of national Top 100 choices are missing, while plenty of names from the 200s and even 300s in the US data rank closer to the top here.
What gives? Demographics, for one.
Alabama’s history includes French colonists – they settled Mobile and the surrounding area, but numbers dwindled after the French and Indian War ended in 1763.
Parts of the state were ruled by Spain, into the early 1800s. Today, though, the Hispanic and Latino population represents less than 6% of all Alabama residents.
In December 1819, Alabama became the 22nd state admitted to the Union.
The state’s name comes from the indigenous people, related to the Muscogee. But the Trail of Tears forcibly removed native peoples from the land they’d held for generations, and the percentage of Alabamans identifying as members of an indigenous tribe is small.
About one-quarter of the population is African American. The brutal legacy of slavery and segregation is part of the state’s history. But it’s also the birthplace of change. Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastor of Montgomery’s Dexter Avenue Baptist Church beginning in 1954. A year later, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat and the Montgomery Bus Boycott pushed King to national prominence, and accelerated the modern Civil Rights Movement.
Let’s take a look at the most popular Alabama baby names, as well as though representing the state’s rich history.
ALABAMA AS A BABY NAME
Alabama has a long history of use as a girl’s name – though in tiny numbers.
Not just on the fringes, either. There’s a strong literary tradition.
- Famous Southern author William Faulkner wrote mostly in a fictional version of his Mississippi home, but he named his firstborn daughter Alabama. Tragically, she died shortly after her birth. Alabama Faulkner’s name honored William’s beloved great-aunt, known to her family as Aunt Bama.
- Zelda Fitzgerald’s novel 1932 Save Me the Waltz featured a main character by the name.
- Years later, in 1993, Patricia Arquette played a character named Alabama in cult classic True Romance.
There’s also Southern rock band Alabama, formed in 1969.
More recently, musician Travis Barker gave the name to a daughter in 2005. Actress Drea de Matteo and musician Shooter Jennings are also the parents of a daughter called Alabama.
The name debuted in US Social Security Administration data in the year 1995, with five births. It peaked in 2007, with 27 girls receiving the name. As of 2024, fewer than five girls were named Alabama, meaning it does not appear in the official data for that year.
One possible issue: the state’s name is borrowed from the Alabama people. The exact meaning is uncertain, but in Choctaw, a related language, Alabama means something like “to gather herbs.” While half of US states derive their names from native tribes, using those as given names for non-indigenous children is less comfortable in the 2020s that it would’ve been a century – or even twenty years – earlier.
Still, Alabama sounds more name-like than other options, and it’s easy to imagine parents seeing it as a nod to their roots in the state; an affirmation of their family’s history, rather than cultural appropriation.
TOP TEN BOY NAMES IN ALABAMA
10. ASHER (#20 in the US)
One of several names that outperforms national rankings in the state.
9. SAMUEL (#17 in the US)
A traditional choice, slightly more favored here.
8. OLIVER (#3 in the US)
One of several names that drops to make way for evergreen classics at the top of the list.
7. HENRY (#6 in the US)
Ranked about the same nationally and in Alabama.
6. ELIJAH (#8 in the US)
An Old Testament favorite.
5. NOAH (#2 in the US)
Popular nearly everywhere.
4. LIAM (#1 in the US)
While this Irish short form of William tops the national charts, it takes a back seat to William on this list.
3. JAMES (#5 in the US)
An evergreen name slightly more popular here.
2. JOHN (#21 in the US)
A long-time #1 name nationally, John is still going strong in the state.
1. WILLIAM (#10 in the US)
Alabama is one of the few places where William outranks Liam.
TOP 100 ALABAMA BOY NAMES
- William
- John
- James
- Liam
- Noah
- Elijah
- Henry
- Oliver
- Samuel
- Asher
- Hudson
- Jackson
- Waylon
- Levi
- Carter
- Thomas
- David
- Ezra
- Joseph
- Charles
- Grayson
- Lucas
- Benjamin
- Christopher
- Maverick
- Cooper
- Wyatt
- Jack
- Mason
- Walker
- Michael
- Luke
- Silas
- Weston
- Daniel
- Theodore
- Bryson*
- Owen
- Dylan
- Josiah
- Bennett
- Stetson*
- Colton
- Elias
- Matthew
- Robert
- Andrew
- Jacob
- Jaxon
- Ethan
- Beau
- River*
- Alexander
- Brooks
- Sawyer*
- Kingston*
- Aiden
- Everett
- Jace*
- Logan
- Parker
- Rowan
- Easton
- Gabriel
- Nolan
- Isaac
- Isaiah
- Jeremiah
- Baylor*
- Caleb
- Malachi
- Amir
- Christian
- Mateo
- Miles
- Joshua
- Anthony
- Legend*
- Carson*
- Ryder*
- Jayden
- Landon*
- Cohen*
- Hunter
- Lincoln
- Jonathan
- Angel
- Wesley
- Dawson*
- Eli
- Ezekiel
- Kayden
- Micah
- Nathan
- Sebastian
- Greyson*
- Harrison*
- Leo
- Jordan*
- Tucker*
* indicates name does not rank in the current US Top 100
TOP TEN GIRL NAMES IN ALABAMA
10. SOPHIA (#6 in the US)
A strong signal that Alabama’s Spanish-speaking population is small? Sophia holds on at #10, but Sofia fails to rank in the state’s Top Ten at all, coming in at a distant #50.)
9. EVELYN (#8 in the US)
A traditional choice that fares well in the state.
8. AVA (#9 in the US)
Popular everywhere.
7. HARPER (#12 in the US)
A slightly-better-than-average rank for Harper may point to the legacy of the state’s most famous author, Nelle Harper Lee. Also worth noting: surnames in general are more common in the Alabama popular names list, with names like Collins ranking in the Top 100.
6. MARY (#132 in the US)
On paper, it’s a stunning overperformance. It matches with John at #2 and William at #1. Except many of those Marys? Almost certainly answer to double names, or perhaps are known by their middles. So while this is a distinct feature of Alabama baby names, it’s not as straightforward as it first appears.
5. EMMA (#2 in the US)
A long-time favorite across the US.
4. ELIZABETH (#17 in the US)
While not quite as surprising as Mary in the Top Ten list, Elizabeth is better-represented in Alabama than elsewhere in the US. Similarly, Margaret makes the Top 100 here, though remains beyond it nationally.
3. AMELIA (#3 in the US)
Popular everywhere.
2. OLIVIA (#1 in the US)
A slight shuffle sends the #1 national name to the second spot.
1. CHARLOTTE (#4 in the US)
That same shuffle puts traditional Charlotte on top.
TOP 100 ALABAMA GIRL NAMES
- Charlotte
- Olivia
- Amelia
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Mary
- Harper
- Ava
- Evelyn
- Sophia
- Lainey
- Eleanor
- Ellie
- Ella
- Willow
- Nova
- Avery
- Lucy
- Caroline
- Layla
- Lily
- Sadie
- Ivy
- Mia
- Emily
- Paisley
- Hazel
- Abigail
- Millie
- Lillian
- Isabella
- Aurora
- Autumn
- Naomi
- Adeline
- Luna
- Eden
- Violet
- Brooklyn
- Chloe
- Anna
- Raelynn*
- Riley
- Aria
- Margaret*
- Scarlett
- Delilah
- Genesis
- Madelyn
- Sofia
- Blakely*
- Nora
- Isla
- Addison
- Josie
- Serenity*
- Kennedy
- Magnolia*
- Kehlani*
- Maria
- Alice
- Collins*
- Emery
- Madison
- Nevaeh*
- Wrenley*
- Vivian
- Emersyn*
- Eliana
- Sutton*
- Eloise
- Hannah
- Oaklynn*
- Annie*
- Kinsley
- Penelope
- Eliza*
- Everleigh*
- Camila
- Oakley*
- Skylar*
- Clara
- Hallie*
- Journee*
- Stella
- Charlie*
- Parker*
- Sophie
- Madeline
- Ruby
- Zoe
- Everly
- Sarah
- Saylor*
- Georgia*
- Khloe*
- Zoey
- Daisy
- Katherine
- Rylee*
* indicates name does not rank in the current US Top 100
DISTINCTIVE ALABAMA PLACE NAMES
AUBURN
As in the place name and university.
FAYETTE
Named for General Lafayette, hero of the American Revolution. Descended from a noble family with roots reaching to the Middle Ages, his title was the Marquis de la Fayette. Hence, the Alabama place name dropped the “la.”
FLORENCE
Located in the northwest corner of the state, the city is named for Florence, Italy.
IVY
Famous resident Helen Keller’s family home in Tuscumbia was known as Ivy Green. It’s now open as a museum.
MONTGOMERY
The state capital takes its name from an American Revolutionary War leader. In recent history, it’s known for its pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement.
SELMA
As in Selma, a name borrowed from an 18th century James Macpherson poem, where it’s the name of a castle. It’s familiar thanks to the Civil Rights movement.
WHEELER
Establisted in 1938 by FDR, the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge provides a home for endangered species, as well as a safe resting spot for migratory birds.
NAMES FROM ALABAMA HISTORY & SYMBOLS
ATTICUS, JEM, RADLEY, SCOUT
Names from To Kill a Mockingbird feel like an appropriate nod to Alabama roots.
BEAR
This one is a double dip. The American black bear is the state’s official mammal. Paul “Bear” Bryant coached the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team. The latter is almost certainly more familiar, but both references combined make this a significant Alabama baby name.
CAMELLIA
The state’s official flower is the camellia. Magnolia, also strongly associated with the American South, ranks in the Alabama Top 100 for girls.
CRIMSON
The University of Alabama’s sports teams are known as the Crimson Tide.
DEXTER
Borrowed from Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, where a young Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastor in the 1950s.
DIXIE
Strictly speaking, Dixie means ten. Or maybe it comes from the surname Dixon, related to Richard. Actress Dixie Carter of Designing Women fame made it broadly familiar. (Carter was born in Tenessee and the sitcom took place in 1980s Atlanta.) But it feels problematic by 2020s standards. One reason: the song “Dixie” served as an informal national anthem for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
EVELYN, IDGIE, RUTH
All character names drawn from Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, a novel written by Fannie Flagg in 1987. The book inspired a 1991 movie. While the place is fictional, it’s based on real place from Flagg’s life: Ironside, Alabama. Idgie is short for Imogene.
FORREST
As in Forrest Gump, one of the state’s most famous fictional figures.
HONEY
The queen honey bee is the official agricultural insect of the state.
NAMES OF FAMOUS ALABAMANS
BO
Vincent Edward “Bo” Jackson calls Bessemer, Alabama home. Not only did he play professional baseball and football, he was named an All-Star in both sports.
CHANNING
Actor Channing Tatum is a native Alabaman.
CLAUDETTE
Rosa Parks’ protest is widely remembered as the protest that launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott and acclerated the Civil Rights movement. But several protestors had also refused to give up their seats earlier, including teenager Claudette Colvin.
CONDOLEEZZA
Birmigham native Condoleezza Rice became the first African-American woman to serve as US Secretary of State under George W. Bush in the early 2000s. Her distinctive name comes from an Italian phrase. Con dolcezza means “with sweetness,” a musical term.
CORETTA
Activist Coretta Scott married Martin Luther King Jr. in 1953, working by his side during his lifetime, and long afterward to combat racism, poverty, and war.
EMMYLOU
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris blends folk and country rock. One of her best-known songs, “Red Dirt Girl” is a tale of heartache, growing up in rural Alabama. Harris was born in Birmingham, though she spent her teenage years in Virginia.
EVANDER
Boxer Evander Holyfield won an Olympic medal and went on to hold several world titles.
HANK
Baseball great Hank Aaron was born in Mobile. But this name is also connected to another Alabama legend, country music’s Hank WIlliams.
HARPER
Born Nelle Harper Lee in Monroeville in 1926, To Kill a Mockingbird remains one of the most beloved and widely influential novels of the 20th century.
HELEN
Alabama native Helen Keller became the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Thanks to her tireless teacher, Anne Sullivan, Keller overcame her challenges and earned a degree from Radcliffe in 1904.
JESSE
Legenday athlete Jesse Owens was born James Cleveland Owens, but his nickname – JC – eventually morphed into Jesse.
MAE
In 1992, Mae Jemison became the first African American woman astronaut.
MARTIN
As in Martin Luther King Jr. The Georgia native was just 25 and serving as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery when the bus boycott began. He became a national leader throughout the year-long boycott.
MIA
Two-time Olympic gold medalist and soccer icon Mia Hamm was born in Selma. Her father served in the US Air Force, meaning Hamm’s time in Alabama was brief – but enough to add Mariel Margaret Hamm to this list.
NAT
Singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole became the first African American to host a nationally broadcast television show in 1956. The Nat King Cole Show ran on NBC for two years. His legendary music endures today.
OCTAVIA
Actress Octavia Spencer won an Academy Award for her role in The Help, set in Jackson, Mississippi. But Spencer hails from Montgormery, Alabama.
ROSA
As in the immortal Rose Parks.
SATCHEL
Born Leroy, Satchel Paige started out in the Negro League before playing Major League Baseball, twice being named an MLB All-Star. His nickname has something to do with a backpack, but stories vary.
TALLULAH
Hollywood legend Tallulah Bankhead came from a prominent Alabama political family.
WILSON
Singer-songwriter Wilson Pickett helped develop soul music. While his career flourished in Detroit, Wilson spent his early years in Prattville, Alabama.
ZELDA
The privileged daughter of an Alabama politician, Zelda Sayre grew up in the heart of Montgomery society. She met her future husband when F. Scott Fitzgerald was sent to Camp Sheridan outside of the city before deploying in World War I. The couple eventually married and becoming terribly famous; Zelda was called “the first flapper.” But she was also an artist and writer – naming a Zelda-like character in Save the Last Waltz Alabama.
ZORA
Zora Neale Hurston is known for the Harlem Renaissance but the writer is from Notasulga, a tiny town near Auburn.
