Let’s look at Florida baby names. What’s popular in the Sunshine State, and what surprising choices might nod to the state’s history?
It’s a pretty big in terms of territory – 22nd out of 50. And it boasts the second longest coastline in the US, behind only Alaska. Also noteworthy: Florida ranks third in total population, trailing only California and Texas, just ahead of New York.
The population is diverse, with about 1/4 of Floridians identifying as Latino or Hispanic, and around 20% of the population speaking Spanish as their first language.
Spanish is such a force in Miami that the everyday English spoken in the city has changed, reflecting phrases, constructions, and idioms specific to the area. No surprise that popular names in Florida, too, are heavily influenced by the Spanish language.
Another 15% of Floridians are black or African American and 17% of state residents consider themselves biracial.
Significant Haitian and Jamaican populations call the state home, along with a small number of Asian and indigenous peoples.
One last note regarding demographics: on paper, half of Floridians identify as white-only. However, that reflects a retiree population that is significantly whiter than average. This has implications for the identities and naming preferences of new parents in Florida.
FLORIDA AS A BABY NAME
Dakota, of course. Arizona, maybe. But Florida?
It seems an unlikely choice today, but Florida has plenty of history as a given name. In fact, it always has.
Florida is the feminine form of Latin name Floridus, from the word floridius – blooming. It’s the source of our word florid.
Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León named the state Florida because he arrived during the Easter season – Pascua Florida in Spanish. That literally translates to “flowery Easter,” reflecting the spring.
The state celebrates April 2nd as Pascua Florida day every year, to commemorate Ponce de León.
Elsewhere in the world, the baby name Florida might reflect an Easter-season birthday or simply be a given name.
In the US, though? If you meet a person named Florida, odds are it is a nod to the state.
Because Florida has absolutely been used as a given name. From 1880, when data was first reported, into the 1930s, Florida ranked among the Top 1000 girl names in the US.
Could it make a comeback? As of 2024, fewer than five girls received the name and it seems headed toward extinction. But with Flora and Florence back in favor, never say never.
While Florida is rarely – if ever – heard for baby boys, rapper and singer Tramar Dillard is now professionally as Flo Rida. And yes, he’s from Miami Gardens.
TOP TEN BOY NAMES IN FLORIDA
10. ETHAN (#19 in the US)
Worth noting: Spanish-language Eithan is rising in use. But it might also explain the return of English-spelling Ethan.
9. LUCA (#23 in the US)
An Italian name finding favor with many romance langauge speaking parents – and in the US more broadly.
8. THIAGO (#55 in the US)
One of several Spanish-language equivalents of James.
7. DYLAN (#28 in the US)
Like Ethan/Eithan, Dylan is trending with Spanish-speaking families in the US.
6. MATEO (#7 in the US)
Popular everywhere, the Spanish-language version of Matthew far outpaces the English equivalent right now.
5. OLIVER (#3 in the US)
Popular everywhere, but slightly less common in the Sunshine State.
4. ELIJAH (#8 in the US)
A slight over-performance for Elijah, possibly because it tends to be slightly more popular with black American parents.
3. LUCAS (#9 in the US)
A rock solid class even more common in Florida.
2. NOAH (#2 in the US)
When your state is the third most populous, it’s hard to say if Noah’s #2 status reflects national trends or drives them.
1. LIAM (#1 in the US)
Exactly the same thing applies for Liam as for Noah.
TOP 100 FLORIDA BOY NAMES
- Liam
- Noah
- Lucas
- Elijah
- Oliver
- Mateo
- Dylan
- Thiago
- Luca
- Ethan
- Matthew
- Levi
- Benjamin
- Sebastian
- James
- Michael
- Asher
- Theodore
- Daniel
- Alexander
- Anthony
- Enzo
- Ezra
- David
- Samuel
- Gabriel
- Elias
- Leo
- Henry
- Luke
- John
- William
- Jacob
- Jayden
- Josiah
- Joshua
- Caleb
- Aiden
- Christopher
- Maverick
- Logan
- Mason
- Joseph
- Isaac
- Nathan
- Aaron
- Julian
- Hudson
- Carter
- Grayson
- Jack
- Kai
- Isaiah
- Jackson
- Roman
- Thomas
- Owen
- Wyatt
- Ian
- Miles
- Amir
- Santiago
- Christian
- Andrew
- Adrian
- Angel
- Ryan
- Ezekiel
- Axel
- Jeremiah
- Jonathan
- Milan*
- Cooper
- Lorenzo*
- Cameron
- Theo
- Leonardo
- Kayden*
- Nolan
- Jordan*
- Adam
- Luka
- Robert
- Atlas*
- Austin*
- Charles
- Rowan
- Jose
- Matteo*
- Eli
- Micah
- Brooks
- Jaxon
- Wesley
- Bennett
- Zion*
- Alan*
- Nicholas*
- Giovanni*
- Jace*
* indicates the name does not appear in the US Top 100
TOP TEN GIRL NAMES IN FLORIDA
10. LUNA (#13 in the US)
Maybe this name overperforms in Florida because of ties the historic moon launches from Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, or maybe it’s because it’s a flawless Spanish-English crossover.
9. VALENTINA (#47 in the US)
A traditional choice bigger with Spanish-speaking families.
8. SOFIA (#10 in the US)
Both Sofia and Sophia are slightly more common in Florida.
7. CHARLOTTE (#4 in the US)
Charlotte falls just a bit to make space for other names.
6. AMELIA (#3 in the US)
Like Charlotte, Amelia is powerfully popular in the state, but not quite as high-ranking as in national stats.
5. SOPHIA (#6 in the US)
Combined with Sofia, a favorite nearly everywhere.
4. ISABELLA (#7 in the US)
Isabella and Mia likely overperform in Florida because of their Spanish-English crossover appeal.
3. MIA (#5 in the US)
A mini name holding its own near the top of the charts.
2. EMMA (#2 in the US)
Unstoppable Emma holds the second spot here, too.
1. OLIVIA (#1 in the US)
Long, romantic Olivia is a tough name to beat.
TOP 100 FLORIDA GIRL NAMES
- Olivia
- Emma
- Mia
- Isabella
- Sophia
- Amelia
- Charlotte
- Sofia
- Valentina
- Luna
- Ava
- Chloe
- Aurora
- Gianna
- Emily
- Mila
- Camila
- Aria
- Eliana
- Victoria
- Evelyn
- Zoe
- Elizabeth
- Ella
- Ellie
- Lily
- Violet
- Harper
- Madison
- Abigail
- Penelope
- Isla
- Nova
- Elena
- Layla
- Emilia
- Grace
- Avery
- Alice
- Naomi
- Eleanor
- Scarlett
- Ivy
- Leah
- Maya
- Ashley*
- Riley
- Antonella*
- Alaia*
- Hazel
- Alana*
- Gabriella*
- Genesis
- Stella
- Hannah
- Nora
- Maria
- Jade
- Valeria*
- Bella
- Sarah
- Lucia
- Leilani
- Lainey
- Lucy
- Athena
- Aaliyah
- Delilah
- Zoey
- Allison
- Willow
- Ayla
- Melody
- Hailey
- Eva
- Paisley
- Valerie*
- Sadie
- Sophie
- Adeline
- Samantha
- Ariana*
- Liliana
- Lillian
- Daisy
- Serenity*
- Summer*
- Madelyn
- Addison
- Brianna*
- Catalina*
- Brielle*
- Eloise
- Amira*
- Anastasia*
- Autumn
- Eden
- Sienna*
- Claire
- Ruby
* indicates the name does not appear in the US Top 100
DISTINCTIVE FLORIDA PLACE NAMES
AMELIA
Amelia Island was named for Princess Amelia, the daughter of King George II of Great Britain during the 18th century. It’s such a popular name that it doesn’t feel especially Florida-coded, but given the popularity of the destination, it’s easy to imagine parents taking inspiration for a child’s name.
AUGUSTINE
Spanish settlers founded St. Augustine way back in 1565. That makes it the oldest continuously-inhabited European-established settlement in the United States. Historic sites dating to the 16th century and the city’s long colonial history are located throughout St. Augustine today. The name reflects the first day Spanish explorers first saw land – September 8th, the saint’s feast day.
JACKSON, JAX
Jacksonville, on the state’s Atlantic coast, might be the reason some Florida parents embrace Jackson for their sons. It’s been among the most popular baby names during much of the 21st century. Named for former US president Andrew Jackson, the city is called Jax for short.
KENNEDY
Since 1968, the Kennedy Space Center has been NASA’s main launch center. Its name honors the late president John F. Kennedy, who spearheaded the project. Kennedy visited the site just before his assassination. The facility was given the late president’s surname just days after his tragic death.
KEY
As in the Florida Keys, though perhaps this is more of a middle name contender.
LUCIE
While Port St. Lucie isn’t quite as old as St. Augustine, it comes close. Just like the slightly older city, the name reflects the saint’s day on which the community was established. In this case, it was St. Lucia’s Day in 1566.
MIAMI
Even if you’ve never set foot in Miami, the impact of music, television, and movies makes this a familiar – and appealing – destination. From Miami Vice and Miami Sound Machine in the 1980s to Will Smith’s “Miami” in 1997, the image has been in the background as a generation came of age. Worth noting: while the name is often said to mean “sweet water,” it’s named for the Mayaimi people and it’s not entirely clear if that’s accurate. The Ohio place name comes from a differet indigenous people with a similar name.
MERRITT
Borrowed from Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
ORLANDO
The central Florida tourist mecca was once known as Jernigan. The name change was the result of a public vote. While legend has it that Orlando was borrowed from an early settler (or solider, or traveler) who died in the area, chances are that the folklore was invented – and everyone knew it. The real push for the name was probably the character from Shakespeare’s As You Like it.
PETER
St. Petersburg, often called St. Pete’s, is a Tampa Bay area town. Two property developers bought the land and extended a railway to the community in 1888. It’s said the town was named after St. Petersburg in Russia, because of the developers had spent his childhood there.
TALLAHASSEE
This one seems like a stretch, but maybe not in our age of Tallulah. Tallahassee is a from a Mukogean word, and it’s the state capital.
NAMES FROM FLORIDA HISTORY & SYMBOLS
APOLLO
The name of a sun god seems right in the Sunshine State, but the Apollo missions launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral.
CLEMENTINE
The state is famous for citrus, but you probably won’t name your baby Orange or Lime. Clementine, though, is both a fruit and a sweet name for a daughter.
GOLD, GOLDEN, GOLDIE
Inspired by Florida’s Gold Coast, the ritzy, glitzy section of Miami.
LUNA
Plenty of states have an official stone, mineral, or gem and many of those make great names. Florida’s is moonstone, which isn’t the most wearable. But it was adopted in honor of the Apollo 11 mission, in which astronauts launched from Florida’s Cape Canaveral landed on the moon. That makes Luna a subtle, Florida-adjacent choice.
SUNSHINE
Could there be a better name for a child born in the Sunshine State?
SUNNY
Plenty of first names related to sun could work, too: Sol, Solana, Soleil, and yes, Sunny. While Sonny is typically masculine in gender and Sunny leans slightly feminine, Sunny is trending for boys and girls alike in this nature name-heavy moment.
FAMOUS FLORIDIANS
ARIANA
As in singer and actress Ariana Grande, a native of Boca Raton.
CAMILA
The connection between Cuba and Florida is significant. Musician Camila Cabello is a good example of how the cultural impact is felt in the state and across the US. Other Spanish-English crossover musicians including Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin have ties to Florida, but Camila also wears a stylish, trending girls’ name.
DEION
Sports are a major part of life in Florida, from universities to professional teams. Deion Sanders was born in Fort Myers and went on to win two Super Bowl titles and appear in a World Series, making him the only athlete to play in both.
EMMITT
Football star Emmitt Smith grew up in Pensacola before spending 15 years with the Dallas Cowboys.
ERNEST
While the author Ernest Hemingway is associated with a great many places, his legacy is very much part of Key West. The home where he lived during the 1930s is open to visitors today, and particularly famous for its population of cats.
EVA
As in actress Eva Mendes.
GLORIA
Before there was Camila Cabello, there was Gloria Estefan of the Miami Sound Machine. Estefan is also Cuban-American – and a five-time Grammy winner, too.
KELLY
All those Florida coasts mean surfing, and professional surfer Kelly Slater grew up in the state. A native of Cocoa Beach, he’s often considered the greatest pro surfer of all time.
LAWRENCE
As in Lawrence Kasdan, the co-writer of movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi.
ROCK
Florida native Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson grew up in Florida and played football at the University of Miami before becoming a professional wrestler and actor.
SIDNEY
Miami-born actor Sidney Poitier was the first black actor, and first native of the Bahamas, to win the Academy Award for Best Actor.
ZORA
While author Zora Neale Hurston is often associated wtih the Harlem Renaissance, she grew up in Eatonville, Florida. Her best-known work, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is set in the state.
