Popular in Texas Baby Names

Time to talk Texas baby names!

The Lone Star state claims the second largest population, second only to California, with over 32 million residents. It’s the second largest in terms of size, too, behind only Alaska. 

From edgy, urban Austin to glamorous Dallas to rural stretches of ranch and farmland, Texas has it all. 

In our imaginations, the state is dominated by cowboy culture. But that’s only a tiny part of the picture. 

Perhaps the biggest cultural influence? Spanish-speaking Texans. According the US Census Bureau, nearly 30% of Texans speak Spanish. That’s significant, and clearly impacts how Texas families think about naming their children.

TEXAS AS A BABY NAME

Before we turn to the most popular names in Texas, is anyone using the state name for their child?

The answer is yes, though only in small numbers. 

During the calendar year 2024,

• 20 boys and 5 girls were named Texas
• An additional 20 boys answered to Tex. 

Other possibilities, like Texan, do not appear in 2024 data for United States Social Security Administration. But – believe it or not – Texas, Tex, Texan, and even Texaz have been heard in Sweden.

It’s a signal for how strong an image Texas presents internationally.

TOP TEN BOY NAMES IN TEXAS

10. DANIEL (#16 in the US)

A rock solid Biblical classic, and a favorite with Spanish-speaking families, too. Doubtless that’s why Daniel enjoys a little more popular in Texas than is true for the US as a whole.

9. EZRA (#13 in the US)

An Old Testament favorite on the rise. 

8. ELIAS (#25 in the US)

Baby Center en Español lists Elias in their Top 100, perhaps explaining how Elias rises so high in Texas.

7. OLIVER (#3 in the US)

Big across the US, but slightly lower in Texas. Possibly because it moves up to make space for names with more appeal to Spanish-speaking families.

6. ELIJAH (#8 in the US)

An Old Testament name with broad appeal.

5. SEBASTIAN (#14 in the US)

Long-time traditional choice across Europe, now a Top Ten staple in US several states.

4. SANTIAGO (#29 in the US)

When it comes to popular boys names, as goes Texas (and California), so goes the US data. In other words, it’s not necessarily that Santiago is just more popular in Texas than it is elsewhere. It’s that Santiago is so popular in a handful of states that it changes the overall US rankings, too. 

3. MATEO (#7 in the US)

A rising favorite in the US, even more so here.

2. NOAH (#2 in the US)

At the peak of the chart, name popularity in Texas mirrors the overall US data.

1. LIAM (#1 in the US)

Once again, the top choice in Texas is also #1 in the US as a whole.

TOP 100 TEXAS BOY NAMES

1. Liam
2. Noah
3. Mateo
4. Santiago
5. Sebastian
6. Elijah
7. Oliver
8. Elias
9. Ezra
10. Daniel
11. Lucas
12. Julian
13. Dylan
14. Ethan
15. Levi
16. Angel
17. Benjamin
18. Jose
19. James
20. Samuel
21. William
22. David
23. Matthew
24. Alexander
25. Michael
26. Luke
27. Ezekiel
28. John
29. Henry
30. Theodore
31. Gael
32. Luca
33. Isaac
34. Thiago
35. Leonardo
36. Gabriel
37. Josiah
38. Adriel*
39. Adrian
40. Anthony
41. Aiden
42. Ian
43. Jacob
44. Asher
45. Joseph
46. Christopher
47. Caleb
48. Isaiah
49. Christian
50. Juan*
51. Leo
52. Hudson
53. Jayden
54. Luis*
55. Joshua
56. Aaron
57. Nathan
58. Emiliano*
59. Axel
60. Carlos*
61. Maverick
62. Damian*
63. Jack
64. Wyatt
65. Carter
66. Jesus*
67. Thomas
68. Diego*
69. Logan
70. Roman
71. Miles
72. Andrew
73. Jeremiah
74. Jonathan
75. Owen
76. Grayson
77. Luka
78. Enzo
79. Matias*
80. Jackson
81. Mason
82. Cooper
83. Alejandro*
84. Xavier*
85. Micah
86. Emilio
87. Kai
88. Andres*
89. Nolan
90. Ivan*
91. Ryan
92. Charles
93. Alan*
94. Waylon
95. Miguel*
96. Amir
97. Giovanni*
98. Lorenzo*
99. Brooks
100. Nicolas*

* indicates that the name does not rank in the current US Top 100

TOP TEN GIRL NAMES IN TEXAS

10. ELIANA (#18 in the US)

Proof that the top girls’ names are a little different in the Lone Star State? Lyrical, flowing Eliana is a Top Ten pick. 

9. CHARLOTTE (#4 in the US)

As with Oliver on the boy’s list, no surprise that Charlotte is a little less popular in Texas to make space for some other names.

8. SOFIA (#10 in the US)

The Spanish form of Sofia fares well in Texas.

7. AMELIA (#3 in the US)

Another name that’s popular everywhere, but perhaps a bit less common here.

6. SOPHIA (#6 in the US)

Sophia remains an enduring classic.

5. ISABELLA (#7 in the US)

Another English-Spanish crossover favorite.

4. CAMILA (#11 in the US)

Camila is the new Sofia/Isabella.

3. MIA (#5 in the US)

Like Daniel, Mia is an English-Spanish crossover favorite that isn’t immediately obvious. 

2. EMMA (#2 in the US)

As with the top of the boys’ chart, the #1 and #2 names are the same in Texas as across the United States.

1. OLIVIA (#1 in the US)

Worth asking: is Olivia’s runaway popularity in Texas driving the name’s resilience in the top spot across the US?

TOP 100 TEXAS GIRL NAMES

1. Olivia
2. Emma
3. Mia
4. Camila
5. Isabella
6. Sophia
7. Amelia
8. Sofia
9. Charlotte
10. Eliana
11. Evelyn
12. Luna
13. Gianna
14. Ava
15. Elizabeth
16. Emily
17. Valentina
18. Zoe
19. Elena
20. Aurora
21. Victoria
22. Genesis
23. Ellie
24. Aria
25. Scarlett
26. Violet
27. Eleanor
28. Leilani
29. Lily
30. Abigail
31. Avery
32. Emilia
33. Harper
34. Mila
35. Penelope
36. Chloe
37. Hazel
38. Catalina*
39. Delilah
40. Layla
41. Ailany*
42. Leah
43. Natalia
44. Naomi
45. Ivy
46. Ella
47. Madison
48. Hannah
49. Maria
50. Nova
51. Allison
52. Emery
53. Ximena*
54. Grace
55. Ariana*
56. Adeline
57. Lucia
58. Ashley*
59. Juliette*
60. Lucy
61. Melanie*
62. Lainey
63. Liliana
64. Valeria
65. Nora
66. Aaliyah
67. Maya
68. Madelyn
69. Andrea*
70. Jade
71. Riley
72. Melody
73. Alice
74. Isla
75. Stella
76. Everly
77. Madeline
78. Alaia*
79. Athena
80. Sadie
81. Alina*
82. Ana*
83. Zoey
84. Addison
85. Aitana*
86. Regina*
87. Natalie
88. Iris
89. Eden
90. Lillian
91. Daisy
92. Willow
93. Caroline
94. Ayla
95. Alana*
96. Samantha*
97. Autumn
98. Audrey
99. Serenity*
100. Sophie

* indicates that the name does not rank in the current US Top 100.

DISTINCTIVE TEXAS PLACE NAMES

Not every place name works as a first. Lubbock, Texas might be your beloved hometown, but it’s an awkward given name. (Also cross off quirky town names like Frognot and Noonday.) Other places in Texas, though? They’re rich with potential.

ABILENE 

Borrowed from the New Testament, Abilene means “meadow” and sounds like a midpoint between Abgiail and Adeline.

AUSTIN

A contracted form of Augustine, this place name has been very popular in recent years.

DALLAS

Another place name that’s earned a spot near the top of popularity charts. 

HOUSTON

Sam Houston served as president of the Republic of Texas during the 19th century. This city still bears his name. Houston is originally Scottish, and means “Hugh’s town.” The spelling Huston is also seen. Fun fact: while Houston is pronounced like Hugh, New York City’s Houston Street says the first syllable like house.

ODESSA

If not for the conflict in Ukraine, Odessa might read like a sparky Texas place name. After all, Odessa is a feminine form of Odysseus, making this an adventurous choice with a hint of free spirit about it. And while Odesa, Ukraine is a beautiful and storied city, it might also feel fraught to choose this name for a daughter now. A note on spelling: Odessa is more familiar in English, but the single ‘s’ Odesa is the accepted spelling for the Ukrainian city.

RAINEY

Borrowed from Austin’s famed Rainey Street.

SABINE

As in the Sabine River, shared between Texas and Louisiana. 

TRAVIS

As in Travis County, home to the city of Austin.

TYLER

A common surname and place name, Tyler appears on the map in Texas. But it’s not an especially big city; instead, it’s mentioned here because it’s named for the 10th President of the United States, John Tyler. He’s not especially notable or memorable. Tyler sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War. And yet, he was an advocate for Texas’ statehood, which is why this Virginia planter-turned-politician became immortalized on the map. 

NAMES FROM TEXAS HISTORY & SYMBOLS

BLUEBONNET

For the state’s flower.

RANGER

The Texas Rangers are a baseball team, of course, but they take their name from a storied law enforcement agency. 

ROSE 

As in “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” a traditional American song dating to the mid-19th century, or possibly earlier. The original lyrics were horribly racist. It has been re-written over the years to a far more neutral folk song: “You may talk about your Clementine and sing of Rosa Lee, But the yellow rose of Texas is the only girl for me.” The Yellow Rose is now an award given annually by the Texas governor in recognition of outstanding community service.

RIO

As in the Rio Grande, or other rivers in the state that use the Spanish form of river in their name.

SAGE

Texas Sage is the official native shrub of the state, making this a subtle nod.

STELLA

Any name that means star might feel perfect for a daughter of the Lone Star state. The “lone star” refers to the single star on the flag of Texas, both as an independent republic, and now as a state. 

TOPAZ

The state’s official gemstone in the Texas Blue Topaz.

WALKER

Maybe this is a little too much of a pop culture reference, but the fictional character at the heart of Walker, Texas Ranger links this surname name to the state in the popular imagination.

FAMOUS TEXANS

BEYONCE

Is there any Texas more famous than Beyoncé? It’s probably too much a one-of-one name to consider for a child, but it’s impossible to leave it off the list. 

BONNIE and CLYDE

Texas-born teenagers became famous bank robbers during the Great Depression. Their lives, crimes, and deaths became the stuff of legend. 

DAVY

As in Davy Crockett, defender of the Alamo and famous frontiersman. 

GEORGE

Texas native and famed country singer George Strait puts his name on the list. So does former Texas governor and 41st president of the United States, George W. Bush.

IKE

World War II commander Dwight Eisenhower was known by his nickname Ike. Another Texas native, Eisenhower served as 34th President of the United States.

LANDRY

Football is big in Texas, and former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry was one of the biggest names in the sport. Landry led the Cowboys to 20 consecutive winning seasons, including two Super Bowl victories. 

MAVERICK

Long before Tom Cruise took to the skies using the call sign Maverick, Samuel Maverick was a Texas rancher. He refused to brand his cattle, making his name synonymous with someone who was fiercely independent. The NBA’s Dallas Mavericks reinforce the link between the name and the state. 

NOLAN

Baseball legend Nolan Ryan is a Texas native. He spent much of his playing career with the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. After retiring as a player, he later worked for both organizations. 

SANDRA

The first woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor was born in El Paso, Texas.

SELENA

The Queen of Tejano Music, legendary singer Selena was Texas-born. The Mexican-American singer became one of the most successful entertainers of the late 20th century. Her 1995 tragic death at the hands of a former employee ended her career far too early. Jennifer Lopez rose to fame playing the singer in 1997 biopic Selena, making both singers more famous.

WAYLON

As in another country music legend from Texas, Waylon Jennings.

WILLIE

Born in Texas, Willie Nelson’s real name isn’t William. It’s just Willie, and he’s worn it world-wide fame as a musician, actor, and activist. Among many other honors, Nelson has been inducted into both the Country Music and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.

What are your favorite Texas baby names? What would you add to this list?