Paris
Popularity rank in the US: #258
Meaning: The city of Paris
Nowadays, the Greek-derived girl's name Paris is less Hilton sister, more glorious City of Light. If it feels obvious though, go with a lesser French place name, like Lille or Lourdes.
London
Popularity rank in the US: #85
Meaning: The city of London
The fast-rising, gender-bending place name London lends a crisp, cosmopolitan air to the right baby girl.
Florence
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked; Peaked at #7 in 1902
Meaning: Flourishing, prosperous
The band Florence and the Machine gives the turn-of-the-century—er, last century—girl's name Florence a distinctly current edge, which the femininity of the Latin-derived Italian place name softens.
Sydney
Popularity rank in the US: #98
Meaning: Saint Denis
The unisex moniker Sydney is steady as a rock—not too popular, not too strange, just familiar enough. As a place name, it's Australia's premier city, but another choice from down under would be Adelaide.
Bristol
Popularity rank in the US: #418
Meaning: The city of Bristol
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's eldest daughter aside, it's as if Americans had never heard of this seaside town in the south of England. As a British-derived place name, Bristol is just as prim and refined as you'd expect.
Odessa
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked; Peaked #278 in 1909
Meaning: A long journey
Clearly no one's putting money down on a vacay to the Ukraine just now, but Odessa, the port town along the Black Sea, retains its vibrant, post-Soviet reputation. As a Greek place name, it's associated with Catherine the Great, and what more could you want for a regal girl child?
China
Popularity rank in the US: Not ranked; Peaked at #816 in 1992
For some Nixon-era parents, China conjured up the exotic Far East—and then-edgy socialites and celebs chose it for their girls (think actress-model China Chow and musician Chynna Phillips). Decades later, it doesn't have quite the same edge, but the quirky spelling helps.
Asia
Popularity rank in the US: #741
Meaning: East
Like China, Asia is a place name that doesn't have quite the evocative quality it had when your parents were young. But in Italy, it has celebrity cred by way of Italian actress Asia Argento.
India
Popularity rank in the US: #972
Meaning: From the River Indus
The Greek-origin name India has a well-heeled yet groovy, bohemian feel—as if your banker and housewife parents gave up their day jobs to follow the Maharishi. If you're looking for something less hefty than the entire subcontinent, try Goa.
Quintana
Meaning: The fifth girl
Sure, Joan Didion nabbed the Spanish name first for her adopted daughter, Quintana Roo. But this Mexican place name has a dreamy, sun-kissed quality to it—and excellent nickname potential.
