These Are The Most Popular Baby Names In The South

Looking at the most recent SSA data from 2017, we identified the most popular baby names for boys and girls in the South. While most of these names align with the national popularity list, there are points of divergence.

Obviously, what constitutes the South is a topic of much debate. So for simplicity’s sake, we mostly followed what the Census Bureau defines as the South: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. (The bureau also includes Delaware, Maryland and D.C., but as a Louisiana native, I had to put my foot down.)

Elijah, the fourth most popular name for boys born in the South, is only No. 8 on the national list of baby names. Oliver ― the ninth hottest name for baby boys nationally ― is down at No. 19 for the region, and Joseph (No. 19 nationally) is No. 30 for Southern boys.

The top eight names for girls are identical, but Harper comes in at No. 9 in the South, versus No. 11 nationally (perhaps because of the influence of Southern author Harper Lee). Evelyn, which is No. 9 nationally, is No. 12 in the South.

Layla is also more popular in the South than in the U.S. as a whole, hitting No. 20 in the regional list, versus No. 26 nationally. Same goes with Paisley ― No. 45 in the U.S. versus No. 30 in the region. Grace, Nora and Mila are at Nos. 21, 28 and 30 nationwide, respectively, but don’t even crack the top 35 in the Southern rankings. And Aubrey and Addison are more popular in the South, at Nos. 23 and 29, versus Nos. 31 and 34 nationally.

Below, find the top 35 boys’ and girls’ names for Southern babies. For more data and state-by-state breakdowns, visit the SSA website.

Girls

1. Emma
2. Olivia
3. Ava
4. Isabella
5. Sophia
6. Mia
7. Charlotte
8. Amelia
9. Harper
10. Abigail
11. Elizabeth
12. Evelyn
13. Emily
14. Madison
15. Avery
16. Sofia
17. Ella
18. Victoria
19. Scarlett
20. Layla
21. Chloe
22. Camila
23. Aubrey
24. Aria
25. Riley
26. Lillian
27. Zoey
28. Caroline
29. Addison
30. Paisley
31. Skylar
32. Brooklyn
33. Penelope
34. Savannah
35. Lily

Boys

1. Noah
2. Liam
3. William
4. Elijah
5. James
6. Mason
7. Jacob
8. Logan
9. Michael
10. Aiden
11. Benjamin
12. Lucas
13. Matthew
14. Ethan
15. Alexander
16. John
17. Daniel
18. Samuel
19. Oliver
20. David
21. Jayden
22. Jackson
23. Luke
24. Carter
25. Sebastian
26. Grayson
27. Wyatt
28. Christopher
29. Gabriel
30. Joseph
31. Dylan
32. Joshua
33. Levi
34. Jaxon
35. Josiah