American baby names stand out in an age of endless baby name lists and viral trends. Many families are looking beyond popularity charts and turning to something deeper: legacy. Choose to honor the past by naming your children after men and women who shaped the nation with character, courage, and compassion.
Girls:
Abigail
Origin: Hebrew, popularized in English via Latin and French.
Etymology: Derived from the Hebrew word Avigayil, a combination of avi (father) and gil (joy or rejoice)
Meaning: “the father’s joy”
Looking for a Founding Mother your daughter can look to for inspiration? Name her Abigail after the wife of our second President, John Adams. Abigail was a steadfast champion of virtue and domestic resilience during the American Revolution. While John served abroad, Abigail maintained their farm, raised their children, and managed family affairs with unwavering strength. A prolific letter-writer, she advocated for education, moral integrity, and even women’s rights. Her life reflected a profound respect for virtue, faith, and duty—cornerstones of both her private and public legacy.
“It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed...the habits of a vigorous mind are formed contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure. Great necessities call out great virtues.”
- Abigail Adams, 1780, letter to her son, John Quincy Adams
Harriet
Origin: English, from French.
Etymology: Feminine form of Harry, which is a medieval English form of Henry, from the Germanic Heimirich (“home ruler”).
Meaning: "Ruler of the home."
Looking for a name for a future leader? Name your daughter Harriet, after courageous and bold Harriet Tubman. Harriet Tubman was born around 1822 into slavery, escaping to freedom and then becoming a key conductor on the Underground Railroad. She helped over 300 enslaved people escape to freedom and was affectionately called “the Moses of her people” and “General Tubman.” Tubman also served as a spy during the Civil War, and finally passed away in 1913. Whoever is named Harriet is sure to embody the meaning of the name “Ruler of the home.”
"I said to the Lord, I'm going to hold steady on to you, and I know you will see me through."
– Harriet Tubman
Rosa
Origin: Latin and Romance languages.
Etymology: From Latin rosa, meaning “rose.”
Meaning: "Rose" (the flower), often symbolizing beauty or love.
True Americans are defiant in the face of injustice, and no one embodies that more than Rosa Parks. Born on February 4, 1913, Rosa became famous for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. This act of defiance sparked the Civil Rights Movement and forever changed America as we know it. Name your daughter Rosa, and she will always have an incredible role model that stood up for what she believed.
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”
– Rosa Parks
Katharine
Origin: Greek, with widespread use in Latin and Old French forms.
Etymology: Katharine comes from the Greek name Aikaterine. Its exact roots are debated, but it's often linked to the Greek word katharos, meaning “pure.”
Meaning: “Pure” or “clear.”
Born on November 26, 1858, Katharine Drexel was one of Americas wealthy heiresses, however she chose heavenly riches over earthly ones. Using the immense wealth left to her by her father, she became a missionary, founding schools and missions for marginalized communities, especially Native and African Americans. In 2000, she became the second American-born saint. Her legacy continues to live large in America, and her name may live on in your daughter!
“It is a lesson we all need - to let alone the things that do not concern us. He has other ways for others to follow Him; all do not go by the same path. It is for each of us to learn the path by which He requires us to follow Him, and to follow Him in that path.”
– Katharine Drexel
Dorothy
Origin: Greek, via Latin and English.
Etymology: From Greek Dōrothea, composed of dōron (gift) and theos (god).
Meaning: "Gift of God."
Only slightly less well-known than the girl who went to Oz, Dorothy Day left her mark on the world. Born November 8, 1897, journalist-turned-activist Day co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement, blending radical social justice with deep Catholic faith. She advocated tirelessly for the poor and pacifism during tough times. A candidate for sainthood, she is a beautiful model for a girl who is both faithful and fruitful in her work with others.
“The greatest challenge of the day is: how to bring about a revolution of the heart, a revolution which has to start with each one of us?”
– Dorothy Day
Clara
Origin: Latin
Etymology: Feminine form of clarus, meaning “clear,” “bright,” or “famous.”
Meaning: "Bright," "clear," or "famous."
The name Clara carries with it hope and strength. Born December 25, 1821, Clara Barton gained fame as a battlefield nurse during the Civil War and went on to found the American Red Cross in 1881. A pioneer in disaster relief and humanitarian aid, she broke barriers for women in medicine and became known as “the Angel of the Battlefeild.” Name your little angel Clara, and she will have an incredible role model in Clara Barton.
“God in His goodness gave me speed to my feet and strength to my arms through the hours of that fearful night, that I might nourish the fainting, slake the thirst of the dying, and strive to staunch the life stream as it ebbed away.”
– Clara Barton
Margaret
Origin: Greek via Latin and French.
Etymology: From Greek margaritēs, meaning “pearl.”
Meaning: "Pearl."
This name is drawn from an unsung heroine of the Revolutionary War. Born November 12, 1751, Margaret Corbin boldly took over her husband’s cannon in the Revolutionary War after he was killed. Stepping into the role he had, she bravely defended her country, was captured by the British, and fought for the freedom of her descendants. Severely wounded in the battle, she never fully recovered the use of her left arm and died from complications of her injuries several years later. May the American daughters of today have even half her courage!
"You may be a soldier, John Corbin, but I am your wife and my place is by your side!"
– Attributed to Margaret Corbin
Emma
Origin: Germanic, popularized in England and France.
Etymology: Derived from the Old Germanic name Ermin, meaning “whole” or “universal.” It was introduced to England by Emma of Normandy in the 11th century.
Meaning: “Universal” or “whole.”
This is another unsung hero, though her words have been memorialized forever in American history. Born July 22, 1849, poet Emma Lazarus penned the immortal words “Give me your tired, your poor...” for the Statue of Liberty. A passionate advocate for Jewish refugees, her verse welcomed generations to America’s shores. She died young, of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but her voice continues to echo at Liberty Island. There are many ways to serve and love your country, and Emma is a prime example of that.
“...Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
– from “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
Boys:
Theodore
Origin: Greek.
Etymology: From Greek Theodoros, composed of theos (god) and dōron (gift).
Meaning: "Gift of God."
Need a name for a rambunctious, adventurous boy? Look no further! Born October 27, 1858, Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was a Rough Rider, trust-buster, conservationist, and the 26th President of the U.S. Known for his energetic leadership and “speak softly and carry a big stick” policy, he reshaped the presidency. He died in his sleep of a heart attack on January 6, 1919—still a lion in winter. Call your son Theodore, and call him Teddy in honor of this American hero.
"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done."
– Theodore Roosevelt
George
Origin: Greek via Latin and Old French.
Etymology: From Greek Georgios, from geōrgos meaning “farmer” or “earth-worker” (gē = earth, ergon = work).
Meaning: "Farmer" or "earth-worker."
This man needs no introduction, but we will provide one anyway. Born February 22, 1732, George Washington led the Continental Army to victory, presided over the Constitutional Convention, and became the first President of the United States. Revered as the “Father of His Country,” he set many presidential precedents and stands as an example of humble leadership and consistent virtue. Name your boy George in the hopes that he, too, will love his country as well as his God.
"...the consideration that human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected, will always continue to prompt me to promote the progress of the former, by inculcating the practice of the latter."
– George Washington
Benjamin
Origin: Hebrew.
Etymology: From Hebrew Binyamin, meaning “son of the right hand” or “favored son.”
Meaning: "Son of the right hand."
While usually we picture him with a kite in hand, the great Benjamin Franklin had much to contribute to our country besides lightning rods. Born January 17, 1706, Franklin was a Founding Father, inventor, diplomat, and publisher. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and negotiated vital alliances in the Revolutionary War. His wit and wisdom were legendary. Name your son Benjamin (or Franklin!) in the hopes that he will inherit a bit of the character that left a legacy woven into the fabric of American identity.
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander Time; for that’s the Stuff Life is made of.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Neil
Origin: Irish and Scottish Gaelic.
Etymology: From Gaelic Niall, possibly meaning “champion” or “cloud.”
Meaning: Commonly interpreted as "champion" or "passionate."
Moving to a more modern era, this name belongs to a man who shot for the stars! Born August 5, 1930, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969, uttering the iconic words, “That’s one small step for man...” A quiet pioneer, he inspired generations to look skyward. Name your son Neil, in honor of a man who will forever be a symbol of exploration and humility.
"I think we're going to the moon because it's in the nature of the human being to face challenges. We're required to do these things just as salmon swim upstream."
– Neil Armstrong
Thomas
Origin: Aramaic via Greek and Latin.
Etymology: From Aramaic Ta’oma’, meaning “twin.”
Meaning: "Twin."
The name Thomas has TWO great men attached to it in American history! Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Edison.
Born April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence, championed liberty, and served as the third U.S. President. A Renaissance man, he founded the University of Virginia and designed his own home, Monticello. He died on July 4, 1826—exactly 50 years after the Declaration’s signing—leaving a nation deeply shaped by his ideals. Want your son to be a man of many talents? Name him Thomas!
Born February 11, 1847, Thomas Edison was the tireless inventor behind the phonograph, motion picture camera, and practical electric light bulb. Holding over 1,000 patents, he lit up the modern world and championed innovation through his legendary Menlo Park lab. Remembered as America’s Wizard of Menlo Park, Edison changed the way we see the world – literally! Name your son Thomas in honor of this great innovator!
"I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give."
– Thomas Jefferson
“Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration.”
– Thomas Edison
Fulton
Origin: English and Scottish surname.
Etymology: From a place name, composed of Old English fugol (bird) and tūn (enclosure or settlement).
Meaning: "Bird town" or "bird settlement."
A precursor to today’s media evangelization, Fulton Sheen was an American Bishop and TV personality. Born May 8, 1895, Archbishop Fulton Sheen dazzled audiences through radio and TV in the mid-20th century with messages of faith, morality, and love. His Emmy-winning show brought Catholic teachings into American homes. A gifted communicator and modern-day evangelist, his canonization cause is underway. Name your son Fulton for a name both unique and imbued with an incredible patron!
“We become like that which we love. If we love what is base, we become base; but if we love what is noble, we become noble.”
– Fulton Sheen
Francis
Origin: Latin via Old French.
Etymology: Feminine of Francis, from Latin Franciscus, meaning “Frenchman” or “free man.”
Meaning: "Free one" or "from France."
It is only fitting to put an author in the boy’s list of names as well as the girls. Born August 1, 1779, Francis Scott Key witnessed the War of 1812’s Battle of Fort McHenry and was inspired to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A lawyer and poet, his anthem became America’s national song. His verses live on in stadiums, schools, and ceremonies coast to coast. Name your son Francis in honor of this unsung hero, the voice behind the anthem of our nation.
“…Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land, / Praise the power that / hath made and preserved us a nation. / Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just. / And this be our motto— “In God is our trust…””
– From the original poem by Francis Scott Key, which inspired the National Anthem