While classic president names like James, Andrew, and John were popular even before the men took office (and will probably continue to be for decades to come), the presidential surnames trend seems a more obvious tribute to our nation’s heads of state. Kennedy, Lincoln, and Reagan are perhaps most popular these days, with Kennedy and Reagan now used almost exclusively for females, despite their male namesakes. We’ve shared some of our other presidential surname favorites—Harrison, Hayes, and Ford—with you before, but we came up with even more names to love.
Just in time for July 4th, we’re celebrating the holiday with a list of our favorite US president–inspired baby names. Taken from first names and last names, from elected leaders to formidable first ladies, these are our presidential picks:
Abe
Abraham Lincoln is often considered the greatest of the American presidents, and we think that this is reflected in the growing popularity of the name Lincoln (#40). But now, as “nickname names” are having their moment, the short and sweet Abe is due its day in the sun. For more ways to honor the beloved president, we adore Abraham’s other short form options, Abram and Bram.
Bess
How much do we love sweet Bess, which is one of the diminutives of Elizabeth? First Lady Elizabeth Virginia Truman was most well-known to the world by the name Bess. While it doesn’t crack the SSA top 1000 baby names yet, it’s a name that we see making a comeback soon. It’s got vintage cred but was never as popular as another (first lady) nickname for Elizabeth, Betty, which dominated the charts for decades.
Calvin
The name Calvin is never out of style. And the data back us up! Since 1900, Calvin has remained steadily in the baby name rankings, hanging out in the top 100–200 in terms of popularity. The exception? A 6-year period from 1923–1928 where it broke the top 100, which not-so-coincidentally coincided with President Calvin Coolidge’s presidential term! Nickname Cal is always a winner, too.
Claudia
The first name of “Lady Bird” Johnson, Claudia carries that socialite air. Having been most popular 20 years ago, Claudia is now barely in the top 1000 baby names, making it a good choice for someone who doesn’t want their kid to share a name with their peers. Since it’s never been extremely popular, it feels timeless to us, in the same way that Natasha or Alexandra does.
Edith
Fans of Downton Abbey and the middle Crawley sister might already be on board the Edith train, but there’s plenty of room for more passengers. This sophisticated throwback name will sound fresh to ears today. Hovering around the 500s on the SSA rankings, it’s not yet popular and isn’t rising quickly, so your Edith won’t be one of many. Also, how sweet is the nickname Edie?
Eleanor
Eleanor is currently the 32nd most popular name in the US, a popularity level unmatched since around 1915–1920. While it’s on this list in honor of Eleanor Roosevelt, there’s no shortage of admirable associations: Eleanor of Aquitane, Jane Austen’s Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility, and another formidable political Eleanor in Eleanor Holmes Norton, just to name a few. Eleanor has modern durability and many amazing and varied nickname options: Ella, Elle, Ellie, Nellie, Nora.
Franklin
Franklin might be the quintessential Fourth of July name, with its meaning, “freedom,” and its impressive list of patriotic associations: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin, and Franklin Pierce. It also makes a great honor name for that beloved Frank, Francine, or Frances in your life.
Grant
If you know us, you know that Grant is one of our favorite baby names. With its strong, firm sound and its positive associations, Grant is a perennial winner, especially if you admire former president and general, Ulysses S. Grant. While it’s a “surname name” that literally means big, or tall, we like the connotations it gets from the word grant: to give or bestow, as in a gift or a wish.
Jacqueline
This name is elegance exemplified, likely in part to its close association to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who was considered an icon of style, taste, and class. Jacqueline is a French name, the feminine form of Jacques (which originated from Jacob). While we favor this spelling, the name has many variants and nickname possibilities: Jacquelyn, Jacklyn, Jaclyn and Jacquie, Jackie, Jacque.
Letitia
A name of Latin origin meaning “joy,” Letitia sounds like a modern creation but has some history. Letitia Tyler was the first wife of John Tyler and the first lady from 1841–1842. Now the name has other political ties, being perhaps most associated with New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Mamie
While Mamie is most famously tied to First Lady Eisenhower, we think the name is on the verge of an upswing. A nickname for Mary, Mamie fits right in with the 2019 Maisies, Millies, and Minnies. And if you’re looking for middle name inspiration, Eisenhower’s middle, Geneva, offers a perfect how-to for balancing a casual first name with an ultra-feminine middle.
Martin
Thanks to Martin Van Buren for inspiring us with this one. Such a sweet name for a little one, Martin is an example of why we don’t put too much stock in “negative” name meanings (it means war-like). The name was most popular in the 1880s, when it ranked in the top 50 baby names in the US, and it’s been hovering in the top 200s for the past 20 years or so. Mars or Martie, Art or Artie, we love all the shortened versions as much as Martin itself.
Pierce
Barely in the top 500 baby names, Pierce is our favorite kind of surname name: short, classic, and easily recognized but not commonly used. We’d group it style-wise with Dean, Graham, and Ford. Franklin Pierce’s last name has taken on present-day charisma from its association with Pierce Brosnan.
Quincy
A French surname name, Quincy as a first name still flies a little bit under the radar. Though it means “estate of the fifth son,” it’s a great name for boys or girls (we think it works as a less popular alternative to Quinn). Its associations with the number five also make it a fitting choice if that’s your lucky number, or, if you have a big family and want to be a little playful with the name of your fifth born.
Teddy
Theodore has been soaring up the charts, and many of today’s parents tend to use Theo for short. But we think there’s a lot to love about President Theodore Roosevelt’s nickname, Teddy, which was the inspiration for the teddy bear. Teddy is playful and sweet but transitions well from childhood to adulthood. And it can also be a nickname for Edward, Theodora, or even Theodosia.
Ulysses
Ulysses has powerful associations, like its link to former Union General and President Grant. But the name also has literary associations going further back to James Joyce’s famous book that bears this name and to Homer and The Odyssey, whose hero is Ulysses (though sometimes he is also known as Odysseus). While the name itself can be intimidating in its full, formal version, its nicknames are less so, with great options in Ulys (yoo-LIS), Uly (YOO-lee), or Lys (lis).
Warren
Warren isn’t unusual but it also isn’t on the forefront of most expecting parents’ minds. We love that it’s easily recognized, spelled, and pronounced but will still catch people’s attention. Warren is a surname (as in Elizabeth Warren) but has long been used as a given name too, as in Warren G. Harding. Its namesakes span the worlds of politics, business, and Hollywood, making it a truly classic choice.
Did your favorite presidential baby name make the list? Let us know!
Enjoy the weekend, and Happy Birthday, America!