If you’re the kind of fall fanatic who eagerly decorates your home with turkeys and cornucopias, then maybe you want a baby name that pays homage to your favorite fall holiday: Thanksgiving. Who knows? Maybe you’re even so fascinated by the Pilgrims’ journey to the New World that you might consider looking at the Mayflower’s manifest to name Inspo.
Or maybe you read the title and thought it was a load of gravy. Perhaps the idea of naming a child after a Pilgrim seems strange, perhaps even in bad taste, given the differences in how Americans view the impact of Thanksgiving on Native cultures.
Regardless, the trend for old-school baby names is still going strong, with the top three names for boys and girls being Noah, Liam, and Oliver, Olivia, and Amelie. Amelia and Emma lead the way. But how far back do these popular baby names go back? Several of them made it all the way back to the Mayflower.
The name below is that of a passenger who flew from England to America in 1620.
henry
Henry has been a popular boy’s name for some time, but currently ranks at number 13.
Elias
Ranked 24th in 2024, Elias is also the name of a Mayflower passenger. The name is of Hebrew and Greek origin and has the biblical meaning: “The Lord is my God.”
Samuel
Samuel is a ranked 31st classic name with many nicknames to choose from, it also has biblical significance, being derived from the Hebrew “name of God”.
William
Ranked at No. 34 this year, the name William is shared by the Pilgrims who liberated England, current members of the British royal family, and maybe your children? Meaning “protector,” this was the name of nine (!) Mayflower passengers.
Elizabeth
This is not surprising, but there were not as many female passengers on the Mayflower as there were male passengers, and many of the female passengers were not named, listed only as “wives.” However, Elizabeth appears on the Passenger List as well as the list of the most popular baby names for girls in 2024, ranking 35th.
miles
Miles ranks 46th among popular boys’ names and has multiple meanings, including “soldier.” I believe the English translation of this name is “kilometer”. (just kidding!)
Isaac
Following Miles, Isaac is also the name of one of the Mayflower passengers. The name means “laughing one,” making it a good choice for a future humorist.
John
The ever-popular John ranks 48th on this year’s baby name rankings. It was also the most popular name on the Mayflower, with 15 of the more than 100 passengers named John. He must have been a little confused when asked, “John, can you pass the potato?”
Joseph
Joseph, the name of a child who traveled on the Mayflower, was number 55 on the baby list. Joseph is another biblical name that means “He will add,” which could be the perfect name for your new addition.
Alice
Alice ranks 60th among the most popular names for baby girls this year. It is a lovely name that means “noble” and “noble”. Is it high on your own baby name list?
Thomas
Thomas, derived from the Hebrew word for “twin,” was a name shared by a handful of passengers on the Mayflower – although records do not indicate that these Thomases traveled with their twins.
Christopher
Not to be confused with Christopher Columbus, there was a passenger on the Mayflower named Christopher. The name remains a popular baby name choice, ranking 81st among boys’ names this year.
Sarah
The name Sarah was recently kicked out of the top 100 girls’ names for the first time in years, according to Baby Center. Sarah ranked 108th and remains a popular name today. (But maybe not as popular as it was in 1620.)
The Mayflower’s name probably won’t make the top 100 anytime soon
If you’re looking for something a little more obscure, Mayflower passengers had some unique names:
- like
- wrestling
- remember
- Resolved
- Constance
- humble
While I personally don’t recommend using random adjectives synonymous with Puritan virtues, if you’re determined to name your baby “Resolution,” then this is your choice, baby!
So if you decide to discuss baby names at the dinner table this Thanksgiving, maybe some of the names on this list will come up. At the very least, at least one of these names is likely to show up at family gatherings. (I have two Josephs and a Thomas on my desk.)
