College Baby Names That Will Really Make the Grade

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2 days ago

Turning toward institutions of higher learning may not be your first thought when looking for baby name inspo, but why not? Choosing a college is hard — but choosing a college baby name is easy. There are so many good ones: unique, distinguished, with an air of prestige and selectivity and an upper-crust feel. Many college names automatically evoke certain impressions and qualities; when you think of a Harvard grad, for example, do you think of an unmotivated slacker? Probably not.
You may want to pay homage to your own college days, and the places and activities (and hard work!) that defined your early adulthood. Maybe your family prides itself on a long lineage of proud university grads. Or maybe no one in your family has gone to college at all, but you're hoping that giving your child a college baby name will inspire them to change things for the next generation. That's not really so farfetched; according to a 2023 article in Psychology Today, '[T]he study of names can provide valuable insights into phenomena ranging from cultural change to stereotypes. Our names may also be cues that shape not only others' perceptions of us but also our personality and (perhaps) our choices about where to live and what to do for a living.'
And let's be honest: some college names just sound cool. Wellesley. Duke. Trinity. They're crisp, confident, and packed with personality. Others, like Baylor or Merit, straddle the line between buttoned-up and edgy, giving your baby a name that feels as wearable on a playground as it does in a boardroom.
Will naming your child after a prestigious college or university impart a love of learning and a drive to achieve great things academically? Will it serve as a constant reminder of their potential and encourage them to strive for excellence? Who knows — but whether your baby is a future Rhodes Scholar or ends up embarking on a no-college-required career path, they'll have a distinctive name with a dignified vibe.
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Trinity College is a prestigious liberal arts college located in Hartford, Connecticut, founded in 1823 and known for its rigorous academics, vibrant campus life, and historic New England charm. As a name, it's drawn from the English word symbolizing the Christian concept of a unified divine nature expressed in three distinct forms — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — also known as 'The Holy Trinity.'
England's Oxford University predates even the Magna Carta — a testament to humanity's thirst for knowledge. Its origins can be traced back as far as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world. In the year 1167, King Henry II prohibited English students from attending the University of Paris, sending a wave of new scholars to Oxford. This influx fueled the university's rapid expansion, and it's still held in high regard today.
The name Oxford is a British surname which means 'oxen crossing.'
It might not be the name of a college — but this nature name actually fits very well into the college baby name theme. Why? Because the most prestigious universities in the U.S. — and the world — are called 'Ivy League' schools. In October 1933, sports writer for the New York Herald Tribune Stanley used the term 'ivy colleges' to describe the similar athletic programs at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale. The association with ivy most likely stems from the popular 19th-century practice of planting ivy, an evergreen plant symbolic of growth, on college campuses in a celebration known as 'Ivy Day.'
The oldest continuously-operating university in Texas (and one of the first west of the Mississippi River), Baylor University is a private Christian research university officially established in 1845. The school is known for its nationally-ranked graduate and professional education programs, recognized by The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a 'Doctoral University: Very High Research Activity' institution, which makes it part of the nation's top-tier research schools.
The name Baylor itself is likely an Americanized version of the German surname Beiler, coming from beile, which means 'measuring stick.' And in a landscape of similar-sounding baby names like Taylor and Bailey, Baylor stands out and fits in at the same time!
Boston College is a private university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Established in 1863, it's known for its academic excellence as well as its mission-driven focus on ethics, leadership, and social justice.
Of course, you can't say 'Boston' without thinking of the iconic city — but did you know what its name means? It's said to mean 'Botswulf's stone.' Botswulf is a 7th-century British abbot for whom the city is supposedly named. And Botswulf comes from Old English elements meaning 'improvement' and 'wolf.'
This name is derived from a Norman French surname meaning 'large' or 'grand.' But when it comes to university-inspired baby names, this is one everybody will be on board with, since a 'grant' in college terms is a form of tuition assistance that doesn't have to be paid back. Cha-ching!
Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts is a private women's liberal arts college founded in 1870. It's known for its beautiful campus and emphasis on leadership — and for the fact that its alumni includes notables such as Hillary Clinton, Diane Sawyer, and Madeleine Albright.
Wellesley itself is a surname, and likely comes from the Middle English wille, meaning 'well' (as in the water kind). The -ley suffix indicates a meadow or clearing, so Wellesley was probably used to indicate someone who lived in a clearing with a well.
Honor doesn't have to be the name of a college to be a college name — because everybody knows graduating with honors is the ultimate goal! This is a beautiful virtue name that comes from a Late Latin word meaning 'esteemed.'
The word 'valedictorian' comes directly from the Latin phrase vale dicere, which means 'to say farewell.' So even though we automatically equate it with the top-performing student in a graduating class, it actually doesn't have anything to do with grades; technically, it's the person who delivers the farewell address.
Either way, we think Val is a perfect college-inspired name — it's great for any gender, and beautifully short and simple (no one will ever mispronounce it!).
Like Wellesley, Emerson is also private liberal arts college in Massachusetts — though it's in Boston, and not just for women. It was founded in 1880 as the Boston Conservatory of Elocution, Oratory, and Dramatic Art, and to this day is the only four-year institution in the United States that's devoted exclusively to the studies of communication and the arts.
The name Emerson means 'son of Emery' — and Emery is derived from the German name Emmerich, meaning 'brave king.' Though it can be used as a boy name, it's currently a smidge more popular for girls; according to data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, it's in the top 200 most popular names for girls. But for boys, it isn't far behind, ranking at #271 at last count.
There are actually three institutions commonly called Bristol University: one in Bristol, England; one in Anaheim, California; and one in Bristol, Tennessee. But the oldest is University of Bristol in England — which received a royal charter in 1909, but can actually be traced back to around 1595! Considered by many to be in the UK's 'Ivy League' category, it routinely ranks among Britain's top 10 universities.
The name Bristol is an English place name meaning 'site of the bridge.'
A less-obvious nod to university life, but still perfectly befitting of this list of college baby names — because everyone wants a merit scholarship! A merit scholarship is financial aid awarded to a student because of their academic achievements. This virtue name comes from the Latin word meritus, meaning 'deserving.' It can also be spelled with a couple of double letters: Merritt.
While California's UC Berkeley is not considered Ivy League, it is considered one of the top public universities in the nation, if not the world. Its admissions are very selective, with a current acceptance rate of just over 11 percent.
As a name, Berkeley is a variant of the surname Barclay, which means 'birch clearing.'
If you know anything about college or university, you know that the position of Dean is held in pretty high regard. The Dean heads up a college or school within a university, and is responsible for academic leadership, program management, faculty oversight, and fiscal matters. And of course, being on the Dean's List is a big deal; it's an academic award or distinction given to students who demonstrate a high level of scholarship. As a name, Dean is derived from the Middle English word dene, meaning 'valley.'
The University of Cambridge (located in, you guessed it, Cambridge, England) is another prestigious higher learning institution with a rich history — it was founded in 1209, making it the world's third-oldest university in continuous operation.
As a name, its meaning is unsurprising; it means 'bridge over the River Cam' which is a river that flows through the town of Cambridge and meets up with the Thames in London. And in addition to being Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince William and Kate Middleton are also the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
St. Francis Xavier University — also known as StFX — is located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and is one of Canada's oldest and most respected undergraduate institutions. Founded in 1853, StFX is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, small class sizes, and a vibrant campus life that fosters a strong sense of community among students.
The name Xavier comes from the Basque place name Etxeberria, meaning 'the new house.' … New dorm, maybe?!
For this one we're thinking of Cal Poly, of course — California Polytechnic State University, if you wanna get technical. A polytechnic university is an institution of higher education that focuses on applied sciences, engineering, and technology. Sounds futuristic, but Cal Poly was actually founded in 1901! It's very competitive, with only about 30% of applicants making it in.
The name Cal could be a nickname for Calvin, Caledon, Caleb, etc. — but we think its unisex simplicity can easily stand alone!
Established as a men's Methodist college in 1856, Auburn is now one of the largest public colleges in the south (and widely considered one of the most conservative). The university has a longstanding annual tradition called 'Hey Day,' when students wear name tags and greet every other student and faculty member they come across with the Auburn greeting, 'War Eagle.'
Auburn is a great unisex name with a similar sound as Aubrey, and a color name that's more unique than Amber. Given its reddish-brown hue, it could make a beautiful fall baby name as well!
Founded in 1836, Atlanta's Emory University may not be as big as the Ivy League schools, but it has been called one of the 'New Ivies' (a term coined by Newsweek in 2006 to refer to a college that ranks highly in terms of academics, even if it doesn't reach the size or elite status of an Ivy League). Emory is renowned for its diversity of academic choices, and is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of only about 11%.
Like Emerson, the name Emory comes from the German name Emmerich, meaning 'brave king.'
West Virginia's Marshall University, founded as Marshall Academy in 1837, is known for its gorgeous campus — but it also has a strong academic reputation, and is one of the most affordable universities in the United States.
The name Marshall is a surname, originally used to designate someone who was a marshal, or an officer of the law. Marshal itself is derived from the Old French mareschal, which meant a stable officer (the word is comprised of the elements marah and scalc, meaning 'horse' and 'servant,' respectively).
Founded in 1885, Bryn Mawr College is one of the group of colleges collectively known as the 'Seven Sisters' — they're historically all-female schools. Known for its forward-thinking attitude and progressive stances on women's education, Bryn Mawr was the first women's college to offer a graduate (Ph.D.) program. It was also the first college in the nation to offer a doctorate in Social Work.
The words bryn mawr literally mean 'large hill' in Welsh; bryn is the part that means 'hill.'
Chances are, you've heard the term 'Rhodes scholar' — that's because Oxford University's Rhodes Scholarship program is not only one of the oldest in the world (established in 1902), but also one of the most highly prestigious. This international program has awarded scholarships to students who have become notable scientists, doctors, authors, politicians, entrepreneurs, and Nobel Prize winners.
Like many surnames-turned-first-names, Rhodes is an English topographical name meaning 'cleared land.'
Ask any college student and they'll tell you the most-asked question they get about their education is 'What's your major?' So when it comes to college baby names, this one is definitely appropriate! As a name, Major comes from the Germanic Malger, meaning 'court spear.' And of course there's the English word 'major,' meaning 'significant.'
The Pennsylvania State University might be this school's proper name, but most people know it better as Penn State! A top-ranked research university founded in 1855, it boasts the Hershey Medical Center (named after Milton S. Hershey — yes, the founder of Hershey's chocolate!) and is renowned for its school spirit (go, Nittany Lions!).
Like most of these college baby names, Penn is the transferred use of a surname, and it means 'hilltop.'
Alma might be a less-obvious homage to college life, but an homage nonetheless. Because the college or university one graduates from is their … alma mater! That's a Latin phrase which literally means 'nourishing mother.' Alma is also the Spanish word for 'soul,' which gives another layer to its meaning. And it has experienced a big boost in popularity over the past few years, rising from a low of #875 out of the top 1000 most popular baby names in 2011 (per the U.S. Social Security Administration) to its most recent rank of #482. This is due to the resurgence of 'grandma names' coming back into vogue!
Founded in 1746 and consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world, the Ivy League Princeton University in — you guessed it — Princeton, New Jersey is known for its unparalleled programs in fields such as computer science, math, engineering, and economics. It's also home to a breathtaking campus (some say it looks more like a park) and stunning architecture designed by some of the United States' most renowed architects.
The name Princeton literally means 'prince town' — Princeton, New Jersey is said to have been named after Prince William of Orange and Nassau. Given the recent surge in names like King and Saint, it isn't hard to see why the nickname Prince would be a great choice — or Princeton could be used in its entirety as a dignified-sounding middle name.
One of the nation's younger universities, Duke was officially founded in 1924 by James Buchanan Duke as a memorial for his father. It's a highly-selective university, with only about a 6.3% acceptance rate. Duke's School of Medicine and School of Nursing are considered leading institutions for medical and nursing education — and it's also well known for its law program.
The name Duke comes from the same noble title, which itself stems from the Latin dux, meaning 'leader.'
Delta is the name of the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet: Δ. But in college terms, it's seen in the name of many different sororities and fraternities such as Delta Sigma Theta, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Phi Omega, etc.
Really, any of these could theoretically be a name — Alpha or Omega, for example. But out of all the Greek letters, Delta is the most familiar sounding as a name since it's actually used as one.
Among the top 77 research universities in the United States, Ohio's Kent State University has many award-winning academic programs; its Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI) is known for the innovation that led to the flat panel display industry. It is also known for its beautiful — and most importantly, safe — campus.
The name Kent is an English surname that is likely derived from an old Brittonic word meaning 'coast' or 'edge.
It's not a big institution, but we love its name! Quincy University is a private Catholic liberal arts institution located in Quincy, Illinois, established in 1860 by Franciscan friars as St. Francis Solanus College.
The name Quincy comes from the Roman given name Quintus, which means 'fifth' in Latin. This would be a perfect name for a fifth child — but it doesn't have to be numerically meaningful to still be a perfect name!
Wrapping up our college baby names is Sage — which is literally a word meaning 'wise person' (or, you know, an herb … but this isn't that kind of roundup). And since the goal of college is to gain wisdom, we think Sage is the perfect way to cap (and gown) off our college name roundup. It's straightforward, meaningful, and great for any gender.