"Looking for a “preppy” name for your little boy or girl? But what exactly does the word mean? Traditionally, preppy names have been classified as names of the “upper class” and of the “elite” people who attended college-preparatory schools. Although the term “preppy” has actually evolved over time. For most millennials, the first thing that comes to mind is the archetype of the preppy school girl or boy we’ve seen in pop culture, like Carlton in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air or Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. However, if you were to ask any Gen Alpha what “preppy” means now, it’s more of a style or an aesthetic of wardrobe—ranging from bright colors and pinks to being “very girl” to a combination of athleisure wear.
While the word has expanded its definition over time, when it comes to preppy names, this list evokes timeless preppy examples like William, Charlotte, and Olivia and some more modern choices like Wilder, Graham, and Blair. If you’re looking for baby names that embody when “old preppy” meets “new preppy,” here are 100+ preppy girl and boy names you’ll want to name your new bundle of joy below:
Preppy Names for Girls
Alexandra
The name Alexandra means “defender of the people.” A name for a girl that sounds preppy and like she’s a girl’s girl? Sounds like a great name. Plus, it has the cutest nicknames that come with it, like Alex, Lexi, Lex, and Alexa.
Beverly
While the name originally means “from the beaver stream,” it has gained popularity because of the preppy city of Beverly Hills, California.
Blair
One of the first namesakes that comes to mind with the name Blair is the iconic Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. This character is known for her preppy aesthetic, consisting of A-line skirts, blazers, and her designer wardrobe. The name also means “battlefield” or “plain.”
Charlotte
Charlotte is truly a timeless name, as it’s been popular for centuries and among royal families, like Princess Charlotte, the daughter of William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales. The name has multiple meanings, including “petite,” “free,” and “grace.”
Emma
Emma is a sophisticated name and is associated with both royalty, like Queen Emma of Hawaii, and in pop culture, like Jane Austen’s famous novel Emma. It’s important to note that it has been ranked as either the first or second most popular girl name over the past 10+ years.
Hailey
In more recent pop culture, the name Hailey has its preppy ties to Hailey Bieber, who is known for her fashionable, trendy, and preppy style. The name is of English origin and means “hay’s meadow.”
Madison
An elegant and sophisticated name, Madison has been a favorite over the years. Its literal meaning is of Hebrew origin, meaning “son of Matthew.”
Olivia
The name Olivia has consistently been ranked as one of the top baby girl names for years. While the Gen Alpha Harpers of the world are the millennial equivalent to the Laurens, the Olivias will always be Olivia.
Pippa
If “preppy” were an animal, it would be a horse. The equestrian aesthetic screams preppy; coincidentally, Pippa means “lover of horses.”
Rory
The name Rory is short for names like Aurora, Gloria, and Lorelai. It’s famously known for the character Rory from Gilmore Girls, who is known for her passion toward her education, her wit, and her modernized preppy attitude.
Samantha
With multiple meanings like “listener” and “flower,” the name Samantha is a timeless preppy name, including its cute nickname, Sammy.
Sloane
Needing a preppy name for a fierce little gal? The gender-neutral name Sloane means “warrior” in Irish.
Victoria
In Latin, the name Victoria means “victory” or “conqueror.” If you’re looking for a name that fits the modern day “preppy” and is “elite” by character, the name Victoria is fitting. I mean, Queen Victoria reigned for more than 60 years, and Victoria Beckham may just be the definition of preppy.
More Preppy Baby Names for Girls
- Allison
- Andrea
- Annabelle
- Ashley
- Audrey
- Bethany
- Bridget
- Brooke
- Camille
- Candice
- Caroline
- Claire
- Courtney
- Danielle
- Eleanor
- Elizabeth
- Elle
- Eloise
- Genevieve
- Gwen
- Heather
- Isabella
- Jane
- Jessica
- Juliana
- Kaitlyn
- Katherine
- Kennedy
- Leighton
- Lindsey
- Madeline
- Margaret
- Meredith
- Natalie
- Paige
- Peyton
- Sabrina
- Sadie
- Savannah
- Serena
- Tatum
Preppy Names for Boys
Bennett
This preppy name is a cute classic for a baby boy. Any boy would be blessed to have this name because its literal meaning is “little blessed one.” How sweet!
Charles
Charlie, Char, Chuck, Chad… This name has so many nicknames, but you can keep it simple and preppy by always calling your little boy “Charles.” The name means “free man,” so don’t forget to let him decide what he wants to go by when he’s older.
Conrad
If you’re looking for a name that gives you a preppy-beach-style aesthetic, draw inspiration from the book and show, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and name your son Conrad. Conrad also means “brave counsel.”
Graham
In Latin, Graham means “grain.” People who are named Graham are said to be compassionate and trustworthy. It’s a masculine and sweet choice, for sure!
Henry
The name Henry just sounds like a stylish and preppy name. The name is suiting if you’re welcoming the first boy into the family because in German, it means “house ruler.”
Joshua
We can’t forget the name Joshua. Sophistication at its best, the famous actor Joshua Jackson has been a timeless favorite for years. From starring as Pacey Witter in Dawson’s Creek to his role in Doctor Odyssey, we will totally support you naming a baby boy after him. Joshua also means “Yahweh is salvation” in Hebrew.
Liam
Liam tops as one of the first or second most popular boy names in the last decade. I can definitely believe it because it even ranked as one of The Everymom’s favorite celebrity boy names.
Oliver
Another popular preppy boy name, Oliver means “olive branch bearer.” If you’re looking for a peacekeeper of the family who will always extend an “olive branch,” maybe Oliver is just the name for your baby boy.
Pierce
The name originates from the name Peter, and it means “rock” and “strong.” This is a strong and preppy gender-neutral name for a solid little one.
Preston
While this name is said to be a preppy name, it also has an elegant ring to it. The name Preston means “priest’s town” and has grown in popularity over the last century.
Thomas
If you’re expecting twins, name a son “Thomas,” which means “twin” in Aramaic. Plus, it’s both cute as a baby name and as an adult name for when he gets older.
More Preppy Baby Names for Boys
- Alexander
- Banks
- Benjamin
- Blake
- Camden
- Cameron
- Carter
- Carlton
- Christian
- Christopher
- Clark
- Colin
- Dean
- Duke
- Edward
- Emerson
- Emmett
- Fletcher
- Flynn
- Franklin
- George
- Grant
- Harold
- Harrison
- Hudson
- Hugh
- Hunter
- James
- Lucas
- Morgan
- Nathaniel
- Noah
- Owen
- Parker
- Penn
- Prescott
- Reed
- Rhett
- Sebastian
- Spencer
- Yates
- Ward
- Warren
- Wesley
- Weston
- Wilder
- William
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When she’s not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathons—she ran one 16 weeks pregnant—traveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.