Creating our list of preppy baby names required unusual measures. ‘Preppy,’ or as it is sometimes spelled, ‘Preppie,’ is not an ethnically or geographically-based group, although it is true that Fairfield County, Connectiut is the preppies’ spiritual home. Rather, preppy is a lifestyle, which, if properly emulated, can be followed anywhere in the world, or at least where there is a nearby mall with Ralph Lauren, L.L. Bean, J. Crew, and Lilly Pulitzer. Having a yacht club nearby also helps.

To create our list of authentic preppy baby names, we knew we would need to go where the preppies are, and hang around long enough to hear some conversations and pick up authentic preppy names. Naturally, we went to Connecticut, and visited the most typical preppy hangouts we could find, in places like Westport, Darien, and New Canaan.

We went to stores like Brooks Brothers, L.L. Bean, and J. Crew. We were dazzled by Lacoste shirts, Lilly Pulitzer sundresses, cableknit sweaters, pearl necklaces, pastel polos, Nantucket khakis, and Jack Rogers sandals. We were swamped in a sea of chinos, pink “V” necks, penny loafers, and Patagonia fleeces. Logos of black dogs were everywhere, as we dodged between BMWs, Mercedes, and Volvos. And, of course, we eavesdropped on the preppies. These are the names we heard.

Special note: One or two of the preppy names listed here are not linked to a definition in our database, because they are really nicknames rather than established names. But we’ve chosen to include them anyway. After all, you can’t have a list of preppy names without ‘Binky,’ can you?

We would love to hear from anyone who knows another preppy name they’d like to see on this list. If we can authenticate it (by overhearing it anywhere in Fairfield County, CT) we’ll add it to the list. So send us your preppy names!

Preppy Baby Names