15 Ivy League Baby Names That Are Classic & Preppy

Camden means “enclosed valley,” and is also the name of a trendy neighborhood in London known for its fashion destinations that have creatives and celebs flocking in. So, this name basically screams “exclusive” and “elite.” It’s a great gender-neutral choice, too.

This French name has all the posh appeal you could ask for, really. It means “helper to the priest” and also has ties to Roman mythology, so it feels like a cultured pick for your little one.

For a feminine, monosyllabic Ive League baby name, you really can’t beat Claire. It’s a French name meaning “bright,” and it sounds fitting for a girl in a pressed uniform with incredibly shiny hair roaming the halls of a scholarly institution.

Maybe it’s because it’s an administrative title in academic settings, or because of the Gilmore Girls association, but Dean just screams Ivy League. If you want something similar but a bit longer, Deacon is very similar, albeit with more of a faith-based meaning.

Eugene has all the upper-class appeal you could ask for. It means “noble” or “well-born,” for starters, and it has old-world charm — it was most popular in the 19th and 20th centuries.

It’s a classic for a reason. Jane is a gorgeous name meaning “God is gracious.” It peaked in popularity in the 1940s but is making a bit of a comeback in this century, too. Any timeless names feel like good fits in the Ivy League baby name category.

Merritt feels like the new Elliott — gender-neutral, uber-cool, and a surname. Merritt means “boundary gate,” which seems like the perfect name for a new baby. You want them to stand up for themselves and their place in the world, and open up to all the opportunities ahead of them, too.

Nathaniel’s scholarly sound hinges on everyone calling him by his full name, which will probably not always be the case, but you can certainly use the whole thing at home. It’s a Hebrew boys’ name meaning “God has given,” which is a sweet choice for your little blessing if you’re a religious family.

Pippa Middleton comes to mind, and the vibes are a perfect match. Pippa feels like a happy, not-too-stuffy name choice while still giving aristocrat-in-ivy-clad halls, you know?

Preston is a British name with an old-fashioned feel — it just sounds like boat shoes and crisp polo collars, TBH. It ranked as the 275th most popular name in the U.S. in 2023, so it’s recognizable but not overly common.

This name dates all the way back to third-century Rome and means “revered” or “venerable” — so yeah, you could say it has the prestige factor of a true Ivy League baby name. With the ultra-cool nickname Seb or the spunky Bash, you’ve also got some versatility.

Sloane sounds like the coolest girl at a private fashion school with amazing style. This Irish name means “raider” or “warrior” — perfect if you like a strong baby girl name — and will also appeal to parents looking for one-syllable names.

Thomasin just sounds like the A+ student at the front of class who really has her stuff together, not to mention the cutest pens you’re always dying to borrow. It has never been in the top 1,000 baby names in the U.S., so if you’re looking for something unique, this is it.

Another excellent surname-turned-first-name: Whitaker. The name means “wheat field” and refers to a region of rolling countryside in England. For your baby naming purposes, Whitaker definitely sounds like the straight-A student who’s in all the extracurriculars and president of at least three clubs.

And one more classic boy name to round out the bunch. William will have many luminaries, from Shakespeare to Thomson (the William who invented the Kelvin temperature scale), to look up to in his academic pursuits.