“Welcome to Rose Bay!” I grew up in a family where naming things was the norm—whether it was a house, a boat, or even a bedroom (like the Seven Dwarfs twin bedroom). The naming even extended to beach and pool towels that my mom would embroider with labels like Sandy Feet, Zinnias, or Golden Hour to help everyone differentiate their towel.

The first time I heard a house referred to by a name goes back to my grandparents. They moved around a lot when I was growing up, and this was their way to define each new spot—which meant there were lots of names. Whether it was inspired by the house itself, a detail of the property, simply known for the road it sat on, or even called a completely made-up word, it was always fun to hear the new name my grandmother came up with. 

A few of my favorites were Toad Hall, inspired by the nearby pond with lots of frogs; River House, which overlooked the Tennessee River and where I spent much of my middle school years; and Rose Bay, a spot on Mobile Bay where my grandmother planted an English-inspired rose garden. (She later learned that Rosebay is also the name of a rhododendron variety.) Throughout the years, there have been many others like Hedge Rose, Little Bay House, River Cottage, and Point Blank, and it’s a tradition I’ve come to cherish.

I asked my grandmother where she first got the idea and she said that growing up her grandmother’s farmland was named Riverside and State’s View to help differentiate which side of the river you were talking about and it was something that just stuck with her. “I was never good with numbers or directions, so it was always easier just to nickname things,” she laughs. While I refer to my current dwelling as simply ‘Baker’ for the street it sits on, I look forward to keeping up with my Yaya’s creative naming with my next spot.

So Why Name Your House?

Whether it’s your day-in-and-day-out home or perhaps a quirky shared beach or lake house, a name can help establish a true sense of place and ownership. “It’s just fun to think, ‘What is the personality of this place?,” explains my grandmother, who named her current home Alamara which means “makes the world beautiful”. It’s not just about a nickname, but capturing the essence of your Southern home and giving it a little extra personality.

For some, it’s also about having a sense of pride in your home and being proud of the space you’ve created to welcome family and friends. “My parents named our beach house on St. George Island ‘Satisfied by the Sea’ ,” says Senior Editor Ivy Odom, who notes that every vacation home on the island has a name. In my experience, you’ll rarely come across a house on the Gulf without a cheeky title.

The concept also applies beyond the house itself. The property Ivy grew up on is called Lakewood Farm. “The house itself isn’t named, but the land where the house is has a name, which I feel is also very Southern,” she explains.

Ways To Use A House Name

A house name doesn’t have to be used for anything more than a fond verbal reference, but it can also be integrated with a plethora of creative applications. The concept feels a bit like an extension of monogramming as a way to make something feel more personal. Once you have a name, it can be turned into a house logo and used in a variety of fun ways. Many use their house name or logo on little keepsakes like custom matchboxes and those fan-favorite frosted plastic cups as well as welcome elements like the doormat, Tervis tumblers, and linens.

How To Come Up With The Moniker 

There are truly no rules, but here are a few ideas to get you started. On Facebook, our readers had some creative names as well. Maybe a few of these will inspire you!

Consider the location.

Is it a waterfront property? Does the street have a quirky name? One reader calls their home Rafter Overlook because “a rafter is a group of turkeys which run wild around us and we overlook the river where rafters paddle by,” they explained. Another labeled their cottage by the sea, Baybee. 

Croaker Cottage was another creative moniker inspired by “the pond frogs that serenade me at night,” said a reader. Other names informed by the location or surroundings include Boxwood Cottage and Four Oaks.

Celebrate the spot as a retreat

For vacation spots, make it playful! One reader dubbed their place The Sandbox because “we were on the beach with kiddos and friends.” Another example is this St. Teresa, Florida 1939 bungalow, which has always been known as Why Not. It was nicknamed by the original owners, and the name has stood the test of time as new families have since moved in.

The beach house I grew up going to in Fairhope, Alabama, was lovingly named Sweetwater—as it was on the water and time spent there was always precious. While it’s been over 10 years since we sold the place, whenever I’m in the area and pass it, the Sweetwater sign still hangs at the end of the road.

Let the style of the home help inform it. 

What type of house is it—farmhouse, bungalow, cottage, or cabin? The first house I lived in was simply referred to as The Farmhouse because it was a century-old, classic little white farmhouse. Your house’s name doesn’t have to be overthought, sometimes the simple ones are the best fit! One Southern Living reader noted their home was called the Corner Cottage—for which I assume it was a cute cottage on the corner of the street.

In college, my roommates and I painted our front door pink and thus, our home was henceforth dubbed ‘Pink Door’. On my last visit to Athens, Georgia, I drove by my old stomping grounds and the door is still pink. Another friend’s home was called Peach House—bet you can’t guess why! (Hint: The whole exterior was, and also still is, coated in a cheery peach color.)

Celebrate a family tie.

Whether it’s a multigenerational family home or just has a familial element, considering the history of a home is a great way to inform a nickname. “Gray Acres is our cabin built on family (Gray) land,” says one reader who also painted it the hue to double-down.

Another homeowner refers to their abode as MiddleField. “We live on part of my husband’s grandfather’s farm and we live in what used to be his middle field,” explains the reader. Or simply naming it after yourself, like Southern Living reader Robin did with Robin’s Nest. 

Dig into the home and property’s history.

Is there a particular story or tall-tale associated with it? Homeowners Katie and Jared Hyatt fondly named their 1866 cottage on Main Street in Madison, Georgia, ‘The Few House’. “The first woman who owned it was named Minnie Few, so it’s kind of like Many Few,” explains Katie, who even added a plaque with the moniker to the front porch.

Designer and homeowner Hannon Doody, thoughtfully chose Hopscotch Cottage for her family’s Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, home as part of a fundraiser for their community.