The Duttons Would Approve

19 Baby Names Inspired By Yellowstone, From Its Memorable Characters To The Scenic Locales

TV’s most-watched series is rife with naming ideas.

by Julie Sprankles
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Yellowstone Season 5 premiered on Sunday, bringing back some of TV’s most fascinating characters — not to mention some stunning Montana scenery. If you’re a Yellowstone fan who just so happens to be on the hunt for the perfect baby name, don’t sleep on the show as a source of inspiration. The following ideas are as interesting as the Dutton family dynamics.

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Dutton

Speaking of the family at the heart of the series, let’s start with the obvious! This name, which means “hill settlement,” is rising in popularity. Country singer Chris Lane and wife Lauren Bushnell even chose it for their son.

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Kayce

The youngest Dutton brother, Kayce often proves to be the moral compass of the show. So, this gender-neutral name meaning “brave in battle” could be a good reminder of the integrity you want your kid to grow up having.

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Laramie

This barrel racer has some issues, sure, but her name isn’t one of them. Derived from the French la ramée, it means “canopy of leafy boughs.” It’s also the name of a city in Wyoming, making it pretty perfect for this modern western.

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Rip

Hands down, Rip Wheeler has to be the most rugged character in Yellowstone. But despite his often surly behavior, he loves deeply and is the epitome of rugged American individualism. His nickname-sounding moniker means “strength, might,” and that tracks.

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Ruby

The places in Yellowstone are stars in their own right, and that includes the real-life Ruby’s Cafe. Located in Missoula, Montana, the classic dinner has become a hot spot for tourists since appearing on the show. As a name, Ruby means “deep red precious stone.”

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Tate

Want your kid to be resilient? Have them channel young Tate Dutton, the son of Kayce and Monica. This kid has gone through a lot in his short years. The name, which is gender-neutral, means “cheerful.”

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Avery

The first female in the bunkhouse, Avery had a woefully short-lived arc on the show. Still, her spirited character was memorable… and, who knows, maybe we’ll see her again. This gender-neutral name means “ruler of the elves.”

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Mo

Played by Mo Brings Plenty, the character Mo is the driver/assistant of Thomas Rainwater — leader of the Broken Rock Indian Reservation. If you lean towards nicknames as names, this might be the pick for you.

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Landon

OK, so this is kind of cheating since Landon isn’t actually a character or place on the show. It is the last name of star Jennifer Landon, though, who plays one of Yellowstone’s most endearing ranch hands: Teeter. An English name, Landon means “long hill.”

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Rain

Nature names can evoke an earthy image, making this a great choice if you love being outdoors. A shortened version of Rainwater (after the character Thomas Rainwater), the one-syllable name can also be spelled Raine, Rainn, Rayne, Reine, or Reign.

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Helena

This probably wouldn’t be John Dutton’s pick, considering it’s where the governor’s office is located — the job he currently has but doesn’t really want. Still, the capital of Montana is truly beautiful, and the name has an equally beautiful meaning: “torch; shining light.”

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Colby

All of the ranch hands are great, but it’s hard not to play favorites with Colby. Of English origin, the name means “coal town.”

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Walker

The western troubadour played by Ryan Bingham seems to have finally settled in on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch — much to fans’ delight. This English occupational name means “cloth-walker,” but it also just gives serious rustic vibes thanks to characters like this one and Walker, Texas Ranger.

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Summer

Something tells us we haven’t seen the last of Summer, the character played by Piper Perabo in Season 4. Either way, this word name feels both nostalgic and fresh.

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Carter

If ever there was a Yellowstone character that would pull on your heartstrings, it’s Carter. After a rough start in life, he’s living at the Yellowstone ranch with Beth and Rip (who still isn’t sold on the kid). A gender-neutral name, this one means “cart maker or driver.”

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Rae

This is the name of a horse — more specifically, the horse that Jimmy rides. And technically, they spell it Ray. But switching up the spelling by adding an -e on the end of this name that means “wise protector” gives it a cool, feminine feel.

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Roarke

Roarke Morris was by no means a good character on Yellowstone, and he met a particularly brutal demise. However, the name Roarke — which means “illustrious and mighty” — could be one of the best to come from the show.

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Lynelle

The former governor of Montana and current member of the U.S. Senate, Lynelle has her hands full in keeping John Dutton on track in the political world. She’s smart and tough, making this name — which means “lake” — a worthy option for your little future leader.

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Blue

This color name comes from the full name of one of Yellowstone’s fiercest characters: Angela Blue Thunder, a business consultant hired by Thomas Rainwater to help the people of the Broken Rock Indian Reservation.

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