5 Celebrities With U.S. State Names!

Names are a part of our identity, and for some, it doesn’t just stop there. Some names are instantly memorable because they go beyond self-identity. Like, imagine sharing a name with a whole state. Yes, you read correctly -- it may or may not be a coincidence, but some people share names with U.S. states. In fact, many celebrity figures have made U.S. state names more than just a geographic location. They took the name and gave it a new meaning with their fame. These celeb names are on the map and not just figuratively; we are talking quite literally.

1. Alabama

Sweet home Alabama, the state known as the Yellowhammer State, is home to many traditions. Although it is not home to this celebrity, she is surely rocking the name well. Alabama Barker, a social media Influencer and musician, is widely known for her big online presence and being the daughter of blink-182 drummer Travis Barker. Her name doesn’t have any relation to the U.S. state, though. Travis and Alabama actually sat down with Young Hollywood and explained that Travis’s favorite movie, True Romance, inspired his daughter’s name, as one of the characters was named Alabama. 

2. Dakota 

As we know, the only two U.S. states that include the name Dakota are North Dakota and South Dakota. South Dakota is often a tourist destination for Mount Rushmore, and North Dakota is known for its agricultural industry. But those two Dakotas aren’t the only popular Dakotas. Dakota Fanning is a popular American actress who started her acting career very early on. She played significant characters in the films “I Am Sam”, “Man on Fire”, and “The Twilight Saga.” Dakota has been recognized in Hollywood often. At only 8, she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has also been nominated for Emmys and Golden Globe awards later in her career. Dakota does not have any ties to either North or South Dakota, as she was born in Georgia and spent a lot of her life in California. But she does share a name with the two U.S. states. 

Another famous Dakota is, of Dakota Johnson, the daughter of legendary actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. Although she had been appearing in movies since the age of 10, her big breakout role was in the much-anticipated big screen adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels, and her career has taken off since, with roles in Suspiria, Madame Web, and, most recently, Materialists. Her mom once explained that she named her daughter Dakota because it means "friend".

3. Florida

Florida is known for its beautiful weather, vacation destinations, outdoor activities, incredible beaches, great food, and Disney World. Florida is also the home state and inspiration behind this artist’s stage name. Flo Rida, who hails from Carol City (Miami Gardens), has created timeless hip-hop and pop hits. If you have ever heard the lyrics, “shawty had them Apple Bottom Jeans, boots with the fur…" then you are familiar with Flo Rida’s work. Flo Rida says he came up with his name early on because he needed a special name to stand out. He thought Florida was a good name, especially because he’s from Florida, but he decided to break the name up to Flo Rida. 

4. Montana

The Big Sky Country, known as Montana, is worth a visit if you love national parks and wildlife. Montana has great scenery, and it also shares a name with an American actor, Montana Jordan. Montana Jordan is mainly known for his role as Georgie Cooper in the sitcom "Young Sheldon" and its current spin-off titled "Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage". Montana has also appeared in films such as The Legacy Of A Whitetail Deer Hunter. To make things even more exciting, Montana just recently tied the knot in real life! Although he has a name similar to the U.S. state, Montana Jordan is not from Montana; he is from Texas. 

5. Indiana 

Indiana is home to many people and events. There is so much to think about when you hear the state of Indiana. Whether that be the Indianapolis 500, agriculture, the town of Gary (which is Michael Jackson’s birthplace), college towns, and much more. But nowadays, when Gen-Z hears Indiana, they often think of social media influencer, singer, and actress Indiana Massara. Indiana Massara has a massive impact on the internet. She makes content that allows viewers to explore her fun personality and life. She has 4.7 million followers on TikTok and 1.7 million on instagram. She has appeared in many shows, including "Chicken Girls" and "Rooney’s Last Roll". Her name has no ties to the state of Indiana. She is actually from Coolbinia, Australia.