Everest

Meaning of Everest

Everest began life as a surname, belonging to the 19th-century Welsh surveyor Sir George Everest, before the world’s tallest mountain borrowed it—and the baby-name community followed suit. Pronounced EV-er-ist, it has no ancient linguistic meaning, yet it comes pre-loaded with imagery of record heights, tenacity, and cool Himalayan air. Usage in the United States has inched upward for decades, climbing from only a handful of births in the 1950s to about 285 babies and a rank of 645 in 2024, a trajectory that mirrors a slow but steady alpine ascent. Unisex by nature, the name appeals to parents who favor modern nature or place names but still want something that sounds solid and self-possessed. Culturally, Everest functions as shorthand for aiming high without sounding boastful—an appealing balance in a nursery full of aspirational choices. All told, it is a quietly daring option, offering a sense of adventure with no actual rope work required.