Q&A: What are some baby names inspired by adventure?

Head West for Western and wilderness-inspired names such as Wilder, Maverick, Huck (for Huckleberry). The West evokes new frontiers, wide open spaces, and a pioneering American spirit. That's surely why Marley Shelton named her newborn daughter West, and David Duchovny and Tea Leoni gave the middle name West to their daughter, Madelaine. Nicolas Cage's oldest son is named Weston. And the opposite direction is equally spectacular: Elizabeth Roehm named her daughter Easton, which means "from the eastern town."

Also back in the saddle are names that convey movement, or simpler modes of transportation. Bristol Palin, who was named after Alaska's Bristol Bay, named her son Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnson. Tripp is a pet form of tripper or traveler. For her son, Kate Hudson chose the surname Ryder, a variant of Rider, meaning knight, messenger, or horseman. Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs chose Walker for their firstborn. Ann Curry also has a son, Walker.

Maps, atlases, and globes can also lead to new trails. Follow a river, or climb a mountain peak for new inspirations. Explorer names, such as Henry Hudson, Christopher Columbus, and Lewis and Clark, sound adventurous and can cover new territory, too.