States
STAYTS
A modern English plural surname-name meaning “the states” or “lands,” with a strong American place-name feel.
Meaning
As a given name, States is best understood as an English word-name rather than a traditional Christian forename. It most likely comes from the plural noun “states,” referring to political units or lands, and would have developed by pattern from surnames and place-based names. The excerpts only show the word in phrases like “in the States” and do not give a historical naming etymology for it specifically.
Origin
Englishunisex
Fun fact
It has a distinctly American sound because “the States” is a common shorthand for the United States.
Confidence: pattern inferred. Sources: Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature, History of Christian Names.