Finding the perfect name for your new bundle of joy is an exciting endeavor (though sometimes a bit intimidating, too)!
While some parents pick names from the Bible or their favorite book characters, there’s also plenty of inspiration to be found in movies and TV shows!
After all, who remembers the time when the names Jacob and Isabella skyrocketed in popularity, just after the movie Twilight came out? Although the novel inspired the film adaptation, many more people got to the know these memorable characters through the film series.
Boy Baby Names from Movies and TV Shows
So without further ado, here are some of the most popular names for baby boys inspired by characters from the small and big screens:
1. Aidan
Meaning: related to Aodh, which means “bringer of fire” or “fiery”
This name rose to fame thanks to the popular HBO TV series Sex and the City, where Aidan is a good-natured maker of furniture. An alternate spelling is Aiden.
2. Amsterdam
Meaning: derived from the city name
The creative use of this city name in Gangs of New York for the character played by Leonardo DiCaprio adds this to our list of best baby boy names from movies.
3. Bartleby
Meaning: “son of the furrow”
Ben Affleck played a character bearing this name in Dogma, giving us a more unique alternative to the more common Barnaby.
4. Clark
Meaning: “scholar, secretary, and cleric”
Clearly, Superman’s alter ego is a familiar name to most modern day parents. It continues to be a popular choice for a strong-sounding baby boy name.
5. Cullen
Meaning: “handsome” or “good-looking lad” in Irish and Gaelic
Although the Twilight films inspired by the novel used Cullen as the last name of the vampire heartthrob Edward, parents have also opted to use the name for baby boys, especially since the film’s release.
6. Flint
Meaning: “born near outcrop of flint”
For lovers of animated movies, who can forget the adorable, wannabe-scientist Flint Lockwood in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs?
7. Forrest
Meaning: “dweller near the woods”
This unusual name inspired by nature (think: forest) was made famous by the popularity of Forrest Gump, starring Tom Hanks as the title character.
8. Logan
Meaning: “descendant of the warrior” or “little hollow”
Hugh Jackman’s character in the Marvel action movie Wolverine may have contributed to the resurgence of this Scottish name. Logan is also the name of Rory Gilmore’s boyfriend in the Gilmore Girls TV series.
9. James
Meaning: “one who follows” or “supplanter”
James Bond is probably the most iconic movie character bearing this classic name.
10. Lawrence
Meaning: “shining one” or “bright one”
Teddy Lawrence, nicknamed Laurie, is the beloved character in the classic book Little Women, but the name rose to fame with the film adaptation.
11. Naveen
Meaning: “new”
This traditional Hindi name became popular thanks to The Princess and the Frog, considered by many fans as the best prince in Disney history. A famous actor with the same name is Naveen Andrews.
12. Noah
Meaning: “wandering”
The Notebook features a character named Noah, who became one of the most loved characters in Hollywood history.
13. Patrick
Meaning: “patrician” or “noble”
This Irish name is enjoying a revival thanks to Christian Bale’s character, the madman Patrick Bateman, from the movie American Psycho.
14. Sidney
Meaning: related to Dionysius, Greek fertility god
This unisex French name originates from Saint Denis, and became famous thanks to American writer and producer Sidney Sheldon. Sheldon is best known for his mystery novels, but he also won an Academy Award for his film, The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer.
15. Tristan
Meaning: “bold”
This appealing alternative to the name “Christian” is the name of the wild-at-heart character played by Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall.
Baby Girl Names From Movies and TV Shows
We also have some of the most popular baby girl names inspired by movies or TV shows:
16. Akasha
Meaning: “ether”
Of Sanskrit origin, this name was first popularized in Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, which also inspired a movie adaptation.
17. Alice
Meaning: “noble” or “exalted”
The perennial favorite fantasy children’s story Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll has enjoyed being a household name thanks to the Disney film adaptation, inspiring many parents to name their little girl Alice.
18. Aria
Meaning: “air” in Italian, “treasure” or “of high value” in Albanian, “noble” in Persian, and “lioness” in Hebrew
The mystery-thriller TV series inspired by Sara Shepard’s books Pretty Little Liars boosted this name to popularity. An alternative spelling is Arya, also popularized by another series, Game of Thrones.
19. Ariel
Meaning: “lion of God”
This name chosen by Disney for the main character in The Little Mermaid soared in popularity in the early 1990s.
20. Audrey
Meaning: “noble strength”
Iconic film star Audrey Hepburn is one of the first names that come to mind with this moniker. It’s also the name of a character in the Disney animation film Atlantis: The Lost Empire.
21. Ava
Meaning: “living one” or “life”
In Ex-Machina, a disturbing film about artificial intelligence, the humanoid robot is named Ava. The name is also a variation of Eve or the shortened version of Chava.
22. Bella
Meaning: “beautiful”
Bella soared in popularity as a baby name alongside the blockbuster Twilight series, with Kristen Stewart playing the main character of Bella.
23. Belle
Meaning: “beautiful”
Disney is one company that really shapes culture, with many of the Disney princesses becoming favorite names for babies! Belle is the name of the main character in Beauty and the Beast.
24. Daisy
Meaning: “day’s eye,” name of the flower
The Great Gatsby’s remake in movie form helped boost the name Daisy back up to popularity in 2013 2012. The name is also considered a nickname for Margaret, because the French name Marguerite is also used for the same flower.
25. Gabriella
Meaning: “God is my strength”
This feminine form of the angel name Gabriel rose to popularity thanks to the character in High School Musical, making it a great fit for moms who want to bless their baby with a musically inspired moniker.
26. Hermione
Meaning: “earthly, messenger”
Popularized through the Harry Potter book series and solidified by the film adaptations, Hermione evokes a picture of the studious and conscientious girl who played a crucial role in Harry’s adventures.
27. Katniss
Meaning: refers to the Sagitarria plant
The popularity of the Hunger Games book and movie trilogy has propelled this unique name up onto the charts.
28. Juno
Meaning: “queen of heaven”
In the movie Juno, the main character bearing this name struggles with an unplanned pregnancy. A nice pet name is “Junebug,” as she is affectionately called by her father.
29. Lauren
Meaning: “baby laurel”
Reese Witherspoon played a character named Lauren in This Means War. It’s also the name of famous actress Lauren Bacall.
30. Lena
Meaning: “generous and kind” in Arabic, “she that allures” in Latin, and “moonlight” or “sunlight” in Greek
Lena is the diminutive form of the name Helena, and also the name of one of the main characters in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It’s also the name of a few famous actresses, such as Lena Dunham and Lena Hurne.
31. Lorelai
Meaning: “alluring enchantress”
This name was popularized by the TV series Gilmore Girls, which enjoyed a revival on Netflix in 2016. Lorelai Gilmore is the mother of Rory, a nickname for the same name Lorelai which she unwittingly gave to her daughter when she gave birth at 16 years old.
32. Natalie:
Meaning: “birthday of the Lord”
Popularized by actresses like Natalie Portman and Natalie Wood, the name is also used for the Black Widow in the Marvel comic series that inspired several blockbuster hits.
Choosing the Best Baby Name
Choosing the right name for your baby takes a lot of thinking, because you surely don’t want to tag on a moniker that other children will make fun of.
Thankfully, choosing names from the most popular characters in books and novels help ensure that the name comes with positive imagery!
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 40 Literary Baby Names Inspired by Your Favorite Characters and Authors
- 12 Best Baby Name Generators
- 100 Literary Dog Names: Fun Ideas for Bookworms and Their Best Friends
- Terms of Endearment: Pet Names from Around the World
Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
