TV Baby Names
The names of characters from the television shows that we watched when we were young often stick with us forever, from kiddie shows to teen-oriented programs to favorite sitcoms. Grover, Oscar, Kermit–those Muppetish images are hard to shake: Oscar seems to have recovered from his Grouchiness, but Kermit might stay green forever. Ditto the shows we might have been glued to through our school years–especially if they happened to feature a teen idol.
A name from an old TV show might remain with us because we found it especially appealing, or if it was attached to a favorite character, or perhaps if we hadn’t heard the name before, giving it a fresh resonance. Here’s a list of some examples from the past few decades that fit one or more of those criteria and which might inspire a baby name choice today. (Some of the shows continued running from one decade to the next, but we’ve listed them under the one they started in.)
1970s TELEVISION SHOWS
ALMANZO — Little House on the Prairie
BAILEYÂ (girl)–Â WKRP in Cincinnati
BLAIR — The Facts of Life
BO –The Dukes of Hazzard
DAISY — Â The Dukes of Hazzard
FLORIDA — Good Times
TANNER — The Bad News Bears
1980s TELEVISION SHOWS
ADDISON — Moonlighting
ALEXIS — Dynasty
BRUNO — Fame
COCO — Fame
COLT — The Fall Guy
LEONARDO — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
LILITH — Cheers
LIBERTY — De Grassi, The Last Generation
MADDIE — Moonlighting
MALLORY — Family Ties
SUMMER — Baywatch
THEO — The Cosby Show
WINNIE — The Wonder Years
ZAX — Benji, Zax & The Alien Prince
1990s TELEVISION SHOWS
AIDAN — Sex in the City
ANGEL — Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel
BRIGHT — 7th Heaven
CORDELIA Â – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
COSMO — Seinfeld
FELICITY — Felicity
FOXÂ — Â The X-Files
GENEVA — Â Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper
GRIFFIN — Party of Five
MABELÂ — Mad About You
MEADOW — The Sopranos
MICHAELA Â – Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
MIRANDAÂ –Â Sex in the City
OWEN — Party of Five
PIPER — Charmed
PO — Teletubbies
PRUEÂ — Â Charmed
SIX — Blossom
URSULA — Mad About You
XANDER — Buffy the Vampire Slayer
XENA — XENA: The Warrior Princess
WILLOW — Â Buffy the Vampire Slayer
ZOEY — Cybill/Zoey 101
Do you have your own nostalgic favorites? Is there one that you’ve actually used or would consider using for your child?
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12 Responses to “TV Baby Names”
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Lola Says:
rachelmarie Says:
Dawson is one of my favorite names, but not because of the show.
For awhile, I loved the name Elliot for a girl because of the show Scrubs, one of my absolute favorite shows. But I don’t love it as much anymore lol.
Also, I start liking names because of books. For example, one of my favorite books, “This Lullaby”, had two main characters in it: A girl named Remy, and Dexter. I fell in love with those names immediately, both on my favorites now.
Another example of using names from books is the Twilight Series. The names from the book have become extremely popular and favorites of people as a result from the book. The most popular are: (Isa)Bella, Edward, Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, Jasper, and some have even gone as far as to like the name Renesmee, the name of two of the characters child.
Just another blog idea 
pop culture seems to influence our life a lot
Jill Says:
Growing up, I was completely obsessed with Little House on the Prairie. (Granted, I loved the book series, too, but first heard the names on the television show.)
Rose- My favorite name, which I always associate with Rose Ingalls Wilder
Grace- (Grace Ingalls Wilder)
Caroline-(Caroline Ingalls)
I love the names not because I’ll want my children to act out scenes from Little House, but simply because I think the names are classic and beautiful.
Another one of my favorite names was inspired from a character, but from a movie. May I share it, anyway? Great. Eliza, which I first heard in My Fair Lady.
(A post about names inspired by books or movies would be great!)
Jill Says:
Above, that should read “inspired by a character,” not “from” a character.
linda Says:
Stay tuned!
peach Says:
I can’t help but think that the reemergence of Lorelei must be because of Lorelei Gilmore (The Gilmore Girls). Rory too for that matter. Now that I think about it, Luke and Logan also.
A classic not to be forgotten: Lucille Ball (I love Lucy). I love this name and would consider it as middle name for a future daughter.
Sabrina is another of my favorites but from Audrey Hepburn’s big screen character.
Punk Princess PhD Says:
Just a correction, for the anal-retentive/ocd crowd: the character Bright featured on a short-lived show called Everwood, not (the equally saccharine but decidedly moralistic) 7th Heaven. Regardless, it seemed like an ironic choice, since he really wasn’t…
TV names become relelvant because they are usually either just ahead of a trend, or a reflection of one – so while it is a cause and effect relationship, it’s a two-way street.
Wembly from Fraggle Rock, anyone?
susan Says:
I love Maurice because of the character of Samantha’s father on “Bewitched”. I know I’m dating myself.
I also love the Princess Ann in “Roman Holiday”.
I’m crazy about Mark Darcy in “Bridget Jones’ Diary.
And what about Joe Fox in “Shop Around the Corner”?
Adore the dog Queenie in “A Christmas Memory”! That’s my favorite.
Love Pompy in “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”.
Adore beyond reason Peter and Ellie in “It Happened One Night”. Those are my favorites even more than Queenie but I could name my pet Queenie.
I agree with Peach about Sabrina and also Linus is amazing.
Sorry, I know these are mostly movies as opposed to T.V. shows but my father wouldn’t let us have a T.V. when I was growing up.
ll Says:
Hey, Everwood (where Bright comes from – it was actually a nickname for Harold Brighton Abbott jr) was 100 times better than 7th Heaven even after that horrible Hannah came along.
I’m surprised you don’t have Ephram from Everwood as well – having Gregory Smith associated with a name can’t be a bad thing!
Kathryn Says:
Hmm…there was a Liberty on the 2000s teen show Degrassi: The Next Generation. Is that what you meant?
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Funny, I call my Josephine, Josie and put Sebastian in the middle for my odlest, not even realising that they were both “Josie & the Pussycat names! Cosmo’s aces not because of Seinfeld but because it’s family (but the link doesn’t bother me any) and Winifred, nn Winnie’s on my lists these days. Not for “Wonder Years” but an Aunt. But again, that link just makes it sweeter.