TV Character Names
- Dwight
Origin:
German and DutchMeaning:
"white or blond"Description:
This presidential name is in style limbo today - or, some might say, in the the sweet spot of familiar but little-used.
- Ciri
Origin:
Diminutive of Cirilla, LatinMeaning:
"lordly"Description:
Ciri may sound exactly like the ubiquitous digital Siri, but it's achieving fame in its own right as the familiar name of Princess Cirilla of The Witcher series. The name's meaning is a nod to her royal status.
- Mordred
Origin:
Arthurian legend, WelshMeaning:
"moderated, controlled"Description:
A somewhat dark and gloomy feeling name, perhaps because of its connotations or its similarity to the words morbid and murdered. Mordred is adapted from the Welsh Medraut, itself derived from the Latin moderatus. An unusual choice for a baby, but a potentially cool name for a fictional character.
- Tancy
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"immortal"Description:
This adorable name of the young daughter on "Big Love" might be thought of as a variation of Tansy, an obscure flower name whose star may rise on the heels of such current favorites as Lily and Daisy.
- Cookie
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"cookie"Description:
Cookie is most often used as a dog name, and it should stay that way.
- Mook
Origin:
ThaiMeaning:
"pearl"Description:
A sweet and playful Thai name, Mook may be best known in the US thanks to the character Thidapon "Mook" Sornsin in The White Lotus, played by KPOP star Lalisa Manobal.
- Amabella
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"lovable"Description:
Amabella is an elaboration of Amabel, a popular medieval name. Neil Gaiman and Liane Moriarty used Amabella as a character name in their novels, The Graveyard Book and Big Little Lies, respectively.
- Esty
Origin:
Diminutive of Esther, PersianMeaning:
"star"Description:
A sweet short form of Esther that was recently seen as the name of the protagonist who leaves her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in the Netflix series Unorthodox.
- Captain
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"person in charge"Description:
A commanding word name that feels occupational like Miller, Palmer, and Shepherd, while also fitting in with ambitious choices like Legend, King, Major, Maverick, and Saint. Referring to someone who takes the lead and holds influence and responsibility, Captain has links to team sports, the military, seafaring, superheroes, and the police.
- Turtle
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
The kind of nickname name you wouldn't want your own child to get stuck with.
- Vexahlia
Origin:
Invented name, meaning unknownDescription:
Stylized as Vex'ahlia, this name appears in The Legend of Vox Machina, an animated fantasy series based on a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Created by Laura Bailey, the character often goes by the nickname Vex.
- Eberwolf
Origin:
Germanic, pop cultureMeaning:
"boar wolf"Description:
Used for a character in the animated fantasy series, The Owl House, Eberwolf combines two animal related names together.
- Earnest
Description:
Earnest is a masculine name of English origin that developed from the word 'earnest,' meaning 'serious,' 'sincere,' or 'determined.' The name gained popularity during the Victorian era when virtue names were fashionable and personal qualities were considered appropriate inspirations for given names. Oscar Wilde's 1895 play 'The Importance of Being Earnest' playfully highlighted the name's association with seriousness and sincerity. Throughout the early 20th century, Earnest maintained moderate popularity in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United States, before gradually declining after the 1950s. Often confused with Ernest (without the 'a'), this spelling variant has always been less common. The name conveys qualities of dedication, sincerity, and moral seriousness, making it appealing to parents who value these traditional virtues.
- Dinesh
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"day lord"Description:
Dinesh is a popular Indian name -- it stands for the sun in Hindu texts -- made familiar in the US by the HBO show Silicon Valley via the character played by Kumail Nanjiani. With the emphasis on the second syllable, Dinesh is a name that translates easily.
- Thidapon
Origin:
ThaiMeaning:
"blessing of a daughter; daughter of strength"Description:
A Thai name with two possible meanings, Thidapon appeared on a character in the hit series, The White Lotus. Also known by the nickname "Mook", Thidapon is played by Lalisa Manobal. The name itself comes from the Thai elements thida meaning "child, daughter" and phon which can mean either "blessing", or "strength, power".
- Hitchcock
Description:
Hitchcock is an extremely rare masculine given name derived from an English surname. The surname itself has Anglo-Saxon origins, combining the Old English personal name 'Hicce' with 'cock' (meaning 'little'), possibly originally referring to someone who lived near a ridge. As a first name, Hitchcock is almost unheard of, making it among the most distinctive name choices possible. The surname gained considerable recognition through film director Alfred Hitchcock, lending the name associations with creativity, suspense, and artistic innovation. As a given name, it would certainly stand out, potentially leading to nicknames like Hitch. Its uniqueness would make it memorable in any context.
- Sazz
Origin:
Invented nameDescription:
Sazz is a name invented for the nonbinary character played by Jane Lynch in Only Murders in the Building. While no actual babies have received this name yet, they will.
- Yennefer
Origin:
Literary name, variation of Jennifer or Guinevere, Cornish or WelshMeaning:
"white shadow, white wave"Description:
Yennefer is the name of one of the protagists of The Witcher series, first books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and then a video game and now a Netflix series. Yennefer is a powerful fighter and sorceress. As a name, we don't think Yennefer is any improvement on millennial mom name Jennifer, but nickname Yen has it all over the dated Jen.
- Ziigwan
Origin:
OjibweMeaning:
"it is (early) spring"Description:
From the Ojibwe word for early Spring, Ziigwan has a bright, jubilant sound, reflective of its meaning. Used by the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region and the northern plains, Ziigwan may be recognized as a character from the 2022 Canadian TV comedy series, Shoresy, played by Blair Lamora.
- Pornchai
Origin:
ThaiMeaning:
"blessed victory; strong victory"Description:
A Thai name that appeared in the third season of the popular TV series, The White Lotus, Pornchai comes from phon meaning "blessing" or "strength" and chai meaning "victory". While the first element is familiar and well used in a variety of Thai names, it may not work so well in English. Alternative spelling Ponchai might be better in some cases.
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