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Sci-Fi Baby Names

  1. Mazikeen

    • Origin:

      Invented name

    • Meaning:

      "harmful spirits"

    • Description:

      Neil Gaiman invented this name for a character in his comic book Sandman. It can now be seen on the TV show Lucifer.
  2. Katniss

    • Origin:

      Literary and botanical name

    • Description:

      Katniss Everdeen is the heroine of the popular Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, whose name comes from the (very real) edible aquatic plant of the genus Sagittaria. Katniss's father tells her that if she "finds herself," she'll never go hungry. Other unusual botanical names in the series include Primrose, Posy, Rue, and Clove, all for girls. Several of the boys' names come from ancient Rome: Cato, Seneca, Flavius, Caesar. Katniss the name has less appeal than Katniss the heroine, though it's definitely more attractive than Renesmee.
  3. Ayala

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "doe, gazelle"

    • Description:

      This animal-themed name is among the most popular for girls in contemporary Israel. Parents who want to move beyond the mega-popular Aliyah and sisters might want to consider Ayala. The male form is Ayal.
  4. Elihu

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "Jehovah is God"

    • Description:

      Rarely used in the last two centuries, but might be worth dusting off and holding up to the light.
  5. Keyan

    • Origin:

      Arabic, Kurdish, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "existence, being, essence; king, leader; universe, cosmos"

    • Description:

      Approachable and grounded, Keyan is a name with several powerful meanings. From its Arabic roots, it is a Quranic name, meaning "essence, entity" or "existence", while from its Kurdish and Persian origins, it is associated with royalty and leadership or with the universe as a whole.
  6. Aeryn

    • Origin:

      Variation of Erin, Irish

    • Meaning:

      "from the island to the west"

    • Description:

      Spelling variation of Erin invented for a character on the science fiction TV show Farscape.
  7. Moya

    • Description:

      Moya is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins, creating a rich tapestry of meanings. In Irish Gaelic, it derives from Máire (a form of Mary) and can mean "bitter" or "beloved." In African contexts, particularly Swahili and Zulu, Moya means "spirit" or "soul," giving it a profound spiritual dimension. The name also appears in Slavic languages with connections to concepts like "mine" or "my own." This multicultural background makes Moya especially appealing to families seeking names with global resonance. Its simple two-syllable structure and flowing sound give it an accessible yet distinctive quality. While never extremely common, Moya has maintained steady usage across different cultures, appreciated for its brevity and emotional depth.

  8. Sela

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "rock"

    • Description:

      Sela is a Biblical place name, the original term for the city of Petra, which is finding new life through actress Sela Ward, star of several TV series. The young daughter of singer Lauryn Hill is named Selah, pronounced the same but with a different derivation and meaning. Found among early African-American enslaved people, it was sometimes spelled Cela or Cella.
  9. Selim

    • Origin:

      Turkish variation of Salim, Arabic

    • Meaning:

      "safe"
  10. Pallas

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "wisdom"

    • Description:

      This rarified Greek name -- in classical mythology Pallas Athena was the goddess of wisdom and the arts -- might appeal to literary-minded parents. Among the raft of stylish girl names that start with P, Pallas is one rare choice that is often overlooked....but shouldn't be.
  11. Flash

    • Origin:

      Word and comic book name

    • Description:

      Flash Gordon makes this a superhero name, but Flash might just appeal to modern parents looking for one of the new active boys' names, ala Ace and Breaker and Ranger. We'd recommend something more pulled-together as a proper name with Flash as a nickname or middle name.
  12. Zed

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Zedekiah

    • Description:

      Newer than Zac, cooler than Ed, Ned, or Ted.
  13. Amidala

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "beautiful flower"

    • Description:

      An attractive enough name, but for die-hard Star Wars fans only.
  14. Scorpius

    • Origin:

      Astrological name; Latin

    • Meaning:

      "scorpion"

    • Description:

      Scorpius is the constellation that the Scorpio zodiac sign originates from. It was given its venomous name due to the constellation's resemblance to a scorpion's tail.
  15. Riddick

    • Origin:

      Variation of Reddick, Scottish

    • Description:

      Variation of Reddick, recognizable as the name of Vin Diesel's character in the Riddick film series, based on the Chronicles of Riddick books.
  16. Tyrell

    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Terrell

    • Description:

      Tyrell is kind of part Tyrone or Tyler, part Terrell, but less than the sum of those parts.
  17. Tasha

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Natasha

    • Description:

      See NATASHA.
  18. Zhora

    • Description:

      Zhora is a masculine name with diverse cultural origins. In Russian contexts, it functions as a diminutive of names like Georgy, meaning 'farmer' or 'earth-worker.' In Armenian usage, it can be related to names meaning 'power' or 'strength.' The name also appears in some Central Asian cultures. Zhora has gained some recognition in Western countries through popular culture, including the female replicant character in the film 'Blade Runner.' Despite this exposure, it remains an uncommon name in most Western countries. The name has a distinctive sound that crosses cultural boundaries while maintaining a sense of strength and character.

  19. Bail

    • Description:

      Bail is an uncommon masculine name with multiple potential origins. It could derive from the Old French 'baile' meaning 'bearer' or guardian, or from the Scottish surname Bail, which may have occupational roots. In legal contexts, 'bail' refers to security or guarantee, potentially giving the name connotations of reliability and trust. As a given name, Bail remains quite rare globally, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking something truly uncommon. The name's brevity gives it a modern, minimalist appeal, while its familiar sound (rhyming with names like Dale or Gail) makes it accessible despite its uniqueness. Bail has not traditionally appeared on popularity charts, remaining a genuinely unusual selection.

  20. Motoko

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "resourceful child"

    • Description:

      Motoko Kusanagi, perhaps the best known association to the name, is a character from the sci-fi anime and manga series The Ghost in the Shell. She's a strong, wise, and independent cyborg who appears as a young woman.