Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Shakespeare Names
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About this list
Shakespeare names were drawn by the Bard from a range of ancient and modern cultures. Many have survived through the ages and are ripe for modern play or have already become hugely popular, especially in this generation.
Shakespeare is thought to have invented a handful of the names in his plays, some of which been remarkably popular in the centuries after his death. Among Shakespeare's creations are Jessica, Miranda, Perdita, and Florizel.
Along with Olivia and Miranda, other Shakespeare baby names in the US Top 1000 include Audrey, Fabian, Juliet, Romeo, Marcellus, Beatrice, Orlando, and Ophelia. Shakespearean names with strong ties to their characters include Desdemona, Puck, Othello, and Hero.
Shakespeare names are as timeless as the Bard's plays. Among the Shakespearean baby names we recommend are the following, many of them perfectly in style right now.
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The names
Olivia
Latin
"olive tree"
Olivia, a lovely Shakespearean name with an admirable balance of strength and femininity, is one of the top girls' names around the world. 2025 marked its 7th consecutive year in the #1 spot in the…
Oliver
Germanic, Latin
"elf army; ancestor's relic; olive tree"
Oliver is an international star, ranking near the top of the charts throughout the English-speaking world and in a host of European and Latin American countries, from Norway to Chile, Slovenia to…
Sebastian
Latin from Greek
"person from ancient city of Sebastia, venerable"
With international flair and elegance, Sebastian is a saintly, Shakespearean and Disney-inspired choice: refined, classic-yet-unconventional, and totally in tune with other popular choices like…
Alexander
Greek
"defending men"
Alexander has been in a Top 25 boys' name in the US for 30 years now. But namers are still attracted to its imposing historic pedigree. Alexander is derived from the Greek name Aléxandros, composed…
Emilia
Feminine variation of Emil, Latin
"rival"
Emilia is the feminine form of the Roman clan name Aemilius, which derived from the Latin aemulus , meaning "rival." In Shakespeare’s Othello , Emilia is the wife of Iago and confidante of Desdemona.…
Audrey
English
"noble strength"
Audrey is one of the girls' names that have been rising due to their connection to Old Hollywood glamour — in this case the eternally chic and radiant Audrey Hepburn. Audrey has another very…
Lorenzo
Italian; Spanish, variation of Laurence
"from Laurentium"
Latinizing Lawrence gives it a whole new lease on life. Like Leonardo, Lorenzo has been integrated into the American stockpot of names, partly via actor Lorenzo Lamas. Other associations are with…
Nathaniel
Hebrew
"gift of God"
Nathaniel was derived from the Hebrew name Netan’el, meaning "gift of God," composed of the elements natan , meaning "to give," and ’el , in reference to God. The name is featured several times in…
Valeria
Latin
"strength, health"
Valeria -- the original form of the name, used by early Christians --has been experiencing significant popularity in recent years. While Valeria was nearly always on the charts, the name peaked in…
Antonio
Spanish and Italian variation of Anthony
"from Antium"
Antonio is a Shakespearean favorite -- the Bard used it in no less than five of his plays, and has long been a ubiquitous classic in Spanish-speaking countries, where the nickname Tonio is also…