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Shakespeare Names

  1. Benvolio

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "good wisher; peacemaker, benevolent"

    • Description:

      A kindly, virtue-adjacent name, it appears in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, borne by the peacemaker friend who persuades Romeo to go to the party where he meets Juliet. Alas. A bold choice but with familiar nicknames Ben, Lio, and Bo.
  2. Margery

    • Origin:

      Medieval variation of Margaret, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "pearl"

    • Description:

      An old royal name in England and Scotland that's also spelled Marjorie. Popular in the Middle Ages and Tudor period, it was revived at the end of the 19th century, peaked in 1921 and dropped off the list in 1958, enough time to be reconsidered as a Margaret alternative. The name Margery Daw is familiar via the seesaw nursery rhyme and Margery Williams wrote the children's classic The Velveteen Rabbit..
  3. Yorick

    • Origin:

      English literary name

    • Description:

      Alas, poor Yorick, your name is fated to remain locked forever as a skull in Hamlet.
  4. Claudius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "lame; enclosure"

    • Description:

      Claudius is one of the most user-friendly of the ancient Roman names – even though it's associated with the villainous character in Shakespeare's Hamlet. But as with feminine form Claudia, the "lame" meaning may stymie the rise of Claudius. Some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-appealing name.
  5. Philo

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "loving"

    • Description:

      Could Philo be the next Milo?
  6. Reynaldo

    • Description:

      Reynaldo is a masculine name of Spanish and Italian origin, derived from the Germanic name Reynold or Reinhold, composed of the elements 'ragin' (advice, counsel) and 'wald' (rule, power). It essentially means 'wise ruler' or 'powerful counselor.' Reynaldo gained popularity in Spanish-speaking countries and communities, particularly through cultural diffusion in Latin America. The name has a regal, sophisticated quality while maintaining a warm, approachable feel. In the United States, Reynaldo saw modest popularity in the mid-20th century but has become less common in recent decades. Variations include Reinaldo, Rinaldo, and the shortened forms Rey or Ray.

  7. Lucentio

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      The origins of Lucentio are a bit hazy — it's possible Shakespeare invented the name for his play The Taming of the Shrew, where Lucentio ends up marrying Bianca. However, it may have been an obscure Italian variation of Lucentius, existing before Shakespeare's time.
  8. Hamlet

    • Origin:

      Anglicized form of Danish, Amleth

    • Description:

      The "To Be or Not to Be" jokes, via Shakespeare's tortured prince, will get old by Month Two.
  9. Roderigo

    • Description:

      Roderigo is a masculine name with Spanish and Portuguese roots, derived from the Germanic name 'Hrodric,' meaning 'famous ruler' or 'powerful leader.' The name gained literary recognition through Shakespeare's 'Othello,' where Roderigo appears as a character. With its romantic flair and melodious quality, this name carries an air of old-world nobility and Mediterranean charm. While more common in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, it remains relatively rare in English-speaking nations. The name offers the familiar nickname options of Rod or Rico. Roderigo exudes a distinguished classical appeal while maintaining its exotic allure.

  10. Flavius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "yellow, blond"

    • Description:

      Flavius is an ancient Roman family name associated with a dynasty of emperors. It has an appealingly flavorful first syllable, and is the name of a stylist in the Hunger Games series.
  11. Coriolanus

    • Origin:

      Ancient Roman, meaning unknown

    • Description:

      Coriolanus comes from Corioli, the name of a Volscian city. The Shakespearean play Coriolanus is based on the life of Ancient Roman general Caius Marcius Coriolanus.
  12. Malvolio

    • Origin:

      Literary name

    • Meaning:

      "ill will"

    • Description:

      Coined by Shakespeare for the main antagonist in his comedy Twelfth Night, the unfortunate Malvolio’s name literally means "ill will".
  13. Stephano

    • Origin:

      Literature, Greek, Italian

    • Meaning:

      "crown"

    • Description:

      While the spelling Stefano is more common, Stephano makes a great choice for parents looking to give Stephen/Steven a more romantic feel. Although only given to 8 boys in the US in 2014, Stephano could be a great choice for parents looking for a name with the same flavor as Rafael, Matteo or Emilio. It appears as a character name in Shakespeare's The Tempest.
  14. Pericles

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "far-famed"

    • Description:

      Ancient Athenian statesman whose name was once used in the US mostly for enslaved people, following a trend for names of ancient figures.
  15. Valerius

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "strength, health"

    • Description:

      Valerius is an ancient Roman family name turned first name. While Valerius is more familiar as its derivatives Valerie and Valerian, the rise of Roman names ending in S for boys may inspire a revival of this strong choice.
  16. Banquo

    • Origin:

      Scottish, Literature

    • Meaning:

      "white hound"

    • Description:

      Appearing on a character in Shakespeare's semi-historical play,Macbeth and in an earlier work called Holinshed's Chronicles from which Shakespeare took inspiration, the name Banquo has yet to appear in the US Stats. Possibly derived from the elements bàncù meaning "hound", the exact meaning is of the name is unknown.
  17. Prospero

    • Origin:

      Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese variation of Prosper

    • Meaning:

      "succeed, prosper"

    • Description:

      Shakespeare's Tempest has kept the name Prospero alive.
  18. Helenus

    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name

    • Description:

      Twin brother of Cassandra in Greek mythology who also was a celebrated seer. A Trojan prince, he was the son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba.
  19. Volumnia

    • Origin:

      Feminization of Volumnius, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "scroll"

    • Description:

      Shakespeare used Volumnia as the name of Coriolanus' mother in his tragedy Coriolanus while Dickens used it in Bleak House.
  20. Francisca

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "free man"

    • Description:

      Spanish and Portuguese form of Frances or Francesca