Names from the Arts and Pop Culture

Looking for baby names inspired by the arts? Here you'll find collections of baby names from books and those with operatic roots, rock star baby names and vampire baby names – lists of baby names for every artistic taste and style.

• Artist Baby Names

  Creative baby names can be found by looking at the names of artists (and architects and designers). These baby names capture the artists' creative spirit, give your child an international role model, and are cool all at the same time. The following list encompasses both first (JASPER Johns) and last (Alexander CALDER) names, which have been drawn from all over the aesthetic map. Read More 

• Author Baby Names

  Literary baby names can be inspired the characters in books or, in the case of the baby names on this list, by the first and last names of authors ranging from Edgar Allan Poe to Zadie Smith. In this category, as always, feel free to look to your personal favorite writers for your baby names inspiration. Read More 

• Baby Names from Books

  If you love to read, your favorite characters might inspire the perfect name for your baby. Here, baby names from books that might work in a modern nursery. Read More 

• Baby Names from Classic Rock Songs

  These are a selection of baby names that rock and roll from songs of the classic rock era. Read More 

• Beatles Baby Names

  The Beatles, widely considered the most iconic band in music history, recorded over 300 songs, many of which mentioned names. If you're a Beatles fan or looking for musical information for your baby's name, here is a list of baby names inspired by the Beatles' music and band members. Read More 

• Big Apple Baby Names

  These baby names capture everything that is New York. From New York landmarks and streets to notable New Yorkers, get inspired by these big time picks from the most populous city in the US. Read More 

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• Country Music Baby Names

  The new crop of Country Music Baby Names aren't quite as down-home as they used to be. They've shaken off the hayseed image and would be equally at home in New Jersey as Nashville. The names of country music stars inspiring parents as baby names today include: Read More 

• Cowboy Baby Names

  Looking for a name that says cowboy boots and stirrups? Check out this list of cowboy baby names, many of them inspired by Westerns of the last century. Read More 

• Creative Baby Names

  Creative baby names can be drawn from the worlds of art, music, design, or literature. Creative baby names for boys and girls include the following. Read More 

• Designer Baby Names

  Designer kids' clothes these days often have adorable brand names--names that would be equally stylish baby names on your own little boy or girl. Here's a selection of some of the best designer baby names from Agatha to Zella. Read More 

• Disney Baby Names

  Baby names from Disney films can summon up positive memories. For some of us, watching The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Lady and the Tramp shaped our childhoods. Here is a list of baby names from the classic Disney films of our time: Read More 

• Disney Channel Baby Names

  Disney channel baby names are appearing not only on television but on birth certificates. These names have become more popular since the Disney Channel's debut in 1983. Baby names inspired by Disney Channel characters include: Read More 

• Fictional Princess Names

  Fictional princess names -- from fairy tales to modern cartoons -- are well-known to little girls, most of whom would be delighted to have one for her very own. Here, the wide range of fictional princess names. Read More 

• Film Noir Baby Names

  Baby names drawn from film noir or "black film," the genre of Hollywood crime dramas that capture the suspenseful happenings of private eyes in distinct black and white form, tend to be dramatic and rooted in an earlier era. Here, our collection of film noir baby names. Read More 

• Gothic Baby Names

  Gothic baby names relate to the culture that combines horror with romanticism. Gothic can refer to the medieval or the modern; Gothic style encompasses music and architecture, literature and fashion. Here are some names that, for a range of reasons, might be considered Gothic. Baby appropriate? In a dark sort of way.... Read More 

• Halloween Baby Names

  Halloween baby names reference the holiday and all things spooky. Would you really want to choose one of these baby names for a child born on or near Halloween? Debatable. But those who are into celebrating the holiday may want to adopt their own Halloween name from this collection of names of ghostly or witchy people, characters, and things. Read More 

• Heroine Baby Names

  If you want to give your little girl an inspirational name drawn from a heroine of the past or present, in the arts or politics, real or fictional but always inspirational, consult this list of heroine baby names. Read More 

• Hollywood Glamour Girl Names

  Names from the Golden Age of Hollywood Glamour are playing starring roles as baby names once again. While Dorothy (Lamour) and Rita (Hayworth) are not yet again ready for their closeup, here's a selection of the Glamour Girl names enjoying a revival. Read More 

• Hunger Game Baby Names

  The Hunger Games trilogy has inspired a post-Harry Potter generation of original baby names. These characters' names, which include elements from ancient history and sci fi, might be right for your literary baby. Read More 

• Jane Austen Baby Names

  If you're a fan of Jane Austen, you might draw inspiration for baby names from her characters. These classic baby names are perfect for parents who value strength, sophistication, and substance. Read More 

• Jane Austen Names for Boys

  Looking for strength, masculinity and sophistication? Search no further. These traditional Old English baby names have lost none of their royal luster, and are shared by some of Jane Austen's bravest male literary heroes. And no, we're not just talking about Mr. Darcy. Read More 

• Jazz Baby Names

  The list of jazz baby names, a special subset of musician baby names for both girls and boys, is full of old-school cool. Read More 

• Literary Names for Boys

  These literary baby names for boys are derived from characters in books from all genres and periods. Here, a selection of the most distinctive baby names from books. In the literary names category, as always, feel free to think about your own personal favorites. Read More 

• Literary Names for Girls

  These literary baby names for girls are derived from characters in books from all genres and periods. Here, a list of the most distinctive literary baby names for girls. In the literary baby names category, as always, feel free to think about your own personal favorites. Read More 

• Mad Men Names

  The hep, keen TV show Mad Men, set in JFK-era New York, gets all the period details right, including the names. Are parents ready to adopt the show's now-quaint monikers as baby names? Maybe not quite yet, but don't be surprised if you have grandchildren named Don and Betty. Read More 

• Mermaid Baby Names

  Mermaid baby names of myth and popular culture are a lovely group and may prove inspiration for your little water baby. See our blog for more on mermaid baby names. Read More 

• Modern Hero Baby Names

  Modern hero baby names might be inspired by stars of screen or sports or literature or by heroes and heroines of the past or of fiction who still inspire us today. Cool modern hero names are usually surnames used as firsts. Here are some of the hottest modern hero baby names. Read More 

• Movie Character Names

  Movie character names may be the only names cooler than the names of the stars that play them. In fact, with the exception of Jack, which has long seemed to be the name of the male character in every other movie and TV adventure show, characters' names veer from the unusual to the outlandish. A few, such as Trinity from The Matrix, jumped right onto the popularity charts.

  For more ideas, check out our lists of TV Character Names and Celebrity-Inspired Baby Names. Read More 

• Musical Baby Names

  Musical baby names can be soothing, lyrical, rhythmic, rousing, and melodious. Here, some musical baby names you might want to consider. Read More 

• Musician Baby Names

  Since musicians invented the concept of cool, where better to look for baby name inspiration than to their own names? The baby names here are drawn from both the first names and last names of well-known musicians. Read More 

• Olympic Baby Names

  Take a peek at these Olympic baby names dating from the 1896 games until now. The Olympics spotlights global choices that might not otherwise attract our attention. These gold medal baby names show real promise: Read More 

• Operatic Baby Names

  You don’t have to be an opera buff to appreciate the rich variety of baby names found in the classic repertoire. It’s an especially appealing category because it contains such an interesting mix of languages: there are frilly French female names, unusual Italian mens’ names, as well as some usable German and Russian character names. These range from leads such as Aida and Tristan, to featured players to those with minor roles. So, omitting common names like Amelia, Norma and Susanna, and the more uber-the-top names like Brunhilde, here are some lyrical opera baby names: Read More 

• Pixar Baby Names

  Pixar has a knack for developing characters you can't help but love, Mike Wazowski anyone? Not only does Pixar create some unforgettable characters, but Pixar names can be lovable as baby names too! Here's a list of some of the more interesting character names from Pixar films: Read More 

• Poet Baby Names

  The great poets can provide naming inspiration for both girl and boy babies. Here, some poet baby names to consider. Read More 

• Reality TV Baby Names

  Baby names from reality television shows, from the Kardashians to Teen Moms, are popping on the popularity charts. Among those hot right now as baby names are the following names of reality TV stars and their children. Read More 

• Rock Star Baby Names

  These rock and roll baby names are sure to bring out the star in your little one. Inspired by the rockers themselves, or the subjects of their songs (Jude, Layla, and Roxanne for instance), these names are the most edgy, interesting, or relevant of the rock star choices. Read More 

• Rocker and Rapper Kids' Names

  If you call yourself Ludacris or Slash or Flea, chances are you're not gonna name your kid Matthew or Martha or Mike. In fact, rock-and-roll and hip-hop musicians are probably the most imaginative (or outrageous, depending on your point of view) baby namers around, honoring their musical heroes (Thelonious, Lennon, Hendrix), using words as names (Million, Dream, Zeppelin), or just letting their fantasies fly. To wit: Read More 

• Sci-Fi Baby Names

  Sci-fi baby names come from the most popular Science Fiction movies, books and television shows. From Star Wars to Blade Runner, here's a list of unique sci-fi baby names. Read More 

• Shakespearean Names

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• Soap Opera Baby Names

  Baby names from soap operas, inspired by melodramatic characters, often appear on the popularity charts. If you're expecting a dramatic little one, a "soap" name may be right up your alley. Soap opera writers tend to choose names some may consider a bit over the top. Read More 

• Steampunk Baby Names

  The steampunk movement has been inspired by literature and cinema, blending futuristic themes with 19th century Victorian style. Think alternate history meets science fiction entwined with elements of steam power and clockwork. Here is a list of baby names incorporating this unique style. Read More 

• Supermodel Baby Names

  It's not enough that supermodels are skinny, gorgeous, world-revered millionaires. They've got babies, too, and not just ordinary babies, but babies with incredibly cool names. Here is the recent crop of supermodel baby names: Read More 

• Toddlers & Tiaras Baby Names

  The reality television show Toddlers & Tiaras chronicles the world of child beauty pageants. Along with a few yooneek spellings such as Brystol and Brittanie that don't appear in our database, the names of the girls, and a few boys, who've appeared on the show include these often glossy choices. Read More 

• TV Character Names

  The names of television characters, from the days of the Western and early soap operas, have always been influential, with life imitating the small screen and vice versa. Among the current inspirations for baby names: Read More 

• TV Mom Names

  TV Mom names take their inspiration from the perfect (and sometimes highly imperfect) television mothers who typically vacuumed in heels and cooked their children hot lunches. Names that honor these paragons of domesticity range from Alice to Winnie, with detours to Peg and Roseanne. Read More 

• Vampire Baby Names

  Vampire baby names from the world of books, television, and movies are hot right now. Whether you're a vampire fan or just looking to have some fun, here are some vampire baby names you might find inspirational. Read More 

• Video Game Names for Boys

  Movie- and TV-character names may seem both inspired and inspirational to parents at the beginning of the twenty-first century, but what of the next generation of parents-to-be, those raised not on movies and television but on video games? Their idea of a cool name is sure to be way wilder than that of parents today. These names from popular video games will give you an idea of the kind of choices that could inspire the names of your grandchildren. Read More 

• Video Game Names for Girls

  Movie- and TV-character names may seem both inspired and inspirational to parents at the beginning of the twenty-first century, but what of the next generation of parents-to-be, those raised not on movies and television but on video games? Their idea of a cool name is sure to be way wilder than that of parents today. These names from popular video games will give you an idea of the kind of choices that could inspire the names of your grandchildren. Read More 

• Werewolf Baby Names

  Interested in a werewolf name for your little, um, monster? Check out our blog on werewolf baby names or consult the list here. Read More 

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