Capulet
Capulet Origin and Meaning
The name of one of warring families in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Capulet might appeal to those who enjoy names that are literary and unique.
Capulet likely comes from the Italian capo, meaning "head", combined with the diminutive suffix, -let. Some sources suggest that the name could therefore mean "little leader" or "little chief", interpreting capo to mean "the head of" something.
Others associate it with the tradition of last names being derived from nicknames, and take capo to refer to someone headstrong. "Little headstrong one" or "descendant of a headstrong person" can be alternative meanings.
Another possibility is that it comes from cappello meaning "hat", considering Shakespeare got the name from earlier works by Dante and Luigi da Porto who used Cappelletti for one of the warring families.
While rival name Montague likely has more "real world" potential, thanks to intuitive nickname Monty and the similar Montgomery, Capulet is one to ponder. Nicknames Callie or Lettie might make it feel more usable. Still, while Montague has been given to a handful of boys in the most years since the early 20th century, and was given to 29 boys in England and Wales in 2023, Capulet has yet to make the charts.