TV Baby Names: The current coolest characters

By Linda Rosenkrantz

Let’s face it—most TV character names are predictable and dull.  It’s almost as though the screenwriters close their eyes and stick a pin into a list of what seem like age-appropriate monikers—Jim for Grandpa, Jack for Dad, Jackson for Son or Betty for Grandma, Beth for Mom and Becca for Girl.

But luckily there are some exceptions, the creative minority that shine out from the others like glistening gems.  The names below are drawn from the character lists of current shows or those that have recently expired—running on a bewildering number of channels—network, cable and online.  Reality and animated shows not included.

I’ve starred the names that have already seemed to have had an influence in the real world.

GIRLS

Adalind—Grimm

*Amelia—Private Practice

*Aria—Pretty Little Liars

Arizona—Grey’s Anatomy

Artemis—It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

*Arya—Game of Thrones

Astor—Dexter

Astrid—Fringe

Bedelia—Hannibal

Bay—Switched at Birth

*Cecelia/Cece—_The Office (_baby)

Cerie—30 Rock

Clea—Touched

*Cora—Downton Abbey

Dalia—New Girl

Dorrit—The Carrie Diaries

Elka—Hot in Cleveland

Geneva—The Good Wife

Goldie—The New Normal

Irisa—Defiance

Ivy—Good Luck Charlie, 90210, Smash

Joss—Person of Interest

Jules—Cougar Town

Kalinda—The Good Wife

Kenya—Defiance

Kenzi—Lost Girl

Lemon—Hart of Dixie

Lennox—Melissa & Joey

*Lyla—Sons of Anarchy

Maeby—Arrested Development

*Magnolia—Hart of Dixie

Mamie—Hot in Cleveland

Marigold—1600 Penn

Mellie—Scandal

Mercedes—Glee

Morning—Episodes

Nellie—The Office

Nikita—Nikita

Quinn*Quinn — Glee

Reagan—Up All Night

Rosamund—Downton Abbey

Roya—Homeland

Saxa—Spartacus

Shoshanna—Girls

Sookie—True Blood

Summer—The Mentalist

Sutton—The Lying Game

Tansy—Hart of Dixie

Teddy—Good Luck Charlie

*Temperance—Bones

Violet—Downton Abbey

Ziva—NCIS

BOYS

Alaric—Vampire Diaries

Alcide—True Blood

Axl—The Middle

Brick—Hart of Dixie, The Middle

Bjorn—Vikings

Creed—_The Office (_also the name of the actor playing him)

*Crosby—Parenthood

*Cyrus—Scandal

Deacon—Nashville

*Declan—Revenge

*Dexter—Dexter

Dixon—90210, Vegas

Dov—Rookie Blue

Elijah—Girls

*Finn—Glee

Fitch—Nurse Jackie

Fitzgerald—Scandal

Gob—Arrested Development

*Grayson—Cougar Town

Happy—Sons of Anarchy

Horatio—CSI: Miami

Huck—Scandal

Lafayette—True Blood

Lane—Mad Men

Lip (nickname for Phillip)—Shameless

Lugo—Spartacus

McCall—Boss

Merc—Episodes

Odafin ‘Fin’—Law & Order: Special Victgims Unit

Oleg—2 Broke Girls

Percy—Nikita

Piermont—Sons of Anarchy

Rafe –Defiance

*Raylan—Justified

Roe—Unforgettable

Rollo—Vikings

Thayer—The Lying Game

Thor—Nurse Jackie

Tobias—Elementary

Zane—Eureka

Zeek—Parenthood

Do any of these inspire you?