Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Names Created by Authors
Across 13 pages
of 13
Reaver
Literary invented name
Reaver sure sounds like an occupational surname, thanks to its -er ending and similarity to names like Reeve, but it is actually a name invented by science fiction writers. The first documentation of…
Renesmee
Literary invention
Invented by author Stephenie Meyer for the Twilight series for the half-human, half-vampire daughter of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, it's an amalgamtion of the names of Bella's mother Renee and…
Renesmae
Variation of Renesmee, literature
"reborn + esteemed, loved"
A variation of the (slightly infamous) Renesmee, created by author Stephanie Meyer for a character in her Twilight series. Renesmee has proved unexpectedly popular in the UK, while this alternative…
Rhaegar
Modern invented name
Rhaegar Targaryen is one of the most glamorous, noble characters in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series... even though he's been dead over a decade when the books begin. The reader…
Rhaenyra
Literature
A character name in George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, a dragonrider played by Emma D'Arcy in the GOT prequel House of the Dragon .
Rhysand
Literary name
Created by Sarah J. Maas for the handsome High Lord of her Court of Thorns and Roses series of fantasy romance novels. Rhysand is based on the Welsh name Rhys, meaning "ardor".
Rickon
Literary name
Rickon and Dickon are two names from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series we feel pretty confident will not take off. This one is most closely associated with Rickon Stark, the youngest…
Ronia
Hebrew
"God's joyful song"
Hebrew name related to Ronit and Roni, also used in different cultures as Ronya, Ronja, and Roniya. Virtually unknown in the English-speaking world though certainly an easily-translatable choice.
Ronja
Swedish literary name
Pippi Longstocking author Astrid Lindgren invented the name Ronja for her book Ronja, the Robber's Daughter . She was inspired by the lake Juronjaure, located in Norrbotten, Sweden. Lindgren's…
Rosasharn
Literature
"Rose of Sharon"
A literary creation, used by John Steinbeck in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath . It is a contracted form of "Rose of Sharon", which could make an interesting middle name to honor a Sharon or an…
Sabra
Hebrew
"prickly pear"
Term for a native-born Israeli, first brought to notice in Edna Ferber's 1929 novel Cimarron. Prickly pear has been interpreted to mean tough on the outside, soft and sweet within.
Salerio
Shakespearean invented name
"salary"
Shakespeare invented the names Salerio, Solanio, and Salarino for his play The Merchant of Venice . The names are puns on salario , the Italian word for "salary," as each character shows great…
Sansa
Sanskrit
"praise, charm"
Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin is a master namer, and this unusual choice from India is beginning to be heard in nurseries as well as on television. Sansa was perhaps slower to catch on…
Sethe
Egyptian mythological name or variation of Seth, Hebrew
"appointed, placed"
Author Toni Morrison is an acknowledged master of naming, and Sethe, the name of one of the main characters of Beloved , which can be pronounced as Seth or Seth-eh, relates to the male biblical name…
Shenshen
Literary creation
Used by Gregory Maguire in his novel Wicked , Shenshen also appears in the Broadway musical adaptation of the book. Her name could be based on Sinead or Shenade, variations of John, or perhaps the…
Sirje
Estonian
"blue-feathered"
Sirje is a uniquely Estonian name of unconfirmed origins, although the story goes that it was created and offered up by Julius Mägiste, a linguist, in 1929. He derived it from the word sinisirje ,…
Smilla
Smilla is a feminine name with Scandinavian origins, particularly associated with Danish naming traditions. The name gained international recognition through Peter Høeg's novel 'Smilla's Sense of…
Stannis
Modern invented literary name
The name of a controversial character in Game of Thrones , Stannis Baratheon. He's better liked by book readers -- who see him as the embodiment of rigorous law and order -- than show watchers. In…
Nim
Modern invented name
Australian writer Wendy Orr put this name on the map with her hit Nim's Island " series of children's books, about a smart young girl who lives on an island in the South Pacific. Abigail Breslin…
Lilliandil
Popular culture
"sea of lillies"
Ethereal, yet with the familiarity of Lily about it, Lilliandil is a name created by Douglas Gresham for the movie adaptation of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader , based of C.S Lewis's Narnia novels.…