Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Names From Theater
Across 11 pages
of 11
Tyrone
Irish
"land of Owen"
Immigrated into American pop culture in the person of 1940s superstar Tyrone Power, Jr. It has been on a steady decline since the 1970s.
Tzeitel
Yiddish
"princess"
A wonderful Yiddish diminutive of Sarah, most familiar to Americans as the name of Tevye’s eldest daughter in Joseph Stein’s Fiddler on the Roof .
Valentine
Latin
"strength, health"
Valentine is an attractive Shakespearean name with romantic associations, but those very ties to the saint and the sentimental holiday have sent it into a decline, one which we think may be about to…
Vanya
Russian, diminutive of John
This short form of Ivan just could join the other Russian nickname names coming into fashion, and it does have the Chekhov connection.
Varya
Russian
"foreign"
Short form of the Russian Varvara, a feistier version of Barbara.
Velma
German
"will helmet"
Velma likely originated as a phonetic spelling of the German name Wilma, itself derived from Wilhelmina. Velma Dinkley is a smart, if nerdy, character in Scooby Doo .
Veta
Veta is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Slavic languages, it can be a diminutive of names containing 'vet,' meaning 'light' or 'council.' In Spanish contexts, it may derive from…
Vivie
Vivie is a charming feminine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a diminutive of Vivian or Vivienne. It derives from Latin roots meaning "alive" or "lively," perfectly capturing a…
Vladimir
Slavic
"great ruler, peaceful ruler, ruler of the world"
Vladimir is a cultured and deep-rooted Slavic name associated in this country with cultural figures including piano virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz and the author of Lolita , Vladimir Nabokov. The name…
Wilfrid
Spelling variation of Wilfred, English
"desires peace"
Wilfrid is a distinguished masculine name of Anglo-Saxon origin, combining the elements "will" (determination or desire) and "frid" (peace), creating the meaningful combination "desires peace" or…
Willy
Diminutive of William
See WILLIE.
Yasha
Russian
"supplanter"
A less-known member of the Sasha-Misha family, deriving from Yakov, the Russian form of Jacob.
Liliom
Hungarian
"lily"
A floral and unisex Hungarian name, Liliom feels close enough to Liam and to Lilian that it could work across any gender. Derived from the Latin lilum , it has been used since the 9th or 10th century…
Ellida
Danish, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian
"fast-sailing ship"
A theatrical name, appearing in Henrik Ibsen's 1888 play, The Lady from the Sea , Ellida comes from the Old Norse Elliði , giving it an ocean-related meaning. Also spelled as Elida, it may be…
Sophocles
Greek
"wise, skilled + glory"
Most famously the name of the ancient Greek tragedian, who wrote the plays Electra, Antigone, and Oedipus Rex, among others. The name is still used in Greece today, in its modern form of Sofoklis.…
Aida
Arabic; Italian; Lithuanian
"returning visitor; happy; echo"
Aida is a melodic name largely associated with the title character of the 1871 Verdi opera, an enslaved Ethiopian princess who dies to save her people. In the past, her name was rarely heard outside…
Albin
Latin
"white"
Albin is a modern form of the ancient Roman Albinus or Albus, meaning white or bright. There was a Saint Albinus who was also known as Aubin. In the contemporary world, Albin is popular in Sweden and…
Algernon
French
"moustached man"
While this name came into being as a Norman-French nickname for a man with whiskers, the name was quickly embraced as a true name by the Victorians and is likely most familiar to you as the name of…
Anita
Spanish diminutive of Ana; Sanskrit
"grace; unguided"
Once a Top 100 name, this Spanish diminutive of Ana still retains some of her Latin flair. A notable namesake is noted attorney Anita Hill, another is the great jazz singer Anita O'Day. Plus there's…
Antigone
Greek
"worthy of one's parents, in place of one's parents"
In Greek mytholgy, Antigone was the noble and courageous daughter of Oedipus, who acts as his guide after he blinds himself. Antigone is also the eponymous heroine of a play by Jean Anouilh. Despite…