Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 10 pages
of 10
Animal name
"scorpion"
Animal name with some serious sting to it, Scorpion is one of the unique baby names that should probably stay that way.
Modern invented name
The name of the lead character -- a purple dragon -- in a long-running series of video games. Technically also a variant of the classic Greek name Spiro/Spyros.
English word name
A video-game name ("Final Fantasy VII") with an unappealing sound and meaning.
Variation of Katriel, Hebrew
"my crown is God"
A strictly feminine form of unisex Katriel, this name could appeal to those who like Katherine, Isabelle, Katrina, and Gabrielle. It was notably used in the Professor Layton franchise, borne by…
Toan is a masculine name with Vietnamese origins, where it carries the meaning of 'complete,' 'whole,' or 'perfect.' In Vietnamese culture, the name reflects qualities of completeness and integrity.…
Swedish and Norwegian
"Thor's bear"
Torbjorn, written as Torbjörn in Swedish and Torbjørn in Norwegian, is derived from the Old Norse Þórbjǫrn , meaning "Thor's bear." It's currently a grandpa name in Scandinavia, but some…
Astaroth is a feminine name with ancient mythological origins. It derives from the name of a powerful demon or fallen angel in occult traditions, appearing in various grimoires and demonological…
Vyse is an uncommon masculine name with English origins, likely derived from an old English surname. It may be related to the word 'wise' or possibly evolved from a place name or occupational…
Two Zells of note: conservative southern senator Zell Miller, and video-game character Zell, a hero of "Final Fantasy."
French, English
"solitary, alone; a single jewel in a piece of jewelry"
Derived from the French word for "alone", Solitaire could have potential as a bold word name, thanks to its use on a character in the James Bond franchise and its similarity to the names Sol,…
Japanese word name
Kanji is the Japanese writing system that uses Han Chinese characters. It is occasionally used as a male given name in Japan. And as most names from Asian cultures have not yet emigrated to the west,…
Japanese
"land, continent"
The Japanese Rikku is familiar in the west as the name of one of the lead characters of the "Final Fantasy" video game series. Voted "hottest character," the fictional Rikku is a thief with a good…
Samus is a name that gained recognition primarily through the video game character Samus Aran, the protagonist of Nintendo's Metroid series introduced in 1986. The character's popularity has…
Video game name
Selphie Tilmitt is a character in the popular video game Final Fantasy VIII. An orphan like the other main characters, she's described as upbeat, friendly, and energetic....though she wields a mean…
Shantae is a feminine given name that emerged in the United States, possibly in the latter half of the 20th century. The name may be a variant of Shante or Shanté, which itself could be derived from…
"tide, aster, remembrance; poem + sound"
A unisex Japanese name, with a variety of meanings depending on which kanji combinations are used. It is often said to mean "aster", giving it a botanical tie, and a link to remembrance based on the…
Shodan is a feminine name with Japanese origins, though it has multiple cultural references. In Japanese martial arts, "shodan" represents the first-degree black belt, symbolizing the beginning of…
Invented name; variation of Sophia
Elaboration of Sophia created for the character Sophitia Alexandra in the video game Soulcalibur .
"pretty child"
Dainty and doll-like.
Taki is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Japanese, it means 'waterfall' or 'cascade,' evoking natural beauty and flowing energy. In Maori, it can mean 'to recite' or 'guide.' The…
