TV Character Names

This adorable name of the young daughter on "Big Love" might be thought of as a variation of Tansy, an obscure flower name whose star may rise on the heels of such current favorites as Lily and Daisy.

A commanding word name that feels occupational like Miller, Palmer, and Shepherd, while also fitting in with ambitious choices like Legend, King, Major, Maverick, and Saint. Referring to someone who takes the lead and holds influence and responsibility, Captain has links to team sports, the military, seafaring, superheroes, and the police.

A Thai name that appeared in the third season of the popular TV series, The White Lotus, Pornchai comes from phon meaning "blessing" or "strength" and chai meaning "victory". While the first element is familiar and well used in a variety of Thai names, it may not work so well in English. Alternative spelling Ponchai might be better in some cases.

This Hindu goddess name has a powerful heritage plus lively sound with a devilish edge. If you're enchanted by goddess names but want to set your little girl apart from all the Lunas and Athenas in the playground, consider Devi.

Seeley is a Medieval surname with a happy, fortunate meaning.

With other Cornish names like Elowen and Jago catching people's attention, the mythical sounding Mithian might prove an unexpected and magical feeling choice. Traditionally called Mydhyan, Mithian is a village in Cornwall that sits between St Agnes and Perranporth.

Stylized as Vex'ahlia, this name appears in The Legend of Vox Machina, an animated fantasy series based on a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Created by Laura Bailey, the character often goes by the nickname Vex.

Geralt is an antiquated version of the old-fashioned name Gerald, which has been dropping toward the bottom of the US Top 1000 since the early 1940s and finally dropped out in 2021.

Yasuke was the first African samurai in Japan, who served as a retainer under Oda Nobunaga. He arrived in Japan in 1579 with Portuguese Jesuits and Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Nobunaga took a special interest in Yasuke, who joined his force.

The kind of nickname name you wouldn't want your own child to get stuck with.

From the Ojibwe word for early Spring, Ziigwan has a bright, jubilant sound, reflective of its meaning. Used by the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region and the northern plains, Ziigwan may be recognized as a character from the 2022 Canadian TV comedy series, Shoresy, played by Blair Lamora.

Hitchcock is an extremely rare masculine given name derived from an English surname. The surname itself has Anglo-Saxon origins, combining the Old English personal name 'Hicce' with 'cock' (meaning 'little'), possibly originally referring to someone who lived near a ridge. As a first name, Hitchcock is almost unheard of, making it among the most distinctive name choices possible. The surname gained considerable recognition through film director Alfred Hitchcock, lending the name associations with creativity, suspense, and artistic innovation. As a given name, it would certainly stand out, potentially leading to nicknames like Hitch. Its uniqueness would make it memorable in any context.

With the feel or sounds of Keeley, Gwyneth, and Delyth, Keyleth appears in the animated fantasy series, The Legend of Vox Machina, which was inspired by a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Creator Marisha Ray made the name by putting air related words into an Elvish translator, with led her to gwilith, which then became Keyleth.

From the Ojibwe word for feather, Miigwan is used by the Indigenous people of the Great Lakes region and the northern plains. It was used for a a character in the 2022 Canadian TV comedy series, Shoresy, played by Keilani Rose

It may have been made up for a futuristic television show, but this name would not be out of place among such present-day trendies as Kayla and Taylor.

Yennefer is the name of one of the protagists of The Witcher series, first books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski and then a video game and now a Netflix series. Yennefer is a powerful fighter and sorceress. As a name, we don't think Yennefer is any improvement on millennial mom name Jennifer, but nickname Yen has it all over the dated Jen.

Shoshanna is a variation of one of the best-known original Hebrew baby names for girls , the original of Susanna. This is the spelling used by Shoshanna Lonstein, a designer who creates the Shoshanna clothing line and also the name of one of the four leading characters on the TV show Girls, Shoshanna Shapiro.

Dinesh is a popular Indian name -- it stands for the sun in Hindu texts -- made familiar in the US by the HBO show Silicon Valley via the character played by Kumail Nanjiani. With the emphasis on the second syllable, Dinesh is a name that translates easily.

The full name of one of the main characters on Netflix's Dear White People, though she usually goes by Coco. Colandrea occasionally pops up as a surname, but as a first name, it feels more like a mashup of Coco and Andrea -- and a not unappealing mashup at that.

Shitala is a Hindu goddess, associated with healing. Along with curing a whole range of ailments, particularly smallpox, her presence is also said to help women conceive healthy children and ensure the welfare and livelihood of the family. Her name is derived from the Sanskrit śītalā, meaning "she who cools", reflecting her ability to banish a fever.