Sci-Fi Baby Names
Sci-fi baby names come from the most popular science fiction movies, books and television shows. Science fiction writers love to choose obscure, rare names for their characters, sometimes going so far as to invent names themselves, such as Kylo and Katniss.
Along with Kylo, other sci-fi baby names in the US Top 1000 include Dash, Fox, Holden, Kira, Leia, Max, Serenity, and Trinity. Names that owe their success directly to a science fiction franchise include Ripley, Neo, and Mazikeen, a newly rising name from Neil Gaiman’s comic book Sandman.
If you are searching for a distinctive and cool name for your child, you should consider taking inspiration from sci-fi character names. From Star Wars to Blade Runner, here's a list of unique science fiction baby names.
Along with Kylo, other sci-fi baby names in the US Top 1000 include Dash, Fox, Holden, Kira, Leia, Max, Serenity, and Trinity. Names that owe their success directly to a science fiction franchise include Ripley, Neo, and Mazikeen, a newly rising name from Neil Gaiman’s comic book Sandman.
If you are searching for a distinctive and cool name for your child, you should consider taking inspiration from sci-fi character names. From Star Wars to Blade Runner, here's a list of unique science fiction baby names.
Ada
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"noble, nobility"Description:
Ada is derived from the German name Adelaide, which came from the ancient name Adalheidis. The root, adal, is a Germanic word meaning "noble." Ada can also be considered a variation of the biblical name Adah, pronounced AH-da, one of the first girls’ names mentioned in the Book of Genesis.
Max
Origin:
English and German diminutive of Maximilian or MaxwellMeaning:
"greatest"Description:
Max was derived from Maximilian, a Latin name that originated from the Roman family name Maximus. The character name Max in the children's classic Where the Wild Things Are had an impact on baby namers. Max is a widely used name internationally.
Holden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"hollow valley"Description:
Holden is a classic case of a name that jumped out of a book and onto birth certificates--though it took quite a while. Parents who loved J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye are flocking to the name of its hero, Holden Caulfield -- not coincidentally in tune with the Hudson-Hayden-Colton field of names. (Trivia note: Salinger supposedly came up with the name while looking at a movie poster promoting a film starring William Holden and Joan Caulfield, though other sources say he was named after Salinger's friend Holden Bowler.) Another impetus was provided by a soap opera character introduced in 1985.
Clover
Origin:
Flower name, from Old EnglishMeaning:
"key"Description:
Clover is a charming, perky choice if you want to move beyond hothouse blooms like Rose and Lily, and it's recently become a new celeb favorite, chosen by both Neal McDonough and Natasha Gregson Wagner, who used it to honor her mother, Natalie Wood, one of whose most iconic films was Inside Daisy Clover.
Neo
Origin:
Latin or TswanaMeaning:
"new or gift"Description:
This nouveau name of Keanu Reeves's character in The Matrix has not enjoyed the same burst of popularity as its female counterpart, Trinity, but it definitely sounds, well, newer. Neo Rauch is an interesting contemporary German artist.
Lazarus
Origin:
Latinized Greek variation of Hebrew EleazarMeaning:
"God is my helper"Description:
Lazarus is a name that looks as if it could possibly be raised from the dead, just like its biblical bearer. Look for it in the next wave of Old Testament revivals that transcend their long-bearded images, the way Noah, Moses, and Abraham have for this generation.
Fox
Origin:
Animal nameDescription:
Fox is one animal name backed by a longish tradition, and then popularized via the lead character Fox Mulder on X Files. Fox is simple, sleek, and a little bit wild, and could make an interesting middle name.
Lorelei
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"alluring, temptress"Description:
Its double role as the mother and daughter -- and even grandmother -- on TV's The Gilmore Girls modernized, humanized, and popularized a name previously associated with the mythic seductive siren and the gold digger portrayed by Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Cade
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"round; or, barrel"Description:
Strong, ultramasculine, and modern, Cade shot up the popularity lists around the millenium—it was as high as Number 201 in 2001—along with cousins Caden and Cale, but has been in decline since. It's Like Scarlett, Rhett, Ashley, Melanie, and Beau; it was worn by a character in Gone With the Wind.There's a Cade Skywalker in the Star Wars universe, and Keith Carradine named his now-grown son Cade.
Rune
Origin:
German and SwedishMeaning:
"secret"Description:
Name with connotations both mystical and tragic, newly popular in Europe. For English speakers, though, this name might be ruined by its homonym ruin.
Alia
Origin:
Arabic feminine form of AliMeaning:
"supreme, exalted"Description:
Alia is most classic and feminine form of Ali, one of the 99 attributes of Allah. The name is used by Christians, Muslims and Jews; the word Aliyah means to make a pilgrimage to Israel and the words in both languages mean sublime, lofty, or exalted. Alia is also the name of the heroine of Frank Herbert's science fiction classic Children of Dune
River
Origin:
Nature nameDescription:
Most of the notable Rivers have been male, but this nature name certainly flows as well for a girl. Kelly Clarkson's choice of River for her newborn daughter further raised the profile of the name for girls.
Kira
Origin:
Russian feminine variation of CyrusMeaning:
"throne"Description:
Though such cognates of Kira as Keira, Kyra, and Ciara are evermore popular throughout Europe and in the U.S., this Cyrus relative has a different root. Variations include Keera, Kiera, Kierra, Kirah, Kiri, Kiria, Kiriah, Kiro, Kirra, Kirrah, Kirri, Kirya, and Kyra.
Dash
Origin:
Diminutive of Dashiell, meaning unknownDescription:
Dash is a nickname that can stand on its own and sounds, well, dashing. Connected these days with Kardashian enterprises.
Samara
Origin:
Hebrew, ArabicMeaning:
"under God's rule, companion in night conversation"Description:
Alluring and lovely — and much more distinctive now than Samantha or Tamara. Samara is a city in western Russia, a winged seed like the whirlygigs that fall from maple trees, as well as a bona fide first name that could make a more unusual update on Samantha or Mara. It can also be a variant spelling of the Arabic name Samira or Sameera.
Talon
Origin:
French word nameMeaning:
"large claw of a bird of prey"Description:
Despite its somewhat menacing meaning, this name has been widely used in recent years, probably due to the appeal of its trendy on ending.
Kylo
Origin:
Variation of KyleDescription:
Kylo Ren is the villain played by Adam Driver in the seventh Star Wars movie, released in December 2015. The original Kyle has sparked many variations, including Kylie and Kyler. Kylo, which takes on the fashionable o ending, is sure to follow for those who don't mind crossing to the dark side. It debuted on the US Top 1000 in 2016 -- and indeed, was the year's fastest rising boys' name.
Serenity
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"peaceful"Description:
Serenity's a pretty virtue choice, having risen quickly since entering the Social Security list in 1997. It was also the title of the 2005 movie spinoff of the Joss Whedon TV show Firefly.
Leia
Origin:
Spelling variation of LeyaDescription:
This spelling variation of Leya was popularized by the Star Wars films, but is still firmly in the US Top 1000 many years later. This spelling is also probably preferred as it is clearer in pronunciation to the original Hindi name, Leya (which sometime gets pronounced Lee-ah).
Roy
Origin:
French "king,"; Celtic "red-haired"Meaning:
"red-haired"Description:
We've seen Ray regain his cool, but could this country/cowboy name epitomized by Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye), Acuff, and Clark, do the same?Roy came into use in the late nineteenth century, probably influenced by the main character of Sir Walter Scott's novel Rob Roy, in which the historical character Robert M'ac Gregor is nicknamed Roy for his red hair.
There have been lots of notable non-country namesakes, including baseball's Roy Campanella, humorist Roy Blunt, Jr., Walt's brother and partner Roy Disney, singer Roy Orbison and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. Roy Hobbs was the protagonist of the Malamud novel The Natural, played in the film by Robert Redford.