Sci-Fi Baby Names
- Aelita
Origin:
LiteratureMeaning:
"starlight seen for the last time"Description:
A whimsical choice from the 1923 sci-fi novel Aelita by Aleksey Tolstoy, the name belongs to a Martian princess who lives on Mars in an advanced yet divided society. In the book (and its subsequent film), her name is said to mean "starlight seen for the last time".
- Aeryn
Origin:
Variation of Erin, IrishMeaning:
"from the island to the west"Description:
Spelling variation of Erin invented for a character on the science fiction TV show Farscape.
- Amidala
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"beautiful flower"Description:
An attractive enough name, but for die-hard Star Wars fans only.
- Ayala
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"doe, gazelle"Description:
This animal-themed name is among the most popular for girls in contemporary Israel. Parents who want to move beyond the mega-popular Aliyah and sisters might want to consider Ayala. The male form is Ayal.
- Bail
Description:
Bail is an uncommon masculine name with multiple potential origins. It could derive from the Old French 'baile' meaning 'bearer' or guardian, or from the Scottish surname Bail, which may have occupational roots. In legal contexts, 'bail' refers to security or guarantee, potentially giving the name connotations of reliability and trust. As a given name, Bail remains quite rare globally, making it a distinctive choice for parents seeking something truly uncommon. The name's brevity gives it a modern, minimalist appeal, while its familiar sound (rhyming with names like Dale or Gail) makes it accessible despite its uniqueness. Bail has not traditionally appeared on popularity charts, remaining a genuinely unusual selection.
- Davin
Description:
Davin as a feminine name is an uncommon variant of the more traditional masculine Davin, which originated as an Anglicized form of the Irish name Dáibhín, meaning 'little beloved one' or 'little deer.' While Davin has historical usage as a boy's name, its application for girls represents a modern trend of gender-crossing names. The name has a gentle yet strong quality, with its soft consonants balanced by clear pronunciation. For females, Davin offers a distinctive alternative to popular feminine names with similar sounds like Davina or Devon. The name carries Irish heritage while maintaining a contemporary feel. Though rare for girls, it appeals to parents seeking a unique name with established roots but without being overtly feminine.
- Diva
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"goddess"Description:
Once unique to the Zappa family, now you can have your own little prima donna.
- Dutch
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"relating or belonging to The Netherlands"Description:
If Holland works for a girl, why not Dutch for a boy? Well, one reason is that Holland is a place name and Dutch is used to describe someone or something from The Netherlands, but we digress. Dutch does have a name-like sound, akin to Dash, Duke, Dutton, and Dustin.
- Flash
Origin:
Word and comic book nameDescription:
Flash Gordon makes this a superhero name, but Flash might just appeal to modern parents looking for one of the new active boys' names, ala Ace and Breaker and Ranger. We'd recommend something more pulled-together as a proper name with Flash as a nickname or middle name.
- Gaius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"to rejoice"Description:
Stately Gaius (pronounced GUY-us) was in the name of many ancient Romans, including Julius Caesar. Little-used before the year 2000, it now feels like a fresh possibility in the revival of Latin boys' names like Atticus and Cassius. Caius and derivatives like Caio come from the same root, and in ancient Roman times Caius was probably pronounced as Gaius. You could also see Gaius as a male version of the earth-goddess name Gaia.
- Jubal
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"ram's horn"Description:
This unusual name might be a possibility for musical families: Jubal was credited in Genesis with the invention of the lyre, flute, harp, and organ. It also has a jubilant feel through its sound and meaning, and has had some southern popularity via Confederate general Jubal Anderson Early. George Eliot wrote a poem called The Legend of Jubal.
- Kaidan
Description:
Kaidan is a masculine name with multiple potential origins, most commonly associated with Japanese and Gaelic roots. In Japanese, it can mean "mysterious story" or "ghost story," while as an Anglicized form of the Irish name Caden, it connects to "cath" meaning "battle." The name gained popularity in English-speaking countries in the early 2000s, part of the trend toward names with the appealing "aid" sound. Its rise coincided with similar names like Aidan, Jayden, and Brayden. Kaidan offers versatility with its cross-cultural connections and modern feel. The spelling variant Kayden is also common. Parents are often drawn to its contemporary sound combined with meaningful origins, making it appealing for those seeking a name that feels both current and substantial.
- Katniss
Origin:
Literary and botanical nameDescription:
Katniss Everdeen is the heroine of the popular Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, whose name comes from the (very real) edible aquatic plant of the genus Sagittaria. Katniss's father tells her that if she "finds herself," she'll never go hungry. Other unusual botanical names in the series include Primrose, Posy, Rue, and Clove, all for girls. Several of the boys' names come from ancient Rome: Cato, Seneca, Flavius, Caesar. Katniss the name has less appeal than Katniss the heroine, though it's definitely more attractive than Renesmee.
- Kerr
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"someone who lived near wet ground"Description:
When actress Deborah Kerr entered the scene, there was a great debate over her name's pronunciation. Car or Ker. Your choice.
- Keyan
Origin:
Arabic, Kurdish, PersianMeaning:
"existence, being, essence; king, leader; universe, cosmos"Description:
Approachable and grounded, Keyan is a name with several powerful meanings. From its Arabic roots, it is a Quranic name, meaning "essence, entity" or "existence", while from its Kurdish and Persian origins, it is associated with royalty and leadership or with the universe as a whole.
- Korben
Origin:
Spelling variation of Corbin, English and French surnameMeaning:
"crow, raven"Description:
Korben is a spelling that gets some attention since Bruce Willis's character name in The Fifth Element was Korben Dallas.
- 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.
- Londo
Origin:
Invented nameDescription:
Could be an interesting alternative to London, now that that one is firmly on the girl's side.Londo Mollari is a character from the TV show Babylon 5.
- Lyta
Origin:
Variation of LitaDescription:
Spelling variation of Lita.
- Motoko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"resourceful child"Description:
Motoko Kusanagi, perhaps the best known association to the name, is a character from the sci-fi anime and manga series The Ghost in the Shell. She's a strong, wise, and independent cyborg who appears as a young woman.
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