Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Yiddish diminutive of Elijah and Eliezer, Hebrew
"Yahweh is God; God helps"
Strongly connected to Elie Wiesel — Holocaust survivor, Nobel laureate, and author of the influential book Night .
Scandinavian
"youth"
Especially for parents of Scandinavian descent, Sven is an accessible and attractive name with an appealing mix of strength and swagger. It comes from the ancient Swedish tribe, the Sviars, who gave…
Marni is a feminine name with multiple possible origins. Some consider it a diminutive of Marina or Marna, derived from Latin meaning "of the sea," while others trace it to Hebrew origins as a…
Variation of Eliana, Hebrew, or Latin from Greek
"my God has answered; sun"
Eliane is a melodic name with the very fashionable El- beginning. Lovely and lilting as it is, be aware that there are many El- variations around these days, and little girls called Ellie as a result.
English, diminutive of Victoria
"victory"
More modern nickname for Victoria than Vicky. Better known as Tori spelling.
Spelling variation of Jack
"God is gracious"
Jac is one of the new "creative" variations of Jack, a name on the rise in its own right and not just as a short form of John. But why, when Jack is so simple and so familiar, make it Jac and invite…
French variation of Lawrence
"of Laurentium or bay laurel"
A French accent makes almost everything sound better, especially when attached to a Twilight vampire. Laurent also has a high-style feel via designer Yves St-Laurent. Laurent de Brunhoff is the…
Variation of Anais
Anais, the name forever attached to the daring French-born American novelist and diarist Anais Nin, is unusual and French enough without appending an e, though some may think it clarifies…
Diminutive of Mary, Miriam, and others
Sweet, nicknamey name belonging to the tragic heroines of both La Bohème and Rent . Mimi might feel too slight for many parents to use on the birth certificate, but as a short form, it's one of the…
American from Latin
"pertaining to ships or sailors"
Nautica is derived from the English word "nautical," which itself comes from the Latin nauticus . It was first recorded as a baby name in 1992 when the American clothing brand had become a national…
English, diminutive of Edward
"wealthy guardian"
Ned is a gently old-fashioned Nancy Drew-Bobbsey Twins-era short form for Edward that sounds cooler than Ed and is enjoying a small style renaissance. Usage of Ned in literature goes back to a Ben…
Brand name
Elliot Eliantte is a jeweler known for crafting custom extravagant jewelry pieces for celebrities. His surname is the latest in the line of baby names inspired by luxury brands. Eliantte debuted on…
Isaia is a masculine name with ancient biblical roots, representing a variant of Isaiah. Derived from the Hebrew 'Yesha'yahu' meaning 'God is salvation', it refers to the important prophet from the…
Short form of Sidney, French
"Saint-Denis"
Sid originated as a nickname for Sidney, but we like it on its own, a la Sara Quin's and Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen's sons. Sid Vicious, member of the band the Sex Pistols, gives this name a punk…
Tod is a masculine name of German and English origin, meaning 'death' in German or functioning as a short form of the names Theodore ('gift of God') or Todhunter. Despite its somewhat grim German…
Italian
"split"
Haute couture baby names are on the rise — particularly Dior, Armani, and Kenzo. Fendi is among them but is still exceedingly rare, with only 8 baby girls given the name in 2024. Borrowed from the…
Irish
"sea tide"
Hurley is a possibility as a unisex surname-name ending with the "lee" sound. It is perhaps most associated with British actress Elizabeth Hurley, and is much rarer than Harley, because the "ur"…
English
"trumpet-shaped flower"
Literary heritage: the "Loony Tunes" girlfriend of Porky Pig. But with the increasing popularity of all kinds of unusual botanical names, Petunia may be a name we start to hear more of.…
"sweet"
Dolce is the Italian word for "sweet," derived from the Latin word dulcis of the same meaning. It's a rare feminine first name in Italy, more often seen as a surname, as in that of Domenico Dolce,…
Japanese
"first-born"
Japanese-born fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for his techno-clothes, could provide baby naming inspiration.
