Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Hunger Games Baby Names
Across 5 pages
of 5
Juno
Latin
"queen of the heavens; young"
Juno is an ancient name that feels as fresh as if it had been minted, well, not yesterday, but in 2007. Since the release of the popular indie film Juno , this lively but strong Roman goddess name…
Katniss
Literary and botanical name
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…
Lamina
Basque
"water nymph"
In Basque mythology, Lamina are mermaid-like creatures (they can also have duck tails) who grant wishes.
Lysistrata
Greek
"she who disbands armies"
Literary and ancient, Lysistrata is the Latinized form of the Greek Lysistrate and the variation used by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophenes in his comedy of the same name. Set around the…
Mags
Mags is typically a diminutive or nickname for Margaret, which derives from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl.' While primarily used as a familiar form, Mags has occasionally been given as a legal…
Marvel
English word name
"to be filled with wonder or astonishment"
Marvel, once a feminine miracle name, has been resurrected as a unisex word name with a dose of superhero style.
Mayfair
English surname
A well-to-do London neighborhood, English surname, and potential route to the nickname May. Mayfair has everything going for it, and yet it couldn't be rarer.
Maysilee
Literary invented name
Suzanne Collins invented this name for a District 12 tribute — Maysilee Donner — who is mentioned in The Hunger Games trilogy and is a main character in the prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping . It may…
Merrilee
English, word name or combination of Mary and Lee, or Scottish place-name
Merrilee has several different origins. It's an alternative spelling of the unusual word name Merrily, as well as a variant of the smoosh name Marilee (Mary + Lee). Merrilee, Merrilees or Mirrlees…
Moss
English
"descendant of Moses"
This evocative green nature name, heard much more frequently as a surname, is associated with playwright Moss Hart (born Robert), who co-wrote (with George S. Kaufman) such enduring Broadway comedies…
Palmyra
Greek, place name
"palm tree; pilgrim"
An ancient city in modern-day Syria, which occasionally makes the roster of girl names. Its etymology is uncertain — locally it is called Tadmor, and Palmyra is the Greek version — but it has…
Peeta
Invented literary name
Author Suzanne Collins created this soft-spoken Peter variation for one of her heroes in her series The Hunger Games .
Pollux
Greek
"very sweet"
Made cool by that final X (as seen in Felix, Lennox, and Rex), Pollux is the Romanized form of Polydeukes, the half-twin of Castor, and the son of Zeus and Leda. Associated with the Gemini…
Portia
Latin
"pig"
Portia is a perfect role-model name, relating to Shakespeare's brilliant and spirited lawyer in The Merchant of Venice , and is now also a Hunger Games name . Another Shakespearean Portia was the…
Posy
English
"a bunch of flowers"
A sweet, nostalgic nosegay kind of name, Posy has been long fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is still rarely heard in the US, though it could be…
Primrose
English flower name
"first rose"
A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen…
Proserpina
Variation of Proserpine, Latin
"bringer of destruction"
The Roman equivalent of Persephone, making her a goddess of spring, and queen of the underworld. Also spelled Proserpine.
Romulus
Latin
"citizen of Rome"
He was the original Roman, Remus's twin and a founder of Rome. But parents attracted to this name are advised to read the legend first. Romulus does have some less than savory characteristics,…
Rue
Botanical names or word name
"herb; regret"
Rue has gone from Golden Girls actress to Hunger Games heroine to a fresh alternative to beloved middle name Rose. This botanical name is also a coincidental double word name, meaning "regret" in…
Seneca
Latin surname and Native American
"people of the standing rock"
Seneca's distinguished heritage as the name of the ancient Roman philosopher-playwright who tutored Nero, and of an Iroquois tribe makes this an interesting choice for either sex.