Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
English surname
"crane"
This elegant surname has great potential to turn into an unusual first name, especially with its literary associations to both Stephen and Hart Crane. Crane is a surname that originated for a tall…
Teena is a diminutive form of names ending in '-tina' such as Christina, Martina, or Ernestina. It can also be used as a nickname for teen-related names like Athena or Valentina. The name has a…
English
"shaded valley"
A sweet and simple nature name that could also be short for the surname name Odell, the vintage name Della, or the obscure saint's name Endellion.
Latin
"tenth"
Once a birth order name, now might work as a cool x-ending nickname. But be warned that it sounds very close to an unfortunate slang term.
Romani variation of Louis, German and French
"renowned warrior"
Lash might look an unexpected English word name, associated with eyelashes or hitting, striking, whipping, or heavily criticizing someone. It is however a Romani name and a form of the regal Louis,…
English, diminutive of Katherine
"pure"
This endearing nickname name is one Katherine pet form that predates all the Kathys and Katies, having been fairly common in the eighteenth century. With the current mini-craze for animal-related…
Barby is a feminine diminutive name that originated as a nickname for Barbara, which comes from Greek meaning 'foreign woman' or 'stranger.' This playful variation gained recognition in the mid-20th…
Alvah is a masculine name with Hebrew origins, meaning 'his highness' or 'sublimity.' Appearing in the Bible as a descendant of Esau, Alvah carries ancient roots and religious significance. The name…
Evangelene is a feminine name that represents an elegant variation of Evangeline, which derives from Greek elements meaning 'bearer of good news.' This melodious name has roots in both Greek and…
Literary name
Gilly is a name that's popped up from time to time in different contexts: As a nickname for Gillian, for instance, and as the name of a town in Switzerland. But it's increasingly associated with…
"covered with gold"
Gilda, although related to the words gold and gilded, has definitely tarnished. It once shimmered with the seductive image of Rita Hayworth in the film Gilda, then was associated with the beloved…
German, diminutive of Frederica
"peaceful ruler"
Like Mitzi, the bubbly Fritzi/Fritzie shows signs of rising again,
Noll is a masculine name with Germanic origins, functioning as both a surname and given name. It likely derives from Middle High German 'nol' meaning 'hill top' or 'peak,' suggesting elevated status…
American Day Name
Friday became famous as a name via the sidekick character in Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, morphing into a generic term for an all-around professional assistant, as in "girl Friday." As a word for…
Moose is an unconventional masculine name derived from the North American mammal. As a given name, it emerged from nickname usage, typically assigned to individuals with large, strong builds or…
Cicily is a feminine name representing a variation of Cecily, which itself derives from the Latin name Caecilia, meaning 'blind' or associated with the ancient Roman Caecilia family. This spelling…
German, Slovene, and Scandinavian diminutive of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
A unique international short form of Margaret, now associated with Facebook and Instagram and with "meta" fiction, books, TV shows, and similar that are self-referential.
Scandinavian, diminutive of Federica or Erica
Pretty but slight.
Merl as a feminine name (though historically more common for males) has Germanic origins deriving from 'merle,' meaning 'blackbird.' The blackbird association gives the name a natural, free-spirited…
Diminutive of Margery or Margaret
A super diminutive nickname name, and sometime Madonna nickname – it was how the British tabloids referred to her when she moved to London in the 1990s, which she found annoying until then husband…
