Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 6 pages
of 6
Musical name
Ramon is a common Latin male name, but Ramone would clearly be in tribute to the early punk rock group--each of whose members took on the last name Ramone.
Scottish and Irish
"man of force"
In Celtic lore, Fergus was the ideal of manly courage, making it a charming, slightly quirky Scottish and Irish favorite. As a name, Fergus forms a link between Ireland and Scotland, as Gaelic…
English
"keeper of the garden"
Surely one of the most pleasant and evocative of the occupational options.
Slavic and Russian
"hope"
Nadya and Nadia are Eastern European short forms -- for the more difficult Nadezhda -- now fully accepted on their own.
Color name
Fiery but slight middle name choice; much more apt to be a redhead's nickname.
Scottish variation of James
"supplanter"
Just as Seamus/Seumus is Irish for James, Hamish is the Scottish form — one that's not often used here, but still redolent of Olde Scotland. If you're ready to go further than Duncan and Malcolm, out…
Lalo is a warm, friendly masculine name with multiple cultural origins. In Spanish-speaking communities, it often serves as a diminutive for Eduardo (Edward) or Gonzalo. The name also appears in…
Word name or diminutive of Woodrow, English
"row of houses by a wood"
While Woodrow is too forbidding, its nickname Woody is a bit cartoonish, as in Woody Woodpecker and the animated cowboy character in Toy Story. Woody also has a slang meaning that no teenage boy will…
English, diminutive of Dorothy
Old-fangled nickname could make dot.com era short form or middle name.
"wanderer"
Gypsy, long associated with the intellectual stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and the musical that was made about her life, was used by Drea de Matteo and Shooter Jennings as the middle name of their daughter…
Diminutive of Beatrix, Latin
"she who brings happiness"
A sassy, spunky name for the bold parent who doesn't remember Mrs. Ed Norton on The Honeymooners or who's into the nicknames-as-given-names trend sweeping the UK and returning to the US. Trixie is a…
Modern nickname
Brother for Biff and Bud. McFly rocker Tom Fletcher transformed this from midcentury short form to modern cool name when he used it for his newborn son.
English and French diminutive of Matilda, German
"battle-mighty"
If Maude isn't vintage enough for you, you may try Maudie, an antique nickname for Matilda last popular at the turn of the 20th century. Actress Maude Apatow introduced her name to a new generation…
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…
Romani
"I awake"
Django — the D is silent as most everyone now knows — the nickname of the great Belgian-born jazz guitarist Django (originally Jean Baptiste) Reinhardt, makes a dynamic musical choice for…
Roz is a feminine name that typically functions as a diminutive of longer names like Rosalind, Rosemary, or Rose. With Hebrew and Latin influences, it connects to the classic flower name Rose, which…
Diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
The ultra-rare name Libba is an offshoot of Elizabeth that has been used sparingly over the ages. It feels like a more substantial form of Libby, although Libby itself is much more common. You may be…
Gill is a masculine name with multiple origins, functioning both as a standalone name and a diminutive of Gilbert or Gillian. Derived from the Old Norse 'gísl' meaning "hostage" or "pledge," it also…
Greek
"nobody"
One of the best known early Nemos was the captain in Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea , while the more familiar modern one is the animated little orange fish in the Disney movie. Unusual name…
Minny is a feminine name with a warm, vintage charm, typically functioning as a diminutive for names like Minerva, Wilhelmina, or Jemima. It has historical roots as a nickname, particularly popular…
