Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Shakespeare Names
Across 7 pages
of 7
Tarquin
Latin, Roman clan name
One of the few ancient Roman names that doesn't end in us, the rarely heard Tarquin has a decidedly creative, even dramatic flair, which could appeal to the parent looking for a strikingly original…
Thaisa
Variation of Thais, Greek
"beloved, bandage"
Thaisa is a variation of the ancient Greek Thais that was used by Shakespeare for the wife of Pericles. This literary princess name is rare and attractive.
Thisbe
Greek mythological name, meaning unknown
Thisbe, the name of a beautiful but tragic lover in mythology, is lively and cute -- in a slightly thistly, prickly way. Ovid retold the story of Thisbe and Pyramus, young lovers in ancient Babylon…
Timon
Greek
"reward, honor"
Kids would be more likely to associate this name with the hyperactive meercat in "The Lion King" than with the ancient Greek philosopher or Shakespearean character, which could cause playground…
Benvolio
Italian
"good wisher; peacemaker, benevolent"
A kindly, virtue-adjacent name, it appears in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet , borne by the peacemaker friend who persuades Romeo to go to the party where he meets Juliet. Alas. A bold choice but with…
Titania
Greek
"giant, great one"
This name of the queen of the fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream has a delicate, lacy charm similar to Tatiana's, but that first syllable could cause embarrassing problems.
Benedick
Variation of Benedict, Latin
"blessed"
Stick with the original.
Tybalt
Medieval form of Theobald
"from bold people"
Similar in sound to the French "Thibault", which is far more popular, Tybalt is best known as the bloodlustful and brawling cousin of Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . Perhaps this…
Ulysses
Latin variation of Odysseus, Greek
"wrathful"
Ulysses is one of the few U boys' names anyone knows -- with heavy links to the Homeric hero of The Odyssey , the eighteenth US president Ulysses Grant, and the James Joyce novel -- all of which…
Ursula
Latin
"little female bear"
A saint's name with a noteworthy literary background, including uses by Shakespeare in Two Gentlemen of Verona and Much Ado About Nothing , by Ben Johnson, Walter Scott, Longfellow, D. H. Lawrence…
Valentine
Latin
"strength, health"
Valentine is an attractive Shakespearean name with romantic associations, but those very ties to the saint and the sentimental holiday have sent it into a decline, one which we think may be about to…
Valerius
Latin
"strength, health"
Valerius is an ancient Roman family name turned first name. While Valerius is more familiar as its derivatives Valerie and Valerian, the rise of Roman names ending in S for boys may inspire a revival…
Varro
Latin cognomen
The name of minor characters in Shakespeare's two of Roman plays – Julius Caesar and Timon of Athens – and a noble Spanish surname. Though probably etymologically unrelated to the Latin word for…
Vincentio
Italian variation of Vincentius, Latin
"conquering"
Ancient Italian form of Vincent, used by Shakespeare in both The Taming of the Shrew and Measure for Measure .
Viola
Latin
"violet"
Viola has plenty of positive elements going for it: the rhythm of the musical instrument, the association with the flower, the trending 'Vi' beginning and its leading role in Shakespeare's Twelfth…
Virgilia
Feminine variation of Virgil, Latin
"staff bearer"
This Shakespearean name is even more out of step than its male counterpart, but it may possibly be so far out it could make its way back in.
Volumnia
Feminization of Volumnius, Latin
"scroll"
Shakespeare used Volumnia as the name of Coriolanus' mother in his tragedy Coriolanus while Dickens used it in Bleak House .
Balthasar
Greek
"God protects the king"
Balthasar was one of the biblical Three Kings who visited the infant Jesus, also used by Shakespeare and in the oil-rich Getty family; offbeat and intriguing. Balthazar is another, equally…
Yorick
English literary name
Alas, poor Yorick, your name is fated to remain locked forever as a skull in Hamlet .
Phrynia
Variant of Phryne, Literature, Ancient Greek
"toad"
Used by Shakespeare in his play Timon of Athens , Phrynia is a Shakespearean that hasn't caught on as Ophelia, Jessica, or Imogen have — possibly because of its unusual sounds, its toady meaning, and…