Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
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.
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…
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…
Variation of Benedict, Latin
"blessed"
Stick with the original.
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…
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…
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…
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 .
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.
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 .
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…
English literary name
Alas, poor Yorick, your name is fated to remain locked forever as a skull in Hamlet .
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…
Scottish, Literature
"white hound"
Appearing on a character in Shakespeare's semi-historical play, Macbeth and in an earlier work called Holinshed's Chronicles from which Shakespeare took inspiration, the name Banquo has yet to appear…
