Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Dance Baby Names
Across 6 pages
of 6
Serra
Italian, Portuguese and Catalan
"ridge"
This topographical name, more suited to a girl than a boy--though it would inevitably be confused with SARAH--has some distinguished bearers: famous Spanish missionary to Mexico Father Junipero…
Siegfried
German
"victorious peace"
Also spelled Sigfrid, this hefty German name has an appropriately majestic meaning: "victorious peace". Fittingly, a famous bearer was the English World War I poet and pacifist Siegfried Sassoon.…
Suzie
Short form of Suzanne, Hebrew
"lily"
Suzie (and Susie) was the one of the It Nicknames of midcentury America, right up there with Debbie and Kathy. Suzie and all her sisters are off their popularity peak now, but not forever. Look for…
Swan
English
"swan"
Obsolete Swanhild gives way to oh-so-modern Swan, joining the flock of newly fashionable bird names such as Wren and Lark. In France, the Swann spelling is fashionable for both sexes. But Swan…
Swanhilda
Germanic
"swan battle"
Form of Swanhild, borne by the heroine of the ballet Coppélia . The -a ending certainly gives this ancient name a lighter, more balletic feel.
Sway
English word name
"sway"
A rhythmic word name with modern, gender-neutral appeal, Sway is rising for baby girls alongside potential full form Swayze. Sway first piqued the interest of girl parents in 2001, after Angelina…
Sway
English word name
"sway"
Sway is a truly gender-neutral choice with rhythm and swagger. Although it's still extremely rare — last used for 13 girls and eight boys — expect it to continue to rise for both sexes, alongside…
Tabitha
Aramaic
"gazelle"
Though never as popular as the name of her Bewitched mother, Samantha, Tabitha has its own quirky, magical charm. The name of a charitable woman who was restored to life by Saint Peter in the Bible,…
Tanaquil
Etruscan
"gift of God"
This intriguing name of an ancient Etruscan queen renowned for her prophetic powers was long associated with the prima ballerina Tanaquil LeClerq.
Tango
Spanish
"touch"
A South American dance style whose name derives from Latin tangere "touch". It's also a popular orange-flavored fizzy drink in the UK, as well as the word for the letter T in the NATO phonetic…
Terpsichore
Greek
"delight in dancing"
The name of the Muse of dancing in Greek mythology. Arguably the least usable of the nine Muses' names, despite serious competition from Melpomene and Polyhymnia. Those two at least have obvious…
Twyla
English
"woven with a double thread; twilight; star"
Mystical and intriguing, this vintage name has an unexpectedly modern feel. Conjuring up imagery of glowing evening light, Twyla could appeal as as alternative to Lila, as a nature-inspired option,…
Abraxas
Persian mythology name
Abraxas is a sci-fi-sounding name with earthly possibilities, but some playground challenges. Abraxas has a long and convoluted history, dating back to ancient Egyptian mythology and the Gnostics who…
Sylphide
French
"air spirit, sylph"
The anime-inspired Sylphiette made the charts in a recent year, so how about this intriguing, ballet-inspired alternative? Derived from the French word for sylphs or air spirits, it appears in the…
Agrippina
Latin
"born feetfirst"
A name with a rich history in Ancient Greece and Rome, Agrippina was the sister of Caligula and mother of Nero, who had her murdered. The original male version, Agrippa, can also used for girls. The…
Albrecht
German variation of Albert
"noble; bright"
These days Albrecht is mostly seen as a surname, although it was historically a well-used first name in Germany. The surname was derived from the given name. Notables Albrechts include Renaissance…
Allegra
Italian
"joyous"
In music, the term allegro means "quickly, lively tempo," which makes this quintessential Bohemian ballet dancer's name all the more appealing. Allegra is one of the most distinctive yet accessible…
Allemande
Word name
"German Dance"
An Allemande is a renaissance musical form meaning 'German dance" - Handel composed many famous allemandes. As a name, Allemande has the advantages of being unusual whilst still having a history, and…
Arabesque
French word name
"ballet position; ornate design"
Fanciful, edging toward bizarre.
Astaire
Surname
"from Austerlitz, Moravia"
Dancer Fred Astaire lends a heavy dose of glamour to his surname, an Anglicized version of the Austrian-Jewish name Austerlitz. Austerlitz is a habitational surname denoting someone from Austerlitz,…