Celebrity Names · Historic and Vintage Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
Irish
"rough peace"
Occasionally used in the African-American community to honor Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey, known as "Emperor of the Kingdom of Africa," though his first name is more frequently chosen. Another…
English, elaborated form of Cora
Famous as the name of the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Latin
"curly-haired"
A potential hero name: Crispus Attucks, an African and Native American man, was the first colonist to die for independence in the Boston Massacre.
German
"lucky spear"
Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist and the NAACP's first field secretary in Mississippi in 1943. Both his bold first name or softer surname would make meaningful choices.
Edmonia is a feminine name of uncertain etymology, though it may be a feminine form of Edmund, a Germanic name combining elements meaning 'wealth' or 'fortune' and 'protection.' The name gained some…
French surname
"of the forest"
Dubois, which can also be stylized as DuBois or Du Bois, is a surname derived from bois , the French word for "forest." A notable, namesake-worthy bearer is W. E. B. Du Bois (who actually pronounced…
Invented name
Dox may sound like a modern invention but it actually has a notable historical bearer. Malagasy poet Jean Verdi Salomon Razakandrainy was known mononymously as Dox, inspired by a nickname he received…
Douglass is a masculine name that represents a variant spelling of Douglas, which originated as a Scottish surname meaning 'dark water' or 'dark stream.' This specific spelling with the double 's' is…
Variation of Leodis, Celtic
"people living by the strongly flowing river"
Leotis effortlessly blends vintage and contemporary style, offering old-fashioned charm and not one, but two old-school cool nicknames: Leo and Otis. Leotis and Leodis — the original form of the name…
"brave friend"
One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.
Modern invented name
Vonetta appears to be a modern feminine given name that emerged in the United States during the 20th century. It may be a diminutive form of the name Yvonne or a variant of Venetta, with the addition…
Unita is a feminine name with Latin roots meaning 'unity' or 'united.' The name embodies concepts of togetherness, harmony, and wholeness, making it meaningful for parents who value these qualities.…
Diminutive of Wilton, English
"place by a stream"
Basketball legend Wilt Chamberlain (born Wilton) lends a sort of mythic quality to his name. Few have ventured to use it since it is so tied to the famed Chamberlain, but it could make an inspired…
Puritan virtue name
"Thoroughgood"
Borne by the first African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, this name probably originated from the Puritan "Thoroughgood." While Thurgood is still quite clunky, it is certainly less…
English word name
"a very large nail"
Spike is part mid-century nickname-name, ala Buster or Buck, and part word name, with an all-over cool creative dude feel thanks to directors Spike Lee and Spike Jonze. Mike Myers named his son…
Variation of Winfrith, English
"peaceful friend"
Oprah's almost mononymic first name is too closely tied to her personality (and brand) for us to recommend it as a baby name in good faith. Her surname, however, is definitely name-worthy. Winfrey…
Arabic, possible variation of Hussein
"beautiful"
There will probably be lots of little namesakes after the fastest man in the world, Jamaican Olympic runner Usain Bolt--middle name St. Leo.
Place-name
"abundant fertile land; great place"
Soul singer Cuba Gooding and his actor son of the same name put this unexpected geographical name on the map for boys, but it has a longer history of use than you might expect. Deriving from the…
English
"from the yew estate"
Brisk, preppy York is an underused classic with the potential to really shine in the 21st century. It's most familiar as a place name — York is a city in England — and surname. New York City and…
Shonda is a feminine name with American origins, likely derived as a variation of Shawn or Sean, which come from the Irish name Seán, meaning 'God is gracious.' Popular primarily in the United States…
