Celebrity Names · Historic and Vintage Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
English, Aramaic, Hebrew
"priest, father"
A traditionally masculine surname, denoting the head of a monastery, a priest, or someone who worked for a church official, Abbott may appeal as a fresh spin on Biblical Abigail. Quietly used for…
Latin
"seventh"
Name for a seventh child, back when people had them.
American nickname
First Woody Allen, then Spike Lee named their children to honor the great early black pitcher, Leroy "Satchel" Paige. A bit luggage-related for non-celebrity use, however.
Spelling variation of Sergeant, Latin
"to serve"
One of the few military ranks used as a name, as in Kennedy in-law and Peace Corps creator Sargent (born Robert Sargent) Shriver. There's also a more creative, artistic association with painter John…
English surname
"red or ruddy"
The surname Rudd, made most famous by Antman actor Paul, derives from the words ruddy or red and may have originally been given to someone with a reddish complexion. While this name can theoretically…
Spanish
"red"
Colorful middle name choice.
Invented name
Quvenzhane Wallis, star of Beasts of the Southern Wild and Annie , is the youngest actress ever nominated for an Academy Award. Her name -- which actually takes an accent over the final e -- is a…
Spelling variation of Phyllis, Greek
"green bough"
The Phillis spelling of this once-popular name lives on thanks to Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American to publish a book of poetry, in the 18th century.
Short form of Oscar, Osias, Oswald et al
Ossie is best-known as the name of actor Ossie Davis, whose full name did not start with Os: It was Raiford. But Ossie makes a cute contemporary short form for any name beginning with Os.
Literary name, Greek
"angel"
If you want to move beyond Maya, you might consider this distinctive last name of poet Maya Angelou. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Angelou was given the nickname Maya by her brother and adopted…
Variation of Orpah, Hebrew
"fawn or gazelle"
The misspelling that created an indelibly one-person name. And we mean that literally: Despite Oprah Winfrey's fame and appeal, there were no baby girls named Oprah last year, OR Orpah. The Biblical…
Greek
"virtuous"
There's still only one.
Diminutive of Arnaud, French
"ruler; strong as an eagle"
The male usage of Arna comes from Arnaud, the French translation of Arnold. Arnaud and Arna were historically used in Creole-speaking Louisiana. Harlem Renaissance poet Arna Bontemps was born in…
German
"wealthy"
The memorable folk singer, an early single-name celeb, brought this into the spotlight. The French variation is Odette.
Luo; Japanese
"bending or leaning; little beach"
The surname of the 44th US President has been been adopted as a first, for girls as well as boys, by admiring parents around the world. And the O beginning even makes it fashionable. Though Barack…
Audre is a feminine name that represents a variant spelling of Audrey, derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Æðelþryð, meaning 'noble strength.' This unique spelling gained some recognition through the…
German, Slovene, and Scandinavian diminutive of Margaret, Greek
"pearl"
A unique international short form of Margaret, now associated with Facebook and Instagram and with "meta" fiction, books, TV shows, and similar that are self-referential.
African surname
An African family name ripe for adoption in honor of Nelson Mandela, the South African activist imprisoned for almost thirty years for his antiapartheid activities.
French surname
As a first name, Basquiat is used as in honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat, the neoexpressionist whose art touched on themes of race, wealth disparity, and humanism.
French
"russet-haired"
An old English redhead name -- one of the few that doesn't begin with the letter r -- with references both to a famous French knight and a magical horse. Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin is a…
