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Hunger Games Baby Names

  1. Alma

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "nurturing, soul"

    • Description:

      Alma is a somewhat solemn, soulful name that had a burst of popularity a century ago, then faded into the flowered wallpaper, and is now finding its footing once more.
  2. Annie

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Ann

    • Meaning:

      "grace"

    • Description:

      Annie is one of the most open and optimistic, the-sun'll-come-out-tomorrow type of name, having been celebrated over the years in song (Annie Laurie), comic strip (Little Orphan Annie), folklore (Annie Oakley, born Phoebe), and film (Annie Hall). It strikes a nice old-fashioned-but-jaunty chord that still has appeal, but we do suggest that you consider putting a more formal version on her birth certificate.
  3. Atala
    • Bonnie

      • Origin:

        Scottish

      • Meaning:

        "beautiful, cheerful"

      • Description:

        Bonnie is an adorable nickname name, heading back up the popularity list after a 50-year nap. A Top 100 girls' name throughout the rest of the English-speaking world, Americans are later to jump on the Bonnie bandwagon but now it's trending here too.
    • Brutus

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "heavy, dull"

      • Description:

        Brutus is the quintessential brute--far too close to the word brutal. And any child with this name would spend much of his life hearing "Et tu."
    • Caesar

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "cut"

      • Description:

        Caesar, the name of the greatest Roman of them all, is rarely used outside Latino families, where the Cesar spelling is preferred —as in activist Chavez and Dog Whisperer Millan. Its original meaning is debated — either "long-haired", "blue-gray" (as in eyes), or "cut" (because Julius Caesar was supposedly born by cesarian section) — it came to be the title to denote all Roman emperors and it is from the name Caesar that many other European royal titles are derived, including Kaiser and Tsar.
    • Cashmere

      • Origin:

        Word name

      • Description:

        Cashmere is soft, luxurious -- and way out of the ordinary. One of the unique names found in The Hunger Games series.
    • Castor

      • Origin:

        Greek; Latin

      • Meaning:

        "beaver; pious one"

      • Description:

        Forget the oil. It's one of the twins that make up the constellation Gemini, and a mythological name on the cutting-edge of fashion; used by Metallica's James Hetfield.
    • Cato

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "all-knowing"

      • Description:

        Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.
    • Cecelia

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "blind"

      • Description:

        Cecelia, with this spelling, got some recent attention as the name of Jim and Pam's baby on The Office -- and also the name of actress Jenna Fischer's newborn niece. A spelling variation of Cecilia that has a gently old-fashioned feel and several appealing short forms, including Celia, Celie, and, as on the TV show, Cece. Three times as many babies are given the Cecilia spelling as get the Cecelia one, though if you plan on calling your daughter Cece or Celia, Cecelia may feel like the more logical spelling.
    • Cinna

      • Origin:

        Latin, family name

      • Description:

        In The Hunger Games series, Cinna is the influential costume designer for Katniss. In ancient Rome, one Cinna was the father-in-law of Julius Caesar and another was a conspirator against Caesar.
    • Claudius

      • Origin:

        Latin

      • Meaning:

        "lame; enclosure"

      • Description:

        Claudius is one of the most user-friendly of the ancient Roman names – even though it's associated with the villainous character in Shakespeare's Hamlet. But as with feminine form Claudia, the "lame" meaning may stymie the rise of Claudius. Some etymologists theorize that the name may relate to the word for enclosure or clause, an alternate meaning that may appeal to a child with a form of this otherwise-appealing name.
    • Clove

      • Origin:

        Nature name

      • Description:

        Clove is a spice name that is a tad more piquant than Saffron or Cinnamon. It might get more attention now as a member of The Hunger Games family of names.
    • Cressida

      • Origin:

        Greek

      • Meaning:

        "gold"

      • Description:

        Cressida is a pretty mythological and Shakespearean heroine name much better known in Britain than it is here — an imbalance the adventurous baby namer might want to correct.
    • Chaff
      • Coriolanus
        • Darius

          • Origin:

            Latin, Greek, Persian

          • Meaning:

            "possessing goodness"

          • Description:

            Darius is a historic name via Emperor Darius the Great, a key figure in ancient Persian history, and several other Persian kings. His name today has an appealingly artistic image, which might well be found on a concert program or gallery announcement.
        • Delly

          • Description:

            Delly is a feminine name that typically functions as a diminutive form of names like Adele, Cordelia, or Delilah. With English origins as a nickname, it has occasionally emerged as a given name in its own right. The name has a cheerful, friendly quality with its bouncy sound and '-ly' ending. Delly gained some recognition following the popularity of Australian basketball player Matthew Dellavedova, nicknamed "Delly." As a standalone name, it remains uncommon, making it distinctive without being unrecognizable. The name evokes a sense of warmth and approachability with its informal, endearing quality. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce across different languages and cultures.
        • Effie

          • Origin:

            English diminutive of Euphemia, Greek

          • Meaning:

            "pleasant speech"

          • Description:

            Effie is the old-fashioned short form for Euphemia. It shares a vintage charm with Hattie and Letty although is much rarer than either. Effie is a character in The Hunger Games and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
        • Enobaria
          • Finnick

            • Origin:

              English place name and surname

            • Description:

              Finnick has risen to prominence as a first name via The Hunger Games, in which Finnick Odair was a winner of the games. The name is related to Fenwick, an old Anglo-Saxon place name and surname that may be loosely translated as "marshland farm." The names Fenwick and Finnick are also related to Phoenix.
          • Flavius

            • Origin:

              Latin

            • Meaning:

              "yellow, blond"

            • Description:

              Flavius is an ancient Roman family name associated with a dynasty of emperors. It has an appealingly flavorful first syllable, and is the name of a stylist in the Hunger Games series.
          • Gale

            • Origin:

              Nature name

            • Description:

              Gale for boys is more a storm name than a short form of Abigail. Since Gale has resurfaced as the name of Liam Hemsworth's daring character in The Hunger Games, it has new force for boys.
          • Glimmer

            • Origin:

              Word name

            • Description:

              Glimmer is shimmery but a little too showy, as is Glitter, a character on a TV sitcom-- while Glimmer appears in The Hunger Games.
          • Gloss
            • Hazelle

              • Description:

                Hazelle is a delicate feminine name that represents an elaborated form of Hazel, derived from the English word for the hazelnut tree and its light brown color. The additional '-le' ending gives the name a softer, more ornate quality while retaining the natural woodland charm of the original. Hazel has experienced a significant revival in recent decades, and Hazelle offers a more distinctive variation on this trend. The name evokes images of nature, warmth, and earthy elegance. While less common than the standard spelling, Hazelle appeals to parents seeking a name with natural origins but with a touch more uniqueness and flourish in its presentation.
            • Haymitch
              • Jackson

                • Origin:

                  English

                • Meaning:

                  "son of Jack"

                • Description:

                  Jackson is one of those names that's much more popular than you think, coming in near the top of our annual Playground Analysis, which ranks names by grouping all their spellings together. Last year, nearly 17,000 baby boys were named Jackson -- along Jaxon, Jaxson, Jaxxon, Jaxen, Jaxyn, Jaxsen, and Jaxsyn -- which counted together makes it the Number 3 boys' name.
              • Johanna

                • Origin:

                  Hebrew

                • Meaning:

                  "God is gracious"

                • Description:

                  Johanna is the version of this name used in Holland, Germany, and Scandinavia. The extra h makes Johanna a slightly more dignified version of Joanna.
              • Katniss

                • Origin:

                  Literary and botanical name

                • Description:

                  Katniss Everdeen is the heroine of the popular Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, whose name comes from the (very real) edible aquatic plant of the genus Sagittaria. Katniss's father tells her that if she "finds herself," she'll never go hungry. Other unusual botanical names in the series include Primrose, Posy, Rue, and Clove, all for girls. Several of the boys' names come from ancient Rome: Cato, Seneca, Flavius, Caesar. Katniss the name has less appeal than Katniss the heroine, though it's definitely more attractive than Renesmee.
              • Lavinia

                • Origin:

                  Latin, from ancient place name Lavinium

                • Description:

                  Lavinia is a charmingly prim and proper Victorian-sounding name which actually dates back to classical mythology, where it was the name of the wife of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who was considered the mother of the Roman people.
              • Lyme
                • Madge

                  • Origin:

                    Diminutive of Margery or Margaret

                  • Meaning:

                    "pearl"

                  • Description:

                    A super diminutive nickname name, and sometime Madonna nickname – it was how the British tabloids referred to her when she moved to London in the 1990s, which she found annoying until then husband Guy Ritchie said it stood for 'Your Majesty'. Madge Undersee is Katniss's best friend in The Hunger Games books.
                • Mags

                  • Description:

                    Mags is typically a diminutive or nickname for Margaret, which derives from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl.' While primarily used as a familiar form, Mags has occasionally been given as a legal first name. It carries a friendly, unpretentious quality with its short, crisp sound. The name projects a casual confidence and approachability. Mags has been more common in the United Kingdom and Ireland than in the United States. As a standalone name, it began appearing occasionally from the mid-20th century onward, though it remains relatively uncommon. The name offers a blend of traditional roots with a modern, no-nonsense feel, making it appealing to those who prefer straightforward, unfussy names with historical connections.

                • Mitchell

                  • Origin:

                    English variation of Michael

                  • Meaning:

                    "who is like God"

                  • Description:

                    Mitchell has had something of a roller coaster ride, showing some panache in the forties and fifties, when it was seen as a sharper alternative to Michael with its cool Mitch nickname, slipping a bit, then resurfacing in the 90s when it reached as high as Number 71. Mitchell Pritchett is one of the leading characters on the TV sitcom Modern Family.
                • Marvel
                  • Maysilee
                    • Messalla
                      • Octavia

                        • Origin:

                          Latin

                        • Meaning:

                          "eighth"

                        • Description:

                          Octavia began as the Latin, then Victorian name for an eighth child. While there aren't many eighth children anymore, this ancient Roman name has real possibilities as a substitute for the overused Olivia; recommended for its combination of classical and musical overtones. It was chosen for his daughter by Kevin Sorbo.
                      • Pollux

                        • Origin:

                          Greek

                        • Meaning:

                          "crown"

                        • Description:

                          Castor's twin in the constellation Gemini. That final x makes this name modern and cool.
                      • Portia

                        • Origin:

                          Latin

                        • Meaning:

                          "pig"

                        • Description:

                          Portia is a perfect role-model name, relating to Shakespeare's brilliant and spirited lawyer in The Merchant of Venice, and is now also a Hunger Games name .
                      • Posy

                        • Origin:

                          English

                        • Meaning:

                          "a bunch of flowers"

                        • Description:

                          A sweet, nostalgic nosegay kind of name, Posy has been long fashionable in England, a country of gardeners, but this pretty bouquet-of-flowers name is still rarely heard in the US, though it could be seen as a more unusual possible alternative to Rosy or Josie.
                      • Primrose

                        • Origin:

                          English flower name

                        • Meaning:

                          "first rose"

                        • Description:

                          A quaint and quirky flower name, until recently considered a bit too prim for most American classrooms but brought back to life in recent years by the attractive character of Primrose "Prim" Everdeen in the Hunger Games series. In the Top 300 girl names in England and Wales and on Nameberry, Primrose remains rare in the US, but is made more accessible by a raft of sweet nickname options, including Rosie and Posy.
                      • Peeta
                        • Plutarch
                          • Romulus

                            • Origin:

                              Latin

                            • Meaning:

                              "citizen of Rome"

                            • Description:

                              He was the original Roman, Remus's twin and a founder of Rome. But parents attracted to this name are advised to read the legend first. Romulus does have some less than savory characteristics, including killing his twin brother and making Rome in his own image, and is later deified as Quinnius. Romy and Quinn might make good twin names.
                          • Rory

                            • Origin:

                              Irish

                            • Meaning:

                              "red king"

                            • Description:

                              This spirited Gaelic classic, which became popular in Ireland via the illustrious twelfth century king Rory O'Connor, makes a highly energetic choice, now used for either sex. Rory's gender split is still trending boyward; it's one of the coolest boys' names starting with R.
                          • Rue

                            • Origin:

                              Botanical names or word name

                            • Meaning:

                              "herb; regret"

                            • Description:

                              Rue has gone from Golden Girls actress to Hunger Games heroine to a fresh alternative to beloved middle name Rose. This botanical name is also a coincidental double word name, meaning "regret" in English and "street" in French. Despite these unfortunate secondary meanings, Rue has real potential to be one of the most popular new middle names for girls.
                          • Seneca

                            • Origin:

                              Latin surname and Native American

                            • Meaning:

                              "people of the standing rock"

                            • Description:

                              Seneca's distinguished heritage as the name of the ancient Roman philosopher-playwright who tutored Nero, and of an Iroquois tribe makes this an interesting choice for either sex.
                          • Sae
                            • Seeder
                              • Thresh
                                • Twill
                                  • Vick

                                    • Description:

                                      Vick is a short, strong masculine name that typically functions as a diminutive of Victor or Vincent, though it has emerged as an independent given name. With Germanic roots relating to 'conqueror' or 'winner,' Vick carries associations of triumph and strength. The name gained recognition through various sports figures, particularly in football, contributing to its athletic connotations. Its brief, punchy sound aligns with the trend toward shorter, more direct male names. While not among the most common names, Vick maintains steady usage, particularly in English-speaking countries. The name has a contemporary feel despite its traditional origins, appealing to parents seeking a masculine name that balances familiarity with distinctiveness. Vick's straightforward pronunciation and spelling add to its practical appeal.

                                  • Venia