Zelda inspired names

  1. Zelda
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Griselda
    • Meaning:

      "gray fighting maid"
    • Description:

      Classified as an early beauty, Zelda has long and often been used as such for characters in books and films. Since 1986, Zelda has been a prime Nintendo name, as in the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
  2. Colin
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Nicholas or Irish and Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "people of victory; pup"
    • Description:

      Thanks to its dashing Anglo-Irish image — due partly to Colins Firth and Farrell — and its C-initialed two-syllable sound, Colin and its cousin Collin have enjoyed a long run of popularity, reaching as high as Number 84 in 2004.
  3. Sage
    • Origin:

      Herb name, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "wise and knowing"
    • Description:

      Sage is an evocatively fragrant herbal name that also connotes wisdom, giving it a double advantage. It entered the Top 1000 at about the same time for both genders in the early 1990s, but it has pulled ahead for the girls. Toni Collette named her daughter Sage Florence.
  4. Ralph
    • Origin:

      English from German
    • Meaning:

      "wolf-counsel"
    • Description:

      Ralph has two diametrically different images: there's the suave Ralph Fiennes-type Brit (often pronounced Rafe), and then there's the Jackie Gleason blue-collar, bowling blowhard Ralph Kramden bus driver. It's all in the eye of the beholder, though its hip factor did rise when it was chosen for his son by cool U.K. actor Matthew Macfadyen.
  5. Marin
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "of the sea"
    • Description:

      Marin is a lovely county north of San Francisco, and a lovely baby name on the rise, one which sounds more refreshing than the more familiar Marina.
  6. Lana
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Alana
    • Meaning:

      "rock or handsome"
    • Description:

      Popularized in the 1940s by Lana (born Judy) Turner, today Lana is synonymous with American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. Although it has been rising steadily since the early 2000s, Lana still sits in the popularity "sweet spot" – familiar, but not overused. Simple, sleek and seamlessly international, it makes a great choice.
  7. Maple
    • Origin:

      English tree name from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "maple tree; tree of the Acer genus"
    • Description:

      Maple is one of those sweet-spot word names that sounds so almost name-like that it doesn't feel outlandish or strange, despite its relative newness as a given name. Just as Juniper is adjacent to June or Pippa, Clover like Chloe or Clara and Ember like Emma or Ebba, Maple is enough like Mabel, Maisie and Mae that it blends in well and has a touch of borrowed vintage charm.
  8. Niko
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Nichoals; diminutive of Nikolaos, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "victory of the people"
    • Description:

      Popular in Croatia, Spain, New Zealand, and Slovenia, Niko has also been rising up the US popularity charts for boys since the late 2000s. Fresher than Nicholas, spikier than Nico, it currently ranks just outside the US Top 300.
  9. Hilda
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "battle woman"
    • Description:

      Short for Brunhilda, the operatic Valkyrie of Teutonic legend, Hilda still has not quite shaken off that image that image. Though with the resurgence of Matilda, she might just have a bit of a comeback.
  10. Talon
    • Origin:

      French word name
    • Meaning:

      "large claw of a bird of prey"
    • Description:

      Despite its somewhat menacing meaning, this name has been widely used in recent years, probably due to the appeal of its trendy on ending.
  11. Link
    • Origin:

      Word name or diminutive of Lincoln
    • Meaning:

      "ring, loop, connection; town by the pool"
    • Description:

      Perhaps best associated today with the character from The Legend of Zelda game franchise, Link also has ties to the retro crime drama, The Mod Squad, to the presidential surname Lincoln, and of course, to links on the internet. Part fantastical, part retro cool, part futuristic, Link was chosen for 200 boys in 2022, and 144 in 2023.
  12. Cia
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Cynthia
    • Description:

      What's Cia short for? Cynthia or most any other C-name. Stylish in its sleek Mia-Nia minimalist feel, but may remind some of the Central Intelligence Agency.
  13. Ricky
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Richard or Frederick
    • Meaning:

      "dominant or peaceful ruler"
    • Description:

      Gone with Richard and Rick, Ricky has been falling since the turn of the 21st century. Probably still suffering from overuse in the 1990s.
  14. Sky
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      Sky may be a bit hippie-ish, but it's bright and sunny nonetheless. Sky rejoined the Top 1000 in 2013 after spending many years off the list. Sky was the choice of magician David Copperfield for his daughter, born in 2010.
  15. Faron
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "handsome servant"
    • Description:

      Faron, a soft and gentle name, has a diverse group of references. There was the medieval Saint Faron, Bishop of Meaux (who has given his name to a cheese); Faron Young, a colorful midcentury country singer known as The Hillbilly Heartthrob, and a character from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
  16. Robbie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Robert, English from German
    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"
    • Description:

      This short form of Robert was borne by famous figures from Robbie Williams to Robbie Coltrane to Robbie Robertson. At one point, Robbie was the cool new Bobby, but now Robbie is cool only for girls.
  17. Navi
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "to name"
    • Description:

      Nickname for the star Gamma Cassiopeiae given by the late astronaut Gus Grissom after his own middle name (Ivan) spelled backwards. Navi also relates to the prophets in the Hebrew Bible.
  18. Epona
    • Origin:

      Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "horse"
    • Description:

      In Celtic mythology (later borrowed into the Roman empire), Epona is the goddess of horses and fertility. Link's horse in The Legend of Zelda is fittingly named Epona.
  19. Tetra
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "four"
    • Description:

      Tetra is a Greek numeral prefix meaning "four", so it could make a fitting choice for a fourth child or for an IV.
  20. Saria
    • Description:

      Saria is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from Arabic roots, where it relates to 'sariya' meaning 'cloud that travels by night' or 'night journey.' In Hebrew contexts, it might be connected to the name Sarah, meaning 'princess.' Saria gained some recognition among gamers as a character name in the video game 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,' which introduced it to a wider audience. The name has a melodic, flowing quality with its soft consonants and open vowel sounds. While not among the most common names in Western countries, Saria offers a beautiful alternative to more familiar names like Sarah or Sofia. Its multicultural roots and gentle sound make it appealing to parents seeking a name that feels both exotic and accessible.