Pet Names for Geeks and Nerds
- Jubilee
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"ram's horn"Description:
Jubilee has a joyous and jubilant aura, but it wouldn't be an easy name to carry, what with all that pressure to be a living, breathing, 24-7 party. Jubilee was the name selected by television's Duggars for their miscarried child.
- Sirius
Origin:
Latin from GreekMeaning:
"burning"Description:
Yes, it's the name of the brightest star in the sky, but can't you just hear people saying, "Are you serious?" Singer Erykah Badu used it as a middle name for son Seven.
- Wanda
Origin:
Slavic or GermanMeaning:
"shepherdess; wanderer"Description:
Rarely heard, and when it is, usually attached to a witch. Historically, though, Wanda was a legendary eighth century queen of Poland, and in literature it is the central character of Ouida's eponymous novel Wanda. A musical namesake is the great Polish harpsichordist Wanda Landowska.
- Astro
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"star"Description:
More common as a dog name than a baby name for now, but that hasn't stopped Milo and Rex rising back up the charts! Lovers of edgy o-ending names like Otto, Arlo and Cosmo might like this starry-eyed possibility.
- Kurt
Origin:
German, diminutive of KurtisMeaning:
"courteous, polite"Description:
A name that defines itself, a bit more curt in the harder K version.
- Cirilla
Origin:
Spelling variation of Cyrilla, LatinMeaning:
"lordly"Description:
This obscure antiquated name is finding new life thanks to The Witcher series, whose heroine is named Princess Cirilla, nickname Ciri. The feminine form of Cyril, Cirilla has now surpassed the original Cyrilla in usage, given to 40 baby girls in the US in 2021 vs. only 10 called Cyrilla. We eonder how many parents will call their daughters Ciri.
- Albus
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"white, bright."Description:
The ancient name Albus has modern currency as the first name of the headmaster of Harry Potter's Hogwarts, more formally known as Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Can Albus work if you're missing the long white beard and the magic wand? Maybe, though it might be a heavy mantle for a Muggle child to wear.
- Diggory
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"Lost one"Description:
This buoyant name has the same bouncy rhythm as Rafferty and Barnaby, but is virtually unused. It has plenty of literary cred, too: characters in The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter and Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native have all borne the name.
- Rocket
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in boys' names starting with R, you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and Racer) to your list.
- Valkyrie
Origin:
Old NorseMeaning:
"chooser of the slain"Description:
In Norse mythology, the valkyries decided the fate of men in battle and conveyed the spirits of the fallen to Valhalla, to dwell with the god Odin. Often associated with ravens, swans, and horses, over time the valkyries have been portrayed as strong, female figures, callous and monstrous creatures, and sometimes both at the same time.
- Copper
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"a reddish brown mineral"Description:
More unique than Cooper, and a favorite among pet parents. Copper was the loveable bloodhound from Disney's Fox and the Hound. Keep in mind that Copper is also slang for a policeman.
- Rogue
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
For parents who hope their child will one day carve their own path.
- Bucky
Description:
Bucky is a masculine diminutive nickname that typically derives from names like Buchanan, Buck, or sometimes William/Bill. With American roots, it carries a friendly, approachable quality with a touch of nostalgia. The name evokes a down-to-earth, all-American charm and has occasionally gained visibility through fictional characters like Bucky Barnes in Marvel comics and films. Though relatively uncommon as a formal given name, it maintains popularity as an affectionate nickname, particularly in the southern United States. The name has a youthful, endearing quality that sometimes follows individuals into adulthood, conveying a sense of approachability and warmth. Its informal nature gives it a distinctive casual character compared to more formal masculine names.
- Thanos
Origin:
Greek, diminutive of AthanasiosMeaning:
"immortal"Description:
Thanos originated as a short form of Athanasios, a Greek name meaning "immortal." It is composed of the elements a, a negative Greek prefix, and thanatos, meaning "death." St. Athanasius, who used the Latin spelling of the name, was a bishop of Alexandria and known for his opposition to Arianism.
- Hedwig
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"war"Description:
An ancient German saint's name – and most famously the name of Harry Potter's snowy owl – but the combination of "head" plus "wig" feels a little too literal in English.
- Polaris
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"pole star"Description:
The astronomical Polaris is better known as the North Star, the brightest star in the Ursa Minor constellation. It's also the name of a character in the Marvel Universe, as the daughter of Magneto. A handful of girls have been given the name in recent years.
- Arrow
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Names that have not historically been names are not intrinsically gendered, so though we originally pinned Arrow as a boys' name, both starbaby Arrows that have been born recently have been girls. And with Arrow given to 60 girls in the US in 2015 and 94 boys, we call that a pretty decidedly gender neutral name. With its forward-moving, true-landing imagery, Arrow is one of the new inspirational names.
- Gambit
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Gambit means ploy or trick, which makes it an appropriate name for a little player. Eight boys were named Gambit in the US in one recent year.
- Yelena
Origin:
Russian variation of HelenMeaning:
"bright, shining one"Description:
One of many international versions of this classic.
- Jaskier
Origin:
Literary and botanical nameMeaning:
"buttercup"Description:
Jaskier is the original Polish name of the bard character in The Witcher, incorrectly translated in the English versions of the books and video games as Dandelion but really meaning Buttercup. The Netflix show reverts to Jaskier, with the J pronounced like an English Y.
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