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Muppet Names

  1. Sully

    • Origin:

      French or English

    • Meaning:

      "stain or from the south meadow"

    • Description:

      A jaunty offshoot of Sullivan, Sully will be associated by kids with the beloved character in the Pixar animated film Monsters, Inc. Some notable real-life namesakes are French poet and essayist Sully Prudhomme, the heroic pilot "Sully" Sullenberger, and Sully Erna, lead vocalist of Godsmack.
  2. Prairie

    • Origin:

      English nature name

    • Meaning:

      "prairie"

    • Description:

      Unspecific place name with a wonderfully wide-open, spacious, western feel; used for a character in Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland.
  3. Floyd

    • Origin:

      Welsh

    • Meaning:

      "gray-haired"

    • Description:

      Floyd was a Top 100 name from the 1880s to the 1940s that somehow developed an almost comical hayseed persona along with a touch of retro jazz cool; it's beginning to appeal to parents with a strong taste for the quirky.
  4. Grover

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "lives near a grove of trees"

    • Description:

      Forget the furry blue Muppet, forget corpulent President Cleveland (not too difficult), and consider this name anew. We think it's spunky, a little funky, and well worth a second look.
  5. Sherlock

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fair-haired"

    • Description:

      If ever there was a one-person name, it's probably Sherlock. But Sherlock Holmes the character has arguably never been hotter: he's been played by Robert Downey Jr., Ian McKellen, Jonny Lee Miller and, most memorably, Benedict Cumberbatch, in various film and TV adaptations over the last few years. So you never know.
  6. Yolanda

    • Origin:

      Spanish from Greek

    • Meaning:

      "violet flower"

    • Description:

      Bold and distinctive, Yolanda is a floral name that doesn't sound frilly or delicate. Ultimately deriving from the Greek words ioles meaning "violet" and anthos meaning "flower", it appears in a variety of forms internationally, including Jolanda, Jolanta, Iolanthe, Iolanta, Iolanda, and Jolana.
  7. Abby

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Abigail, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "my father is joyful"

    • Description:

      Gently old-fashioned stand-alone nickname that owes its popularity to mega popular Abigail.
  8. Ernie

    • Origin:

      Variation of Ernest, English from German

    • Meaning:

      "serious, resolute"

    • Description:

      Can Ernie shed the rubber ducky association and make its way onto the vintage revivals list? Years ago we may have said no, but celebrity chef Stephanie Izard made a strong case for Ernie when she gave the name to her son in 2016. Princess Eugenie uses Ernie as a nickname for son Ernest, born in 2023 - showing that Ernie could be the next Augie.
  9. Roosevelt

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "rose field"

    • Description:

      Presidential surname adopted as a first by numbers of midcentury African-American parents.
  10. Barkley

    • Description:

      Barkley is a masculine name of English origin, originally a surname derived from the Old English 'beorc' meaning 'birch tree' and 'leah' meaning 'woodland clearing' or 'meadow.' As a first name, Barkley has maintained modest usage, experiencing small peaks of popularity in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s, possibly influenced by basketball star Charles Barkley. The name carries strong nature associations and a certain preppy, distinguished quality. It balances being recognizable without being common, appealing to parents looking for names with English heritage and woodland connections. Barkley also carries a friendly, approachable sound while maintaining a traditional surname-as-first-name style.

  11. Janice

    • Origin:

      Variation of Jane

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

      For a minute or two this sounded more modern than Janet, now equally outmoded.
  12. Biff

    • Origin:

      American nickname

    • Description:

      The quintessential midcentury nickname, famously found in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman."
  13. Don

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Donald, Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "proud chief"

    • Description:

      Short form of Donald -- or more stylishly, Donahue or Donovan -- that's acquired a new sixties-era suaveness thanks to Mad Man Don Draper. The name also carries a Sopranos or Godfather-style double entendre.
  14. Elmo

    • Origin:

      Italian from German

    • Meaning:

      "protector"

    • Description:

      Elmo, like fellow Sesame Street characters Kermit and Grover, has a hard time being taken seriously. (It isn't easy being red either.)
  15. Telly

    • Description:

      Telly emerged as a nickname for names like Aristotle or Telemakhos, but gained recognition primarily through Greek-American television personality Telly Savalas, famous for his role as Kojak in the 1970s. The name has a distinctive, friendly quality with its approachable sound and modern feel. Despite its association with television (which sometimes serves as a playful reference), Telly has Greek roots and maintains connections to classical naming traditions. It remains relatively uncommon as a formal given name, though it enjoys occasional use in Greek-American communities and among families seeking short, memorable names with cultural significance. Telly's brevity and recognizability make it distinctive without being difficult to pronounce or spell.
  16. Rosita

    • Origin:

      Spanish, diminutive of Rosa

    • Meaning:

      "rose"

    • Description:

      This spirited Spanish variation of Rosa was familiar in the mid-20th century, but is used more quietly now. Given to around 35 babies in the US each year, it could work as a fresh alternative to Roberta or Rosie.
  17. Johnson

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of John"

    • Description:

      No competition for Jackson.
  18. Bert

    • Origin:

      English, diminutive of Albert and Bertram

    • Description:

      A once-popular nickname for Albert and Bertram now being polished up by hip Brits, but still hibernating in the Land of Nerd over here.
  19. Ernestine

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Ernest

    • Description:

      One time joke name, à la Lily Tomlin's bossy telephone operator, Ernestine is ready for a possible reevaluation, like cousins Josephine and Clementine..
  20. Gonzo

    • Description:

      Gonzo is a masculine name with multiple cultural connections. Most prominently, it has Spanish origins as a nickname for Gonzalo, meaning 'battle' or 'strife.' The name gained popular recognition through the eccentric Muppet character Gonzo and the journalistic style termed 'Gonzo journalism' pioneered by Hunter S. Thompson. As a given name, Gonzo remains quite uncommon in formal contexts, more often used as a nickname. It carries connotations of eccentricity, uniqueness, and a free-spirited nature. The name has a distinctly playful and energetic quality that appeals to parents seeking something unconventional. In recent years, it has occasionally appeared as a creative choice for parents drawn to its bold sound and associations with artistic non-conformity.