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Muppet Names

  1. 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.
  2. Herbert

    • Origin:

      German

    • Meaning:

      "bright army"

    • Description:

      Names ending in bert have long been in limbo, but with the return of Albert, maybe there's hope for Herbert. who could share the Bertie nickname. Herbert is a name that's been used by English speakers since medieval times, and was in the Top 25 in the US in the late 1920s, around the time of the presidency of Herbert Hoover, but there's been no sight of Herbert in the 21st century. Some Herberts, including novelists H. G. Wells and H. E. Bates, have preferred to go by their initials.
  3. 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.
  4. Marvin

    • Origin:

      Welsh, variant of Mervyn

    • Meaning:

      "sea hill"

    • Description:

      Marvin has been neglected for so long that it's hard to believe that it has windswept Welsh roots. It also has some strong namesakes going for it -- singer Marvin Gaye, composer Marvin Hamlisch and boxer Marvin Hagler. It's the real name of both Neil Simon and Meatloaf. And let's not forget mention Marvin Gardens on Monopoly.
  5. Roosevelt

    • Origin:

      Dutch

    • Meaning:

      "rose field"

    • Description:

      Presidential surname adopted as a first by numbers of midcentury African-American parents.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. Biff

    • Origin:

      American nickname

    • Description:

      The quintessential midcentury nickname, famously found in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman."
  9. 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.)
  10. Janice

    • Origin:

      Variation of Jane

    • Meaning:

      "God is gracious"

    • Description:

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

    • Origin:

      Abbreviated form of Rudolf, German

    • Meaning:

      "famous wolf"

    • Description:

      Like Papa name Rudolf, Rolf never quite emigrated from the Bavarian Alps. You might want to move on to Rollo or Wolf.
  12. 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.
  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. Ernestine

    • Origin:

      Femeninization of Ernest, English from German

    • Meaning:

      "serious, resolute"

    • 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. Johnson

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "son of John"

    • Description:

      No competition for Jackson.
  19. 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.

  20. 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.