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Famous Directors & Other Names of Classic Cinema

iwerknotwork
By iwerknotwork
Updated Sun Apr 23 2023
The names that changed film making like Federico Fellini, Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, etc
  1. Akira

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "bright, intelligent"

    • Description:

      A popular Japanese name for both sexes that's migrated to the West because of its appearance in manga and video games.
  2. Albee

    • Origin:

      Literary name

    • Description:

      For theater-loving parents -- an homage to one of our premiere playwrights.
  3. Alfred

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "wise counselor; elf counsel"

    • Description:

      Alfred is up off his recliner! If you're looking for a path to Fred, you can go directly to Frederick or take the long way around with the so-out-it's-in-again Alfred. Alfred is quite popular in several European countries, especially England and Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
  4. Andre

    • Origin:

      French and Portuguese variation of Andrew

    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"

    • Description:

      Andre is one of the international forms of Andrew that has been familiar in the English-speaking world for decades without any need to be overly Anglicized - though round the world, it is more likely to be written as André.
  5. Arden

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "valley of the eagle; high"

    • Description:

      Arden, the name of the magical forest in Shakespeare's As You Like It, is a stylish A name with a strong, straightforward image. Another reason to love Arden: its similarity to "ardent." Arden is solidly unisex, with the current gender distribution running about 60 percent girls and 40 percent boys.
  6. Auguste

    • Origin:

      French form of Latin Augustus

    • Meaning:

      "great, magnificent"

    • Description:

      French version of August, for both sexes. And for those who feel the spelling of August is too plain.
  7. Astaire
    • Bates

      • Origin:

        English diminutive of Bartholomew

      • Description:

        Bates is a fresh version of Bartholomew, and feels more wearable than Bart. Bates could be considered a patriotic choice for American parents - Katharine Lee Bates was an author and professor best known for penning the words to "America the Beautiful".
    • Baxter

      • Origin:

        English occupational name

      • Meaning:

        "baker"

      • Description:

        An x makes any name cooler, so that Baxter has a bit more pizzazz than the original Baker. Baxter had some currency as a first name a century ago--it was on the popularity lists sporadically from 1880 till the 1920s, peaking at Number 515 in 1886-- which means it's just about due for a comeback. And we can see Bax as a worthy follow-up to Max and Jax.
    • Bellamy

      • Origin:

        English and Irish from French

      • Meaning:

        "fine friend"

      • Description:

        Bellamy is a surname name with an admirable meaning and upbeat rhythm, similar to jovial choices like Rafferty, Barnaby and Willoughby.
    • Berkeley

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "where birches grow"

      • Description:

        The Brits say BARK-lee, but we pronounce it the same as the name of the California college: either way it's quite pretentious and of another era.
    • Bette

      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Elizabeth

      • Description:

        Pronounced a la Bette (Betty) Davis or Bette (Bet) Midler, a twentieth-century relic. Though if the equally vintage Betty comes back, Bette may be close behind.
    • Bogart

      • Origin:

        Dutch surname

      • Meaning:

        "orchard"

      • Description:

        What it really means: you're a "Casablanca" fan.
    • Brigida

      • Description:

        Brigida is a feminine name with ancient roots, derived from the Celtic name Brighid, meaning "exalted one" or "high one." In Irish mythology, Brighid was a goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. The name gained widespread use through Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland's patron saints. Brigida is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian form of the name, while Bridget is more common in English-speaking countries. Though not frequently used in the United States, Brigida remains moderately popular in countries with Latin-based languages. The name carries connotations of strength, wisdom, and spiritual devotion, appealing to parents seeking a name with both historical depth and multicultural appeal.

    • Brigitte

      • Origin:

        French variation of Brighid

      • Meaning:

        "strength or exalted one"

      • Description:

        Brigitte is the French version of the ancient Irish Brighid long associated with 1950s sex symbol Brigitte Bardot. If you want to pronounce Brigitte the French way, it's brih-ZHEET.
    • Britt

      • Origin:

        Swedish, contracted form of Birgit

      • Meaning:

        "high goddess"

      • Description:

        Brisk but rather brittle. Britt Eklund was a Bond Girl in the 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun. Britt is a contracted form of Birgit, but be aware that it does come with the strong possibility of being confused with Bret/Brett—or as a shortening of Brittany.
    • Broderick

      • Origin:

        Norse

      • Meaning:

        "brother"

      • Description:

        Despite its brotherly meaning, sounds rather formal and cold.
    • Brooks

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "of the brook"

      • Description:

        A nature name, a word name, and a surname name, Brooks has plenty of cool factor. It gives off cowboy vibes and a sporty feel, while also maintaining a smart, collected image.
    • Burton

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "fortified enclosure"

      • Description:

        Prissy, no matter how you spell it.
    • Busby

      • Origin:

        English

      • Meaning:

        "shrub farm"

      • Description:

        A busby is the English name for the fur military headdress originally worn by the Hungarian hussars. As a first name, Busby is also the unique name of iconic movie choreographer Busby Berkeley.