Pop-culture Baby Names
357 Pop-culture names with meanings, U.S. popularity, and audio pronunciation on every page.
Pop culture baby names come straight from the screens, songs and stories we love — blockbuster franchises, hit shows, comics and chart-topping music. Parents are drawn to them because they feel bold and instantly recognizable, carrying a built-in story every time someone asks, “where did you get that name?”
Where these names come from
Pop culture names borrow from every corner of fandom: sci-fi and fantasy epics gave us Kylo and Anakin, animated favorites gave us Coraline, and prestige television gave us Khaleesi. What unites them is a strong, story-driven identity — these are names with a plot behind them.
Pop culture girl names
Fierce, cinematic picks like Trinity and Xena channel on-screen heroines, while Juno and Roxy bring a spirited, modern edge. Barbie leans straight into fandom, wearing her pop-culture roots proudly.
Pop culture boy names
Daemon, Link and Bane have real comic-book and gaming muscle, while Broly and Atreus nod to anime and epic mythology — all names that sound as strong on a playground as they do in the credits.
Music & celebrity-inspired names
Musicians and stars have handed down some of the most beloved names in this category, from Bruno and Dua to Britney and Demi. They’re proof that pop culture names aren’t only fictional — sometimes they’re borrowed straight from someone real audiences already adore.
Every name below links to its own page with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, famous bearers, and a clear audio pronunciation — so you can hear it before you choose.
Pop-culture Girl Names
Jenova#10602 in the U.S.A modern coinage echoing Nova ('new; a star that flares bright') with a Jen- opening; also fami▶Kuromi#10679 in the U.S.Best known as a Sanrio character (a mischievous rabbit-like figure), whose name draws on the Ja▶Renesmay#10878 in the U.S.A spelling of Renesmee, the coined name from the Twilight novels blending Renee ('reborn') and ▶Sarabi#10913 in the U.S.From the Swahili sarabi, 'mirage,' widely known as the name of Simba's mother in Disney's The L▶Jeleesa#10957 in the U.S.Jeleesa is a coined American given name built with a Je- opening and the popular -eesa/-issa en▶Tauriel#10980 in the U.S.A coined name created for Peter Jackson's Hobbit films, built from Tolkien's Elvish (Sindarin) ▶Tsireya#10997 in the U.S.A coined name from the constructed Na'vi language of Avatar: The Way of Water, borne by a young▶Tsunade#10998 in the U.S.A character name from the Naruto manga and anime — a legendary ninja and Hokage. The name is a ▶Aeowyn#11087 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Eowyn, the shield-maiden of Rohan in J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the R▶Aviendha#11203 in the U.S.A coined name from Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, borne by a fierce Aiel war▶Arryn#11333 in the U.S.A modern respelling that reads as Erin ('Ireland') or a unisex Aaron/Arran; it also matches Hou▶Katniss#11593 in the U.S.The name of the heroine Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games novels; also a real edible aquat▶Keyleth#11614 in the U.S.A modern coinage best known as Keyleth, a druid character in the tabletop show Critical Role. A▶Mirajane#11773 in the U.S.A compound of Mira ('wonderful; admirable' in Latin, 'peace' in Slavic) and Jane ('God is graci▶Senua#11948 in the U.S.A rare name tied to Senua/Senuna, a Romano-British goddess known from a votive hoard; widely re▶Siddalee#11966 in the U.S.A charming Southern-flavored coinage (with a -lee ending), best known from Siddalee 'Sidda' Wal▶Vexahlia#12032 in the U.S.Vexahlia is a coined name from the character Vex'ahlia in the web series Critical Role. It has ▶Yennefer#12077 in the U.S.Yennefer is the name of a sorceress in The Witcher series; it is a stylized form of Jennifer/Gu▶Teela#12139 in the U.S.Teela is a modern American coinage, probably an elaboration of Tia or Tila with a soft -la endi▶Faline#12550 in the U.S.A name best known from Faline, the young doe in Disney's Bambi; the word echoes Latin felinus (▶Hela#12607 in the U.S.From Hel/Hela, the Norse goddess who rules the realm of the dead, her name tied to the conceale▶Hylia#12618 in the U.S.From the goddess Hylia in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda, protector of Hyrule. A coined pop-cul▶Jorah#12697 in the U.S.Jorah appears as a minor biblical Hebrew name (sometimes glossed 'autumn rain' or 'harvest'); i▶Koriandr#12797 in the U.S.Koriandr is a pop-culture name: the Tamaranean birth name of Starfire (Koriand'r) in DC Comics,▶Quorra#13092 in the U.S.Quorra is the name of a central character in the 2010 film Tron: Legacy — a coined, invented na▶Riplee#13144 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Ripley, an English place name and surname from Old English ripel + leah,▶Rukia#13161 in the U.S.Rukia is an East African (Swahili) form of Arabic Ruqayyah, a name tied to senses of gentleness▶Shaniah#13217 in the U.S.Shaniah is a spelling of Shania, the stage name of singer Shania Twain, who has said she took i▶Shuri#13233 in the U.S.Shuri is a Japanese name and place name (the historic Shuri castle district of Okinawa); as a p▶Siri#13240 in the U.S.Siri is a Scandinavian short form of Sigrid, from the Old Norse Sigridr — sigr, 'victory,' plus▶Sookie#13251 in the U.S.Sookie is a historical English and American Southern pet form of Susan or Susannah, from the He▶Tennille#13297 in the U.S.Tennille is a surname of probable French or Louisiana origin, turned into a girls' first name a▶Tifa#13305 in the U.S.Tifa is chiefly known as the name of Tifa Lockhart, a central character in the video game Final▶Truvy#13314 in the U.S.Truvy is best known as Truvy Jones, the warm-hearted beauty-shop owner in Steel Magnolias (1989▶Crystle#13550 in the U.S.Crystle is a variant of Crystal, the gem-and-glass name from Greek krystallos, 'ice' or 'clear ▶Anakin#13581 in the U.S.An invented name from the Star Wars films, where Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader; it has n▶Buffy#13737 in the U.S.A nursery pet form of Elizabeth (Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath'), born from a small child▶Cersei#13782 in the U.S.An invented name from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and the TV series Game of Th▶Cher#13792 in the U.S.From the French cher/chere, 'dear; beloved; precious' — also a short form of Cherie or Cheryl. ▶Ciri#13798 in the U.S.Best known as the short form of Cirilla, a character in Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher novels and ▶Disney#13895 in the U.S.Disney is an English surname, generally traced to Norman d'Isigny, 'from Isigny' in Normandy. A▶Feyra#13989 in the U.S.A modern coinage. For most U.S. families it echoes Feyre, the heroine of Sarah J. Maas's 'A Cou▶Gamora#14003 in the U.S.A coined name from Marvel Comics: Gamora, the green-skinned adopted daughter of Thanos in the G▶Hendryx#14058 in the U.S.A respelling of the surname Hendrix/Hendricks — Dutch, 'son of Hendrik' (Henry), from Germanic ▶Hinami#14071 in the U.S.A Japanese-style given name, most naturally read as hina (a common name element linked to the s▶Illyria#14093 in the U.S.Illyria was the classical name for a region along the eastern Adriatic, home to the Illyrian pe▶Isys#14115 in the U.S.Isys respells Isis, the Greek form of the Egyptian goddess Aset — goddess of magic, healing and▶Iysis#14127 in the U.S.Iysis is a modern respelling of Isis — the Greek name for the Egyptian goddess Aset, protector ▶Jadis#14130 in the U.S.Jadis is the French adverb jadis, 'formerly, long ago, of old'. C. S. Lewis gave the name to th▶Jaleesa#14146 in the U.S.Jaleesa is an American coinage that blends the Ja- prefix with a Lisa/Alisa ending. It became w▶Pebbles#14218 in the U.S.Pebbles is an English word name — from 'pebble', a small smooth stone — used affectionately; it▶Jyn#14241 in the U.S.A modern one-syllable coinage — a y-spelling of Jin — best known as the name of Jyn Erso, the l▶Kagome#14247 in the U.S.A Japanese word for the woven, hole-and-lattice pattern of a bamboo basket, and the name of a t▶Khaleesy#14309 in the U.S.A respelling of Khaleesi, a word from the invented Dothraki language of George R. R. Martin's A▶Khalisi#14312 in the U.S.Khalisi is a spelling of Khaleesi, an invented Dothraki-language title meaning 'queen,' created▶Kesha#14348 in the U.S.Kesha is chiefly a modern American name, a shorter spelling of Keisha (itself often linked to L▶Kherington#14398 in the U.S.Kherington is a Kh- respelling of Carrington or Kerrington, an English surname and place-name b▶Fonda#14487 in the U.S.Fonda is chiefly a surname-name, associated with the celebrated Fonda acting family (Henry, Jan▶Myrcella#14682 in the U.S.Myrcella is best known as an invented character name from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice a▶Nalla#14701 in the U.S.Nalla spells Nala, a name best known in the U.S. from the lioness in The Lion King. Nala also h▶Namora#14706 in the U.S.Namora is best known as a Marvel comics character — an Atlantean, cousin of Namor. It is also a▶Saber#14904 in the U.S.The English word saber (sabre), a curved cavalry sword, from French sabre and ultimately a Hung▶Gidget#14967 in the U.S.Gidget is a pop-culture coinage from the 1959 film Gidget and its follow-ons. The name was inve▶Sheera#15217 in the U.S.Sheera is a girl's name that echoes the Hebrew shira or shirah, 'song' or 'poem,' and also the ▶Anberlin#15418 in the U.S.Anberlin is a modern American coinage that reads as a blend of Amber with a fashionable '-lin/-▶Ashara#15516 in the U.S.Known from Game of Thrones as Ashara Dayne; it also echoes the Arabic 'ashara ('ten') and Ashir▶Daneiris#15787 in the U.S.Daneiris reads as a modern coinage that clearly echoes Daenerys, the invented name of a Game of▶Llesenia#15825 in the U.S.Llesenia is a variant spelling of Yesenia, a Spanish girl's name made hugely popular across Lat▶Harleyquinn#15969 in the U.S.Harleyquinn is a given name taken from the DC Comics character Harley Quinn, created in 1992. T▶Evolett#15997 in the U.S.Evolett is a modern American coined name, a spelling of Evolet, the heroine of the 2008 film 10▶Corliss#16314 in the U.S.Corliss is from an English surname derived from Old English careleas, 'carefree; cheerful; with▶Kalesi#16357 in the U.S.A spelling that echoes Khaleesi, the invented Dothraki title for 'queen' created for the novel ▶Khalesi#16510 in the U.S.A modern name echoing Khaleesi, the Dothraki title ('queen') carried by Daenerys in Game of Thr▶Mystique#16920 in the U.S.Mystique is a word-name taken directly from the English word mystique, borrowed from French, me▶Nakoma#16935 in the U.S.Nakoma is best known as the name of Pocahontas's friend in Disney's nineteen-ninety-five film, ▶Vaiana#17454 in the U.S.From Polynesian (Tahitian), often read as 'water from the cave' (vai, 'water'). It is the inter▶Delenn#17468 in the U.S.Delenn is a modern invented name without a documented traditional root. Its best-known bearer i▶Vitani#17484 in the U.S.Best known as a character in Disney's The Lion King II: Simba's Pride; as a real-world name its▶Ryhanna#17519 in the U.S.Ryhanna is a modern respelling in the orbit of Rihanna, the Arabic-rooted name from 'rayhana', ▶Zowie#17651 in the U.S.A bright elaboration of Zoe, from the Greek for 'life'; the playful -wie spelling gives it a wi▶Nyoka#19756 in the U.S.Nyoka comes straight from mid-century American pop culture: Nyoka the Jungle Girl, a comic and ▶KahlessiA phonetic respelling of Khaleesi, itself not a traditional name but an invented title in the c▶KhalissiKhalissi is a double-s spelling of Khaleesi, an invented Dothraki-language title meaning 'queen▶KouverA modern American coinage following Kouvr, the given name of social-media personality Kouvr Ann▶NimonaA modern name known from Nimona, the shapeshifting heroine of the graphic novel and animated fi▶
Pop-culture Boy Names
Krrish#10392 in the U.S.Krrish is a modern spelling made famous by the 2006 Hindi superhero film Krrish, whose hero's n▶Oberyn#10589 in the U.S.A literary name popularized by Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones — likely echoing Oberon (the f▶Rambo#10631 in the U.S.A Swedish surname (an old family name, possibly 'raven's nest / ram-hill' by folk etymology), b▶Riften#10654 in the U.S.A modern coinage, best known as a city in a popular video game; as a given name it reads rugged▶Stark#10729 in the U.S.From the English and German surname Stark, meaning 'strong, stern, firm.' Familiar in pop cultu▶Symba#10739 in the U.S.A respelling of Simba, Swahili for 'lion,' familiar worldwide from Disney's The Lion King, whic▶Tanjiro#10752 in the U.S.A traditional Japanese boy's name whose meaning shifts with the kanji; the -jiro element often ▶Vaan#10794 in the U.S.Vaan is a short, modern name popularized as the protagonist of a well-known video game; it also▶Ventus#10803 in the U.S.Ventus is the Latin word for 'wind.' As a given name it is fresh and modern, boosted by a Kingd▶Wraith#10823 in the U.S.Wraith is an English/Scots word for 'a ghost; an apparition,' of uncertain older origin. As a g▶Anakyn#10990 in the U.S.Anakyn is a modern respelling of Anakin, the given name of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars sa▶Andor#10994 in the U.S.Andor is a Hungarian form of Andrew (Greek 'manly, brave') or Andreas/Antal. Separately it is k▶Ansem#11001 in the U.S.Ansem reads as a variant of Anselm, from Germanic 'ans' ('god') and 'helm' ('helmet, protection▶Arkham#11012 in the U.S.Arkham is a fictional place name: the Massachusetts town invented by H. P. Lovecraft and, most ▶Artorias#11023 in the U.S.Artorias echoes Artorius, the Roman family name often proposed as a root of Arthur (of uncertai▶Bocephus#11090 in the U.S.A playful American name, made famous as the nickname of country musician Hank Williams Jr. (fro▶Cobain#11159 in the U.S.From the surname Cobain, likely an anglicized Irish/Gaelic family name (variously linked to Mac▶Durin#11255 in the U.S.From Old Norse myth, Durin (Durinn) is a dwarf named in the Poetic Edda, possibly linked to a r▶Exar#11308 in the U.S.Exar reads as a modern coinage — a crisp, sci-fi-flavored invention (the name Exar Kun is known▶Ganon#11335 in the U.S.Ganon reads two ways: as an Irish surname (Gannon, from Ó Fionnáin, linked to fionn 'fair-haire▶Goku#11355 in the U.S.Goku is the name of the hero Son Goku from the anime/manga Dragon Ball — a Japanese reading (Go▶Jhin#11532 in the U.S.Jhin is best known as a character in the game League of Legends - a stylized name with no estab▶Jinx#11540 in the U.S.Jinx is an English word meaning 'a charm or spell said to bring luck' (often bad luck), possibl▶Jiraya#11542 in the U.S.A spelling of Jiraiya, the shapeshifting toad-sage hero of Japanese folklore and a beloved char▶Kaneki#11606 in the U.S.A Japanese surname best known from Ken Kaneki, the protagonist of the anime and manga Tokyo Gho▶Kobain#11696 in the U.S.A modern given name most often read as a nod to musician Kurt Cobain of Nirvana (a respelling o▶Kraven#11703 in the U.S.A modern given name most often read as a nod to Marvel's villain Kraven the Hunter; it also ech▶Kyloren#11717 in the U.S.Kyloren reads as a pop-culture coinage joining Kylo Ren, the Star Wars sequel-trilogy antagonis▶Lucario#11765 in the U.S.Lucario reads as a pop-culture coinage from the Pokemon franchise, where Lucario is a well-know▶Lucerys#11766 in the U.S.Lucerys reads as a pop-culture coinage from House of the Dragon, where Lucerys Velaryon is a yo▶Nelly#11878 in the U.S.A short, friendly form — for boys usually tied to Cornelius or Nelson, and famously the stage n▶Nymeri#11901 in the U.S.Reads as a modern coinage, likely reshaping Nymeria (a warrior queen and direwolf in 'A Song of▶Osbourne#11920 in the U.S.From the English surname Osbourne/Osborn, from Old Norse Asbjorn / Old English Osbeorn, 'god-be▶Pratt#11945 in the U.S.From the English surname Pratt, from Old English praett, 'a trick; cunning.' Familiar today via▶Rhet#11996 in the U.S.A trimmed spelling of Rhett, from the Dutch surname de Raedt ('advice; counsel'); the name owes▶Rhodey#11997 in the U.S.A friendly nickname form, tied to Rhodes ('where roses grow'; the Greek island); it is also the▶Aerys#12353 in the U.S.A pop-culture name best known as Aerys Targaryen, a king in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice▶Aniston#12432 in the U.S.Aniston is an English surname (an Anglicized form of the Greek Anastassakis) carried into given▶Artimus#12459 in the U.S.Artimus is a spelling of Artemas (a biblical companion of Paul) or a masculine form flavored by▶Atari#12475 in the U.S.Atari is a Japanese term from the board game Go, marking a stone one move from capture; it beca▶Bonham#12549 in the U.S.Bonham is an English surname, likely from Anglo-Norman 'bon homme' ('good man') or from a place▶Brasi#12562 in the U.S.Brasi is an Italian surname; as a given name it reads mostly as a pop-culture pick, tied to the▶Bucky#12584 in the U.S.Bucky is an English nickname, from 'buck' (a young man or a deer) or as a short form of surname▶Capone#12602 in the U.S.Capone is an Italian surname, most famous through gangster Al Capone; as a nickname surname it ▶Gambit#12878 in the U.S.Gambit is an English word for a bold opening move in chess or a calculated risk; it is also the▶Jaehaerys#13010 in the U.S.Jaehaerys is an invented name from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire and the HBO ser▶Jinwoo#13293 in the U.S.Jinwoo is a common Korean given name. Like most Korean names, its meaning depends on which hanj▶Kreedence#13334 in the U.S.Kreedence respells credence, an English word from Latin credentia, 'belief, trust' (from creder▶Leoric#13389 in the U.S.Leoric is a modern name built on old parts: Leo, from Latin leo, 'lion', and the Germanic name ▶Lilo#13398 in the U.S.Lilo is a Hawaiian name popularly glossed 'generous one' — though the Hawaiian word lilo also c▶Magik#13430 in the U.S.Magik respells the English word magic, which came through Latin from Greek magike — 'the art of▶Mirio#13526 in the U.S.Mirio is a Japanese given name whose meaning depends on the characters used; in the U.S. it is ▶Morpheus#13538 in the U.S.Morpheus is the Greek god of dreams, who takes human form in the sleeping mind; the name is bui▶Moxley#13543 in the U.S.Moxley is an English surname of place-name type, likely 'Mocca's clearing' from Old English ele▶Namor#13578 in the U.S.An invented name, familiar from the Marvel Comics character Namor the Sub-Mariner, an undersea ▶Nirvana#13611 in the U.S.From the Sanskrit nirvana, literally 'blowing out; extinguishing' — the state of liberation fro▶Sandler#13838 in the U.S.From the surname Sandler, an occupational name traced to Yiddish and German sandler, 'sandal-ma▶Sega#13854 in the U.S.As a name Sega has no documented etymology. To most people it names the Japanese video-game com▶Sicario#13891 in the U.S.Sicario is the Spanish and Italian word for a hired killer — a hitman or assassin. It descends ▶Sihtric#13895 in the U.S.From Old Norse Sigtryggr — sigr, 'victory', plus tryggr, 'true; trusty' — anglicized as Sihtric▶Sitka#13899 in the U.S.A place-name from Tlingit Sheetka, the Alaskan town on Baranof Island, and the Sitka spruce nam▶Solas#13910 in the U.S.From the Irish word solas, 'light' — and, by extension, comfort and joy. In English the near-ho▶Stanlee#13923 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Stanley, an English surname and place-name from Old English stan ('stone▶Sufjan#13934 in the U.S.A spelling of the Arabic name Sufyan, whose root is debated and often glossed as 'swift-moving'▶Tamatoa#13959 in the U.S.A Polynesian name, generally read from tama ('child') and toa ('warrior; brave') — 'warrior chi▶Tarzan#13965 in the U.S.A name invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs for his 1912 novel Tarzan of the Apes, glossed within t▶Tazz#13975 in the U.S.Tazz is a modern one-beat coinage with no inherited dictionary meaning. It echoes 'Taz,' the ni▶Thrasher#13993 in the U.S.Thrasher is an English occupational surname for a thresher of grain, from Old English therscan,▶Toki#14005 in the U.S.Toki romanizes a Japanese word meaning 'time,' also used for the Japanese crested ibis. Its mod▶Tron#14028 in the U.S.Tron is best known in the U.S. from the 1982 Disney film Tron and its sequel — a pop-culture ro▶Yusuke#14175 in the U.S.A Japanese given name written in romaji. Meaning depends on the characters chosen: the -suke el▶KaizoKaizo is a Japanese given name, historically used for boys, whose meaning depends on the kanji ▶
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Frequently Asked
What are pop culture baby names?
Pop culture baby names are names inspired by movies, TV shows, music, comics and video games — anything from a beloved franchise to a favorite celebrity. Parents choose them because they feel current, memorable and instantly tell a story.
What are popular pop culture girl names?
Trinity, Xena, Juno, Roxy and Barbie are well-loved pop culture girl names, each carrying a bold, on-screen personality.
What are popular pop culture boy names?
Daemon, Link, Bane, Broly and Atreus are strong pop culture boy names with roots in comics, gaming and epic storytelling.
Are celebrity names considered pop culture names?
Yes — names like Bruno, Dua, Britney and Demi count as pop culture names too, since they draw directly from real musicians and stars audiences already know and love.
How many pop culture baby names are on More4Kids?
More4Kids lists 357 pop culture baby names, each with a sourced meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.