Names Made Popular By Movies (46 Trendy Ideas for Boys and Girls)
Did you know that Disney movies and other movies influence which names parents choose for their kids?
Yep, it’s true! Names we see in pop culture can influence our naming preferences. Check out these names made popular by movies and Disney movies!
Names Made Popular By Disney Movies
Surprisingly to me, not every Disney Princess made this list. In fact, there are a few I would have never guessed. Let’s start with older movies and work our way to the present.
Wendy (Peter Pan, 1950s)
The name Wendy was virtually unknown in the US until J.M. Barrie introduced it in his play in 1904. Then, it flew to even higher heights after the Disney movie was released in the 1950s.
Sadly, after the restaurant franchise Wendys opened in 1969, and later went public in 1976, this name fell out of popular use.
Ariel (The Little Mermaid, 1989)
The name Ariel was used occasionally in the 1980s. And as soon as Disney released The Little Mermaid in 1989, this name stopped hanging out under the sea. It comes from a Hebrew name meaning lion of God.
Jasmine (Aladdin, 1992)
Princess Jasmine from the 1992 Disney movie Aladdin popularized this beautiful name.
It comes from the fragrant jasmine flower and plant.
Esmeralda (1996)
Wait, who? Yep, that’s right, Esmeralda from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame brought this name out of the shadows of the cathedral! It actually means emerald in Spanish and Portuguese, and Victor Hugo did use it in his 1831 novel by the same name.
Kiara (The Lion King II, 1998)
The singing duo Kiara released the song This Time which popularized the name in 1988. Then, The Lion King II brought further attention to the name Kiara in 1998.
Kiara may mean clear, bright, famous.
Tiana (The Princess and the Frog, 2009)
After Disney’s The Princess and the Frog premiered in 2009, the name Tiana spiked in popularity.
Previously, it became popular in 1975, possibly due to Vietnamese-American actress Tiana Alexandra.
The name Tiana can be a short form of Christiana or Tatiana.
Flynn (Tangled, 2010)
After the character Flynn appeared in the movie Tangled in 2010, the name became popular in the US! What’s not to love? It’s short and unique.
The name Flynn comes from an old Irish word meaning blood red.
Elsa (Frozen, 2013)
Did you know Elsa is a form of the name Elizabeth?
It experienced a spike in popularity after Frozen was released in 2013.
You might also enjoy: Names Made Popular By History!
Names Made Popular By Other Movies
This category includes famous actors and actresses, as well as the characters that they played. We will start in the 1950s and move through the decades to the present.
Tara (1930s)Â
Tara was the name of the plantation in Gone With the Wind book and movie, which came out in 1936 and 1939, respectively.
Tyrone (1930s)
Actor Tyrone Power popularized the Irish name Tyrone as his acting career progressed in the 1930s through the 50s. Some of his most familiar films include The Mark of Zorro, Marie Antoinette, Blood and Sand, The Black Swan, and Prince of Foxes.
Sondra (1931)
The novel American Tragedy released in 1925, and its movie adaptation (1931) featured a character named Sondra Finchley, which popularized this name.
Errol (1936)
Actor Errol Flynn popularized the name Errol starting in 1936 during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Some of his most famous films include The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood, and The Charge of the Light Brigade.
The name Errol comes from a village in Scotland.
Jody (1938, 1946)
The novel The Yearling released in 1938 and its film adaptation in 1946 featured a heroine named Jody.
Both of these made Jody a household name.
Bonnie (1939)
In Gone With the Wind, Scarlett nicknamed her daughter Bonnie. While the name was already somewhat common, its popularity soared after the Gone With the Wind movie adaptation.
Bonnie means pretty in Scottish
Wayne (1939)
The actor John Wayne popularized the first name Wayne
The name was already common, but after his role in Stagecoach in 1939, it became even more widespread.
Tracey (1940)
After the movie The Philadelphia Story was released in 1940, the name Tracey rose in popularity due to the name of the main character- Tracey Lord.
Lana (1942)
Actress Lana Turner’s name became hugely popular starting in 1942, after starring in films like Johnny Eager, Ziegfeld Girl, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Somewhere I’ll Find You.
This name was becoming popular again in the 2000s, and continued to rise, possibly thanks to musician Lana Del Rey.
As a name, Lana can be a short form of names like Alana and Svetlana.
Candace (1942)
After the 1942 release of the movie Meet the Stewarts, the name Candace was popularized due to one of the movie characters.
The name Candace comes from the title of the ancient queens of Ethiopia. It means queen mother.
Brooke (1950s)
American socialite Brooke Astor brought this name into use in the 1950s. Then, actress Brooke Shields further popularized it during the 1970s and 80s, with movies like Pretty Baby, Blue Lagoon, and Endless
Marlon (1950s)
Actor Marlon Brando popularized this name in the US.
In the 1950s, he was in A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, The Wild One, Viva Zapata, Julius Caesar, and Sayonara.
His most famous film might be his role as Vito Corleone in The Godfather, which was released in 1972. And his 1972 movie Last Tango in Paris was nominated for an Oscar.
No wonder the name Marlon’s popularity jumped around both those times!
Gina (1950s)
In the 1950s, Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida made this name commonplace. She was one of the highest profile international actresses of the 50s and 60s. Some of her films include The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beat the Devil, and Solomon and Sheba.
The name Gina can be short for names like Georgina, Regina, Luigina, Virginia or Eugenia.
Desiree (1954)
The 1954 movie Desiree popularized this name. It comes from the French word meaning desiree, wished.
Whitney (1960s)
In the 1960s, the fame of actress Whitney Blake brought this name into the spotlight for girls. And then in the 1980s, singer Whitney Houston boosted it further!
Dustin (1970)
Actor Dustin Hoffman brought his name to center stage in the 1970s with his award-winning roles in The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy, and Kramer vs Kramer. In the late 80s and 90s, this name became less popular. The name Dustin actually comes from the Norse name Thorsten, which means Thor’s stone.
Logan (1976)
The name Logan comes from the Scottish words for little hollow.
Both the movie Logan’s Run and the comic book character Wolverine were both introduced around 1976. It’s remained a popular name for boys since then!
Lauren (1980s)
In the 1980s, actress Lauren Bacall popularized Lauren as a female name. Before that, Lauren was primarily a boy’s name.
In 1944, at age 19, Lauren Bacall starred in To Have or Have Not. Her acting career continued throughout the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s!
And in 1981, a character named Lauren Colby appeared in the prime time soap opera Dynasty, which probably furthered the popularity of the name!
Shelby (1989)
In 1935, the movie The Woman In Red featured a female character named Shelby. Then, when Julia Roberts played a character named Shelby in Steel Magnolias, the name jumped in popularity again.
The name Shelby might mean willow farm.
Cameron (1990s)
Did you know that Cameron Diaz’s fame in the 1990s inspired parents to begin naming their daughters after her?
In the 90s, Diaz starred in The Mask, My Best Friend’s Wedding and There’s Something About Mary.
Jada (1990s)
Actress Jada Pinkett Smith popularized the name Jada in the 1990s.
In the 90s, she appeared in The Nutty Professor, Set it Off, and Scream II.
Peyton (1992)
Peyton was primarily a male name until it was used for a female character in the 1992 movie The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.
Although the character named Peyton was a villain, it became more popular for both boys and girls.
Forrest (1994)
After the movie Forrest Gump was released in 1994, it became very popular. But it faded after that until recent interest climbed again.
Tatum (1996)
Despite the world knowing about Tatum Channing, the name didn’t spike in popularity until a character named Tatum appeared in the movie Scream, which debuted in 1996
Declan (1997, 2010)
After the movies The Jackal and Leap Year came out in 1997 and 2010, the name Declan received a boost in popularity. Both movies had main characters named Declan.
Deja (1995)
The 1995 movie Higher Learning featured a character named Deja. Deja means already in French. The phrase deja vu means already seen.
Nyah (2000)
The 2000 movie Mission Impossible 2 featured a character named Nyah, which briefly caused the name to rise in popularity.
Charlize (2000s)
South African and American actress Charlize Theron popularized her own name in the early 2000s after her prominent roles in The Devil’s Advocate, Mighty Joe Young, The Cider House Rules, and Monster.
And in 2016, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Scarlett (2003)
When actress Scarlett Johansson’s career started taking off in the early 2000s, so did the name Scarlett.
Some of her hit movies at the time included Girl With a Pearl Earring, and Lost in Translation.
Kiera (2004)
When British actress Kiera Knightley starred in Bend It Like Beckham and Pirates of the Caribbean in the early 2000s, her first name inspired parents to give it to their own children.
Her name is a form of the Irish name Ciara.
Reese (2004)
While Reese was traditionally a boy’s name, actress Reese Witherspoon popularized it as a girl’s name.
It jumped in popularity in 2004-2005, after her hit roles in Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, and Walk the Line.
The name Reese, also spelled Rhys, means enthusiasm.
Bella (2005)
Bella is the Italian word for beautiful.
Author Stephanie Meyer used this as the name for the main character in the Twilight books and movie, released in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
Curious what names were popularized by books? Check out this list of Names Made Famous by Books and Literature!
Waverly (2007)
While the name Waverly increased in popularity after The Joy Luck Club movie adaptation in 1993, it rose further after the television debut of Wizards of Waverly Place.
Kingsley (2007)
After the 2007 release of the movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the name Kingsley jumped in popularity.
This may be due to the character Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Cullen (2008)
When Stephanie Meyer’s novel Twilight (2005) and the corresponding movie were released (2008), the name Cullen received a boost in popularity. This was due to the main character, a vampire named Edward Cullen
Kellan (2008)
Like Cullen, Kellan jumped in popularity in 2008 due to the movie adaptation of Twilight. Actor Kellan Lutz played Emmett Cullen in the films.
Knox (2008)
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt named their baby born in 2008 Knox. It jumped in popularity afterwards.
The Gaelic name Knox means hill.
Jolie (2010)
After Angelina Jolie starred in Hackers and Girl, Interrupted, in the mid to late 1990s,parents began giving the name Jolie to their baby girls!
Jolie is French for pretty.
Did you know that Angelina Jolie’s birth name was Angelina Jolie Voight? She uses her middle name as her last name.
Cataleya (2011)
The 2011 movie Columbiana popularized the name Cataleya.
This gorgeous name is related to a type of orchid.
Wrap up- Names Made Popular By Movies
What’s your favorite movie- inspired name? Have you given your child a name from a movie, Disney or otherwise?
I just love some of the unique names on this list. Yet they’re so recognizable that other people will be able to pronounce and maybe even spell them!
You might also enjoy reading through the names that history and pop culture ruined.
Resource: We use Behind the Name to research name meanings, history, and popularity.