Iconic movie character names
Handpicked for families who want names with roots: the beloved classics, what parents in the culture choose today, and the cool discoveries most US name sites never surface.
Amélie work, industrious (French form of Amelia, from Germanic amal); immortalized by Amélie Poulain in Amélie (2001)
Andy manly, brave (nickname for Andrew); immortalized by Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Ariel lion of God; immortalized by Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989)
Atticus man of Attica, the region around Athens; immortalized by Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
Aurora dawn, the Roman goddess of the dawn; immortalized by Princess Aurora in Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Axel father of peace (Scandinavian form of Absalom); immortalized by Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Bella beautiful (short form of Isabella); immortalized by Bella Swan in Twilight (2008)
Belle beautiful; immortalized by Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Blanche white, fair; immortalized by Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Bruce from the Norman place name Brix, borne by Robert the Bruce; immortalized by Bruce Wayne (Batman) in Batman (1989)
Carrie free woman (nickname for Caroline, from Carl); immortalized by Carrie White in Carrie (1976)
Clarice clear, famous (feminine form of Clarence); immortalized by Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Clark clerk, scholar (occupational surname); immortalized by Clark Kent (Superman) in Superman (1978)
Danny God is my judge (nickname for Daniel); immortalized by Danny Zuko in Grease (1978)
Diana the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon; immortalized by Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) in Wonder Woman (2017)
Dorothy gift of God; immortalized by Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Edward wealthy guardian (Old English ead + weard); immortalized by Edward Cullen in Twilight (2008)
Ellen torch, bright one (variant of Helen); immortalized by Ellen Ripley in Alien (1979)
Elsa God is my oath (German diminutive of Elisabeth); immortalized by Queen Elsa in Disney's Frozen (2013)
Ferris man of vigor (Anglicized form of Fergus); immortalized by Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Forrest woodsman, one who lives near the forest; immortalized by Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (1994)
Hannibal grace of Baal (the Carthaginian general); immortalized by Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Harry medieval pet form of Henry, home ruler (Germanic); immortalized by both "Dirty" Harry Callahan in Dirty Harry (1971) and Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film series (2001-2011)
Holly the holly tree, a symbol of Christmas (nature name); immortalized by Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Ilsa God is my oath (German/Scandinavian variant of Elisabeth); immortalized by Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942)
Indiana land of the Indians (US state name, from Latin India + -ana); immortalized by Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Jack God is gracious (medieval pet form of John); immortalized by both Jack Dawson in Titanic (1997) and Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean (2003)
Jasmine the jasmine flower; immortalized by Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin (1992)
John God is gracious; immortalized by John McClane in Die Hard (1988)
Juno the Roman queen of the gods, protector of women and marriage; immortalized by Juno MacGuff in Juno (2007)
Leia variant of Leah, weary, or delicate (Old Testament matriarch); catapulted into the mainstream by Princess Leia in Star Wars (1977)
Loretta variant of Laura, laurel, or linked to the Marian shrine of Loreto; immortalized by Loretta Castorini in Moonstruck (1987)
Luke from Lucania, a region of Italy (name of a Gospel author); immortalized by Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977)
Marion bitter, or beloved (French diminutive of Marie); immortalized by Marion Crane in Psycho (1960)
Marty of Mars, warlike (nickname form of Martin); immortalized by Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985)
Maverick an unbranded calf; an independent-minded nonconformist (from 19th-century Texas rancher Samuel Maverick); immortalized by Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in Top Gun (1986) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Mia mine; also used as a short form of Maria; immortalized by Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction (1994)
Michael who is like God (archangel); immortalized by Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
Napoleon of uncertain origin, possibly lion of Naples or new city; immortalized (comedically) by Napoleon Dynamite in Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
Neo new; immortalized by Neo in The Matrix (1999)
Norma rule, pattern; popularized by Bellini's opera Norma (1831); immortalized by Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Norman man from the north, referring to the Norsemen; immortalized by Norman Bates in Psycho (1960)
Peter rock, stone; immortalized by Peter Parker (Spider-Man) in Spider-Man (2002)
Regan little king, impulsive (from Ó Riagáin); immortalized by Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973)
Rhett ardor, enthusiasm; immortalized by Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind (1939)
Rick powerful ruler (nickname for Richard); immortalized by Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1942)
Rocky rock, stone (English nickname name); immortalized by Rocky Balboa in Rocky (1976)
Rose the flower; immortalized by Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic (1997)
Sandy defender of mankind (nickname for Alexandra); immortalized by Sandy Olsson in Grease (1978)
Sarah princess, noblewoman (biblical matriarch); immortalized by Sarah Connor in The Terminator (1984)
Scarlett bright red; originally a surname for a seller of scarlet cloth; immortalized by Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939)
Sonny son (affectionate nickname); immortalized by Sonny Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
Stanley stony meadow (Old English stan + leah); immortalized by Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Susan lily, rose (from Shoshannah); immortalized by Susan, played by Madonna, in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Tiana variant of Tatiana, of uncertain ancient origin, linked to a Roman saint; immortalized by Princess Tiana in Disney's The Princess and the Frog (2009)
Tony of the Antonius family (nickname for Anthony, of uncertain ancient meaning); immortalized by Tony Montana in Scarface (1983)
Trinity three-in-one, the Christian Godhead (from trinitas); immortalized by Trinity in The Matrix (1999)
Vincent conquering (from vincere, to conquer); immortalized by Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction (1994)
Vito life (from Latin vita); immortalized by Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
Vivian alive, lively (from vivus); immortalized by Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman (1990)
Which of these fits YOUR family? →