Fantasy Cat Names
- Oberyn
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
George R.R. Martin probably got the idea for the name of his Song of Ice and Fire character Oberyn Martell, commonly known as the Red Viper, from A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which Oberon is the name of the fairy king. Though the character was in relatively few episodes, he made a big impression.
- Sandor
Origin:
Hungarian diminutive of AlexanderDescription:
Despite a possible pronunciation problem, a pleasant, unusual choice. Sandor Clegane (nicknamed The Hound) is a major character on Game of Thrones. In Hungary, the name is spelt with an accent - Sándor.
- Melisandre
Origin:
French variation of Millicent, GermanMeaning:
"strong in work"Description:
The romantic fairy tale-like name has come to modern attention via the beautiful but terrifying sorceress in Game of Thrones. The character may look as lovely as her name sounds, but it's hard to imagine a parent familiar with the book wanting to use the name for their child. Two alternate directions: Millicent or Melisande.
- Galadriel
Origin:
Literary nameMeaning:
"maiden crowned with a radiant garland"Description:
The name of the wise and beautiful elfin princess in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novels, best known through Cate Blanchett's immortal representation in the film series. This ethereal name has a gorgeous meaning and a lot of weight.
- Dandelion
Origin:
Flower name, from FrenchMeaning:
"lion's tooth"Description:
The bright yellow weed lends itself to a creative baby name, although we don't recommend the nickname Dandy.
- Samwise
Origin:
Variant of SamuelDescription:
Samwise Gamgee is the name of Frodo's most loyal companion in Lord of the Rings, played by Sean Astin in Peter Jackson's movie adaptations. Like the related Samwell from Game of Thrones, it could be a fun way to commemorate a favorite book while giving your child an easy way out, with nickname Sam.
- Aravis
Origin:
Literary name and place-nameDescription:
Aravis was the name of a female character in C.S. Lewis's A Horse and His Boy, and is also the name of a mountain range in southern France. With the rise of Ava, Avery, and indeed seemingly all names that start with A, Aravis may finally reach a wider audience.
- Cersei
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Cersei Lannister is one of the most villainous -- and, in a certain light, glamorous -- characters in HBO's Game of Thrones, played by beautiful actress Lena Headey.Though we can't say for sure how author George R.R. Martin came up with the character's name, it is a near-homophone with Circe, a seductive witch in Greek mythology.
- Stark
Origin:
Word name, surname, and literary nameDescription:
Stark is an ancient surname derived from the Old English word stearc, meaning firm and unyielding. In modern parlance, stark means severe or plain. But Stark's use as a first name -- 15 boys were named Stark in the US in 2017 -- stems from its prominence in Game of Thrones, which has inspired so many new baby names. House Stark is a ruling family on GoT; its motto is fittingly "Winter is coming," so Stark and other names from the show might make creative names for winter babies.
- Jareth
Origin:
Hybrid nameDescription:
For that rare parent who's torn between Jared and Gareth.
- Olenna
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Variant form of Olena. George R. R. Martin used this spelling for a character in his "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. It is likely inspired by the Ukrainian form of Helen meaning "torch; shining light".
- Shadow
- Osha
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Game of Thrones fans may recognize this as the name of the wily Wildling who helped protect Bran Stark for several seasons of the HBO show. George R.R. Martin has cited Harry Potter vet Natalia Tena's performance in the part as the one that most changed his understanding of a character he created.
- Eleven
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
If Erykah Badu can name her son Seven, why can't you name your daughter (or son) this? Eleven has recently gotten a lot of attention via the character on the TV show Stranger Things.
- Frodo
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
An admirable meaning, with roots in a Germanic word meaning wisdom, but we fear it will never be detached from the hobbit hero of The Lord of the Rings.
- Elrond
Origin:
Literary name, SindarinMeaning:
"star dome"Description:
The elven ruler of Rivendell in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
- Aeryn
Origin:
Variation of Erin, IrishMeaning:
"from the island to the west"Description:
Spelling variation of Erin invented for a character on the science fiction TV show Farscape.
- Jaqen
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
In Game of Thrones, Jaqen H'ghar is the name used by the Faceless Man who trains Arya in the lethal ways of the House of Black and White. The character is endlessly mysterious, but Jaqen seems not to be his given name. Still, with the myriad offshots of Jackson -- Jaxon, Jaxsen, et al -- soaring in popularity, Jaqen may have some potential on this side of the screen and page.
- Brienne
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
There aren't many characters in the notoriously amoral world of Game of Thrones with a spotless record of moral righteousness -- but Brienne of Tarth comes close. She's one of the most accomplished, ferocious fighters in the entire series -- she was one of the few people ever to best The Hound in one and one combat. And yet she always tries to use her power for good.
- Gen
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"spring"Description:
Commonly used in Japan, and so much more distinguished than Jen.