Artistic Baby Names

A name with a lot of panache, with ties to the great Spanish Mannerist painter El Greco--though his real name was DOMENICOS.

Aristide Maillol was a French sculptor whose last name might be translated as a first.

A strikingly creative and unique name well worth considering, recalling the great cubist paintings of Georges Braque.

The last name of the twentieth-century Italian painter of quietly expressive still lifes presents an artistic possibility. Can absolutely work for girls too.

Has a fresh occupational name feel, combined with old-fashioned Currier & Ives charm.

A plausible unisex name, inspired by Basque fashion designer Paco (actually born Francisco Cuervo)--who was known for his 1960s "Unwearables "--metal-linked plastic dresses and designs for the futuristic movie "Barbarella."

This portion of the name of the famous eighteenth century French painter Elisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun could make a cute and perky girl's name.

Manet is the accessible, attractive name of an Impressionist great; it could be the next Monet.

We've heard artists' surnames MONET and MANET used as first names, and so, even though it's a bit of a stretch, the family name of the great post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin (go-GAN) could be a possibility.

An over-elaborate Italian name associated with fashion designer Simonetta Colonna, a key figure in the emergence of Italian haute couture. Stop at SIMONE or SIMONA.

If you love the venerable Southwestern painter but feel Georgia's gotten too overheated, you might want to go all the way to this Irish surname in the fashionable O' family.

The renowned Argentina-born architect Cesar Pelli, designer of some of the world's tallest buildings, could provide naming inspiration for an architectural family.

A creative alternative to the dated Robin, and also a reference to the famed Della Robbia family of Florentine Renaissance artists.

This unusual name, which is jauntier than Chris when used as a diminutive of Christopher, is associated with the Bulgarian installation artist of that name, responsible for wrapping many public institutions and known especially for The Gates of Central Park and Running Fence. Christo is his full given name.

Borne by the esteemed Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

Could make a singularly creative choice inspired by modern Italian sculptor Giacomo Manzù.

One of the few military ranks used as a name, as in Kennedy in-law and Peace Corps creator Sargent (born Robert Sargent) Shriver. There's also a more creative, artistic association with painter John Singer Sargent.

A middle name idea to honor surrealist painter Francis.

Aythamy or Aythami is a name native to Spain's Canary Islands. Dating from at least the Middle Ages, the name has some modern bearers but is virtually unknown outside Spain.