Character Names

Names I'm using for characters, or considering for characters.
  1. Adam
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "son of the red earth"
    • Description:

      Adam -- a primal Old Testament name -- was revived as a 1960s cowboy name. Adam is not as popular as it once was and feels ready for a respite, replaced by newer A names like Aidan/Aiden, Avery and Axel. Its most prominent current bearers include Adams Sandler, Levine, Brody and Driver -- who plays a character named Adam on Girls.
  2. Andreas
    • Origin:

      Original New Testament Greek variation of Andrew
    • Meaning:

      "strong and manly"
    • Description:

      Andreas is a beautiful name, with the patina of an Old Master painting, one that could make a dashing namesake for an Uncle Andrew.
  3. Conrad
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "brave counsel"
    • Description:

      Conrad has a somewhat intellectual masculine image, a solid name that has been consistently on the popularity lists, especially well used in the 1920s and 30s, and given a pop of rock energy by the Elvis-like character of Conrad Birdie in Bye, Bye, Birdie--("We love you Conrad, oh yes we do!").
  4. Corinne
    • Origin:

      French variation of Greek Korinna
    • Meaning:

      "maiden"
    • Description:

      Corinne is one of the names that, it might surprise you to learn, has never been off the US popularity charts. Its most popular year was 1926, when it ranked Number 249. Corinna is another pretty ancient form of the name, technically a diminutive.
  5. Evelyn
    • Origin:

      English from French and German
    • Meaning:

      "desired; or water, island"
    • Description:

      After decades of disuse, soft and feminine Evelyn has returned to the baby name stage in a huge way. It reached the Top 10 for the first time in 2017. Evelyn has now surpassed its former heights, joining a legion of contemporary little Evas, Avas, Eves, Evies, and Evelines.
  6. Elexander
    • Gale
      • Origin:

        Spelling variation of Gail
      • Description:

        When Gail was popular, half a century ago, Gale was a plausible choice. Gale does put a slightly more masculine spin on the name, but it's dated in any version.
    • Indie
      • Origin:

        Short form of India, Indigo etc
      • Description:

        Indie is an independent-sounding nickname name that is in the Top 100 in Wales. As a diminutive, it's growing in popularity -- along with indie films, indie publishing -- and the reason some parents are choosing names like India and Indigo. The Indie version seems more feminine, while Indy as in Indiana Jones tends toward the boyish.
    • Isabella
      • Origin:

        Spanish and Italian variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "pledged to God"
      • Description:

        Isabella has been a Top 10 name for girls in the US for two decades now. The Latinate form of Isabel, a variation of Elizabeth which originally derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba, Isabella reigned as Number 1 in 2009 and 2010.
    • Jude
      • Origin:

        Latin diminutive of Judah
      • Meaning:

        "praised"
      • Description:

        Jude is a modern star, maintaining a steady level of popularity -- but not TOO much popularity -- for more than a decade now. Thank Jude Law and the great Lennon-McCartney song "Hey Jude", double-handedly responsible for propelling Jude up the charts.
    • Kenzie
      • Origin:

        Short form of Mackenzie, Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "son of Kenneth"
      • Description:

        Take away the Mac and what do you have? Rather than "son of Kenneth," the meaning becomes simply Kenneth, which in itself means son of fire or handsome.
    • Lillian
      • Origin:

        English from Latin
      • Meaning:

        "lily; pledged to God"
      • Description:

        Lillian has ranked among the US Top 50 for the past 20 years, making it Lily's less popular but more grownup cousin.
    • Mallory
      • Origin:

        French
      • Meaning:

        "unfortunate"
      • Description:

        Early 1980s sitcom (Family Ties) name that has been well used ever since, with an upbeat three-syllable sound and a slightly tomboyish edge.
    • Mathias
      • Origin:

        Spelling variation of Mattias, Greek
      • Meaning:

        "gift of God"
      • Description:

        Matthias is the ancient Biblical form of Matthew, widely used along with brother Mathias in the US for the past 20 years.
    • Matthew
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "gift of God"
      • Description:

        Matthew was the third most popular boys' name in America throughout the 1980s and '90s, and is still one of the top boy names starting with M. The New Testament Matthew is the epitome of the fashionable classic—safe and sturdy, yet with a more engaging personality than John or William.
    • Rosemarie
      • Origin:

        Combination of Rose and Marie
      • Meaning:

        "rose flower + drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
      • Description:

        Rosemarie had its moment in the sun back in the middle of the last century, when parents were looking for new ways to recycle traditional family names. So a child might combine her two grandma's names and become Rosemarie (or Annmarie or Maryjean), but these combination names feel dated now.
    • Royce
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "son of the king"
      • Description:

        It may seem like an indecisive cross between Roy and Reece, but Royce was fairly popular in the 1930s and '40s. It has seen a resurgence in recent years, helped by some well-known athlete bearers. The Latin pop singer Prince Royce also has brought renown to the name. And some aspirational parents may see the name as a way to associate with the Rolls-Royce brand.
    • Rune
      • Origin:

        German and Swedish
      • Meaning:

        "secret"
      • Description:

        Name with connotations both mystical and tragic, newly popular in Europe. For English speakers, though, this name might be ruined by its homonym ruin.
    • Tobias
      • Origin:

        Greek from Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "God is good"
      • Description:

        Tobias is one of a number of s-ending boys' names that are riding a wave of popularity. With its Old Testament-Dickensian feel, it's a name with a distinguished pedigree.
    • Trevor
      • Origin:

        Welsh
      • Meaning:

        "from the large village"
      • Description:

        Trevor, a British standard, took a long time to cross the Atlantic, but finally began its rise here in the 1980s. It is now a thoroughly naturalized citizen, though it still retains a touch of Anglo class.