Sprinkle some stardust on your baby girl or boy with a celebrity-inspired name. We can’t guarantee they’ll become famous, but they’ll have a pretty cool name, and that’s the next best thing.
Celebrity-inspired names are becoming more and more popular, especially with the rise of social media and its influence on parents across the globe!
Whether you’ve already got a celeb in mind or looking for inspiration, my list of the top 28 celebrity baby names is all you need to find your perfect name. You’ll even find meanings of the top celeb-inspired baby names below, as well as how the popularity of those names has changed over time.
Let’s get inspired!
Celebrity-Inspired Baby Names for Boys
Ryan
First on the list of top celebrity names for baby boys has to be Ryan. There are almost too many famous Ryans to count, but the most popular have to be Ryan Gosling and Ryan Reynolds. These two Hollywood hearthrobs have women (and some men) across the world swooning, so it’s no wonder it’s still a popular name, especially in the US.
Having said that, Ryan, which means ‘King’ in Gaelic, has decreased in popularity over time. It saw a huge boom in the 80s but has been decreasing in popularity since. It can even be used as a name for baby girls, although it’s most commonly used for boys.
As a huge fan of both Gosling and Reynolds, it’s time to bring Ryan back!
Harry
No prizes for guessing which famous Harry inspired this addition to the list. Loved for both his singing and acting talents, Harry Styles has been a celeb staple in Hollywood since the early days of One Direction, and the name remains popular. You might be surprised to learn, though, that its meaning is slightly less… cute… as many others.
In fact, Harry means to raid on or to assault. But if you can put the meaning aside, Harry is a classic name that works for all generations – from babies to grandads!
It has seen quite a dramatic decline in popularity over the centuries, but peaked in the US in 2012 – just as One Direction became a global phenomenon!
Zac
Zac Efron has just received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and no wonder. This uber-talented and uber-famous actor is about as cool as they come, with one of the coolest names to boot.
The name has Hebrew origins and means ‘God has remembered’. If you want to go for something a little different, try one of the many spelling variations: Zak, Zach, Zack or even the full Zacariah!
Leonardo
Leonardo, or Leo for short, needs no introduction. This strong and powerful name, inspired by Leonardo Dicaprio’ means ‘as brave as a lion’ and has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years in the US.
In fact, Leo was the 8th most popular baby boy name in America in 2023.
Daniel
When it comes to famous Daniels, take your pick! From Radcliffe to Craig to Kaluuya to Day-Lewis, world-famous Daniels have dominated Hollywood for many years.
Another baby name of Hebrew origins, Daniel means ‘God is my judge’. It dipped in popularity in the early 1900s but has been climbing the ranks every since. It was the 23rd most popular baby boy name in the US in 2023.
Liam
Liam is a timeless name that has Irish origins. It means ‘protector’ and ‘warrior’, so it’s no wonder it was the most popular name for baby boys in the US in 2023. It was also the most popular baby boy name in America from 2017 through 2021, probably helped by the long list of famous Liams in Hollywood – Liam Hemsworth, Liam Neeson, Liam Payne and Liam Gallagher to name a few.
Read Next: Discover 20 Classic and Charming Irish Names for Boys
Penn
A celeb-inspired name with fewer numbers is Penn. This unusual name – made famous by Penn Badgley of Gossip Girl and You fame – is a super cool name for a baby boy. It’s a name with English origins and means ‘hill’.
Whilst it only just makes the top 3000 names for baby boys in the US, its popularity sky-rocketed in the last 20 years.
Jared
If I had to pick a baby boy name that oozes the most charisma and cool, it’s Jared. Of Hebrew origins, Jared means ‘he descends’. Jared Leto made the name uber uber famous, but it was actually only in the top 550 boy names in the US in 2023.
Romeo
Apart from the Shakespearean character, the most famous Romeo is undoubtedly David Beckham’s second son, Romeo Beckham. The name is Italian and means ‘pilgrim to Rome’. And whilst it’s pretty low down on the popularity list in the US, the number of baby Romeos has soared in recent years – thanks to the power of the Beckhams, most likely.
Read Next: Discover 100 Charming Italian Names with Their Meanings
Jude
Another name of Hebrew origin, Jude means ‘praised’, and that’s certainly the case for Jude Law when it comes to acting talent. Its popularity in the US peaked in 2010. It saw a rise in popularity in 2020, but has been declining ever since. Who wants a common name anyway?!
Idris
‘Luther’ star Idris Elba inspired the inclusion of this super cool Arabic name, which means ‘studious’ and ‘lord’. It’s become increasingly popular since the early 2000s and it’s no surprise that an actor as slick as Idris Elba has boosted numbers. The question is, will he be changing his name to James sometime soon?
Timothee
Otherwise known as Willy Wonka, Timothee Chalamet’s rise to global hearthrob stardom makes Timothee a solid addition to this list. There are, of course, many variations to the spelling and Timothee is one of the most unusual.
Timothy, Timote and Timothee are very often shortened to Tim or Timmy. The name is a version of the Greek Timόtheos, which means ‘honoring God’. Its peak popularity came in the 60s in the US and numbers have been steadily declining ever since. But Timothee is a versatile name that’s sure to make a comeback, thanks to Mr Chalamet.
Henry
Henry is a version of the French name Henri. This name was thought to be derived from the German Haimirich, the first part of which means home and the second part means ruler. A true classic name, Henry works for all stages of life and there have been famous Henrys for decades. Most recently, Henry Cavill has taken Hollywood by storm, with his good looks, charm and charisma.
Dwayne
Any list of celebrity-inspired names needs Dwayne. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, the 6ft 5 wrestler-turned-actor, was the highest paid actor at the turn of the 2020s. His name is of Irish origin and means ‘dark’.
Celebrity Baby Girls Names
Zendaya
Zendaya has to be the first on the girls’ list. The famous actress and singer’s full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman and has certainly influenced an increase in popularity of the name in recent years. It has Zambian and Zimbabwean origins and means ‘give thanks to God’.
Ariana
The one and only Ariana (of Ariana Grande fame) saw a popularity peak in 2014, with over 3000 baby girls per million being given the name. It has Greek origins and means ‘most holy’ – very apt for a singer with the voice of an angel!
Taylor
An ever popular name for girls and boys in the US, Taylor is inspired by many famous singers and actors, most notably Taylor Swift – the most streamed artist of 2023, with a staggering 26.1 billion streams.
The name has French origins and means ‘cutter of cloth’. It actually peaked in popularity for baby girls in the US way back in 1993 and has many spelling variations, including Tayla and Tayler.
Rihanna
The name Rihanna is actually of Irish origin and means ‘great Queen’ – very fitting for the legend Robyn Rihanna Fenty, chart-topping singer with a list of hits longer than Quentin Tarantino films, and that’s saying something.
The popularity of the name peaked in the US in 2008, just after the singer broke records with her smash-hit ‘Umbrella’ in 2007. It’s popularity steadily declined since then, but numbers of baby girls being given the name increased in 2023 compared to 2022.
Read Next: 40 Unusual Irish Girl Names With Meanings
Scarlett
There have been many celebrity Scarletts through the decades, perhaps the most famous of which is actress Scarlett Johansson. The name has French origins and means red. Back in the early 2000s, the name was quite uncommon, but its popularity soared, until its peak in the US in 2017.
Read Next: Life in Color: Most Vibrant Baby Names Inspired by Colors
Adele
We can’t promise you’ll pass on Adele’s legendary vocals if you call your baby girl Adele, but she’ll have a pretty legendary name. It has German roots and means ‘nobility’ – another fitting name for a popstar of Adele’s stature!
Before Adele’s rise to global fame, the name was seen as quite a traditional one. In fact, before the 2000s, the name’s popularity peaked in the US way back in 1914. It peaked again in 2012, the year after Adele released her record-breaking album, 21. The name could also be spelled Adelle.
Ana
Another celeb-inspired name with many spelling variations is Ana, or Anna, pronounced ‘AR-NA’. The Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas brought the Spanish spelling of the name into the limelight, with Ana meaning ‘favored grace’.
The name Anna – pronounced ‘AR-NA’ not ‘AN-NA’ – is the Greek version of the name Hannah and very popular in Scandinavian countries. The most famous Anna, at least in recent times, has to be the princess from Frozen. That’s not bad going for a 2D character!
Selena
The name Selena means ‘the moon’ and has Greek origins. Made super famous by none other than Selena Gomez, this elegant name works well through different life stages. Its popularity in the US peaked way back in 1995, but has remained popular ever since.
Billie
More typically associated with names for boys, Billie can be used for baby girls too, giving them an uber cool name that sets them apart from the crowd. For boys, the spelling Billy is more commonly used, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be used for girls.
Billie means ‘strength’ and ‘determination’, so it’s a great celeb-inspired name for your precious little girl!
Kendall
Far from the glam and glitz of Hollywood, Kendall actually means ‘The Kent river valley’ – referencing the quaint county of Kent in England. Made famous by model Kendall Jenner, its populairty peaked in the US in 2012. Despite declining since, it remains a popular name today. And with the notoriety of the Kardashians and Jenners, it’s no wonder…
Jenna
The smash hit series ‘Wednesday’ catapulted 21-year-old American actress Jenna Ortega to global stardom. Her name is of Welsh and English origins and means ‘white wave’ or ‘white shadow’. It peaked in popularity back in the 80s and then again in the early 2000s. I’d be surprised if we didn’t see at least a small increase in the number of baby Jennas thanks to Jenna Ortega!
Read Next: Captivating Baby Names Inspired by the Ocean (with meanings)
Margot
Margot Robbie, or Barbie, as she’s otherwise known, has one of my favorite names on this celeb-inspired roundup. A true classic that works for every stage of life, its popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. The name has been popular throughout the 1900s and then grew exponentially from the early 2010s. Margot has French origins and means ‘pearl’. It’s a timeless yet modern twist on Margaret and makes a stunning name for a little girl.
Looking for more inspiration?
If you didn’t find your perfect baby girl name in this list, check out my roundup of nature-inspired names and the top baby girl names from around the world.
