Baby Names That Are Perfect For Fantasy Movie Fans

There's a lot of pressure when it comes to naming your baby. After all, the words we use to describe our children can impact how they view themselves, and that applies to their names as well. According to the BBC, researchers have found that a person's name can impact their future in a number of ways, including their eventual career and how others view them. As a parent, you want your child to have all the best opportunities available, which often makes picking a name agonizingly difficult. 

What's more, many parents feel the need to give their child a name that matches their personality, but how much can you really know before your baby is born? Researchers have found that child temperament and behavior can be predicted at least somewhat based on a baby's behavior in utero. If you feel like you can already tell the type of personality your little one will have, you may not be wrong. 

If you can already tell you have a brave little adventurer on your hands, a name from a fantasy movie may be just the ticket to capturing your baby's personality. The following baby names are perfect for fantasy movie fans.

When Princess Giselle of Disney's "Enchanted" first finds herself in the real world of Manhattan rather than her animated world of Andalasia, it's because she's been pushed into a well, leaving her stuck in the real world. It's probably no coincidence that one meaning of Giselle is hostage, according to Nameberry.

Now you may be wondering why we'd recommend a baby name that means hostage, but Giselle also means pledge — just like Giselle pledges herself to her one true love, Robert, when she meets him in the real world.

Giselle isn't technically a Disney princess, but she's a princess nonetheless, and Giselle is a perfect name for your little princess. The name Giselle peaked in 2007, according to The Bump. This is likely not a coincidence as this was the same year "Enchanted" was released. However, it's still a relatively popular name, having ranked in the top 1,000 baby girl names every year since 1997. It's unique enough that your baby probably won't be one of several Giselles at school but common enough that her teachers will likely know exactly how to pronounce and spell it. 

There are a lot of great baby names to come out of the "Harry Potter" franchise, but if you're looking for one for your little boy, you may not want to go with the typical Harry, Ron, Fred, or George. We humbly recommend Cedric instead. Hufflepuff Quidditch captain, prefect, and Triwizard Tournament competitor Cedric Diggory was, as Pottermore calls him, one of the unsung heroes of "Harry Potter" and certainly deserves a bit of recognition.

According to The Bump, the name Cedric was actually invented by Sir Walter Scott and used in the historical novel "Ivanhoe." It means "kindly" and "loved." According to Social Security Administration data (via The Bump), the name peaked in popularity in the United States in 1982 — long before the "Harry Potter" series was written or the movie franchise was ever considered. Nevertheless, we think it's high time this name sees a well-deserved resurgence in popularity.

If it's a traditionally female name from the "Harry Potter" franchise you're seeking, look no further than Luna. As if the meaning of the name — Latin for "moon," according to Nameberry — isn't enough for your adorable, out-of-this-world little girl, the character Luna Lovegood is iconic. She isn't afraid to be herself, she's smart (a Ravenclaw, after all), and she believes nothing is impossible.

The name Luna has been around for a long time, but Nameberry points out that its recent surge in popularity is not only attributed to the lovely Miss Lovegood herself but also to the spate of celebrities who have given the name to their babies in the past few years. 

In 2013, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem named their daughter Luna, as did Chrissy Teigen and John Legend in 2016. If you choose to pass the name along to your baby as well, she'll certainly be in good company.

There's no doubt that every parent hopes their child will be compassionate and caring, and many of them likely also hope to see their child find career success — whether that's becoming a doctor or working in a similar field. Who better, then, to inspire your child than their namesake Carlisle Cullen from the "Twilight" books and movies?

Carlisle Cullen's compassion extends even beyond his choice of profession as the original "vegetarian" vampire (killing only animals, never humans) of the Olympic Coven. He's also a man of his word, honoring the pact with the Quileute tribe and doing everything in his power to keep everyone in Forks (and beyond) safe. 

According to The Bump, Carlisle is a gender-neutral name of Old English origin that has soared in popularity since the release of the first "Twilight" movie in 2008. As the "Twilight" franchise sees a resurgence in popularity thanks to TikTok, Netflix, and a hardcore fandom that's still growing, now's a great time to bestow the name Carlisle on your little one.

For those born in the '80s, "Willow" is an iconic and nostalgic fantasy movie. It's full of adventure and magic — and it is perfectly '80s. Because these same elder Millennials who grew up with "Willow" are delaying having children compared to generations past, according to CNBC, they're the perfect candidates to name their kids after Willow Ufgood, particularly with the 2022 release of the "Willow" TV series on Disney+.

As the story goes, Willow Ufgood was named after a fallen Willow tree, the same meaning of the name Willow asserted by The Bump. Though Willow Ufgood helped popularize the name in the '80s, it's typically seen as a feminine name more along the lines of Willow Rosenberg from the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" television series.

Whatever your inspiration, The Bump notes that the name Willow is a symbol of both resilience and vitality — important traits to bestow on your baby. Not to mention the magic that every Willow is certain to bring wherever they go.

If you're looking for a name with Italian roots for your adorable little monster, why not name him Luca? Luca is the young sea monster who transforms into a human boy once on dry land in Disney Pixar's coming-of-age animated fantasy film "Luca," released in 2021.

Young Luca yearns for adventure and new experiences while also learning a great deal about the world and the dangers it sometimes holds. The film is set in Italy and, according to Verywell Family, the name Luca is typically a boy's name thought to mean "man from Luciana."

Don't worry if your family isn't Italian, though, because the name is found all over the world, including in Hungary, where Verywell Family notes it is predominantly given to girls. In the United States, Luca is continuing to grow in popularity. According to Nameberry, it's one of the top Italian baby names in the United States, consistently ranking high in popularity since 2000.

The name Ella has been around since the Dark Ages, which is probably not surprising when you remember that Ella is the given name of Cinderella, the English translation of the French "Cendrillon" written by Charles Perrault in 1697.

Ella means goddess in modern Hebrew, according to BabyCenter, while Cendrillon means "little ashes" in French — which is a good reminder that while she may have been called "little ashes" by her evil stepmother and stepsisters, Ella was so much more in every version of the tale.

In the 2004 film "Ella Enchanted," for instance, Ella gets rid of her gift (actually a curse, if you ask us) of obedience on her own, not by being saved by a prince or knight in shining armor. In 2015's "Cinderella," Ella shows unwavering kindness, even forgiving her stepmother for her terrible treatment over the years. That kind of strength, perseverance, and kindness are certainly traits to hope for in your daughter. It's not just a name befitting a princess, either, as your little Ella will share a name with the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald.

Thanks to fantasy movies of the 2000s, particularly 2010's "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief," the name Percy will undoubtedly always be associated with magic and mythology. In the movie, Percy Jackson learns he is descended from a god and therefore has unique abilities (and responsibilities) despite his struggles with dyslexia and ADHD. It's a great lesson for kids that even though they may struggle in some areas, we're all special in our own unique ways. 

If Percy Jackson isn't really your preferred fantasy character, don't forget about Percy Weasley from the "Harry Potter" series. He's another Percy enveloped in a world of magic and myth sure to evoke a sense of wonder. While he had a falling out with his family for a time over his loyalty to the Ministry of Magic, he ultimately redeemed himself during and after the Battle of Hogwarts, making him a perfectly fine namesake for your magical little boy.

According to The Bump, the name Percy is somewhat on the rise in popularity but still nowhere near its peak in the late 1800s and early 1900s. For this reason, it's still considered an old-fashioned name, but one that deserves far more attention than it typically gets.

One of the more unusual names on this list, Serafina is likely best known to fantasy movie fans because of Serafina Pekkala, the eventual queen of the Lake Enara clan of witches in "The Golden Compass." The movie is an adaptation of the first book in the "His Dark Materials" book series by Philip Pullman. Serafina is a powerful witch and guardian of Lyra, the film's main protagonist. Her daemon Kaisa also helps Lyra free other daemons from their imprisonment. 

According to Nameberry, Serafina comes from the Hebrew word "seraphim," which are angels, and translates to fiery or burning. With a powerful name shared with a powerful witch, your little Serafina is bound to be a force of nature. The name can also be spelled Seraphina, if you prefer, which is slightly more popular in the United States, according to The Bump. Either way, you can always call her Sera for short — how cute is that?

When "The Princess Bride" was released in 1987, it performed just okay, according to The New Yorker. But for the '80s and '90s kids who grew up watching it on VHS, it's what many consider to be the perfect movie and one of the most quotable of all time. There's a reason, after all, that it was such an important aspect in the love story of Kevin and Sophie on "This Is Us" (and Kevin even quotes it at Kate's wedding). 

The hero of the movie, Westley (aka Dread Pirate Roberts/The Man in Black/Farm Boy), would make a fitting namesake for your adventurous baby. The name itself is British and means western meadow, according to The Bump, and is a variation of the name Wesley. As far as Westley from "The Princess Bride" is concerned, he's driven by love that helps him overcome whatever obstacles are put in his path. Farm boy or not, Westley is a great name for your baby boy.

When you hear the name Lucy, you may initially think of it as a nickname for Lucille thanks to the likes of television icon Lucille Ball, but Lucy is a wonderful name in its own right. Plus, it is a great fantasy movie-inspired choice due to Lucy Pevensie from "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" based on the books by C.S. Lewis.

According to Nameberry, Lucy is a variation of Lucia, which means light. That is certainly fitting, as little Lucy Pevensie was the first of the Pevensie children to find the wardrobe that led to Narnia, shining a light on it for her siblings. She also possessed the most faith of all the Pevensie siblings throughout the series, which is why she was so close with Aslan and could see things her siblings couldn't, according to the C.S. Lewis Foundation.

Though the popularity of the name Lucy hit an all-time low in the United States in 1977, it's been on the rise ever since. It was ranked No. 47 of the top 1,000 baby names in 2021, according to Nameberry.

While there are many obvious names for the princesses in your life, princely names are often overlooked. For your little prince, take another cue from "The Chronicles of Narnia" and name him Caspian. Introduced in the 2008 movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian", based on the book by C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian summons the Pevensie children back to Narnia to help him take his rightful place as King of Narnia. Prince Caspian has a love of the sea and is known as Caspian the Seafarer, which is very appropriate given his shared name with the Caspian Sea. 

According to The Bump, a long-ago tribe called the Kaspioi lived on the shores of the sea, and it is from this tribe that the Caspian Sea (and ultimately Prince Caspian) is named. Outside of this tribe, however, little is known about the meaning of Caspian, making it a name that your little one can shape however they see fit.

When looking for a baby name inspired by a fantasy movie, it doesn't get much more fantastical than "Alice in Wonderland." Released in 2010, the film follows young adult Alice Kingsleigh as she falls down the rabbit hole into Underland. She fulfills her destiny of restoring the throne to the rightful White Queen by fighting the Red Queen and the Jabberwock. Upon leaving Underland, Alice maintains the personal strength and fortitude she found in herself in Underland and begins leading the life she truly desires. 

Alice from "Alice in Wonderland" isn't the only fantasy movie Alice that presents great inspiration for your baby's name. Alice Cullen is also one of the members of the aforementioned Olympic Coven in "Twilight" alongside her adoptive "father" Carlisle Cullen. This Alice is quirky, gifted, and fiercely loyal to those she loves — certainly traits you can hope for in your little Alice.

Both Alice Kingsleigh and Alice Cullen certainly fit their name, which means noble, according to Nameberry. While the name is quite popular and seemingly only gaining in popularity, having your little one share a name with one or two of her friends isn't the worst fate that's ever befallen an Alice. 

The movie adaptation of The NeverEnding Story was released in 1984 and influenced a whole generation of kids who longed for adventure and ultimately found it in reading. Though the film is decades old, the themes are timeless and the story's protagonist Bastian is still incredibly relatable. Naming your little one Bastian will serve as a reminder for them that adventure can be found in the unlikeliest of places and that you can always start over, even if all you have is a grain of sand. 

While Bastian may most often be a nickname for Sebastian, it's also a great standalone name. That said, Sebastian has its own fantastical connections with Sebastian from "The Little Mermaid" and Sebastian Stan, the actor who plays Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

According to Social Security Administration data cited by The Bump, the name Bastian has been mostly increasing in popularity ever since the early '90s; however, it's still a relatively uncommon name for your unique bundle of joy.

If you're planning to name your baby Margaret, either because it's a family name or just because you love it, consider calling your little one Meg, like Margaret "Meg" Murry from 2018's "A Wrinkle in Time" adaptation. In the film, Meg is played by Storm Reid and is a smart girl who initially struggles to find her place in the world but is ultimately able to understand her own importance. She's flawed, relatable, and still quite extraordinary.

According to BabyCenter, Meg is of Greek origin and means pearl. Not only is it a great nickname for Margaret, but it could also be used as a shortened form of Megan. In 2022, BabyCenter ranked it at No. 3,124 in its list of baby girl names. However, the name has been gaining in popularity in recent years, no doubt thanks to the 2018 film. Nevertheless, it is unique enough that your little one isn't likely to be in a class full of Megs.