The sun has entered into Sagittarius, whose zodiac symbol is the archer. Perhaps it’s in your stars to find an archery-inspired name for your newborn. If so, we’ve got quite the “quiver” of names for you to consider — and sorry, but we don’t mean Katniss or Legolas, as much as we love these fictional arrow-slingers. Here are 11 quintessentially Sagittarius baby names.
1. Apollo: Apollo may not immediately call up archery, but it’s the name of the ancient Greek god of the sun, music, poetry, medicine — and, you guessed it, archery. And it’s one name aimed straight at the stars. Borne by the historic US space missions and famed theater in Harlem, Apollo climbed to #584 in 2016, boosted by Olympic speed-skater Apolo Ohno and the youngest son of rockers Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale (b. 2014).
2. Archer: If you’re eyeing occupational baby names but are worried that Hunter, Parker, or Mason have become too popular, Archer hits a bull’s-eye. Originating as an English surname for a bowman, Archer shot up to #262 in 2016 after spending well over a century in virtual first-name obscurity. It’s even more popular Down Under, reaching the #43 spot in Australia last year. Arch and Archie make for sharp nicknames, and you might even consider it as a bold choice for a girl.
3. Arjun: In Hindu mythology, the warrior Arjuna was the son of Indra, king of gods, and companion of the venerable Lord Krishna. The Indian epic, the Mahabharata, tells of his prowess with the bow and arrow, which he is often depicted wielding in artwork and shrines. His heroism makes the shortened Arjun a proud choice for many Indian families. It’s popular in the UK, shining bright at #272 in 2016, and gaining popularity in the US, where it hit #516 last year.
4. Arrow: Arrow is one of those quintessentially American baby names that gets straight to the point. Conjuring up all the swiftness and straightness of its namesake, Arrow can make either a boy or girl stand out in a crowd — as do Arrow Rhodes Ackles, daughter of actors Jensen Ackles and Danneel Harris, and Arrow Eve Reynolds, daughter of singers Dan Reynolds and Aja Volkman.
5. Artemis: Like Apollo but expecting a girl? Look to his twin sister, Artemis, the chaste goddess of the moon, childbirth, and the hunt in Greek myth. For hunting, the powerful Artemis worked her bow and arrow, which, like Arjun, she is often depicted slinging on pottery and in statues. Artemis makes for a divine — and distinct — choice, not currently registering anywhere on the popularity chart, though actress Artemis Pedani is a notable exception.
6. Atalanta: Atalanta is a peerless huntress in ancient Greek lore who was portrayed as an archer in the 2014 film Hercules. In myth, Atalanta promised to marry anyone who could outrun her — and no man ever did, thanks to her great skill and cunning. She bears those talents in her very name too, as Atalanta literally means “having the same value as a man.” (The name is actually related to the word talent, not Atlanta.) Look to Atalanta for a one-of-kind and rhythm girl’s name.
7. Bowman: Bowman is a confident but creative choice that hits a lot of popular targets. It has surname and occupational appeal. It has great nickname potential, shortening to a punchy Bo or Bow. And it is unique, never charting among the US Top 1000 names.
8. Fletcher: Like Archer and Bowman, Fletcher is one of the English names that boasts both surname and occupational cred, deriving from a French surname for an arrow-maker. It’s seeing a comeback from its heyday as a Top 400 name in the late 1800s and early 1900s, rising to #652 in the US in 2016. Fletcher has really struck Aussies and Kiwis, meanwhile, hitting #99 in Australia last year and #70 in New Zealand the year before. Fletcher also struck comedians Samantha Bee and Jason Jones, who picked Fletcher for their son in 2008. Flex Fletcher with the nickname Fletch or consider it for a snappy middle name.
9. Guinevere: In Arthurian legend, Guinevere was the beautiful wife of King Arthur and sometime paramour of Sir Lancelot, portrayed as a formidable archer by Keira Knightley in the 2004 film Arthur. The Welsh root of Guinevere is “white,” also featured in names like Gwendolyn and Gwyneth, though its Cornish form may be most familiar to you: Jennifer. Clipped to the soft vintage Gwen, Guinevere is among the enchanting and unusual girls’ names, not to be found in the Top 1000.
10. Merida: Pixar’s 2012 movie Brave starred a fearless princess known for her flowing red locks, skill with a bow and arrow, and distinctive name. While Merida may be Scottish in the film, her name comes from a city in southwest Spain where Roman soldiers historically retired. This unique, mellifluous moniker has a great upshot too, as it literally means “worthy,” related to words like merit and emeritus.
11. Robin: Last but not least is Robin Hood, storied in English legend as robbing from the rich and giving to the poor with his masterful bow-and-arrowing. Originating as a pet form of Robert, Robin was a Top 100 girl’s name and Top 200 boy’s name in the US in the 1950–70s. (The late, great Robin Williams, for instance, was born in 1951.) While its popularity has since dropped off in the US, Robin still enjoys great international appeal: It soared to #21 in Switzerland for boys in 2013, #38 in France in 2015, and #41 in Belgium in 2015. Last year, Robin flew to #98 among Dutch names for girls.
Share your favorite Sagittarius-themed baby names @BritandCo.
This post was previously published on Nameberry by John Kelly.
(Photo via Getty)
