9 Girls Baby Names Inspired by Animated Movies
Eva Mendes recently revealed the inspo behind the name she and Ryan Gosling chose for their daughter. In an interview, the actress shared that Esmeralda appealed to the couple because it works in English and Spanish, but also because the duo just love The Hunchback of Notre Dame character, from the novel and the movie.
1. Mavis: Hotel Transylvania was a 2012 hit, and the sequel comes out at the end of September. Both stories center on Dracula and his daughter, Mavis. Yes, Mavis. In 2012, just 43 girls were given the name. By 2014, there were 231 newborn girls named Mavis. That’s a big jump, and the adorable animated vampiress must get some of the credit. Mavis also shares sounds with Top Ten favorite Ava and up-and-coming Maeve.
2. Mabel: Mabel is one of Cinderella’s stepsisters in the fractured fairytale series Shrek. The franchise helped make Fiona a mainstream favorite in the US. The ogre and his rag-tag collection of companions might not be the reason Mabel is making a comeback — but it didn’t hurt. In 2013, Mabel re-entered the US Top 1,000.
3. Elsa: There’s no question that Elsa’s surge in popularity was thanks to Frozen mania. But the name was quietly rising before the Snow Queen belted out a single verse of “Let It Go.” Back in 2012, Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie included Winona Ryder as Elsa Van Helsing. The name was a nod to Elsa Lancaster, who starred in the Bride of Frankenstein in 1935.
4. Nell: Tim Burton movies have some great names. 2009’s Corpse Bride was the story of the dearly departed Emily, a Top Ten staple. Nell was mother of the groom, Victor. While Nell isn’t quite making a comeback yet, I think the name shows promise. Ella, Nora, Grace… why not Nell? Another fun and fusty choice from the movie was Maudeline, but I think that one will remain rarity.
5. Coraline: Let’s talk about one more from Tim Burton. Burton based 2009’s Coraline on a 2002 Neil Gaiman book. Gaiman claims he invented the name when he accidentally reversed the letters in Caroline. Others have pointed that Coraline has a history of use as a given name in France. What’s certain is that American parents did seldom considere Coraline a possibility until the movie’s release. In 2008, there were just eleven girls given the name. By 2009, there were 120. And in 2014, 450 newborn Coralines arrived.
6. Margo: The Despicable Me movies are all about aspiring super-villain Gru, his band of minions and the three orphaned girls he takes in. The sisters’ names are a delight. The eldest is Margo. When the first movie premiered in 2010, there were 82 newborn Margos, plus 155 Margots. By 2014, there were 150 Margos, plus another 372 girls named Margot with the silent ‘t.’
7. Edith: The middle sister in the Despicable Me franchise answers to Edith. There were 326 Ediths in 2010, and 452 born in 2014. Earlier this year, we learned that Cate Blanchett had adopted a daughter named Edith Vivian Patricia, so it’s a safe bet that the name will continue to rise.
8. Agnes: At first glance, the youngest Despicable Me sister has the least stylish name. But in 2010, there were just 67 newborn Agneses — and by 2014, 187, putting the name just outside of the US Top 1,000. Plus there’s still at least one more installment coming in the series, in 2017. There’s plenty of time for parents to fall in love with Agnes.
9. Astrid: Back in 2008, The Office celebrated a baby shower for newborn Astrid, repeating the (wildly inaccurate) claim that the name meant “Viking princess.” Two years later, How to Train Your Dragon introduced us to a fearless Viking girl with the name. In 2010 there were 185 newborn Astrids. By 2014? 293 girls answered to the Viking-approved appellation.
What are your favorite animated character names? Are there any that you would use? Let us know in the comments.
(Photo via Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment)
This post was originally published on Nameberry by Abby Sandel.
