Picking the perfect baby name can be hard work. If flipping through page after page of baby name books trying to find the perfect title for a soon to be arriving little girl isn't yielding any serious options, don't keep going until all the names start to blur together — that's when it's time for a break. Put those poor swollen feet up, shuffle off to the kitchen for the truffle chips and the Oreos (pregnancy cravings are the real deal, and getting that bump back up once it's down on the couch is no joke) and unwind with a classic flick.
In fact, not only are movies a relaxing way to chill out and decompress during pregnancy, but they can also be a wonderful source of baby name inspiration. The perfect name might be right there on the screen.
Using a beloved film to help find the perfect baby girl name makes sense for so many reasons. If a couple loves a particular movie, perhaps watched it on a first date, using a name from that movie for their daughter is a way for their love to live on through her. Examples of "inside joke" names like these are Allie from The Notebook or Briony from Atonement.
When we name a baby girl after a character in a popular film, it helps with practical issues such as spelling and pronunciation. Mom may really want her daughter to have a distinctive name that will stand out, but choosing a name like Cady from Mean Girls is a way to get that individuality without worrying that a child will be singled out for having a name that no one's heard of.
From baby girl names inspired by Disney cartoons to names from movies that are certified classics, we've gathered 36 beautiful baby girl names that are ready for their close-up.
FRANCES
Few people might remember that Frances is the real name of "Baby" in Dirty Dancing, but it is! Frances is the French feminine form of Franceis — a name derived from the Frankish Empire.
ERIN
Julia Roberts played a film version of this real-life advocate, which is why Erin Brokovich is one of our favorite movies. The name Erin comes from the Gaelic Érinn and was most popular in the 80s.
HERMIONE
We know, we know. Harry Potter started off as a series of books, but we'd argue that the film version of the story of the boy who lived is just as important. Hermione is actually the feminine form of Hermes — the messenger of Zeus in Greek mythology.
RIPLEY
A name fit for a hero, Ripley is the name of Sigourney Weaver's character in Alien. The name was most likely taken from a last name, but we like that Ripley works for both boys and girls.
CLARICE
A name for a smart, clever girl who's going to become a smart, clever woman, Clarice comes from The Silence of the Lambs. Clarice is an elaboration of Clara and is derived from the Latin clārus and means "bright, clear, and famous."
ELLE
What, like finding this baby name cute is hard? The movie Legally Blonde inspired a generation of women to follow their dreams of going to law school and taught us all that people are so much more than their appearances. Elle Woods not only got into Harvard, but she left with a bestie and a degree. In real life, Elle is a variation of Ella, and in recent years the name has soared in popularity.
REGINA
Although she might seem like a mean girl — by the end of the movie Regina George is actually pretty nice. Regina, which means "queen," comes from Latin and is the female form of the name Rex, which means "king."
AMY
According to Gone Girl all the cool girls want to be named Amy. Derived from the Middle English Amye, Amy is a newer version of the French, Aimee which means "beloved."
JUNO
A movie about pregnancy — albeit the pregnancy of a hilariously spunky teen — is the inspiration for this baby name, but Juno also holds some special meaning. Juno is the Roman goddess of women and marriage.
DOROTHY
Follow the yellow brick road to this baby name. Dorothy is a name that borrows elements from the Greek Dōrothea and means "gift of God." Although the name was most popular in the 1920s, Dorothy is an iconic name.
NINA
Fans of Black Swan might remember that Nina is the name of the ballerina played by Natalie Portman. But outside of the ballet bar, Nina means "pretty eyes" in Hindu.
TOULA
Fall in love with this adorable name. Toula was the lead in the classic rom-com My Big Fat Greek Wedding and although it's never been a top 1000 baby name, we think it's a sweet and cheerful.
HOLLY
Grab a croissant and meet us at Tiffany's because we love the name Holly. From the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburns iconic character will inspire any little girl to be bold and fashionable.
RAMONDA
A name fit for a superhero — or the mother of one. Ramonda is the name of T'Challa's mother in Black Panther, but one might not know that Ramonda is actually a Spanish name.
VIOLET
Violet was already a popular name before The Incredibles, but now the name is practically unstoppable. Many parents like the name because of its floral connotations, but hopefully it also evokes the strength of a superhero.
COSETTE
A name fit for a Broadway star, Cosette comes the hit film and musical Les Miserables. In French, Name Berry stated the name means ""little thing" and originally was a nickname before it became a name in its own right.
CHRISTINE
While the titular character of this 2018 film might want you to call her Lady Bird, in fact her actual name is Christine. The name is actually derived from Latin and means "a Christian, a follower of Christ."
GWEN
The latest Spiderman movies are back to the Peter and M.J. romance, but we'll always ship Spidy and Gwen Stacy. A Welsh name meaning "white and holy," as a character Gwen is smart, kind, and sweet — all traits we'd love to have in a little girl of our own.
SHURI
The name Shuri means "village," but to anyone who's seen Black Panther (which is everyone who's not living on a desert island), it's also the name for Disney's smartest, fiercest new princess. It's a perfect pick for anyone looking to give their daughter a royal start in life.
MARGOT
Parents who bonded over their love of quirky indie films should consider the name Margot, in honor of The Royal Tenenbaums. A derivative of the Greek word for "pearl," Margot is a pretty name that has gravity. It sounds like the name of someone who could do anything, like being an artist or a scientist — or both!
LUNA
It's impossible to think of baby names inspired by epic movies without getting to the Harry Potter films. Adding another Lily to the preschool class is fine (it's such a pretty name!) but for those who want something a little more unusual, consider Luna. It's Latin for "moon."
LANEY
She's All That was the final say in romantic movies for anyone who's old enough to have worn butterfly clips in their hair during high school. The movie shaped our ideas of what true love looked liked, and gave us Laney, an adorable baby name option for a spunky little girl.
VERUCA
It might seem an odd choice, to name a child after the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory character who demands what she wants N-O-W. But honestly, don't we want to raise our girls to be bold and go after what the want in life? No one's going to say no to a Veruca.
KATNISS
For anyone who's searching for an uncommon name that instantly makes people think of a smart, capable girl, put Katniss, the star of the Hunger Games movies, on the list of possibilities. The name may come from an edible plant, but for everyone who hears it, it's a sign of a natural-born leader.
MIRANDA
A Latin name meaning "wonderful" or "worthy of admiration," Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada certainly lived up to her name. Fans of the film and those who want a special name that's still easy to spell and pronounce might find this to be the perfect fit.
BRIONY
A variation of a Greek word that means "to grow luxuriantly," we think Briony is a beautiful name for a baby girl. Fans of the heartbreaking movie Atonement will remember the name from the younger sister who didn't see what she thought she saw.
TIANA
With so many princesses to choose from, Disney movies offer tons of great baby name inspo. But we've got a special soft spot for the name Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. From Russian and Latin words meaning "princess," we think it's a beautiful name for a baby girl with a bright future.
GABRIELLA
If Breaking Free is the go-to song when doing couple's karaoke, then there definitely needs to be a discussion about naming the baby Gabriella after the character in the High School Musical movies. From the Hebrew phrase for "God is my strength," it's a name that's as pretty as it is powerful.
PENNY
Almost Famous fans must think about Penny when writing up a list of possible baby girl names. As a character, Penny Lane was carefree and full of love, both qualities we'd hope any namesake of hers would also be lucky enough to possess.
LISBETH
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo surely isn't for kids, but it did leave us with a great potential baby name for a little girl. A Hebrew name that means "oath of God," Lisbeth is a different and interesting twist on Elizabeth. It's a good way to honor a grandparent or aunt but still give baby a name of their own.
CADY
The great thing about choosing Cady as a baby name is that thanks to Mean Girls, everyone will know how to pronounce it. This coming-of-age movie defined a generation and would be so much fun to watch with a daughter named Cady once she's old enough, as a "cool mom."
MERIDA
Brave may not be the most popular Disney movie, but that's why we're in love with it as a potential source for baby names. Merida, which is thought to come from the Celtic word for "pearl," is a princess who refused to let a man dictate her life. We're here for that, and for the name.
ALLIE
When it comes to great female movie characters we'd love to know in real life, Allie from The Notebook quickly comes to mind. Beautiful, graceful, funny, and smart, she refuses to let her family dictate her happiness. The name Allie is Arabic for "greatest," which might just make this name a keeper.
SHELBY
Steel Magnolias was a movie that taught us the power of female loyalty and friendship. Sweet Shelby (based on the screenwriter's own sister) was a kind but strong soul who refused to let her diabetes stand in the way of her dream of becoming a mom. She's a wonderful character to name a child after.
SLOANE
For anyone who thinks Ferris Bueller's Day Off was the best movie of the '80s (no arguments from me) going with Sloane for a baby girl is an easy choice. It's a pretty name that's just a tiny bit off the beaten path, just like her adventure-seeking counterpart in the film.
POPPY
Poppy is an adorable baby name. It's different enough to stand out in a classroom, and it's sweet while still being mature. Plus, Poppy was a princess in Trolls, so it's also a name with a royal connection. And what little girl wouldn't love watching a cartoon with her own special character?
