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Naming your baby is as confusing as it is essential.
Their appeal is timeless, and their popularity is still relevant.
And as baby name expert Laura Wattenberg put it (viaNPR): “Popular just means well liked.
No child’s life was ruined by having a popular name.”
Isn’t that charming?
The cherubic performer turned to diplomacy in her adult years, even serving as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana.
Greta Garbo
Few classic cinema stars were as mesmerizing as Greta Garbo.
The name Greta means pearl in the German language (viaSheKnows).
And she was conclusively as enigmatic as the gemstone!
Cary Grant
Hollywood’s abiding debonair, Cary Grant, was a class apart.
In trademark Grant tenor, he once said: “Everyone wants to be Cary Grant.
Even I want to be Cary Grant.”
Sure enough, anyone can be Cary!
A perfect fit for any baby as beloved as the film star!
There’s no title more chic or feminine for your baby girl!
Sidney Poitier
Sidney Poitier was a true icon of classic Golden Age cinema.
What name better than Sidney, therefore, to give your little gentleman (or gentlewoman)?
It wasn’t without reason that he was honored as the “Martin Luther King of the movies.”
An influential actor, revolutionary, and cultural idol all rolled into one!
Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly was the personification of Hollywood entertainment through and through.
Ballet, especially, was a dance form Kelly is said to have made accessible to the general population.
His influence in creating the image of a dancing man acceptable in the mainstream was marked.
“I wanted to dance in a pair of jeans.
I wanted to dance like the man in the streets,” he famously said (viaPBS).
Taking after the award-winning actor, Gene would be an apt name for an active, lively child.
The title was held by several historical French figures celebrated for their military might.
Any child called Gene would surely be a powerhouse of talent!
It belongs to one of cinema history’s most pathbreaking figures Katharine Hepburn.
Who wouldn’t want to name their girl after an inspiring woman like Hepburn?
According toThe Bump, the name Katharine originates from the Greek katharos, which means pure.
“I’m a personality as well as an actress,” she once declared (via theBBC).
Judy Garland
Judy Garland’s presencein Hollywood was as significant as it was short-lived.
A prodigal performer, Garland made her stage debut at the unbelievably early age of 2 (viaTCM).
Interestingly, her first name was one Garland chose for herself.
The name holds strong ties to Judaism, meaning a Jewish woman in Hebrew.
The name, of course, has another Hollywood heavyweight lending it eminence: Judy Dench.
A powerful name to give your child, without a doubt!
A child of the Great Depression, her ethereal beauty eventually attracted the showbiz spotlight.
She was as hotly chased for her film status as she was for her larger-than-life personality.
Such was her celebrity!
“The truth is, honey, I’ve enjoyed my life.
I’ve had a hell of a good time,” Gardner famously said (viaGoodreads).
This is one feisty woman to name your baby after!
PerPeople, actor Reese Witherspoon notably named her daughter after Gardner!
Capturing the essence of who Peck was, Lee said: “Gregory Peck was a beautiful man.
Atticus Finch gave him the opportunity to play himself” (viaLife).
Who wouldn’t want their child to take after this actor and live in the light of his name?
Gregory is of Greek origin and has been a favored name for centuries, associated especially with the Church.
The name means to be watchful or alert, perAncestry, and is commonly shortened as Greg.
Dignified and hip, this name offers the best of both worlds!
Ingrid Bergman
Here’s looking at you kid literally!
Any girl would be fortunate to be named after one of cinema’s greatest legends, Ingrid Bergman.
The name Ingrid is of considerable significance.
It finds its origins in Old Norse, according toOh Baby!
Marlene Dietrich
Hollywood has seen few icons as badass as Marlene Dietrich.
It also means star of the sea or high tower.
Montgomery Clift
One of the most attractive names on the list (and maybe ever!
), Montgomery is sure to give its bearer distinction.
“Montgomery Clift changed everything,” asThe New Yorkerput it.
An inherently awe-inspiring name, Montgomery carries grand meanings.
We’d say that there are many good reasons to attach your baby to this impressive name!
Bette Davis
Bette Davis didn’t just master her acting craft she perfected it.
She stood tall as a Hollywood pioneer, defending herself against insufficient roles and bad pay (perBritannica).
She worked with her quintessential intensity well into the final years of her life.
