“What’s in a name?”
Fortunately, the Bard has left us with plenty of inspiration in his plays.
Without further ado, here are some Shakespearean baby names are sure to melt your heart.
Unlike the name’s (likely) meaning, the character in the play is less than noble.
He and Prospero eventually reconcile, and Prospero’s dukedom is restored.
His son and Prospero’s daughter, who have fallen in love, get married.
Take, for example, the nameValeria.
Valeria isa minor characterinCoriolanus, one of Shakespeare’stragic works, based on the life of a Roman general.
In the play, she is renowned for being chaste and noble.
Demetrius
Shakespeare must have really, really liked the nameDemetriusbecause it appears all over his work.
Based on the Greek name Demetrios, Demetrius is also derived from a feminine name, Demeter.
In Greek mythology, Demeter was thegoddess of agricultureand the daughter of Zeus, the ruler of the gods.
Shakespeare gave this name to a few characters, but not every Demetrius is created equal.
InAntony and Cleopatra, Demetrius isa minor character.
This would certainly explain why Shakespearean characters named Demetrius tend to be bad guys.
Don’t let that ruin the name for you, though.
InKing Lear, Cordelia is theyoungest daughter of the king.
Disinherited by her father, Cordelia is married off to the King of France.
She is reconciled with her father, but the reunion is short lived.
Both Cordelia and King Lear end up captured and executed by the enemy.
While Robin Goodfellow is the name of a character, hetypically goes by the name Puck.
In the play, Puck/Robin is a fairy who delights on playing tricks on people, especially unsuspecting humans.
He serves Oberon, the king of the fairies, and acts as a sort of court jester.
The nameRobindates back to medieval times, when it was originally used as a nickname for the name Robert.
While it started as a masculine name, these days Robin is used for both boys and girls.
Shakespeare usedLorenzo(the Spanish and Italian variation of the nameLaurence) for one of the play’s characters.
While this name was pretty common back in Shakespeare’s time, it’s also still trending today.
In the play, Lorenzo isin love with Jessica, the daughter of the play’s antagonist.
Their romance is forbidden as Jessica is Jewish, while Lorenzo is a Christian.
Lavinia
The lovely nameLaviniais taken from one of Shakespeare’s less famous plays,Titus Andronicus.
This name a rare gem in that it’s both feminine and empowering.
The name goes back even further than Shakespeare’s time and is present in early Roman stories.
The name has been used for centuries.
If Shakespeare lived today, he would likely agree.
InThe Tempest,Ferdinand is a man who will do anything for love.
The name comes from the French nameBlanche, meaning “white” or “fair”.
Both names ultimately come from the Germanic word “blanc.”
She has many suitors, but falls in love with a man who disguises himself as her teacher.
Ariel
Arielis a Hebrew name meaning “lion of God.”
Ariel has considerable powers, among them the ability to shapeshift.
He is also a musician as well as a gifted singer.
Orlando
Orlando isn’t justa city in Floridaor the name of a famous actor.
The name was common in Renaissance Italy, although it’s nowhere near as popular in modern times.
InAs You Like It, Orlando isan educated and intelligent young man.
Everyone loves him, except for his older brother, Oliver.
While the show takes a few dark turns, this play is a lighthearted one.
InThe Tempest,Francisco is a lord again, only a minor character.
The name Francisco is still popular in modern times, especially in Portugal and in Spanish-speaking countries.
The name is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the Latin nameFranciscus, which translates to “Frenchman.”
If you’re one of thoseAmerican Francophiles, this name could be a perfect fit for your future bebe.
