For many of us, animated Disney and Pixar films shaped our childhood imaginations. With animated classics like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Finding Nemo and more Disney movies gave us some amazing characters that we wished were real. Now that we’re adults, we can inject some Disney magic back into our lives by choosing a baby name that is inspired by some of our childhood fantasies. We’re doing a bit of deep dive into Disney movies to find some of the more obscure names we love from characters you might not even remember. Don’t expect to see Ariel, Eric, or Ursula on this list. After all, there are over 200 original films produced and made by Disney. That’s a lot of movies and even more characters for us to draw inspiration from. Here are our favorite Disney inspired names from the studio’s 15 classic films that will set your baby up for a life of enchantment.
15. Ratatouille
Released in 2007, Ratatouille is about a young kitchen hand that becomes the hottest chef in Paris all because of genius rat that does all the cooking. Yes, we know this is a bit of an obscure movie to be on a best of list but the caliber of character names as well as the movie itself are completely underrated in this Pixar Studios classic. If you’re a Francophile looking for a unique name, this movie has your inspiration.
Girls Names:
- Colette – French name and short for Nicolette and means “victory for the people”.
Boys Names:
- Alfredo – Italian male name that means Elf Counsel
- Anton – male name of French origin and a form of Antony, which is unknown Etruscan origin
- Auguste – The French version of Augustus and means exalted or venerable
- Francios – Male french in origin and means “free”
Gender Neutral Names:
- Remy – A French name used for males for females meaning “remedy”
- Emile – A French gender neutral name that means “to strive” or “to rival”
14. Sleeping Beauty
Released in 1959, Sleeping Beauty is one of the all-time classics for Disney that made us all want to find a Prince Charming. Her parents hid the beautiful princess Aurora with three fairies to protect her from Malificient’s curse. Sadly, Aurora could not evade the curse and only awoke when her prince charming bestowed his kiss.
Girls Names:
- Aurora – Female name of Latin origin meaning “dawn”
- Fauna – Female name of Latin origin. Fauna is the Roman goddess of nature and animals
- Flora – Latin female name meaning flower.
- Meriwether – This name is too unique and is of unknown origin
Boys Names:
- Phillip – Male name of Greek origin meaning lover of horses
- Stefan – Stefan is an alternative to Stephen and sounds far more interesting. The name has roots in Greek and Latin and the Greek, Stephanos means “crown.”
- Samson – Male biblical name of Hebrew origin meaning “sun”
13. Finding Nemo
Released in 2003, we go on an epic under sea journey to find a lost little clownfish who escaped from the reef. We meet the forgetful Dory, Nemo’s neurotic dad Marlin and a whole host of oceanic characters we grown to love.
Girls Names:
- Pearl – The English word and name Pearl comes from the Latin word “perla.” It means “precious.”
- Coral – An English female name meaning “reef formation”
- Dory – Short for Dorothy or Doris. Greek in origin and means “gift from God”
- Darla – Female name of English origin and means “dear” or “loved one”
Boys Names:
- Nigel – A male name of English origin that means ‘champion” or “black”
- Jaques – French for John or Jack and means “supplanter”
- Ray – The short form of Raymond from English origin that means “counsel protection”
- Sheldon – Male English name that means “steep-sided valley”
Gender Neutral
- Marlin – Though a gender neutral name, most often its usually for females and is the combination of Mary and Lynn
12. Monsters, Inc and Monsters University
Monsters, Inc released in 2001 is one of the best Pixar films of all time. Everyone can relate to Boo and her fear of the dark. Thank goodness she found Mike and Sully to be her scarers. To save her from Randall and Mr. Waternoose. Then Mike and Sully go back to school and take over the company in Monsters U. This movie has some epic characters that are also great name inspirations.
Girls Names:
- Celia – A female name of Latin origin that means “heavenly”
- Roz – A female name short for Rosalyn or Rosalind, which is Spanish for little rose.
Boys Names:
- Sullivan – A classic male Irish name, often a surname, means dark-eyed
- Randall – An English male name meaning “shield wolf”
- Chet – A male name that is short for Chester, which is a Latin name meaning “fortress, walled town”.
Gender Neutral Names:
- Terry – A Gender neutral name that is short for Terrance (male) or Teresa (female). Teresa is a Spanish name meaning “harvester”
11. Rescuers and Rescuers Down Under
The Rescuers was released in 1977 and mesmerized audiences around the country. Two mice work to save the orphaned Penny who has been kidnapped by Madame Medusa as she seeks a diamond. The mice save the day in this heartwarming adventure, plus the name inspiration in this movie is totally unique for the list.
Girls Names:
- Bianca – Female Italian name that means “white”
- Joanna – The English version of the Greek name Iohanna, which means “God is Gracious”
- Penny – Short for Penelope. A female name of Greek origin that means “a web over her face”
- Ellie Mae – Short for Eleanor or Ellen, which is Greek in origin and means “bright, shining one”
Boys Names:
- Bernard – Male name of German origin that means “strong as a bear”
- Wilbur – Male name of English origin that means “fortress”
- Jake – Male name short for Jacob that Hebrew in origin and means “supplanter”
- Cody – Male name of English origin that means “helpful”
- Frank – French in origin and short for Francis or Franklin that means “free man”
- Luke – Male name of Greek origin that means “man from Lucania”
- Rufus – The name Rufus has origins in Latin and means “red-headed.”
10. Mary Poppins
Released in 1964 starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, Disney entered the live action musical space with this hit. Mary, the earliest version of the “super nanny”, helps two children because closer to their father using music and adventure. This movie has classic English name inspiration for your name search
Girls Names
- Mary – a female name of Hebrew origin and is the name of Jesus’s mother as well as Mary Magdalen in the Bible. The name means “drop of the sea, bitter or beloved”
- Ellen – A female name similar to another name on this list, Ellie Mae from the Rescuers, is Greek in origin and means “bright, shining one”
- Jane – A female name of English origin that means “God is Gracious”. One of the most famous Jane’s is history is also of British decent, Jane Austen.
- Katie – This female name is short for Katherine or Kathleen, which is English in origin and means “pure”
- Winnifred – A female name of English or Welsh origin with an unknown meaning.
Boys Names:
- Albert – A classic British male name that means “noble, elf, bright;. One of the most famous Albert’s is Albert Einstein
- George – Is a male name of Greek Origin that means “farmer”. The name George can be found in many languages and throughout history
- Michael – The name means “who is like God.” We adore the name and think it would be handsome for any boy lucky enough to get it.
9. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
No list of baby names can forget about old school and beloved Disney characters from the Mickey Mouse Club, which got a reboot in 2006 focusing on preschool children.
Girls Names:
- Daisy – A female American name based on the Daisy flower
- Minnie – Short for Minerva, which is Greek in Origin for the Goddess of knowledge and intellect
Boys Names:
- Mickey – Short for Michael. The Hebrew male name means “who is like God.” We adore the name and think it would be handsome for any boy lucky enough to get it.
- Donald – The male name is of Scottish origin and means “leader of chief”
- Huey – Short for Hugh. The male name originates in Germany and means “bright in mind and spirit”
- Louie – Male name short for Louis is from Germany and means “warrior”
Gender Neutral Names:
- Max – The name of Goofy’s adolescent son. Max is a derivative of Maximus or Maximilian and is a very common name in Germany. It means “greatest.” While Max is often a name given to boys, we think it would be completely acceptable for little girls as well.
8. The Incredibles
Released in 2004 and the sequel in 2018, brought the action to a Pixar film. The Incrdibles focuses on a seemingly normal and boring family that hides it’s super powers because the world has outlawed using them… until the world meets a super villain and needs saving. This movie is a personal favorite because it brought out the good vs. evil while also reminding us that any family can be ‘super’.
Girls Names:
- Helen – Female name of Greek Origin meaning “light”
- Violet – A female English name for the flower Violet
- Evelyn – An English version of a French/German name meaning “desired or water island”
- Edna – Female name of Hebrew origin that means “delicacy or tenderness”
- Honey – A female name of American origin that means “sweet as honey”
Boys Names:
- Bob/Robert – The English version of a German name that means “bright fame”
- Dashiell – the English version of a French surname de Chiel
- Jack – An English version of John, often a nickname for John. John is a male Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”
- Lucious – American name of unknow origin
- Tony/Anthony – A version of Antony, a male name, which is of unknown Etruscan origin
- Chad – A make English name meaning “warrior”
- Winston – The name Winston is English and means “from Wine’s town.”
- Victor – A male name of Latin origin that means “victor or warrior”
Gender Neutral
Kari – A Gender Neutral Scandinavian name that means “pure”
7. Little Mermaid
One of the biggest animated hits of all time, The Little Mermaid was released in 1989. The protagonist, Ariel has many sisters and the one with the best name is Alana. We can’t talk about The Little Mermaid without mentioning our favorite cartoon crustacean, Sebastian.
This Disney classic was part of the Princess renaissance that made wearing princess character dresses a “thing’ for every little girls born in the early 2000s (I know my daughter had about 10 of them!). As we follow Ariel’s journey to find true love and trade her fins in for legs, we discover ‘a whole new world’ ‘under the sea’ that spawned an epic franchise
Girls Names:
- Alana – It’s a German name that means “precious child.”
- Ursula – A female name of Latin origin that means “little female bear”
- Carlotta – The Italian version of the French name Charlotte and is the female version of Charles. The name means “free man”
Boys Names:
- Eric – A male Scandinavian name that means “eternal ruler”
- Joshua – A male Hebrew name with significant Biblical significance that means “god is my salvation”
- Sebastian – is Latin in origin and means “revered.”
- Louis – Male name from Germany and means “warrior”
Gender Neutral
- Ariel – A Gender neutral Hebrew name that means “Lion of God”
6. Beauty and the Beast
Remade in 1991, this movie features a bookworm named Belle who is forced to live with a beastly prince in order to save her father. Over time she comes to love the Prince and in this film Disney ushers in a whole new era of animated musicals and continued the princess revival. Whether you love the singing house items or Belle’s sweet and forgiving nature this movie is always a classic.
Girls Names:
- Belle – A female name short for Isabelle, the French version of Elizabeth that means “consecrated to God”.
Boys Names:
- Gaston – A French male name that means “guest”
- Maurice – A French male name that means “dark-skinned”
- Chip – While often used as a nickname for Charles, we think the name Chip holds its own as a proper name. The name Chip comes from the Old English word “coerl” and means “man.”
- Tom – A male name short for Thomas, which is of Greek or Aramaic origin and means “twin”
- Philippe – A French version of the male name of Greek origin meaning lover of horses
Gender Neutral Names:
- Jean – Today, Jean can be used for boys or girls. The name Jean is the French form of John. Both John and Jean come from “Yochanan” which is a Hebrew name that means “God is gracious.”
5. The Cars Franchise
One of Disney’s and Pixar’s most successful franchises gave us a trilogy compiling the longest list of names. While we don’t recommend naming your child “Lightening McQueen” there are plenty of other inspirations from Radiator Springs and races all over the globe.
Girls Names:
- Sally – A version of Sarah, a female Hebrew name that means “princess”
- Flo – Short for Florence, a female name of Latin origin that means “prosperous or flowering”
- Lizzie – Short for Elizabeth a female Hebrew name that means “consecrated to God”
- Natalie – A French female name that means “Born on Christmas”
Boys Names:
- Ramon – The Spanish version on Raymond from English origin that means “counsel protection”
- Luigi – The Italian version of Louis, which is a German name meaning “warrior”
- Finn – A male Irish name meaning “fair or white”
- Francesco – Italian for Frank. French in origin and short for Francis or Franklin that means “free man”
- Darrell – A male French name meaning “dear or beloved”
- David – A classic Biblical and Hebrew male name, David means “beloved”
- Mack – A male name from English or Scottish origin that means “son of”
- Lewis – The English version of the French Louis. Lewis is a male name that means “warrior”
- Jeff – Short for Jeffrey or Jefferson. A male name of English origin that means “pledge of peace”
- Alexander – Male name of Greek origin that means “defender of the people”
- Vladimir – A male name of Slavic origin that means “great ruler or renowned prince”
- Cruz – A Spanish male name that means “the Cross of Christ”
- Sterling – A male name of English origin that means “of the highest quality”
- Jackson – A male name of English descent that means “son of Jack”
- Dusty – An English male name that is short for Dustin and means “thor’s stone”
Gender Neutral Names:
- River – a classic gender neutral nature name of English origin
- Holley – – a classic gender neutral nature name of English origin
- Mel – Short for Melvin in its male version and Melanie in its female version. Melvin is an English or Scottish male name meaning “gentle lord”. Melanie is of Greek origin and means “black”
4. The Princess and the Frog
Released in 2009, The Princess and The Frog is different than the more traditional Disney “princess” stories and was its first attempt at mainstream animation in in over 5 years. This movie has some many great Cajun characters and names of the 1920s Louisiana for any baby name list.
Girls Names:
- Tiana – A female Slavic name meaning “fairy queen”
- Eudora – A female name of Greek origin meaning “excellent gift”
- Charlotte – A female French name Charlotte and is the female version of Charles. The name means “free man”
- Georgia – the female form of George, which is of English origin and means “farmer”
Boys Names:
- Naveen – A male name of Indian origins that means “new”
- James – The English variation of Jacob, a Hebrew name that means “supplanter”
- Reggie – Short for Reginald, an English name meaning “counsel, power”
- Darnell – A male name of English origin that means “plant”
- Ian – The Scottish version of John. John is a male Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”
- Randy – Short for Randall, an English male name meaning “shield wolf”
- Henry – A male name of German origin meaning “ruler of the home”
- Harvey – A French male names that means “battle worthy or warrior”
- Ralph(ie) – The English version of a German male name that means “wolf counsel”
3. Coco
Released in 2017, Coco is Pixar’s first animated film that explored Mexican culture. Connecting with and saving your ancestors has never been more fun during the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos. This movie gives us some epic unique Spanish names for inspiration.
Girls Names:
- Imelda – Spanish and Italian version of a German female name meaning “all-consuming fight”
- Frida – A female name of German origin that means “peace or peaceful”
- Rosita – A nickname for Rosa, or Rose in English, a female name of Latin origin that means rose.
Boys Names:
- Julio – The Spanish version of Julius, a male Latin name meaning “youthful”
- Oscar – Male name of Irish origin that means “deer lover”
- Hector – A male name of Greek origin that means “anchor or steadfast”
- Miguel – Miguel is the Spanish cognate of the English name Michael. The name means “who is like God.” We adore the name and think it would be handsome for any boy lucky enough to get it.
- Ernesto – The Spanish version of Ernest, a male German name that means “earnest or sincere”
- Gustavo – A male name of Latin origin that means “staff of goths”
2. Frozen
Released in 2013, Frozen burst onto the scene with Elsa and Anna and the girls empowerment anthem “Let it Go”. The sequel released in 2019 saw Elsa become queen and she and Anna save the realm again. The names from the latest of the Disney Princesses not only come from beloved characters, but also have Scandinavian influences.
Girls Names:
- Elsa – A form of Elizabeth, a female name of Hebrew origin that means “consecrated to God”
- Anna – Comes from the female Hebrew name Hannah meaning “grace”
- Gerda – A Scandinavian form of Gertrude, which is a German name meaning “spear and strength”
- Yelena – A Russian or Portuguese version of Helen, a female name of Greek origin that means “light”
Boys Names:
- Kristoff – The Scandinavian version of Christopher, a male Greek name that means “Christ-bearer”
- Olaf – A male name of Scandinavian origin meaning “ancestor’s heir”
- Hans – A Scandinavian male name, like John, means “God is gracious”
- Duke – The name Duke is English and means “leader.”
- Agnarr – Short for Ragnar, a male Scandinavian name that means “army rule”
- Mattias – The Scandinavian version of Matthew, a male Hebrew name that means “Gift of God”
- Kai – A male name of Hawaiian origin that means “ocean or sea”
Gender Neutral
- Ryder – A Gender neutral English name meaning “Knight or cavalryman”
1. The Toy Story Franchise
The # movie franchise on our list, first released in in 1995, brought a whole new type of animation to the world and all we had to do was indulge our childhood. This franchise tops the list both because it covered 4 different movies with our favorite characters Woody, Buzz, Jessie but it also brought the child out in all of us. Each new installment was a new adventure with new toys to bring us new character name inspiration. Below are all the names from a top Disney/Pixar franchise.
Girls Names:
- Barbie – Short for Barbara, a female Greek name meaning “stranger”
- Bonnie – A female English/Scottish name meaning “beautiful”
- Dolly – A nickname for Dorothy, a female Greek name means “gift from God”
- Gabby (Gabriella) – A female version of Gabriel. The name is of Spanish or Italian origin that means “God is my strength”
- Hannah – A female Hebrew name meaning “grace”
- Karen – A female Scandinavian name meaning” pure”
- Margaret – A female name of English origin that means “pearl”
- Molly – An English version of Mary, a Hebrew name that means “bitter or of the sea”
- Trixie – Short for Beatrix, a female name of Latin origin, meaning “bringer of Joy”
Boys Names:
- Rex – A male name of Latin origin that means “king”
- Woody/Woodrow – A male name of English origin that means “of the woods”
- Ken/Kenneth – A male name from Scottish origin that means “handsome or comely”
- Billy/William – The English version of the male German name Wilhelm meaning resolute protection
Gender Neutral Names:
- Jessie – A gender neutral name stemming from John or Jean, meaning “God is gracious”
- Andy – A Gender neutral name of Greek origin meaning “strong”
- Sid(ney) – A gender neutral name of French origin coming from Saint Denys
All the great Characters We Could Not Leave Off The List
While we could not focus on every Disney animated movie or series there are so many names behind epic characters with deep meanings. We would be remiss if we left them off the list.
Girls Names:
- Sarafina (The Lion King) – The name Sarafina is Italian and means “angel.” While the name Sarafina might seem like a mouthful, you can always call her Sara for short.
- Nala – (The Lion King) – Female African name meaning “successful”
- Esmerelda (Hunchback of Notre Dame) – A Female Spanish name for the gem, emerald
- Jasmine (Aladdin) – The name Jasmine is Persian and means “gift from God” and also is the name of a flower.
- Wendy (Peter Pan) – Is an English female name meaning “friend or blessed ring”
- Lily (Peter Pan) – Tiger Lily was a valuable ally for Peter and Wendy and an incredibly endearing character. We love the name Lily and the flower from which the name comes from. The name Lily means “pure.”
- Mulan (Mulan) – A Female name of Chinese origin meaning “wood orchid”
- Kala (Tarzan) – A female name of Indian origin meaning “art”.
- Moana (Moana) – Hawaiian, Maori or Samoan name meaning “deep ocean of sea”
- Olivia – (The Great Mouse Detective) The young heroine of the film is Olivia. Latin in origin, Olivia is a popular name for girls and means “olive tree.”
- Joy (Inside out) – Female name of Latin origin that means” happiness”
- Marian (Robin Hood) – Female French medieval version of Marie and means “drop of the sea or bitter”
- Clara – (Orphan’s Benefits)Everyone’s favorite operatic chicken, Clara Cluck The name Clara comes from Latin and means “clear.”
- Cleo – (Pinocchio)There are many fabulous characters in the film like Jiminy Cricket and Geppetto, but a character many people forget about is Geppetto’s fish, Cleo. Cleo is a Greek name that is a shortened form of Cleopatra the prefix of the name, Cleo means “pride.”
- Lena – (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)The name Lena appears in many languages and cultures and means “sunlight,” “moonlight,” “generous,” and “she that lures.”
- Willow (Pocahontas) – Your favorite talking tree, Grandmother Willow, offers wisdom and guidance to the film’s protagonist. The name Willow is simply beautiful and means “graceful.”
- Thalia (Hercules ) – The very best of the Muses from Hercules, Thalia is the Muse of Comedy and although she doesn’t have a huge part in the film, she’s one of its best characters. The name Thalia is Greek, of course, and means “to blossom.”
Boys Names:
- Amos – (The Fox and Hound) While fans of this movie may not love the character you should still love the name. The origins of the name Amos are contested and many attribute the name to Hebrew because of the 8th-century prophet Amos whose acts were recorded in The Book of Amos. Amos most likely comes from Hebrew and means “to carry.”
- Hugo (Hunchback of Notre Dame) – The Latin version of Hugh that means “mind, intellect”
- John (Peter Pan and Pocahontas) – Male Hebrew name that means “God is gracious”
- Peter (Peter Pan) – A Greek male name that means “rock”
- Sina (Moana) – Male name of Arabic origin meaning”son of Mount Sinai”
- Pascal (Tangled) – The name and its variations are popular across Europe and the name is commonly associated with Easter. It means “one born on Easter.”
- Jasper (101 Dalmations) – The name Jasper is Persian in origin and means “treasurer.”
- Merlin (The Sword and The Stone) – The name is extremely old and comes from primitive Celtic origins “mer” and “dunom” which together mean “sea hill.” Merlin might seem like a far-out name, but be bold! Merlin is a handsome name and it deserves some love.
- Taran – (The Black Cauldron) The main character, Taran, who dreams of becoming a knight has a very unique name. The name Taran is prominent in Gaelic mythology and means “thunder.”
- Prince – There are a bunch of Princes in Disney movies from Prince Charming to Prince Eric there are about a dozen or more. The name Prince connotes royalty and the word comes from Latin. If you love too many Disney princes and can’t settle on one, consider naming your boy this stately name.
Gender Neutral Names:
- Akela – (The Jungle Book) TOur favorite is the wolf, Akela who is the leader of a wolfpack. It’s a gender-neutral name that’s appropriate for both girls and boys. The name Akela was made popular in Hawaii and is a derivative of the German name, Adela. It means “graceful” or “noble.”
- Riley (Inside Out) – The name Riley comes from Old English and means “wood clearing.”
- Robin (Robin Hood) – The name Robin is great for both girls and boys. However, the name has been trending for baby girls over the past few decades. The name Robin means “fame-bright.”
- Lilo (Lilo and Stitch) – A gender neutral name of Hawaiian origin that means “generous one”
Disney has inspired us for decades and so too have the names of its characters. We hope these thirty names encourage you to think outside the box when coming up with a name for your child. Even if your passions include animated films, you can still look to them for baby name ideas. Disney has thrived because it has based so many of its stories on classic fairytales and timeless stories. Many of the names found in Disney films are also timeless and would be excellent for your baby.