Sci-fi baby names come from the most beloved Science Fiction movies, books, and television. Science fiction writers love to choose obscure, uncommon names for their characters, sometimes going so far as to create names themselves. If you are searching for a peculiar and cool name for your baby boy, you should consider taking inspiration from sci-fi character names.
We decided to take a deep dive into the strange names that have been featured in stories from over the decades. We’ve combed the depths of outer space and dug deep into the innermost core of middle earth to find the coolest monikers for your son. Choosing a baby name for boys doesn’t have to be such a challenge. If you’re a fan of a certain genre or author or poet, look to that art for inspiration! From Star Wars to Lord of the Rings, here’s a list of unique science fiction baby names for boys. They’re truly out of this world.
25. Artemis
Artemis is the child prodigy and criminal mastermind of the fantasy series Artemis Fowl. The name is related to the Greek goddess of childbirth, the moon, and hunting. Although it belonged to a goddess, Artemis sounds perfect for a little boy.
24. Atreyu
We’re pretty certain the name Atreyu was fabricated by Michael Ende for The Neverending Story. However, it might have been inspired by the mythological King Atreus whose name means “fearless” in Greek. Atreyu would be a bold choice and we imagine he’d be the only one in his class.
23. Bastian
Another name inspired by the German fantasy children’s book The Neverending Story, it features a young boy called Bastian Balthazar Bux. Which is one heck of a name! Bastian is a diminutive form of Sebastian a name with roots in both Greek and Latin that means “man from Sebastia.” While this name hasn’t taken off in the US, it’s currently in the top 20 in Chile and Germany and rising fast across Scandinavia.
22. Bryce
Bryce Ferguson was a long time friend of Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell in Stargate SG-1. Bryce is a fantastic name that’s got unisex appeal and has recently been trending in the US, climbing to just outside the top 200. The name is an alternative spelling of the Scottish name, Brice which means “freckled.”
21. Emmett
In the film, Back to the Future, Dr. Emmett Brown is the eccentric and absent-minded inventor of the time machine. Yes, you could name your son after a mad scientist trope! Why not? Emmett isn’t too on the nose either because it’s a popular name in general ranking just out of the top 100. You don’t have to tell anyone you’re the biggest Christopher Lloyd fan on the planet if you don’t want to.
20. Fox
Does the name Fox William Mulder ring any bells? You don’t have to be the smoking man to pick this name for your little boy. Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files, said he chose the name for the character because he had a childhood friend with the name. Fox has been on the upward trend again since 2016.
19. Grant
Grant from Doctor Who is also known as “the Ghost” gained his powers after an accident in his childhood. Grant has both Scottish and French origins and means “large.” Grant has been a steady favorite for parents over the last few decades. The name sounds very serious while also being somewhat aloof and cool.
18. Han
Han Solo is your favorite smuggler from Star Wars, who wins the heart of Princess Leia and aids the Alliance. Han is a name used in many cultures and found in many languages and traditions. In the west, Han is considered a Dutch name that’s short for Johannes which is a fancy form of John. The name means “God is gracious.” In both Korea and China, you’ll find Han is a popular surname.
17. Harry
Although JK Rowling has been really stepping in it lately, we think that Harry is a wonderful name. Harry comes from the German name Henry and means “ruler.” It’s a name beloved by the British monarchy and by fans of Harry Potter as well. It’s a top 1000 name in the US.
16. Hugo
Hugo is a 12-year old orphan living in a Paris railway station in the fantasy book The Invention of Hugo Cabret and the film adaptation, Hugo. Fans of Batman also recognize the name as belonging to Hugo Strange. Hugo is a magical name that’s been around since ancient Rome. The name means “intellect.”
15. Jareth
Fans of David Bowie know well the Goblin King, Jareth from Labyrinth. Jareth is a fabricated name that’s part Jared and part Gareth. Jared is a Hebrew name that means “he descends.” Gareth is a Welsh name that means “gentle.” Both have excellent meanings, so why not love the best of them both?
14. Kael
General Kael is the leader of the Nockmaar army in Willow. Queen Bavmorda sent Kael to find Elora Danan, the Baby of a prophecy. Kael might be a variant of the Gaelic name Kaelen and means “uncertain.” However, we find it’s closer to Kyle a Scottish Gaelic name that means “narrow spit of land.” It’s probably completely madeup, but it sounds so familiar it would not be too out of place.
13. Logan
The mutant character Wolverine, known as Logan, based on the X-Men comics and played by Hugh Jackman on film, has had a considerable impact on the name. Logan is a most popular name and a favorite gender-neutral option. It’s got Scottish roots and means “small hallow.”
12. Ludo
Ludo was the lovable and sympathetic monster in the fantasy film Labyrinth. The name also appears in Harry Potter and it belonged to a minor character. Ludo is a shortened form of the very Scottish-sounding name, Ludovic. Ludovic is similar to Ludwig a name that means “famous warrior.” Ludo is just an adorable name and we’d love to hear it more often.
11. Malik
This is a somewhat obscure reference, but we absolutely love this name. In the very first season of Dr. Who, there’s something cooking with Marco Polo. Malik was the name of one of the bandits. Then, we had Art Malik a character who appeared in “The Ghost Monument” episode of the show. The name Malik has Arabic origins and means “king” or “wave.”
10. Milo
Milo is the hero of Norton Juster’s fairytale, The Phantom Tollbooth. In the book, he drives his car on the road to Expectation to get into the Kingdom of Wisdom. Milo has Latin and Old German roots and means “soldier” or “merciful.” Milo is beloved around Europe as well as the US, where it’s a top 200 name.
9. Odo
Odo is a rare name that has the same root as the Old Norse, Odin, and also shares an origin with the German name Otto. The name means “wealthy.” For Lord of the Rings fans, this name will conjure the image of one of the Hobbits from the Shire, Bilbo’s cousin.
8. Ronan
Ronan was the leader of the centaurs from the Forbidden Forest in the Battle of Hogwarts. Ronan is the most attractive name and it has Irish origins that mean “little seal.” It currently ranks at number 269 in the US.
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7. Rory
Another Irish name, Rory has become a favorite for parents of both boys and girls. The name is currently trending towards boys. Fans of Doctor Who know this name well as it belongs to the Doctor’s stalwart companion. The name means “red king.”
6. Rowan
Rowan is an attractive Gaelic name that has been rising in US over the last few decades. It’s perfect for both boys and girls and means “little redhead.” Rowan is the nominal titular from the fantasy series Rowan of Rin. You’ll also find the name in Anne Rice’s Lives of the Mayfair Witches trilogy.
5. Rylan
If you’re after an alternative to Ryan, Rylan would be a great one. It’s an English name that means “island meadow.” In the movie The Last Starfighter, Rylan was a master spy for the Star League. The name is currently number 324 in the US, but it has had a showing in the top 100 before.
4. Spike
Spike is a name you’ll almost exclusively find in the US. Spike is Buffy’s enemy turned ally in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You’ll need to be a very cool parent to help your child pull this name off.
3. Tyrion
Tyrion is one of the many new names entering the lexicon thanks to George R. R. Martin. It’s a fabricated name that somehow works. The name belongs to the character, Tyrion Lannister, who is a favorite hero throughout the Game of Thrones series of books, A Song of Ice and Fire.
2. Westly
Westly is a combination of the names Wesley and West. The name can be heard in The Princess Bride. The name has a proper English sound to it and could mean “western meadow” or “from the west.”
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1. Xavier
Xavier is the given name of Professor X, the leader and founder of the X-Men. He has one of the best names, ever! Xavier both Basque and Arabic origins and means “new house” or “bright.” Many Americans pronounce the initial “X,” as in ex-ZAY-vee-er, but it’s equally accepted to pronounce the name ZAY-vee-er, closer to the French pronunciation. This would definitely be a winning choice!
There you go! 25 names for boys inspired by our most beloved Sci-Fi character. We think these names could actually work in the real world and would be exceptional monikers. We hope you feel inspired to choose one or, at least, get a better sense of what direction you’d like to go.