Since their creation and consequent proliferation in the mid-20th century, ballpoint pens have proven to be a versatile tool for professional artists as well as amateur doodlers. Ballpoint pen artwork created over the years has been positively compared to art created using traditional art mediums such as charcoal, pencil, paint, etc.
We can barely write legibly so it’s amazing that artists are able to use such a ubiquitous writing implement like a magic wand to create some truly breathtaking works of art. Some artists choose to work with just one color ink, while others use multiple colors for even more variety. There’s no perfect pen, but most artists prefer a classic Bic ballpoint to get the job done. It’s been a while since we gawked at some pen sketches, but we decided to see what’s coming out these days. Here are 25 jaw-dropping works of art created using ballpoint pens.
The Hairs
This lovely portrait comes from Sonia Davel. Although the artist works with a number of different mediums, her ballpoint pen portraits are mouthwatering.
What’s on Your Mind?
This work comes from Louis Gibiard, a young artist with impeccable attention to detail. He shared this work in progress (we’ll see a finished piece by Gibiard later on the list) with the caption: “That’s a ballpoint pen illustration, black pen this time. I use classic cristal BIC ballpoint pens as they are cheap and versatile.”
Just a Doodle
This hyper-realistic portrait was shared by Brazilian artist, Lénine Carvalho. The way he captures light is remarkable. If you’re noticing a trend, blue pens are a favorite for many artists.
Feel the Way I Feel
Artist Ilo Künst definitely has their own way of doing things. The artist has a devoted following on social media because the art they create is so expressive and emotional. Have you ever had a day that had you feeling like this?
Dalí
Surrealist, Salvador Dalí is lovingly sketched here by an artist who goes simply by “Cris” on social media. The artist has perfectly captured Dalí’s intense expression.
Identity
Ballpoint pen artist Izundu De’Best Uchechi has created a dramatic and narrative piece using just a pen. We absolutely love this meaningful artwork.
Cute Kid
This sketch comes from India. Artist Narinder Mour has included so much detail here. Your eyes can easily get lost staring into the expertly drawn hair or fabric of the dress.
Meow!
Animal portrait time! Two glorious tigers are sketched here enjoying some together time. This ballpoint pen sketch was published in San Diego’s ZooNoos. Just purrfect.
Remarkable
Patrick Onyekwere‘s portraits prove that ballpoint pens are an incredible medium if you know what you’re doing. This artist is so insanely talented and this portrait speaks for itself.
Glasses
According to the artist, this sketch was done using A5 ballpoint pens and took about eight hours to complete. The artist goes by “Caryonwala” on social media.
Portrait
We think this is a portrait of a K-pop idol. The artist, known as Roua Alhuda shares exciting videos of her sketching on TikTok. A stunning portrait!
Howl
Hungarian artist Tamas Turi brings the drama with this black ink sketch. We love all the movement of the lines in the fur.
Hands
“It’s funny, I used to hate drawing hands but now I actually enjoy it,” Sara, the artist writes. “It still can be a bit of a struggle sometimes to get them right, but if I shut off my brain and focus on the shapes it helps.”
Addicted to Bic
Here, we find some more colorful ink for a handsome furry friend. Animal portraitist, Maïc Batmane really captures the essence of this pet, don’t you think?
She’s Blue
This portrait was somewhat cryptically shared to Instagram and is attributed to the account @haru4_39. Artists will be artists! We love the dramatic shadowing found around the eyes and beneath the jaw.
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Beauty
This sketch is based on Christian Seybold‘s classic painting. The person who shared the sketch goes by Dilay on social media. Great work!
Oh, Hi!
Does this turtle speak to you the way it does to us? This animal portrait comes from artist Michael Andrew Agolor. It’s such an inspiring piece!
Eye Spy
Wow! Hyper-realism is on full display in this sketch. Artist and teacher, Shubham Kairi has done magnificent work here.
Billie
Why, hello there, Billie Eilish. This portrait of the pop star comes from an artist who goes by ΛDƎL. It’s a showstopper.
148 Hours
As promised, here’s another work by Louis Gibiard. While many artists focus on portraits, here, we find Gibiard turning their attention to architectural influences. What a thrill! The artist shared that this extremely detailed piece took 148 hours to complete.
Hyper-Real
Oscar Ukonu is an artist who explores Afrorealism. Ukono’s absolutely mesmerizing portraits are not only beautiful, but they are also thought-provoking works of art that bring to light lived experiences. This piece is entitled “The Disinformation of a Republic II.”
Princess D
Mostafa Khodeir is a supremely talented artist working in a number of different mediums. We love this portrait of Princess Diana.
The Eyes
Washington-based Ryan B has learned to master the Bic pen and manages to make it look like pencil work in her latest pieces. We love the way this sketch pulls focus to the subject’s face and fades at the periphery.
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Breathtaking
Mojgan Hosseini considers herself a painter, but she also dabbles in ballpoint sketches. And by “dabbles” we mean completely wins! This gorgeous portrait is a marvel.
Give ’em a Hand
Concept artist who goes by Derwin is located in Zimbabwe. This gorgeous portrait with a closeup detail of a hand showcases how in-your-face a pen line can be while still being able to articulate form.
There you go! 25 stunning ballpoint pen sketches that utilize a tool we use daily to manifest fabulous works of art! We hope you enjoyed these pieces and feel inspired to start your own work today!
Speaking of artists, that’s change up the medium shall we, and take a look at these talented actors who are in a league of their own!
EGOT Winners and How They Got Their Start
EGOT is an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. Only a handful of creatives have managed to snag all four and it’s considered a huge achievement and a sign that these folks really have “arrived.” Some folks complete them in a few short years while others work for a lifetime to win the collection. In show business, it’s the equivalent of a “grand slam.”
The EGOT acronym was coined by actor Philip Michael Thomas in the 1980s when his role on the new hit show Miami Vice brought him instant fame. At the time, he stated a desire to achieve the EGOT within five years. Unfortunately, he never earned the distinction but we do have him to thank for the concept. In the history of the four awards ceremonies, there have only been 17 folks with the distinction. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s a very special
EGOT Winners from Most Recent to Those Who Came Before.
Jennifer Hudson
The newest EGOT winner is actress, singer, and producer Jennifer Hudson. She made history at the 2022 Tony Awards for her role as a co-producer of A Strange Loop, which won the trophy for Best Musical. Before that, in 2007, Hudson won an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls. She has also received two Grammys, one for best R&B album in 2009, and the other for best musical theater album for The Color Purple in 2017.
Just last year, she won a Daytime Emmy for an animated short called Baba Yag. You’ll likely recall that Hudson got her big break on American Idol in 2004.
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Alan Menken
While you might remember this composer and songwriter for his contributions to the Disney songbook, Oscar-winning scores for animated classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, Menken is also an 11-time Grammy award-winner for many of those same, beloved songs, as well as a Tony winner for his score for 2012’s Newsies.
He completed his EGOT in 2020 with an Emmy for Outstanding Original Song in a Children’s, Young Adult or Animated Program for Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure. After college, Menken attended the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop where he cut his teeth as a songwriter for Broadway.
John Legend
John Legend has definitely lived up to his larger-than-life stage name, completing his EGOT collection in 2018 by becoming the first African-American man ever to secure all four major creative awards. In addition to his 12 Grammy Awards, including his 2006 win for Best New Artist, Legend added an Oscar to his resume in 2015 for his song “Glory” which was featured in the movie Selma, and a Tony in 2017 as co-producer for the Broadway production of Jitney. His 2018 Emmy came after his work on Jesus Christ Superstar won for outstanding variety special.
Legend’s breakthrough occurred in 2004 with the release of his feature album, Get Lifted. It was partially such a success because Legend had fostered relationships with powerhouse producers like Kanye West and will.i.am.
Sir Tim Rice
Sir Tim Rice is one of the few EGOT winners to have the distinction of also being knighted. Rice has written the lyrics in iconic Disney favorites. Along with his Academy Award, Grammy, and Tony for Evita with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (put a pin in that), Rice also has an Oscar and a Grammy for his work on Disney’s Aladdin, a Grammy and a Tony for his collaboration with Sir Elton John on Aida, and an Academy Award for his contribution to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King.
As with Legend, Rice’s Emmy came from his work as a producer for 2018’s Jesus Christ Superstar. Rice got his start as a record producer for EMI records before making the jump to broadway.
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber
Perhaps best known for his work on smash-hit musicals like The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, Webber shares several of his EGOTs with collaborator and fellow EGOT winner Tim Rice (hello, again!), including his 1980 Grammy, 1980 Tony, and 1997 Oscar, all for their work on Evita. Webber has two additional Grammys as well as a Grammy Legend Award and a Tony. His most recent trophy, the Emmy, came from his position as a producer on the live, televised Jesus Christ Superstar. He was also knighted by the Queen in 1992.
Webber actually has Tim Rice to thank for getting him his start in music. The pair met and began producing music for their own original musicals. There were plenty of flops but they struck gold finally with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Robert Lopez
Robert Lopez earned his EGOT status with a 2014 Oscar for Frozen‘s “Let It Go.” The then-39-year-old was the youngest person ever to earn all four awards. He’s since racked up an additional Oscar for his work on the movie Coco, which earned him status as the only person in history ever to hold dual EGOTs, with at least two awards in each category. His contribution to the children’s show Wonder Pets has received two Daytime Emmys.
In 2012, he received a Grammy for The Book of Mormon and another two in 2015 for Frozen. He has also had an impressive run at the Tonys, winning Best Original Score awards in 2004 for Avenue Q and again in 2011 for The Book of Mormon. Lopez is another EGOT winner who was involved with BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop. His breakthrough was the sleeper hit Avenue Q.
Scott Rudin
Before Scott Rudin, no one had ever earned an EGOT collection for their work producing. He got his start on the set in 1984 with the Emmy-winning He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’.
Ten years later, he would win the next of the EGOT awards with a Tony for 1994’s Passion, but from then on there was little stopping this Tony-winning machine, who has garnered a stunning 15 little statues for his work as a producer on shows including Doubt, the revivals of Fences and Hello, Dolly!, and The Book of Mormon for which he would also earn his Grammy. Finally, his Oscar came with 2008’s No Country for Old Men.
Whoopi Goldberg
We owe Whoopi Goldberg a thank you for the popular use of the term EGOT. She inspired the return of the phrase on the TV show 30 Rock where she joked about whether her Daytime Emmy awards from 2002 and 2009 should count toward the EGOT collection. Perhaps surprisingly for such a well-known actor, Goldberg’s first award was actually her Grammy in 1985, which she won for Best Comedy Recording. In 1990, she took home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Ghost.
In 2002, she garnered a Daytime Emmy for Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel (seven years later, she’d win her second as a host on The View) as well as a Tony as co-producer of the Best Musical-winning Thoroughly Modern Millie, making her the first African-American ever to complete an EGOT set. In 1983, she gained recognition for her one-woman show, Moms, in which she portrayed Moms Mabley. It would be the beginning of her very illustrious career.
Mike Nichols
Mike Nichols started his EGOT run with a 1961 Best Comedy Performance Grammy for An Evening With Mike Nichols And Elaine May, but his ensuing awards would come courtesy of his skill as a director. Of his nine Tony awards, eight of them would come for Best Direction including his achievements on hits like Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple. By 1967, his acumen earned him an Oscar for Best Director on The Graduate. In 2001 he won his first of four Emmys for his work on Wit, and then in 2004, Angels in America.
In the 1950s, Nichols joined the Compass Players in Chicago (a precursor to Second City), and later he would join Elaine May, performing as the comedy duo Nichols and May.
Mel Brooks
In 2001, at the age of 74, Mel Brooks made his way onto the EGOT list with three Tony awards for his musical adaptation of his 1967 film The Producers, which had previously garnered him an Academy Award. The musical would also receive a Grammy, but Brooks already had one of those behind him thanks to his 1999 comedy album The 2000 Year Old Man in the Year 2000.
As for Emmys, Brooks has been at it for a while, winning his first in 1967 for writing on The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, and three more as a guest actor on Mad About You.
This legendary comic writer, actor, and director got his start in the Catskills playing various resorts first as a musician and later as a stand-up comedian. Behind the scenes, he was writing for television under Sid Caeser.
Jonathan Tunick
Jonathan Tunick joined the EGOT elite in 1997 with a Tony award for Best Orchestrations in Titanic—exactly 20 years after he received his first award of the set, a 1977 Oscar for Best Original Song on the film A Little Night Music. Between the two, he earned an Emmy for Music Direction for 1982’s Night of 100 Stars and a 1988 Grammy for Best Arrangement on the song “No One is Alone.”
Tunick got his start primarily working on the musicals of Stephen Sondheim.
Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch has more Oscars to his name than anyone else on the EGOT winner list (three total), in an especially grand move, he managed to win all three of the Oscars in the same year. In 1974 Hamlisch took home two Academy Awards for The Way We Were and an additional one for The Sting. The same year he won his four Grammys. In 1995 his continued work with Barbara Streisand and snagged two Emmy awards for Barbra: The Concert. However, it was his earlier work on 1976’s A Chorus Line that would earn him not only an EGOT-making Tony award but also a Pulitzer Prize.
He got his start as a rehearsal pianist in New York City and the gig that changed it all was working with Streisand on Funny Girl.
Audrey Hepburn
Unfortunately, Audrey Hepburn‘s EGOT awards were awarded posthumously to the legendary actress, but that doesn’t make her wins any less impressive. After her Oscar-winning performance in 1953’s Roman Holiday, Hepburn swiftly followed up with a Tony for her role in Ondine just a year later. Her Emmy would come in 1993, months after her passing, for her work on the educational program Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn. In 1994, she received a Grammy for her children’s album Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales.
Hepburn got her start as a ballerina but turned to acting when things did not pan out in the dance world. Her big break occurred when she was cast in a Broadway role in a little show called Gigi.
Sir John Gielgud
Sir John Gielgud is notable for being the oldest EGOT winner to complete his award collection, getting his Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in Summer’s Lease in 1991 when he was 87. He started his EGOT quest way before, winning the first of his two Tonys in 1948 for The Importance of Being Earnest. In 1979 he took home a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Documentary or Drama Recording for Ages of Man, followed by a Best Supporting Actor win in 1981 for the Dudley Moore gem Arthur.
Gieguld married into a theatrical family and would later take roles in London’s West End.
Rita Moreno
In 1977, Rita Moreno became the third person and the second woman ever to earn a collection of EGOTs. She secured it with an Emmy Award for her appearance on The Muppet Show. She would win a second for The Rockford Files the following year. Two years earlier, in 1975, she had won a Tony for her turn as Googie Gomez in The Ritz, and three years before that had picked up a Grammy for Best Recording for Children with The Electric Company. She won a 1961 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in West Side Story. It took a total of 16 years for her to achieve EGOT status.
Moreno’s film career began in the later years of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Moreno and her mother moved to a Culver City “cottage” within walking distance of MGM. She acted steadily in films throughout the 1950s, mostly in small parts until she starred in Singin’ in the Rain.
Helen Hayes
The same year that Moreno got her EGOTs, Helen Hayes became the first woman ever to receive the honor. She beat out Moreno to it but just a few months! Hayes started out with the first of two Oscars in 1932 for The Sin of Madelon Claudet. Her second Oscar would come for Airport in 1970. She earned a Tony in 1947 for her performance in Happy Birthday. In 1958, another would follow for Time Remembered. In 1953 she received an Emmy for Best Actress, but it would take until 1977 for her to win the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for Great American Documents.
Hayes began work as an actor very early on. She had her stage debut when she was just five!
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Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers is one half of the famed duo, Rodgers and Hammerstein. Long before the term “EGOT” was a thing, Rodgers already had his collection. He became the first person ever to collect the EGOT awards after his Emmy award for Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years. The acclaimed composer began his climb with his 1945 Oscar for Best Original Song for “It Might As Well Be Spring” from State Fair.
Between 1950 and his death in 1979 he would win eight Tony awards for his work on musicals like South Pacific and The King and I, as well as two Grammy awards—one for The Sound of Music in 1960 and one for No Strings just two years later. South Pacific would also win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950, making Rodgers one of only two people to ever achieve the honor of adding a P to his EGOTs. PEGOT, wow!
Rodgers got his start composing with Lorenz Hart and they completed several failed musical comedies before mounting their first real production, Poor Little Ritz Girl.
There you go! We hope you enjoyed this list of EGOT winners and learned a thing or two about these performers and creatives who have managed to earn the show business equivalent of a “grand slam.” Jennifer Hudson might be the latest but she won’t be the last. We’ll be awaiting awards season to see who else manages to collect the suite of accolades for their treasured work.
And if you wish for your own future children to be inspired by these legends one day, maybe naming them after some of the greats will just do the trick!
25 Broadway Baby Names for Girls Inspired by Beloved Musicals
Do you miss the lights, sights, and sounds of Broadway theaters? We do too! While we might not be able to see musicals and plays right now, that does not mean we can’t celebrate our passion for musical theater. Now, most of us stay rather in-the-closet about our love for them and that can still be the case. Names from musicals can be a subtle nod to the arts without being an obvious indicator that you were a drama club nerd in high school.
We decided to take a deep dive into the world of musical theater and highlight some names you would commonly hear on a Broadway stage. From the classic works of Gilbert & Sullivan to the new heights achieved by Lin-Manuel Miranda, we will take a look at some of the world’s favorite musicals and pull some of the most thrilling character names from them along with other creatives including composers and choreographers to bring you fully inspired musical theater baby names for girls. Without further ado, let’s light the lights, here are 25 baby names for girls inspired by musicals! Break a leg!
25. Angelica
Angelica Schuyler is one of our favorite characters from Hamilton and that’s in no small part due to the excellent performance from Renée Elise Goldsberry who originated the role. Angelica is by far the choicest form of the angelic names and has origins in Russian, Polish, and Italian traditions as an alternative form of Angela. The name does, indeed, mean “angel.”
24. Tracy
Tracy Turnblad couldn’t stop the beat in Hairspray, a quietly subversive musical with some of the most upbeat music you will find in any musical. Tracy is a retro name that has fallen from fashion in the US, but that could easily change! The name has French origins and it means “of Thracia.” It’s a gender-neutral option historically but this name has gone to more baby girls than boys.
23. Eliza
Eliza Doolittle is a character who has pleased audiences in three iterations! First, we fell in love with her in the play Pygmalion, then she knocked our socks off in My Fair Lady when she was played by the iconic Julie Andrews. Later, the character appeared in a popular movie musical of the same name, played by legendary Audrey Hepburn. Eliza has been trending up since the 1960s and is nearly a top 100 baby names for girls again. It’s a form of the name Elizabeth which means “pledged to God” in the Hebrew tradition.
22. Eva
Eva Perón is inspiration from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Evita. A real life inspiration as well as a beloved character played by greats such as Julie Covington, Elaine Paige, and Patti LuPone. Eva has historically been one of America’s most treasured options as it has been a top 100 name almost every year since 1880, when records of naming began. Eva has Latin origins and shares its roots with the name Eve which is a Hebrew name meaning “life.”
21. Rose
This one’s for the Ethel Merman fans out there! Gypsy Rose Lee is the ultimate show-mother in Stephen Sondheim’s Gypsy. Everything’s coming up roses with this option. Rose a sweet, flower name has experienced a revival in recent years after slipping in the nineties and early aughts. She’s back! Rose has Latin origins from rosa which refers to the flower as well.
20. Bess
Technically, you could classify Porgy and Bess as an opera and purists please do not fault us for including it here as a musical. We know! Porgy and Bess features some of George Gershwin’s richest music and it never sounded sweeter than when it was sung by Anne Brown who originated the musical’s Bess. Bess is another form of Elizabeth and it has not been popular in the US since the 1920s!
19. Velma
Velma Kelly, vaudevillian and murderess who is on trial for killing her cheating husband and sister, was gifted a wonderful name. In Kander and Ebb’s Chicago audiences are treated to some truly jazzy, gritty fare. Ten-time Tony winner Chita Rivera originated this one and it’s who we will always associate with the character! Velma is another form of Wilhelmina, a female form of William with German origins. Velma means “resolute protector” and you scarcely hear it today.
18. Jeanine
Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron were the first two women to ever win a Tony award for Best Original Score. Fun Home proved a winner for this team! Unfortunately, the playful name Jeanine has not been popular for babies in the US since the 1980s. The name is a French form of Jean which means “God is gracious.”
17. Effie
We return to the Chicago setting for another musical, Dreamgirls which documents the ups and downs of a female singing trio. Jennifer Holliday brought the house down when she sang the powerful ballad “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” Her unforgettable turn as Effie landed her a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress. Effie is an English nickname taken from the Greek name Euphemia which means “pleasant speech.” Effie was one of America’s most beloved given names until the late 1950s.
16. Cosette
Cosette is the child of Fantine in the smash Les Misérables which has been running on London’s West End since 1985, making it the longest-running musical ever there. Victor Hugo who wrote the novel on which the musical is based invented the name Cosette which we can take to mean “little thing.” This is not a subtle name as most only recognize it in its Les Miz context so, if you are a bold musical theater lover, this would be the one for you!
15. Desiree
Glynis Johns won a Tony for her performance in A Little Night Music. She played Desiree who sang Stephen Sondheim’s most popular song, “Send in the Clowns” which is curious as it is one of his most rueful ones. Desiree has French origins and it means “wished.” The name has been in the US top 1000 since 1954 but its favor has fallen considerably making it ripe for a revival.
14. Anita
Staying with Sondheim who also wrote the lyrics for West Side Story with music from the genius Leonard Bernstein, we also will revisit one of our all-time favorites, Chita Rivera, who starred as Anita in this musical. West Side Story played by the rules but elevated the genre to new heights with bold music, choreography, and knockout performances. Anita is the character every young actress wants to play! Anita is a Spanish name and form of Ana which means “gracious.” The name has not made the top 1000 list in about twenty years and we would love to hear it more often.
13. Channing
Actor Carol Channing provides so much inspiration for a baby’s name. The legendary performer won countless awards for her expressive style and unique voice. She is best known for originating roles in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Hello, Dolly! The latter performance earned her a Tony. Channing is a surname-name that has English or Irish origins that give meanings “people of Cana” or “wolf cub.” We love this one for a girl!
12. Adelaide
Adelaide is a German name that’s experiencing a renaissance right now. This favorite means “noble.” Miss Adelaide from Guys and Dolls is a perennial favorite beloved by many a high school student and community theatre members. “A Bushel and a Peck” has proven a timeless classic performed by this cherished character.
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11. Demeter
People have strong opinions on both sides about the hit musical Cats. Whether you love it or hate it, TS Eliot who named many of the characters in his poems, had a knack for names. One of our favorites is Demeter who is a skittish sort of queen. Demeter is a name from Greek mythology who is the “earth mother.” A fitting meaning for this distinguished name.
10. Nina
Fans of In the Heights know the name Nina well. Nina is the first in her family to attend college and she desperately just wants to love Benny. Nina is a common nickname name in Spain and Russia, a Babylonian goddess of the oceans, and an Incan goddess of fire. It can also be a shortened form of any of the names ending with the suffix.
9. Golde
Tevye’s razor-sharp wife in Fiddler on the Roof is the source of inspiration for this name. Golde also found Gold, and Goldie is a Yiddish name that means Golde. Golde has never been roundly favored as a name for girls in the US but Goldie was very popular for a time.
8. Laurey
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! has been delighting audiences for decades. Aunt Eller’s niece, an independent young woman, Laurey Williams shares a remarkable duet with Curley entitled “People Will Say We’re In Love.” Laurey is one of the more creative ways to spell Laurie and both are forms of the extremely popular Laura, an English name meaning “bay laurel.”
7. Audrey
Offbeat and wonderful, Little Shop of Horrors is the weird horror-comedy musical we all know and love. Audrey is Seymour’s love interest with a difficult past. The name is also given to a man-eating alien plant who is referred to as Audrey II. While the source of inspiration is ridiculous, Audrey is a very serious-sounding moniker. The name has English origins and it means “noble strength.” This name is more popular today than ever before in the US.
6. Emma
Emma is a storied name you will find in many works of fiction. We felt inspired by Emma from Edgewater, Indiana who is banned from attending her high school prom with her girlfriend. The Prom is one of the newest entries to the genre that’s already been turned into a movie musical! Emma is one of the US’s most popular names that has German origins and means “universal.” It was the second most popular name for baby girls last year.
5. Mimi
La Vie Bohème! A somewhat tragic character, Mimi from Rent has always stayed with us. Daphne Rubin-Vega originated the role and earned a Tony nom for it! Mimi is a common nickname for the Mary-Miriam variety. It was a popular given name until the seventies. We think it would be a very cute choice! This name can mean “drop of the sea,” “bitter,” or “beloved.”
4. Sally
One of our personal favorites and, without a doubt, our favorite Kander and Ebb musical, Cabaret is both entertaining and chilling. The lovable Sally Bowles inspires us with her name and who could forget Liza Minelli in the role for the movie adaptation? Sally is a treasured name that fell off the US top 1000 in 1992 for the very first time and it has remained absent as a popular pick among new parents. Sally is a form of Sarah a name with Hebrew origins that means “princess.”
3. Josephine
Gilbert and Sullivan invented the modern musical as we know it and developed it into the art form we enjoy today. Their most-popular production was H.M.S. Pinafore and the show featured a character named Josephine who is the daughter of the captain who sings “The hours creep on apace.” Josephine has historically been one of the US’s most popular choices. It’s on the rise today, too! The name has French origins as a form of the name Joseph which means “Jehovah increases” in the Hebrew tradition.
2. Glinda
Galinda from Wicked eventually becomes Glinda the Good Witch. Kristin Chenoweth wowed us all in the role and made the song “Popular” a huge hit for musical fans. Glinda is an invented name created by author L. Frank Baum for The Wizard of Oz. It’s related to the Welsh name Glenda which means “fair and good.” Glinda has not been popular in the US for baby girls since the middle of the last century.
RELATED: 25 Broadway Baby Names for Boys Inspired by Your Favorite Musicals
1. Sheila
The full name of the musical Hair is Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical the wild show was considered radical in the sixties when it debuted and is still considered one of the defining pieces of pop culture to crystalize the zeitgeist of a generation of young people fed up with their conservative parents. Sheila is a character in the show who studies at NYU and has political aspirations. Sheila sounds wonderfully retro and it has not been wildly popular since the seventies. The name has Irish origins and is a form of Celia. This one means “blind.”
There you go! Do you feel pretty jazzed about these inspired names for girls? If you love musicals, go with your favorite character’s name to impart a love of the arts and a passion for great performances. We hope you feel inspired to use one of these names or, at least, we gave you an idea for a completely different one! Happy baby name hunting!