Some parents pick baby names from family tradition or books of popular names, but celebrities sometimes take a more creative route. A surprising number of famous parents have named their children after beloved fictional characters from movies, comics, video games, and books.
These names tell a story about what the parents love and the pop culture that shaped them. From Superman to Sleeping Beauty, these choices are as unique and memorable as the stars themselves.
1. Nicolas Cage – Son Kal-El Coppola Cage
Comic books were not just a hobby for Nicolas Cage — they were a lifelong passion. When his son was born in 2005, Cage chose Kal-El, the Kryptonian birth name of Superman, as a tribute to his favorite hero.
The name carries real meaning: Kal-El represents hope and strength from another world. It is one of the boldest baby name choices in Hollywood history, and honestly, pretty hard to top.
2. Kevin Smith – Daughter Harley Quinn Smith
Filmmaker Kevin Smith has never been shy about his deep love for DC Comics, and he made that crystal clear when naming his daughter. Born in 1999, Harley Quinn Smith was named after the iconic villain-turned-antihero who first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series.
Harley Quinn grew up to become an actress herself, so the bold name clearly did not hold her back. It may have even given her a head start on standing out in Hollywood.
3. Robin Williams – Daughter Zelda Rae Williams
Robin Williams was not just a comedy legend — he was also a hardcore video game fan. He loved The Legend of Zelda series so much that he named his daughter Zelda, born in 1989, after the iconic princess at the heart of the adventure.
Years later, Robin and Zelda even starred together in a Nintendo commercial for the game. That kind of wholesome, nerdy dad energy is something truly special and unforgettable.
4. Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen – Daughter Briar Rose
Briar Rose is the secret name given to Princess Aurora in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty to keep her hidden from an evil curse. Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen borrowed that enchanting name for their daughter, born in 2014.
It is a name rooted in fairy tale magic, with a soft, poetic sound that feels timeless. Choosing a name from a Disney classic is a sweet way to pass down a love of storytelling to the next generation.
5. Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson – Son Bronx Mowgli
Mowgli is the wild, free-spirited boy raised by wolves in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book — a character full of curiosity and adventure. Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson paired that literary name with Bronx, a nod to the famous New York City borough, when their son arrived in 2008.
The combination is unexpected but oddly cool. It blends street toughness with literary charm, creating a name that feels both grounded and full of imagination.
6. Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling – Daughter Esmeralda Amada
Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame is known for her fierce compassion, bravery, and kind heart — qualities any parent would want to inspire in their child. Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling chose that name for their first daughter, born in 2014.
The name Esmeralda also means emerald in Spanish, adding a layer of natural beauty to its fictional roots. Paired with Amada, meaning beloved, it becomes a name full of warmth and meaning.
7. Dwayne Johnson – Daughter Jasmine
Princess Jasmine from Disney’s Aladdin is bold, independent, and refuses to be defined by anyone else’s rules — so it makes perfect sense that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson would name his daughter after her. Jasmine Johnson was born in 2012.
Johnson has spoken openly about how much his daughters mean to him, and giving one a Disney princess name feels like a warm, loving tribute. Jasmine is a name that carries both elegance and strength in equal measure.
8. Dwayne Johnson – Daughter Tiana
Tiana from Disney’s The Princess and the Frog is hardworking, determined, and proof that dreams only come true when you put in the effort. Dwayne Johnson honored that spirit by naming his youngest daughter Tiana, born in 2018.
Having two daughters named after Disney princesses says a lot about Johnson’s playful, loving side as a dad. Tiana is also Disney’s first Black princess, making the name carry historical and cultural significance beyond just the fairy tale.
9. Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict – Daughter Cairo Tiahna
Actress Tia Mowry and her former husband Cory Hardrict gave their daughter a name with layers of meaning. Cairo is a powerful city name full of history, while Tiahna is a creative nod to Tiana, Disney’s groundbreaking first Black princess.
Born in 2018, Cairo Tiahna carries a name that bridges geography and storytelling in a beautiful way. The Tiana reference feels especially personal for Mowry, who has been a role model for Black girls in entertainment throughout her career.
10. Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash – Son Rex
Rex from Toy Story is the lovably anxious green dinosaur who just wants to be taken seriously — and somehow that makes him one of the most endearing characters in the whole franchise. TV personality Stacey Solomon and actor Joe Swash named their son Rex, born in 2019, with that cheerful character in mind.
Short, punchy, and full of personality, the name Rex suits a kid destined to stomp into every room with confidence and a big roar.
11. Tom Fletcher and Giovanna Fletcher – Son Buzz
“To infinity and beyond!” — Buzz Lightyear’s famous catchphrase has inspired kids for decades, and McFly musician Tom Fletcher clearly never outgrew that enthusiasm. He and author Giovanna Fletcher named their son Buzz, born in 2014, after the beloved space ranger from Toy Story.
It is a name that practically crackles with energy and adventure. Buzz Fletcher sounds like someone ready to blast off into life with a big smile and zero hesitation.
12. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden – Son Sparrow
Captain Jack Sparrow is one of cinema’s most unforgettable characters — witty, unpredictable, and always finding a way out of trouble. Nicole Richie and Joel Madden drew inspiration from that swashbuckling pirate when they named their son Sparrow James Midnight Madden, born in 2009.
The name has a free-spirited, adventurous ring to it that fits perfectly with Hollywood’s tradition of bold baby names. Sparrow is quirky without being over the top, which is a tricky balance to strike.
13. Grimes – Daughter Exa Dark Sideræl
Musician Grimes is known for pushing boundaries, so it should come as no surprise that her daughter’s name is unlike anything else on this list. Born in 2021, Exa Dark Sideræl Musk includes ‘Sideræl,’ a creative variation of Galadriel, the powerful elven queen from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
Grimes described the name as a nod to the ‘true’ spelling of the elvish word for galaxy. It is poetic, cosmic, and wonderfully strange all at once.
14. Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis – Daughter Comet Azure
Elden Ring is a sprawling fantasy video game filled with powerful spells, ancient lore, and breathtaking visuals. Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis tapped into that world when naming their daughter Comet Azure, with ‘Azure’ referencing a devastating sorcery spell from the game.
Born in 2021, Comet Azure joins a growing list of Musk’s children with boldly unconventional names. The name blends cosmic wonder with gaming culture, which feels very on-brand for one of tech’s most unpredictable figures.
15. Troian Bellisario and Patrick J. Adams – Daughter Aurora
Aurora is the sleeping princess at the center of one of Disney’s most beloved fairy tales, known for her grace and the magical story surrounding her life. Actress Troian Bellisario and actor Patrick J.
Adams chose that name for their daughter, born in 2018.
Aurora also means dawn in Latin, giving the name a natural beauty beyond its Disney roots. It is the kind of name that works beautifully both in a fairy tale and on a school roll call.
16. Liv Tyler – Son Sailor
Sailor Ripley is the passionate, leather-jacket-wearing protagonist of David Lynch’s 1990 film Wild at Heart — a character as intense as he is unforgettable. Actress Liv Tyler borrowed that cinematic name for her son Sailor Gene Gardner, born in 2015.
The name Sailor has a rugged, adventurous quality that feels both classic and a little rebellious. For the daughter of rock legend Steven Tyler, choosing a name with a cinematic edge seems like a natural fit.
17. Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian – Son Rocky Thirteen
Rocky Balboa is the ultimate underdog story — a scrappy Philadelphia boxer who refuses to quit no matter what life throws at him. Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian honored that fighting spirit by naming their son Rocky Thirteen Barker, born in 2023.
The ‘Thirteen’ is a nod to Travis Barker’s lucky number, making the name deeply personal on two levels. Blending a fictional hero with a meaningful number creates a name that tells a real story before the kid even takes his first step.
18. Bonus: The Trend of Fictional Baby Names
Naming a child after a fictional character is more than just a quirky celebrity trend — it is a way of passing down something meaningful. Whether it is a superhero, a princess, or a video game legend, these names carry stories that parents want their children to grow up knowing.
As pop culture becomes more woven into everyday life, expect more parents — famous or not — to look to their favorite fictional worlds for baby name inspiration. After all, great stories deserve to live on.