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New parents invest a lot of time in choosing a name for their baby. Some will come up with names immediately while others will agonize over the choice. For many years, even decades, parents have ended up giving their new baby a name that was the name of a real television celebrity. Following will be a selection of these names encompassing decades. You will probably find that a relative or friend may have one of these names. Perhaps either new mom or dad was named for someone on television.

Names From Television’s Early Years

Althea: “Healing or making wholesome” is the meaning of this female Greek name. It was a name from mythology which had increased use in a 17th century revival. It was used in television shows including The Doctors, The Brighter Day, and Love of Life. Althea was also the name of the wife of Virgil Tibbs in the show In The Heat Of The Night. The name is rarely used at this time.

Anissa: This is a female name that was popular during the 60s when there was a character named ‘Buffy’ in a television show called A family Affair. This character was played by Anissa Jones. The name is used occasionally today.

Artemas: This is a Greek male name that most likely originates from the goddess of the hunt, Artemis. Artemus, the Latin form of the name was used in the 19th century by a writer. A major character of the television show Wild Wild West was named Artemus Gordon.

Audrey: “Noble strength” is the meaning of this English female name. It evolved from the Old English name Ethelreda. It had some use through the 17th century but was revived for use late in the 19th century. It was most popular in the middle of the 20th century probably because of Audrey Hepburn. Audra is a derivative of the name and is sometimes heard today.

Ben: Ben is a Hebrew male name which is a shortened form of Benjamin which has been in use since the 19th century. There have been a number of famous TV characters with the name including Ben Cartwright from Bonanza and Dr. Ben Casey from the show of that name. Ben Kingsley is also a well known actor.

Chet: This English male name originates from the last name Chester. During the 50s and 60s, there was a famous television news celebrity named Chet Huntley. The name was most used in those decades.

Ephraim: The New Testament indicates that Ephraim was a grandson of Jacob. This male name was revived during the 18th century and appeared a lot in New England. On television, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. starred in The F.B.I. There are some derivatives of the name such as Efren and Efrain.

Jada: This female name may come from the gem Jade. Initially, Jada Rowland was a character in a soap opera called The Secret Storm and we are currently familiar with actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jay: This English male name means “chatterer” and comes from a bird who chatters, the ‘jay.’ It could be a nickname for James or John. Jay Silverheels played Tonto in the television show The Lone Ranger. Currently, there is a famous talk show host named Jay Leno.

Lucy: “Light” is the meaning of this Latin female name. There are several early saints with the name or a variant of the name such as Lucia and Lucilla. Early in the 20th century, the name was frequently used but is rarely used now. All of us know the famous actress, comedienne Lucille Ball who starred in the television series I Love Lucy. There has also been actress Lucy Lawless who was the star of Zena, Warrior Princess and Lucy Liu from Ally McBeal.

Maverick: “Loner or rogue” is the meaning of this male English name. The TV character Bret Maverick is probably the way we know this name.

Maynard: “Strong and hardy” is the meaning of this French male name. The name was not used very much after the 60s. We might recall the character of Maynard Krebs who was in the show The Lives of Dobie Gillis.

Tabitha: This Aramaic female name means “deer or antelope.” The name appears in the Old Testament. It gained popularity with the 60s television show Bewitched.

Mother holding a baby while he opens his mouth

Ward: “A watchman” is the meaning of this male English name. It was originally a last name that became used as a first name. It was quite popular in the early 20th century. However, popular use actually declined after the show Leave It To Beaver had a father named Ward Cleaver.

Wyatt: This is a male English name which was initially a last name. During the middle of the 20th century, it was revived as a first name when there were a lot of television shows about Wyatt Earp, a lawman from the west.

More Recent Names From Television

There is a lot of crossover now between television, movies and other entertainment. The current selection of celebrity names will probably come from shows that new parents have watched or watch at this time. The following is a selection of some newer celebrity names that could be used for a new baby.

Ainsley: This is an English female name that could mean “an meadow” or “meadow with a hermitage.” It has risen in popularity recently. There was a character on the show The West Wing called Ainsley Hayes.

Ally: This English name for a girl is usually a nickname for Alison. Allie might also be a nickname. There were shows such as Kate and Allie and Ally McBeal which could have contributed to the use of this name.

Arsenio: This is a male Italian name. It might be rooted in the old roman name Artemus. One doesn’t hear the name much today although there is a talk show host named Arsenio Hall.

Avery: This is an English name for both genders and a derivative of the name Alfred. It started out as a last name then became a first name. Its use for both genders has been rather recent.

Barnabas: “Son of Exhortation” is the meaning of this Hebrew male name. The name occurs in the Old Testament and was used a lot in early New England. The name may also be seen as Barnaby. The television show Dark Shadows had a character called Barnabas Collins. There was also a TV character called Barnaby Jones. There was also the comedy police show called Barney Miller. One can’t forget the animated Barney Rubble. The actual use of the name has definitely declined.

Buffy: This English female name comes from Elizabeth. All of us recall the show Buffy The Vampire Slayer. There is also a folk singer called Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Chandler: This English name is used for both genders. Originally, the name meant “candle maker” and then went on to mean “one who sells supplies to ships.” There was a character called Chandler on the famous television show Friends. The name is occasionally used for girls.

Chrissy: This English female name is from the name Christian. It was most used in the 70s because of the character of Crissy Snow in the show Three’s Company.

Dana: “Valley” or “a Dane: is the meaning of this name for both boys and girls. It could be a derivative of Diana. Currently the name is used for both genders. We recognize the names of Dana Carvey and Dana Delaney.

Della: This female name is a derivative of Adele. It came into use in the 19th century. One name that we recognize is singer, Della Reese who also starred in the show Touched By An Angel.

Erica: This is a Norse female name that is a derivative of Eric. It was most popular in the 70s and 80s. Erica Jong was the author of Fear Of Flying and there is the well known character Erica Kane in the soap opera All My Children.

Farrah: This female name could be English or Arabic. Farrah Fawcett may be the most famous woman with this name.

Frasier: This name has multiple origins, but currently it is most well known for the character of Frasier Crane in the show Frasier.

Hudson: “Son of Hudd” is the meaning of this English name for both genders. The name has had some popular use in the 90s, but no one seems to know how the name actually came to be used.

Josiah: “God supports: is the meaning of this Hebrew male name. It has been popular during times when it was popular to use Biblical names. Currently, there seems to be a habit of using biblical names beginning with the letter J. On the television show West Wing, the fictitious president was named Josiah Bartlet.

Kelsey: This is also an English name for both genders which has become popular in the in the past few decades for both boys and girls.

Lacy: This French name was a last name. It is a name for both genders. It is occasionally heard today as both a first and last name. One might recognize the name of the professional dancer Lacy Scwimmer from Dancing With the Stars.

Mallory: This is a French female name although it happens to mean “unfortunate or unlucky.” Use of this name began in the 80s when Mallory was the name of Michael J Fox’s sister in the show Family Ties. It has had use for the last few decades.

Margo: This French female name is derived from Margaret. Lois Lane in Superman was played by Margot Kidder. The name is used curently.

Matt: This male English name is a derivative of Matthew. There was Matt Dillon, the main character of the television show Gunsmoke. Currently, we recognize the names of actors Matt Damon, and Matt LeBlanc.

il_570xn-306832315Melina: “yellow or yellow haired” is the meaning of this female Greek name. Melina Kanakaredes was the main character of the television show called Providence and also CSI NewYork.

Neve: This female name has several possible origins including Dutch or Italian. Neve Campbell was an actress in the television show Party of five.

Nia: The origin of this female name is not known. It might have Gaelic or Welsh roots. It could be derived from Antonia. However, many of us recognize the name of Nia Vardalos, writer and actress of My Big Fat Greek Wedding Fame.

Remington: “Town on the riming brook: is the meaning of this English male name. The name was used for a television detective show called Remington Steele. There was also a famous typewriter company called Remington.

Rhoda: “Rose” is the meaning of this Greek female name. It was in the New Testament but never became as popular as Rose. It was used at the turn of the 20th century but not so much now. Rhoda was the name of a character in the well known Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Sabrina: The origin of this female name is not known. However, it came it use in the 60s when Audrey Hepburn starred in a movie with the name Sabrina. Then, there is also the TV show Sabrina The Teenage Witch in addition to Sabrina Duncan, a character in Charlie’s Angels.

Tamara: This Hebrew name for a girl means “palm tree.” It seemed to be most popular in the middle of the 20th century. The name has been around in several forms for centuries, but has not been extremely popular.

Telly: This Greek male name is derived from the Greek philosopher Aristotle. The name had some use in the 70s when Telly Savalas starred in the television show called Kojak.

Tyne: This is an English female name that comes from the river Tyne. The most well known person with the name would be Tyne Daly from Cagney and Lacey and Judging Amy.

Willow: “A willow tree” is the meaning of this female English name. This name in particular became more popular because of the show Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Xander: This is a male Greek name that comes from Alexander. There was also a character named Xander on , you guessed it, Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

This article has provided some information for new parents who are interested in possibly choosing a celebrity name for the new baby. The selection of names provided ranges from the time that television began until the shows of the later 20th century and early 21st century. Maybe you will decide to choose a name from one of your favorite television shows.

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