102 Academy Award Baby Names Inspired by Oscar Winners

Are you a parent-to-be who is also a big film fan? Whether you want to inspire the confidence of a leading man or woman or the creative force behind the camera of a Best Picture film director, there are plenty of red carpet-inspired and Oscar-related baby names to choose from. 

The history of the Oscars as a celebration of film and Hollywood began with the first Academy Awards in 1927. It wouldn’t even be till a few years later that the famous golden Oscar statuette was even designed!

Since the 1920s, hundreds of actors, actresses, directors, writers, and producers have been awarded for their filmmaking talent. The Oscars have become the top award show for movie stars and film buffs to celebrate their craft. 

Related: 75 Celebrity Baby Name Ideas for Inspiration 

With so much history behind the Academy Awards, a selection of classic, modern, and popular names for girls and boys. have made our list. Hopefully, this list brings inspiration for a moniker that will honor your future superstar! 

Baby Names Inspired by Oscar-Winning Actors

These baby boy names are inspired by some of our favorite men in the film. Check out this list of boy names taken from those famous actors who’ve been awarded an Oscar for Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture. Your little one will sure to be destined for stardom.

1. Al - German name meaning, “noble, bright,” or “famous.” After Al Pacino, winner of Best Actor for Scent of a Woman.
2. Anthony - Latin name meaning, “priceless,” Greek meaning, “flourishing.” After Anthony Hopkins, winner of Best Actor for The Silence of the Lambs.
3. Brad - Old English name meaning, “broad meadow.” After Brad Pitt, Best Supporting Actor for Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood.
4. Casey - Irish  name meaning, “vigilant,” “watchful,” and “brave.” Hindi means “illuminating.” After Casey Affleck, winner of Best Actor for Manchester By the Sea.
5. Christian - Greek name meaning, “follower of Christ.” After Christian Bale, winner of Best Supporting Actor in The Fighter.
6. Cliff - Hebrew name meaning, “faithful,” “dog,” or “bold.” After Cliff Robertson was awarded Best Actor for Charly.
7. Colin - Greek meaning, “famous one,” Irish meaning, “youth.” After Colin Firth, winner of Best Actor for The King’s Speech.
8. Daniel - This classic name for boys has Hebrew origins and means “God is my judge.” After Daniel Day-Lewis, winner of Best Actor for Lincoln.
9. Denzel - Greek meaning, “fine wine lover” or African-American meaning, “wild one.” After Denzel Washington, winner of Best Supporting Actor for Glory.
10.  Dustin - German meaning, “valiant fighter” or English meaning, “brown rock.” After Dustin Hoffman, winner of Best Actor in Rain Man.
11.  Forest - Old French name meaning, “out of the woods.” After Forest Whitaker, winner of Best Actor for performance in The Last King of Scotland.
12.  Gene - Greek/English meaning, “well-born.” After Gene Hackman, winner of Best Actor for The French Connection.
13. Heath - After Heath Ledger, Best Supporting Actor in The Dark Knight.
14. Jack - Hebrew meaning, “the supplanter” or “God’s grace.” After Jack Nicholson, winner of Best Actor in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
15. Jamie - French name meaning, “I love.” After Jamie Foxx, Best Actor for performance in Ray.
16. Jared - English name meaning, “strong” or Hebrew meaning, “descending.” After Jared Leto, Best Supporting Actor in Dallas Buyers Club.
17. Jeff - German meaning, “peace.” After Jeff Bridges, Best Actor in Crazy Heart.
18.  Joaquin - Hebrew “God will judge.” After Joaquin Phoenix, Best Actor in Joker.
19.  John - Hebrew meaning, “God’s grace.” After John Wayne, Best Actor in True Grit.
20.  Jon - Hebrew meaning, “God’s gift.” After Jon Voight, Best Actor for Coming Home.
21.  Kevin - English meaning, “royal obligation” or Irish meaning, “handsome.” After Kevin Spacey, Best Actor for American Beauty.
22.  Leonardo - German meaning, “lion-hearted.” After Leonardo DiCaprio, Best Actor for The Revenant.
23.  Marlon - Old French meaning, “little hawk.” After Marlon Brando, Best Actor for On the Waterfront.
24.  Michael - Hebrew meaning, “who is like God.” After Michael Douglas, Best Actor for Wallstreet.
25.  Nicolas - Greek meaning, “victory of the people.” After Nicolas Cage, Best Actor for Leaving Las Vegas.
26.  Oscar - Hawaiian name meaning, “divine strength” or Old Norse meaning, “divine spear.” After the award show itself.
27.  Paul - Latin meaning, “little one.” After Paul Newman, Best Actor for role in The Color of Money.
28.  Robert - Spanish meaning, “bright flame.” After Robert De Niro, Best Actor for role in Raging Bull.
29.  Roberto - Old English meaning, “bright” or “famous.” After Roberto Benigni, Best Actor for Life is Beautiful.
30.  Robin - English meaning, “bright, famous” or “queen of the morning.” After Robin Williams, Best Supporting Actor in Good Will Hunting.
31.  Russell - French meaning, “red-haired” or “foxlike.” After Russell Crowe, Best Actor in Gladiator.
32.  Sean - Irish meaning, “God’s gift.” After Sean Penn, Best Actor in Milk and Mystic River.
33.  Tom - Greek meaning, “twin.” After Tom Hanks, Best Actor in Forrest Gump and Philadelphia.
34.  Will - Teutonic name meaning, “fierce protector.” After Will Smith, Best Actor in King Richard.

Baby Names Inspired by Oscar-Winning Actresses

The name inspiration for these baby girl names comes from the talented leading ladies who have taken home an Oscar for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress. Hopefully, you’ll find the perfect Hollywood starlet name for your A-List daughter.

35.  Angelina - Greek meaning, “heavenly messenger.” After Angelina Jolie, Best Supporting Actress for Girl, Interrupted.
36.  Anne - Hebrew meaning, “gift of God’s favor.” After Anne Hathaway, who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Les Miserables.
37. Ariana - Hebrew meaning, “like a beautiful melody” or Old English meaning, “silver.” After Ariana De Bose, Best Supporting Actress for the 2021 West Side Story remake.
38. Audrey - Old English meaning, “noble strength.” After Audrey Hepburn, winner of Best Actress for Roman Holiday.
39.  Barbra - Latin meaning, “foreign, strange.” After Barbra Streisand, Best Actress for her role in Funny Girl.

33.  Bette - Hebrew meaning, “God’s oath” or “dedicated.” After Bette Davis, who won Best Actress for Jezebel.
34.  Brie - Irish meaning, “resolute, strong.” After Brie Larson, Best Actress for Room.
35.  Cate - After Cate Blanchett, Best Actress for Blue Jasmine.
36. Charlize - German meaning, “free man.” After Charlize Theron, winner of Best Actress in Monster.
37.  Diane - Latin meaning, “divine.” After Diane Keaton, winner of Best Actress for Annie Hall.
38.  Elizabeth - Hebrew meaning, “God’s oath” or “dedicated.” After Elizabeth Taylor, two-time Best Actress winner for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Butterfield 8.
39.  Geena - American meaning, “nobility.” After Geena Davis, Best Supporting Actress in The Accidental Tourist.
40.  Glenda - Irish meaning, “secluded wooded valley.” After Glenda Jackson winner of Best Actress for Women in Love and A Touch of Class.
41.  Grace - Latin meaning, “blessing.” After Grace Kelly, Best Actress for The Country Girl.
42.  Gwyneth - Irish meaning, “white wave.” After Gwyneth Paltrow, Best Actress in Shakespeare in Love.
43.  Halle - Scandinavian name meaning, “heroine.” After Halle Berry, Best Actress in Monster’s Ball.
44.  Hilary - Greek meaning, “cheer.” After Hilary Swank, Best Actress in Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby.
45.  Holly - Old English after the holly plant, meaning, “resilience and eternal life.” After Holly Hunter, Best Actress in The Piano.
46.  Ingrid - Scandinavian meaning, "hero's daughter.” After Ingrid Bergman, Best Actress in Anastasia and Gaslight, and Best Supporting Actress in Murder on the Orient Express.
47.  Jane - Hebrew meaning, “God is gracious.” After Jane Fonda, Best Actress in Klute and Coming Home.
48.  Jennifer - Irish meaning, “white wave.” After Jennifer Lawrence, Best Actress in Silver Linings Playbook.
49.  Jessica - Hebrew meaning, “wealthy one.” After Jessica Chastain, Best Actress in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
50.  Jodie - American meaning, “praised.” After Jodie Foster, Best Actress in The Silence of the Lambs and The Accused.
51.  Julia - Latin meaning, “youthful.” After Julia Roberts, Best Actress in Erin Brockovich.
52.  Julianne - Latin meaning, “youthful.” After Julianne Moore, Best Actress for Still Alice.
53.  Julie - Latin meaning, “youthful.” After Julie Andrews, Best Actress for Mary Poppins.
54.  Katharine - Greek meaning, “pure.” After Katharine Hepburn, Best Actress in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond.
55.  Kathy - Greek meaning, “pure.” After Kathy Bates, Best Actress in Misery.
56.  Liza - Hebrew meaning, “consecrated to God.” After Liza Minnelli, Best Actress in Cabaret.
57.  Lupita - Spanish meaning, “Guadalupe.” After Lupita Nyong’o, Best Supporting Actress in 12 Years a Slave.
58.  Marisa - Spanish/Latin meaning, “of the sea” or “bitter.” After Marisa Tomei, Best Supporting Actress in My Cousin Vinny.
59.  Melissa - Greek meaning, “honeybee.” After Melissa Leo, Best Supporting Actress in The Fighter.
60.  Meryl - French meaning, “blackbird” or German meaning, “famous.” After Meryl Streep, Best Actress for The Iron Lady and Sophie’s Choice, Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer.
61.  Natalie - Latin meaning, “birthday” or “child born at Christmas.” After Natalie Portman, Best Actress in Black Swan.
62.  Nicole - Greek meaning, “victorious people.” After Nicole Kidman, Best Actress in The Hours.
63.  Octavia - Latin meaning, “eighth child.” After Octavia Spencer, Best Supporting Actress in The Help.
64.  Olivia - Latin meaning, “olive tree” or Old Norse meaning, “kind one.” After Olivia Colman, Best Supporting Actress for The Favourite.
65.  Frances - Old French meaning, “free.” After Frances McDormand, Best Actress in Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, Nomadland, and Fargo.
66.  Hattie - French meaning, “ruler of the household.” After Hattie McDaniel, who won Best Supporting Actress for Gone With the Wind.
67.  Helen - Irish meaning, “light.” Greek meaning, “torch.” After Helen Hunt, Best Actress for As Good As It Gets, or Helen Mirren, Best Actress for The Queen.
68.  Jennifer - Irish meaning, “white wave.” After Jennifer Hudson, Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls.
69. Sally - Spanish meaning, “savior.” After Sally Field, Best Actress for Norma Rae and Places in the Heart.
70.  Reese - Welsh meaning, “enthusiastic.” After Reese Witherspoon, Best Actress for Walk the Line.
71.  Renee - Latin meaning, “reborn” or Greek meaning, “peaceful.” After Renee Zellweger, Best Actress for Judy, Best Supporting Actress for Cold Mountain.
72.  Penelope - Greek meaning, “bobbin-weaver.” After Penelope Cruz, who won Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
73.  Emma - German name meaning, “all-embracing.” After Emma Stone, Best Actress for La La Land.
74.  Regina - Latin name meaning, “queenly.” After Regina King, Best Supporting Actress for If Beale Street Could Talk.
75.  Sandra - Greek name meaning, “defender of mankind.” After Sandra Bullock, Best Actress for The Blind Side.
76.  Susan - Hebrew name meaning, “lily.” After Susan Sarandon, Best Actress for Dead Man Walking.
77.  Tilda - German/French meaning, “strong in war.” or “battle maiden.” After Tilda Swinton, Best Supporting Actress for Michael Clayton.
78.  Viola - Scandinavian/Latin meaning, “violet.” After Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress in Fences.
79.  Vivien - Latin name meaning, “living” or “lively.” After Vivien Leigh, who won Best Actress for Gone With the Wind.
80.  Whoopi - English meaning, “excitable.” After Whoopi Goldberg, Best Supporting Actress for Ghost.

Baby Names Inspired by Oscar-Winning Directors and Producers

These baby names are inspired by famous directors who have won a Best Director Oscar at the Academy Awards.

81.  Damien - Greek meaning, “tamer.” After Damien Chazelle, director of La La Land.
82.  George - Greek meaning, “farmer.” After George Lucas, Oscar nominee for Best Directing for Star Wars, as well as an Academy Award winner for writing.
83.  Jacqueline - French meaning, “supplanter” or “substitute.” After Jacqueline Durran, who won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the 2019 remake of Little Women.
84.  James - Hebrew meaning, “supplanter” or “substitute.” After James Cameron, the director of Titanic. He has received 21 Oscars throughout his career.
85.  Martin - Latin meaning, “warlike.” After Martin Scorsese, a 20-time Oscar winner, including The Departed and Goodfellas.
86.  Mauro - Italian meaning, “moor” or “dark-skinned.” After Mauro Fiore, who won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Avatar.
87.  Peter - Latin meaning, “rock” or “stone.” After Peter Jackson, whose 20 Oscars include Lord of the Rings films and King Kong.
88.  Sidney- After Sidney Poitier, Best Actor for Lilies of the Field.
89.  Steven - Greek meaning, “crown.” After Steven Spielberg, winner of 32 Academy Awards, including three Oscars for Jaws, three for Jurassic Park, and one for Saving Private Ryan.
90.  Victor - Latin meaning, “conqueror.” After Victor Fleming, winner of an Academy Award for Best Directing for Gone with the Wind.
91. Walt - German meaning, “powerful warrior” or Old English meaning, “dweller by the wall.” After Walt Disney, animator, and producer, winner of 22 Oscars.

Names Inspired by Oscar Hosts

These Academy Award-inspired baby names take name inspiration from some of the most memorable Oscar hosts throughout history. 

92.  Amy - Latin, French meaning, “beloved.” After Amy Schumer, host of the 94th Academy Awards.
93.  Chris - Greek meaning, “Christ-bearer.” After Chris Rock, who hosted the 77th and 88th Academy Awards.
94.  David - Hebrew meaning, “beloved.” After David Letterman, host of the 67th Academy Awards.
95.  Ellen - English meaning, “light.” After Ellen DeGeneres, host of the 79th and 86th Academy Awards.
96.  Jimmy - Hebrew meaning, “supplanter” or “substitute.” After Jimmy Kimmel, host of the 89th and 90th Academy Awards.
97.  Neil - Irish meaning, “champion.” After Neil Patrick Harris, host of the 87th Academy Awards.
98.  Alec - Greek meaning, “protector of mankind.” After Alec Baldwin, host of the 82nd Academy Awards.
99.  Seth - Hebrew meaning, “appointed one.” After Seth MacFarlane, host of the 85th Academy Awards.
100. Shayla - Irish meaning, “fairy palace.” After Shayla Cowan Oscars show producer.
101. Steve - Greek meaning, “crown.” After Steve Martin, host of the 73rd, 75th, and 82nd Academy Awards.
102. Wanda - German meaning, “wanderer.” After Wanda Sykes, the 94th Academy Awards host.

For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:

• 75 Royal Baby Names Inspired by the British Monarchy 
• Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
• Top 1000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S.

Want to use an Oscar-inspired baby name for your little one? Pin this list to save it for later: