160 Nerdy Baby Names for Geeky Parents

Last Updated on August 6, 2022 by Jenn | The Nerd Mom

If you’re looking for some clever or original baby names, why not look to your favorite books, movies, video games, and TV shows for some ideas? After all, being a nerd is no longer as taboo as it once was; nerd culture is now cooler than ever! Your favorite epic characters can provide some awesome, nerdy baby names that will be meaningful and inspiring.

Nowadays it seems like unique names are very trendy. While classic names like James and Emily still make it to the top of the baby name charts, creative baby names remain popular. Many parents want their children’s names to stand out and to mean something to them personally.

The nerdy baby names on this list cover a multitude of fandoms. Whether you love Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, anime, or Game of Thrones, we’ve got you covered. We also have names from history and mythology, if that’s what tickles your nerd fancy.

Here are the best nerdy baby names for boys and girls we could find from across geekdom.

Nerdy Baby Girl Names

Ada – Ada Lovelace is a 19th-century mathematician who is sometimes regarded as one of the first computer programmers. It’s also an adorable alternative to the popular name Ava. The name is German and means “noble, nobility”.

Aeris – Aeris is one of the most popular Final Fantasy characters from the game Final Fantasy VII. The name comes from the Latin for “air”.

Allegra – Allegro means “quickly, lively tempo,” in musical terminology and Allegra is the feminine version of that. Allegra is a character in the video game series SSX. It means “joyous” in Italian.

Aloy – Aloy is the female protagonist in the popular 2017 video game Horizon Zero Dawn. She’s a beautiful, skilled warrior, making this the perfect name for a strong baby girl.

Amilyn – A lesser-known Star Wars name – Amilyn is the first name of Admiral Holdo, a character in Episode VIII.

Anastasia – Anastasia is a Russian name meaning “resurrection”. The most famous Anastasia is the “lost” daughter of the last czar of Russia, about whom many stories have been told. In geek culture, Anastasia is the name of an Officer Crew Specialist in Battlestar Galactica.

Andromeda – In Greek mythology, Andromeda becomes a star, and her name means “advising like a man” (badass!). Some other bearers of this name include a Harry Potter character and a Mass Effect video game.

Ariel – The name Ariel is Hebrew and means “lion of God”. Disney nerds will know this name unmistakably from The Little Mermaid.

Artemis – Artemis comes from the Greek Pantheon; she is the sister of Apollo and the wilderness goddess of hunting, animals, childbirth, and the moon. In geek culture, Artemis is the name of a character in the book and film Ready Player One (spelled Art3mis) and is also a character in the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan.

Arwen – Tolkein fans will recognize this majestic-sounding name from The Lord of the Rings books and movies. Arwen is a powerful elf princess who plays a major role in the story. A pretty alternative spelling is Arwyn.

Arya – This name should be a no-brainer for anyone following Game of Thrones. Arya Stark is the daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark who becomes a trained assassin and skilled fighter. The name is Sanskrit in origin and means “noble”. An alternative spelling is Aria, which is an Italian word for “air” or “song”.

Aurora – Whether you like it for the astronomy reference or the Disney reference, Aurora is a very pretty, feminine name.

Aveline – Aveline means “desired; or island, water” in French. The name Aveline is apparently popular in video games, as there are characters in Dragon Age II and Assassin’s Creed with the name.

Bellatrix – In Harry Potter, Bellatrix is a villain portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter who has a very bad reputation. Bellatrix is also the name of a star in the constellation of Orion. You may want to avoid the association with the villain, but in Latin, it means “female warrior” and it is still a pretty name with a desirable meaning.

Breha – If you like the idea of a Star Wars-inspired name, but want something a little less recognizable, Breha is a nice choice. Breha Organa, the wife of Bail Organa, is Princess Leia’s adopted mother.

Briala – This name is a variation of Briana, which is an Irish name meaning “strong, virtuous, honorable”. In the Dragon Age: Inquisition video game, Briala is an elf spymaster fighting for the freedom of the downtrodden elves.

Brienne – The heroic Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones makes this name famous in nerd culture. It’s a beautiful, feminine name that has badass connotations from the TV series.

Briseis – Briseis is a pretty, feminine name that also comes from Greek mythology. Briseis is captured by Achilles during the Trojan War.

Calista – Calista was a nymph in Greek mythology who was turned into a bear by Hera when she became jealous.

Calliope – In Greek mythology, Calliope is the muse of epic poetry and it means “beautiful voice”. It could make the perfect name for a creative and musical little girl.

Claire – The name Claire has a few geeky references: there’s Clair Novak from Supernatural, Claire Redfield from Resident Evil, Clair Farron from Final Fantasy XIII, and, of course, Claire Fraser from Outlander. It means “bright, clear” in French.

Clara – Clara is the name of a companion on the TV series Doctor Who, a nerdy cult favorite. It is the Latin version of Claire, so it has the same meaning, “bright, clear”.

Coraline – A variation on Caroline, this name has more of an an exotic feel. Neil Gaiman’s fantasy novella Coraline is the most famous.

Cortana – Cortana is the name of the virtual assistant that comes with Windows. She is also an artificial intelligence character from the Halo video game series.

Dagna – Dagna is a Scandinavian name that means “new day”. In the Dragon Age series, she is a dwarf with special magical crafting abilities. A great name for a bright little girl.

Daisy – Most notably Daisy is a main character in The Great Gatsby. The floral name also pays homage to the actress who plays Rey in the new Star Wars movies, Daisy Ridley.

Daphne – In Greek mythology, Daphne is a nymph and it means “laurel tree”. Harry Potter fans will recognize her as a student at Hogwarts in the Slytherin house.

Echo – In Greek mythology, Echo was a nymph who fell in love with Narcissus. When he did not love her in return, she faded away until only the sound of her voice remained. The name also appears in both DC and Marvel comics.

Ellie – This nickname for Eleanor means “bright shining one”. She is a main character in the video game The Last of Us.

Elodie – The name Elodie can be found in nerdy culture as the name of Michonne’s daughter in The Walking Dead comics. Elodie is also the name of a character in The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. It’s a French name that means “foreign riches”.

Eowyn – Eowyn is the brave shield-maiden of Rohan who rides into battle disguised as a man in Lord of the Rings. A fabulous name choice for a little warrior girl.

Fleur – Literally meaning flower, Fleur is the name of a character from Harry Potter; she is a champion in the Triwizard Tournament.

Gabrielle – She was the sweet sidekick to Xena the Warrior Princess on the popular NBC TV series.

Gwenivere – A name with royal heritage, Gwenivere is an old Welsh name for the queen of King Arthur. Alternative spellings include Guinevere and Gwenhwyfar (a Welsh spelling). It’s also the name from which Jennifer originated.

Hana – This alternate spelling for Hannah is Japanese and means “flower”. It is a popular name in anime.

Harley – Harley is a spirited name for the character Harley Quinn in the DC comic universe.

Hera – Hera was the queen of the Greek gods and the wife of Zeus. The name means “protectress” in Greek.

Hestia – Hestia was the Greek goddess of the hearth, home, and chastity. The name is also used for a character in the Harry Potter series.

Jocasta – This name is of Greek origin, although the meaning is unknown. She was the mother of Oedipus, whom he ends up accidentally marrying, though this is probably not the reference you will want to choose this name for. Thankfully you have a few nerdy options for this name: Jocasta is the name of one of Jupiter’s moons, is a major character from the book Cloud Atlas, and is also the name of the Jedi librarian in Star Wars.

Jyn – Jyn Erso is the main character from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This could be a playful alternative to Jen.

Kara – Kara is the name of one of the main android characters in the recent video game Detroit: Become Human.

Katniss – Hunger Games fans need no explanation, as she is the heroine of that book series by Suzanne Collins.

Keiko – A Japanese name meaning “happy child”, Keiko is the name of a Star Trek character. It also appears in some manga.

Kitana – Kitana is a 10,000-year-old princess from the video game Mortal Kombat II. The name likely originates from the Japanese word katana, which means sword.

Leela – In the late 70s, Leela was the name of a character who was the companion to the Fourth Doctor on Doctor Who.

Leia – Of course, I couldn’t complete this list without my favorite princess from a galaxy far, far away.

Leliana – Leliana is a feisty, spy-master from the Bioware video game series, Dragon Age. The alternate spelling Liliana may be familiar to players of the Magic: The Gathering card game.

Liara – In the Mass Effect universe, Liara is an alien species known as the asari who works as a scientist on the playable character’s team.

Lisbeth – This German name is a variation on Elizabeth with a powerful character reference – it is the name of the main heroine from the book The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. Lisbeth is a very unconventional strong female character who doesn’t take any crap from anyone. The perfect name for a strong girl.

Luthien – In the Tolkein universe, Luthien is the name of a beautiful elf-maiden who falls in love with a mortal man. Their love story becomes a legend in Middle Earth and is mirrored in the story of Aragorn and Arwen.

Lyra – This name is from the Greek for “lyre”, and is also the name of a star constellation. In the His Dark Materials book series by Phillip Pullman (soon to be an HBO series), Lyra is the heroine.

Minerva – If you’re hoping your little girl will be a wise intellectual, Minerva might be the perfect name to choose. She was the Roman goddess of wisdom and invention and means “of the mind” in Latin. The name was used for intelligent female characters in the Harry Potter and Artemis Foul universes.

Miranda – The name Miranda is a bit more common than some of the other names on this list, but it has some cool namesakes in nerd-dom. Miranda is the Doctor’s daughter in Doctor Who’s Eighth Doctor Adventure novels and is also a character in the Harry Potter series. The name means “marvelous” in Latin.

Morrigan – A mythological goddess of war, this Irish name means “phantom queen”. Morrigan is a powerful witch in the Dragon Age series, mysterious and prickly, but ultimately on the side of the protagonist.

Natasha – Natasha is a Russian name meaning “birthday of the Lord”. It is most notably the name of Black Widow, one of the Avengers.

Padme – As the mother of Luke and Leia Skywalker, Padme is a well-known name from the Star Wars saga. She was also a wise and courageous leader in the former Republic.

Parvati – The name Parvati is yet another Harry Potter character and is also the name of the Hindu goddess of love, fertility and devotion. Parvati means “the daughter of the mountain” in Sanskrit.

Pepper – A spunky and modern name, Marvel fans will recognize Pepper as Iron Man’s personal assistant turned wife.

Persephone – In Greek mythology, she is the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of spring.

Phèdre or (Phaedra) – Phaedra means “bright” in Greek and is a figure from Greek mythology, the daughter of King Minos. The French spelling Phèdre (pronounced almost the same) appears as the name of the female protagonist from the Kushiel’s Legacy series by Jacqueline Carey.

Primrose – Primrose is the younger sister of Katniss in the Hunger Games book series. If you’re looking for a pretty, but less recognizable name from the series, this could be it.

Rayne – Rayne is the vampire-human hybrid protagonist of the BloodRayne video games. She’s an edgy and tough character, making it the perfect name for a fierce little girl.

Rey – This short, simple name will need no explanation from Star Wars fans as she is the primary protagonist of the sequel trilogy. Some may shy away from using the name of such a prominent character, but the name is adorable.

Rhea – Rhea is a pretty Greek girl’s name that means “a flowing stream”. Rhea was considered the mother of all the gods in the Greek pantheon.

Rowena – Harry Potter fans will know this name – Rowena Ravenclaw, founder of one of the Hogwarts houses.

Sabine – Sabine Wren is a character on the Star Wars Rebels animated TV series. The name is of French origin.

Satine – Satine, is also a Star Wars character from The Clone Wars series. She is the Duchess of Mandalore and a love interest for a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Satine means “smooth, shiny” in French.

Sansa – Sansa was a popular character from Game of Thrones who develops into quite the tough and courageous young leader. The name actually comes from India and means “praise, charm” in Sanskrit.

Selene – Selene is a nerdy girl’s name that is shared with a villain from the X-Men comics. It is less popular than its Latin version, Selena, but it is a lovely Greek name that means “moon goddess”.

Seraphine – Seraphine is a character in the video game League of Legends. It is a French name that means “burning ones”. A bold name for a strong baby girl.

Sybil – Sybil means “seer, oracle” in Greek and the name is used for a character in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The Harry Potter series also uses this name with the alternate spelling, Sybill.

Tauriel – This is an elvish name meaning “daughter of the forest”. She is a character in The Hobbit film adaptations (though she does not appear in the books).

Thalia – She was a muse of comedy and poetry in Greek mythology and one of the Three Graces. She is also a character on Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Theia – This one is for science nerds. According to the giant impact hypothesis, a hypothetical planet once collided with the Earth, which resulted in the creation of the moon. That hypothetical planet is named Theia, after the mother of Selene, the moon goddess in Greek mythology.

Uhura – Nyota Uhura is a translator and communications officer on the Enterprise in the Star Trek series. It comes from the Swahili word “uhuru”, which means “freedom”. It was chosen for the character by the show’s producers because the original actress cast in the role, Nichelle Nichols, was reading a 1962 book Uhuru on the day she read for the part.

Valkyrie – Valkyries were beings in Norse mythology who were tasked with traveling with the spirits of warriors who died in battle to Valhalla. Valkyrie is also the name of an elite group of female warriors of Asgard in Marvel’s Thor and Avenger movies. This is one of my personal favorite nerdy baby names.

Vivienne – In the video game Dragon Age: Inquisition, Vivienne is a companion character known for her class, sophistication, and powerful magical skills. In French, the name means “life”.

Winry – She is a mechanic from the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist and is considered one of the most popular female anime characters.

Zelda – This name probably brings to mind the popular Nintendo game Legend of Zelda.

Zori – Zori is one of the newest characters in the Star Wars franchise, introduced in Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. She’s a feisty spice-runner who has a history with Poe Dameron. It’s a fun, feminine nerdy girl name.

Nerdy Baby Boy Names

Albus – In Latin, Albus means “white, bright”. In nerdom, Albus is the first name of the Hogwarts headmaster, Professor Dumbledore.

Alden – A name for a roguish boy, Alden is the name of the actor who plays the young Han Solo in Disney’s backstory movie. It means “old, wise friend” and is English in origin.

Alphonse – Alphonse is a name of German and French origin and it means “noble, ready for battle”. Anime geeks will recognize the name from Fullmetal Alchemist.

Anders – Anders is the name of a rebellious mage in the Dragon Age video game series. The name is Scandinavian and means “strong and manly”.

Alistair – This name is Scottish and means ”defending men”. A popular name in nerd culture, Alistair and its variations appear in Harry Potter, Dr. Who, Supernatural, Spider-Man, and Dragon Age.

Apollo – This is a fantastic, masculine name from Greek mythology. Apollo was the son of Zeus and the god of medicine, music, and poetry. Science geeks may also choose this name for its association with the Apollo space program.

Ares – In Greek mythology, Ares is the god of war. He makes appearances in Wonder Woman comics/movies, the Xena: Warrior Princess TV series, and the God of War video games.

Arod – Arod is the name of the horse that is given to Legolas by Eomer after the loss of its original rider in The Lord of the Rings. It’s a less well-known LOTR reference and a strong, masculine name similar to Jared.

Arthur – This Celtic name meaning ”bear” was most notably the name of the British King Arthur, head of the Knights of the Round Table.

Atlas – Atlas was a Greek Titan responsible for holding the world on his shoulders. The name is used for multiple characters in the DC universe and is also used in the famous Ayn Rand novel, Atlas Shrugged.

Bane – Originally a Slavic name meaning ”glorious defender”, Bane is a villain in Batman comics/movies and is also a Star Wars villain.

Brock – Brock is an English name that means “badger”. The Marvel villain Crossbones has the name Brock Rumlow. The most notable geek reference, however, is Brock the rock-type gym master in Pokémon.

Bruce – Da na na na na na na na Batman! This classic name pays homage to Bruce Wayne.

Cassian – This name has Latin roots and is most notably the name of a major character in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Cassian Andor will soon be getting his own Star Wars series on Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+.

Castiel – Castiel means “my cover is God” in Hebrew and is the name of an angel in the TV series Supernatural.

Castor – This Greek name which means “pious one” has multiple geek culture references. Castor is a character in the Hunger Games series, a character in Tron: Legacy, and is a location in the video game The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. A name that covers multiple fandoms!

Clark – Clark is an English name that means “scribe, secretary, cleric, scholar, clerk”. Clark Kent is Superman’s real name.

Cody – This English name was originally a nickname for Dakota, but has gained a lot of traction as a first name in its own right. It means “helpful, pillow” and is the name of the clone commander from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Colum – If you’re a member of the Outlander fandom, you’ll know Colum MacKenzie, clan leader and uncle of Jamie Fraser. The name is Irish/Latin and means “dove”.

Cullen – This name is actually an Irish surname, but it has become popular as a first name. This is largely due to the popularity of the Cullen family from Twilight. Cullen Rutherford is also the name of a companion character from the Dragon Age video game series.

Damon – In Greek mythology, there is a legend about Damon and Pythias, followers of Pythagoras, which illustrates the bonds of true friendship. Fans of The Vampire Diaries will recognize the name from the character Damon Salvatore.

Dax – This fun, short name is French in origin. Dax was a character on the TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Dean – Dean is a character in the Harry Potter series, but the name gets its popularity in geekdom as the name of one of the main protagonists in the series Supernatural.

Desmond – This classy-sounding Irish name means “one from south Munster”. Desmond is the name of the player character in the Assassin’s Creed video game series.

Dexter – For some reason, the name Dexter just has a geeky sound to it. This Latin name meaning right-handed is used for the titular boy-genius in the kid’s cartoon Dexter’s Laboratory. It is also the name of a sociopathic serial killer who tries to only kill bad guys on the TV show, Dexter.

Dorian – Dorian is a Greek name and started gaining popularity as a first name after Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (not a flattering reference; Dorian is a self-absorbed character). Dragon Age fans will recognize the name from Dragon Age: Inquisition. He’s also a self-absorbed character, but in a much more endearing, helpful way.

Draco – If you don’t mind the villainous association, Draco is an exotic name shared by a baddie in the Harry Potter series. The name was also used in Magic: The Gathering, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Final Fantasy VI. It means dragon in Latin.

Ender – This name is actually Turkish in origin and means “very rare”. It gained popularity in sci-fi from the Orson Scott Card novel Ender’s Game, which also became a movie.

Eomer – This is a Tolkien name, a character from the Lord of the Rings books and movies. Eomer is a warrior from Rohan, a city known for its superior war horses. He ultimately supports the main heroes and fights bravely against Sauron.

Evander – Evander is a name with origins in both Greek and Roman mythology. He was a notable figure in Virgil’s Aeneid. It means “bow warrior; strong man”.

Ezra – Ezra means “help” in Hebrew. Star Wars fans may recognize the name Jedi Ezra Bridger from the Star Wars: Rebels TV show. Ezra is also the name of a character from the Anime movie Space Pirate Captain Harlock.

Flynn – This name is Irish in origin and means “son of the red-haired one”. It’s the name Eugene Fitzherbert, the swashbuckling hero from Disney’s Tangled, chooses as an alias in his past life of crime.

Finn – Finn is a name with lots of great nerdy references. There’s reformed stormtrooper Finn from the sequel Star Wars trilogy, Finn Mikaelson from The Vampire Diaries, and Finn from the Adventure Time series. The name comes from Irish origins and means “fair, white”. Finn MacCool is also a hero in Irish mythology known for his superpowers. You can also beef up the name with some of its variants: Finlay, Finley, Finian, Finnegan, and Finneas.

Finnick – Finnick Odair was a major character from The Hunger Games books and movies and is the reason this name has gained some traction. It is also an Anglo-Saxon last name.

Galen – Originally a Greek word meaning “calm, healer”, Galen is the name of the engineer who is responsible for the fatal flaw in the Death Star in Star Wars. Before that, the famous namesake was Galen of Pergamon who was a 2nd-century physician and philosopher in the Roman Empire.

Geralt – Who hasn’t heard of Geralt of Rivia by now? This monster-hunter with a heart of gold is the protagonist in a Polish novel series called The Witcher. The books were adapted into a popular video game series and now a TV series on Netflix.

Gideon – This Hebrew name has two notable geek references: Gideon Prewett from Harry Potter and Gideon Graves from the Scott Pilgrim comics/movie.

Haldir – If you’re looking for a less-known Elvish name from Tolkien’s works, Haldir makes a strong boy’s name. He was a guardian warrior of Lorien and was the one who allowed Gimli to enter Lorien, on the condition that he was blindfolded.

Harry – Sometimes a nickname for Henry, this widely popular name gets its nerd status from, of course, Harry Potter!

Hawke – Hawke is an old Anglo-Saxon surname that would also make a good masculine first name. Unsurprisingly, the name means hawk, after the bird of prey. Hawke is the protagonist in the video game Dragon Age II.

Hector – Hector means “holding fast” in Greek. In Greek mythology, Hector is a brave warrior from Homer’s Illiad. Hector is also the name of the man who raised King Arthur as his own son in Arthurian legends.

Imriel – Imriel is the protagonist of the second half of the Kushiel’s Legacy book series by Jacqueline Carey. The name is pretty unique to the books but sounds like it could be a Hebrew name. In the books, it means “Eloquence of God”.

Jace – The name Jace is Hebrew for “the Lord is Salvation”. Geeks may know Jace Beleren from the card game Magic: The Gathering or Jace Herondale from The Mortal Instruments fantasy book series.

Jamie – Though perhaps not as popular as Jim or Jimmy, Jamie is a Scottish nickname for James. Nerdy Jamies include Jaime Lannister from Game of Thrones and Jamie Fraser from Outlander.

Jorah – This name means “early rain” in Hebrew. Jorah Mormont is a brave and loyal companion to Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones.

Kelvin – Kelvin is a cute alternative to Kevin or Calvin and has Scottish roots. Science nerds will know that the kelvin is the base unit of temperature used for the International System of Units. The kelvin was named after William Thompson, 1st Baron Kelvin.

Kent – Superman’s last name also makes a fun boy’s first name. Kent is the name of a county in England and was originally a last name, but it works well as a first.

Kylo – The name of Star War‘s newest villain (or heartthrob, depending on who you ask) was the name that had the greatest jump in popularity in 2016, after the release of The Force Awakens.

Leonard – Leonard is a German name that means “brave lion”, so it’s perfect for a strong-hearted boy! In geekdom, Leonard is a main character on The Big Bang Theory and is also a main character in the Star Trek series.

Levi – Levi is a Hebrew name that means “joined, attached”. The name has roots as a biblical name in both the Old and New Testaments, however, the geeky reference is to Levi Ackerman on the anime series Attack on Titan.

Logan – Logan is the first name of Wolverine, a member of the X-Men in the comics and movies. It was originally a Scottish name meaning “small hollow”.

Lucius – This name is rich in history as it has been the name of popes, Shakespearean characters, and many literary and pop culture characters. It means “light” in Latin. The most notable reference is Lucius Malfoy from Harry Potter.

Luke – The Star Wars franchise has given us a great many nerdy, yet cool, names to choose for our babies. This is the original hero and most famous Jedi, Luke Skywalker. You can’t have a list of nerdy baby names without it!

Mace – Mace is an English name for a weapon that is used like a heavy club, but it can also be used as a nickname for Mason. If you’re a Star Wars fan, you will probably be familiar with Jedi Mace Windu from the prequels. Mace Tyrell is a character from Game of Thrones as well.

Mars – Mars, the Roman god of war and Earth’s red, planetary neighbor.

Nathan – This biblical name originates in the Old Testament and means “given” in Hebrew. There are lots of Nathans in popular culture but gamers will probably recognize the name from Naughty Dog’s Uncharted video game series. Protagonist Nathan Drake is a charismatic and handsome adventurer who has stolen the hearts of many female gamers.

Parker – Spider-Man’s last name makes a sweet boy’s first name. Parker was originally an English name for someone who maintains parks for a living.

Pavel – Pavel is the Russian version of the name Paul. Star Trek fans will know the name of the character Pavel Chekov, ensign and navigator of the USS Enterprise.

Pippin – Peregrin Took, one of the Hobbits who joins the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings, goes by Pippin as a nickname. It’s a lighthearted, spirited name that is German for “awe-inspiring”.

Quill – This Irish name can be a variation on Quinn. Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) from Guardians of the Galaxy, is known for his sense of humor and for saving the galaxy.

Rin – This name can actually be for both baby boys and baby girls. Rin is Japanese in origin and has multiple meanings. It also appears a lot in anime.

Rory – This name has been used for both boys and girls, however, it is an Irish name meaning “red king”, so its origins indicate it originally was meant for a boy. Rory Hawthorne is the name of Gale’s brother from The Hunger Games. Rory Pond is a character from Doctor Who. A great choice regardless of which fandom you belong to.

Ryu – Ryu is a Japanese name best known from the action-adventure video game series Ninja Gaiden. Ryu Hayabusa is a dragon-human hybrid and a ninja. He also makes an appearance in the fighting game Dead or Alive.

Sebastian – Sebastian is a sophisticated boy’s name of Greek origin and it is used for characters in several nerdy fandoms, from The Little Mermaid to Blade Runner.

Sheldon – This cute name belongs to the king of TV nerds, Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory.

Shepherd – This name could alternatively be spelled Shepard or Shephard and derives from the occupation of a sheepherder. Shepherd is the surname of the protagonist in Bioware’s Mass Effect game trilogy.

Sidon – Sidon is the name of an ancient Greek city known for fishing. Gamers might recognize the name from the Legend of Zelda series; Prince Sidon is a character from Breath of the Wild.

Sigurd – Sigurd is a Germanic Viking name that means “victorious protection”. He is one of the main characters in the popular video game Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla.

Sirius – Sirius is a Greek name that means “burning”, making it a great name for a feisty little boy. Astronomy nerds may love this name as it is the name of the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius Orion Black is the name of a character from Harry Potter as well.

Solas – Solas is a variation on the up-and-coming name Silas, a Latin name which means forest. Solas is the name of a mysterious elven mage in the video game Dragon Age: Inquisition. I love Solas’ character, so I couldn’t leave him off my list of nerdy baby names.

Spencer – Admittedly, the name Spencer just has a geeky association with it, but it’s a distinguished name that has risen in popularity over recent years. The name is of English origin meaning “house steward, dispenser of provisions”.

Thane – This name is Scottish and means “clan chieftain”. The name can be found in two fandoms: Thane Krios, a companion character from the Mass Effect trilogy, and Thane Kyrell a Rebel Alliance pilot in the novel Lost Stars.

Theon – Theon Greyjoy is a well-known character from the Game of Thrones series. He is initially a traitor to the Starks, but he has an interesting redemption arc that allows him to become a hero. The name is of Greek origin and means “godly”.

Tobias – Tobias is a Hebrew and biblical name that means “God is good”. Harry Potter fans will know that Tobias is the name of Severus Snape’s father. Another example is Tobias Beckett from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Tormund – Tormund Giantsbane is the rowdy and hilarious Wildling warrior that has become a fan favorite from Game of Thrones.

Tristan – This Celtic name has such an enchanted feel to it. In Celtic legend, Tristan is one of Arthur’s knights of the round table. He also is known for his ill-fated love affair with Queen Isolde.

Varric – In the Dragon Age series, Varric is a sarcastic and witty dwarf who accompanies the series’ heroes on their adventures.

Watson – Watson is an English name with a few geeky references. There’s Thomas A. Watson, the man who worked with Alexander Graham Bell on the telephone, leading to the famous first phone words “Mr. Watson – come here!”. James Watson was one of the discoverers of DNA. And, of course, there’s Dr. Watson, Sherlock Holmes’s associate.

Xander – This name is a variation on Alexander. Xander Harris is one of the main characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Xavier – Xavier means “new house” and is Arabic in origin. The name is most notably shared by Professor Xavier from the X-Men comics and movies.

Well, there you have it! Lot’s of nerdy baby names to choose from for the newest geek in your family.

By the way, I used Nameberry to research a lot of the names on this list. It’s my favorite site for looking up baby names.

Naming your child after a favorite book/movie/TV show/video game character is a pretty clear indicator of your nerd status, as I wrote about in my post 10 Truths About Being a Nerd Mom. Check it out!

Did you name your little one after a famous character or nerd? Tell me your nerdy baby names in the comments!