October makes us think of witches and pumpkins and spells and ghouls, and also of Harry Potter! J.K. Rowling’s beloved books are filled with magic and mystery and have captured the imaginations of children (and adults) the world over. But they are also filled with a wealth of great baby names. Some might be a stretch for wearability (see Mundungus or Nymphadora). Others have a clear homage to the books that parents might want to sidestep (Albus or Severus). Then there are those names that are a bit in between, infused with their own magic that could make them perfect for your child. Here are some of our favorite finds from this already classic series:
Arabella
There’s something magical about the sound of Arabella. This may have something to do with its Harry Potter namesake, Arabella Figg. The Squib-Next-Door, Mrs. Figg played an important role in Harry’s life as his neighbor and sometimes babysitter. As a name, Arabella has a romantic heroine feel. Besides showing up in Harry Potter, it’s a name that appears in novels by Thomas Hardy, George Eliot, Charles Dickens, and Henry Fielding. It’s an alternative to Isabella that gives us the beauty-of-a-nickname Bella.
Avery
We’re never told Avery’s first name in Harry Potter, but what we do know about him is that he was a Death Eater who was in school at the same time as Tom Riddle, aka You-Know-Who, aka Voldemort. Though his ties to the Dark Lord give this name some dangerous appeal in the world of Harry Potter, in the real world, Avery has a lighter, more airy appeal. This gem is currently in the top 200 baby names in the US for male (#191) and female (#16) babies.
Cedric
Literary geeks may revel in this fun fact: Cedric was a name invented by Sir Walter Scott for his epic tale, Ivanhoe. Derived from the Celtic name Cerdic, it means “bounty.” In Harry Potter, Cedric is the name of dreamy Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory, whose life and death play a key role in the events of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Cormac
Slug Club member and handsy Yule Ball date Cormac Mclaggen is by no means the biggest association with this name, for which Hermione is relieved! Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy gets that prize. An Irish name, Cormac has experienced more popularity in the UK than in the US, where it’s in and out of the baby name “sweet spot.” In the US, it hasn’t yet entered the top 1000 names according to the SSA.
Dean
Fellow Gryffindor Dean Thomas was in Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s class, and played a role in the battle of Hogwarts. His name is of English origin and means “church official.” Religion doesn’t feel like its most obvious association, though. When we think Dean, we might think of the academic title. Or, we might tie it to handsome Hollywood bad boy James Dean. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this classic choice, which currently ranks as the 173rd most popular name in the US.
Emmeline
Emma and Emily continue to dominate popularity charts the world over. So for parents who love them but want something a little less popular, why not consider a cousin to these names, the lovely, vintage Emmeline? Inspired here by the witch Emmeline Vance, an original member of the Order of the Phoenix, this name has the same charm of other classic -line ending names like Madeline and Caroline, with a little more rarity. We also love the nickname Emme.
Garrick
Even hardcore Harry Potter fans might not know or remember that Garrick is the first name of Mr. Ollivander, purveyor of wands. And we think it is a fitting name for Mr. Ollivander. A hidden gem, Garrick is a Teutonic name meaning “mighty warrior,” and it also belongs to the trending category of last names as first names.
Hermione
Hermione is one of the Big Three of Harry Potter, and this list wouldn’t be complete without her name. After all, J. K. Rowling probably single handedly taught us how to pronounce it! The Greek feminine variation of Hermes, Hermione means “messenger” or “earthly.” Harry Potter isn’t the first time this name has found its way into literature. It’s the name of a character in Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale and in Walter Scott’s The Fortunes of Nigel.
Hugo
The name of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger’s only son, Hugo Weasley, is a smart baby name and a literary name. It means “mind, intellect.” It is also the name of the brilliant French writer and poet, Victor Hugo. (Interesting note, Hermione captures the attention of star Bulgarian Quidditch player Viktor Krum. Rowling is a noted fan of Victor Hugo’s work, so this is probably not just coincidence!) This might be a great choice for parents who want to celebrate their love of literature, especially sci-fi, as the annual awards for the best in science fiction writing is called the Hugo awards.
James
Classic, beautiful James is a perennially loved name for a reason. The name of kings, apostles, presidents, and Harry Potter’s father, James hasn’t dropped out of the SSA top 20 in over a hundred years. With a wide range of potential variants (Jim, Jimmy, Jaime, Jay, and then some), James has also made the transition from traditional male name to gender neutral (Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds named their daughter James to honor his father).
Kingsley
An auror, member of the Order of the Phoenix, as well as eventual Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt spearheaded the entrance of the name Kingsley into the popular imagination of parents the world around. An English name meaning “king’s meadow,” it’s a magisterial name fit for royalty or for your little one!
Lee
We’re inspired here by Griffyndor Lee Jordan, exceptional Quidditch commentator. Short and sweet, the name Lee has experienced a lot of popularity as a middle name. We think, though, that it has enough flavor to stand alone as a first name. We’re also fans of its variant spelling, Leigh.
Lily
After a sharp rise from 1980–2000, Lily has established itself as a baby name favorite. We can see why! It brings to mind the beautiful flower that shares its name, and it’s soft, musical sound gives it instant elegance. The name of Harry Potter’s beloved mother, Lily Evans Potter, Lily can act as a full name or as a nickname for similar-sounding names like Lillian, Lilliana, and Lilith.
Luna
We credit Looney Luna Lovegood for bringing this name back in 2003 after falling off the top 1000 names in 1921! Luna made her first appearance on the pages of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in 2003, and made an immediate impression. That year, her name made its way to #889. Fifteen years later, Luna now stands as the 23rd most popular female baby name in America. Its celestial ties also give it a dreamy, otherworldly desirability.
Minerva
This gorgeous, strong name is fit for a goddess, or in this case, a professor: Professor McGonagall. Meaning “of the mind, intellect,” it is perfectly appropriate for the imposing deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Originally the name of the Roman goddess of wisdom, its long form works for a serious adult and nickname Minnie is playful enough for a child (or the child within!).
Neville
A French surname-turned-first-name meaning “new town,” Neville has never ranked in the top 1000 baby names in the US. A very uncommon name on this side of the pond, it is given some familiarity by the band The Neville Brothers and solo artist Aaron Neville. Unless you’re a World War II history buff and former British prime minister Neville Chamberlain is your first association, we think this name’s Harry Potter connection might be its strongest. Of course, we’re talking about Neville Longbottom, whose bravery shines through in the most unexpected and moving ways throughout the series.
Penelope
The name Penelope has been on the up since the early 2000s. The arrival of Kourtney Kardashian’s daughter Penelope in 2012 gave it a major boost. Penelope is a Greek name meaning “weaver” and is the name of Ravenclaw Penelope Clearwater, a house prefect and former girlfriend of Ron’s big brother, Percy. We love the classical elegance of Penelope in its long form, but we also love its winsome nicknames, Penny and Penn.
Percy
Baby name Percy is an oldie but goodie. An English surname, it has also been used as a nickname for Percival, which is the name of the third-born, rule-loving Weasley son, Percy, aka Perce or “Bighead Boy.” Old Perce isn’t the only one of his name of literary fame. More prominent associations are Sir Percival, one of King Arthur’s knights of the Round Table, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and more recently, the hero of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. We think these associations make Percy perfect for your brave, artistic child.
Seamus
Young wizard Seamus Finnigan was Harry Potter’s classmate in Gryffindor house and best friend to Dean Thomas. While Seamus and his name are very Irish, this name still works well for a child living outside the Emerald Isle. The Irish variant of James, Seamus means “supplanter.” It is also the name of Nobel Prize–winning poet, Seamus Heaney.
Zacharias
Zacharius Smith was a haughty Hufflepuff who openly questioned Harry Potter’s leadership in the Dumbledore’s Army. But we won’t let his bad attitude ruin our love of his name. Derived from the same root as the name Zachary, we think Greek Zacharias has a little more present-day potential than its English cousin. A biblical name, it means “the lord has remembered.” While parents could always shorten it to Zac/Zach, we’re head over heels for the full version, Zacharias.
And that’s our list! There are still so many other Harry Potter baby names to love (we’ve already written about Blaise, Fleur, Parvati, and Sybil elsewhere on the blog). What names would be on your list?