Best of… Star Wars Baby Names

Star Wars is upon us. AGAIN! With The Rise of Skywalker coming out in a matter of weeks (and The Mandalorian hitting us right in the streaming services earlier this week), we’ve got that galaxy far, far away on the brain. After 8 episodes, 2 anthology movies, television shows, numerous cartoons on cable and the web, hundreds of books and comics, and 42 years, the Star Wars universe is not lacking for characters. Or inspiring character names. 

We’ve already given you our list of the best underused Star Wars-inspired baby names, the ones that wouldn’t immediately come to mind, even for the biggest of fans. Now we’re curating our favorites that we think could make a great name for your baby (because sometimes your standby Star Wars name generator just won’t do). 

So here is our list of the best, most wearable Star Wars baby names for those of us in the regular, earth-bound universe.

Ahsoka

One of the most popular Star Wars characters outside of the movies, Ahsoka Tano, first made her mark as Anakin Skywalker’s padawan in The Clone Wars. A Tortugan Jedi, she grew from a spirited young student to a formidable Force user who would eventually leave the Jedi order to forge her own path. Her unique name is strikingly similar to that of ancient Indian King, Ashoka. A worthy association for a strong and powerful character, or a beloved child.

Anakin

Darth Vader’s name before his tragic turn to the darkside was Anakin. His is a Star Wars name that has already experienced some great popularity over the years. Created by George Lucas, this name means “warrior” and is currently the 828th most popular name in the US. For parents seeking a more traditionally feminine version of this name, Annika is a lovely variation, using the same letters as Anakin.

Baze

The reticent and tough Baze Malbus was once a devoted member of the Guardian of the Whills. In this role, he was tasked with protecting the Temple of Kyber on his home, the doomed desert moon, Jedha. Later turned assassin and then rebel, he perished with his cohorts on Scarif in the successful attempt at retrieving the Death Star plans. A recently invented name, it’s also appeared in pop culture on the television show Life, Unexpected. 

Ben

Classic name Ben plays a two-fold role in Star Wars lore: as the alias taken by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and as the given name of Leia Organa and Han Solo’s only child, Ben, who would later be known as Kylo Ren. Long-version Benjamin is a top 10 name, but shortened-name Ben is also a popular choice, landing as 2018’s 692nd most popular name. For Star Wars fans who want a subtle homage, Ben is pitch perfect.

Bodhi

A spiritual Sanskrit name that means “enlightenment or awakening,” Bodhi is also the name of Imperial defector Bodhi Rook from Rogue One. His conscience led him to share with the Rebellion vital information about the Death Star plans, which would lead to its eventual destruction. A recent hot and fast-rising name, Bodhi is slowing down just a bit, settling in the baby-name sweet spot at #314.

Cassian

We’ve already extolled the virtues of Cassian, but let’s do it again. We’re predicting this Latinate name is going to be on fire in the coming years. It has the sound of classical names like Cassius and Cassandra without the weight of their associations. And, it’s tied to the dashing, noble, and tragic character of rebel captain Cassian Andor, who will find a second life in 2021 when he returns to our screens in his own show on Disney+.

Corran

The casual fan of Star Wars may be like, “Corran who?” But readers of the Legends series of Star Wars books will answer, “Corran Horn, Jedi and X-Wing pilot!” While lesser known than the characters who inhabit the cinematic Star Wars universe, we think his name is worth knowing—his first name, especially. Similar in sound to the Latin name Corin, which means “spear,” this name is an intriguing choice however you spell it.

Elan

This cool and elegant Hebrew name (pronounced EE-lun) means “tree,” but it could also be pronounced the French way like Élan (AY-lan) and mean “energetic, with great enthusiasm and spirit.” We gotta say, these are infinitely cooler connections than the one with Star Wars, where we find his name attached to death stick peddler, Elan Sleazebaggano, who is mind-tricked by Obi-Wan Kenobi into reconsidering his life choices.

Ezra

Everyone loves Ezra (it’s currently the 59th most popular male name in the US), because what’s not to love? Its -a ending is perfectly on trend while its Z sound gives it just a bit more quirk than, say, Noah. But despite its popularity, the name’s history and biblical ties keep it from feeling too trendy. We think this name given to Star Wars fledgling-Jedi Ezra Bridger from Star Wars: Rebels has a place in space and on Earth.

Finn

One of the sequel trilogy’s Big Three, former stormtrooper Finn got this name inspiration from his trooper designation FN-2187. Not bad for creating a name on the spot! Finn’s been a growing darling among parents over the past 20 years. It’s reached its highest point (thus far) in 2018, landing at #166. Great on its own, Finn could also serve as a nickname for Finley or Phinneas.

Galen

Galen Erso was the primary architect of the creation and destruction of the Death Star. Forced by the Empire to build this superweapon, he also built into it its fatal flaw, which the Rebel Alliance was able to exploit after they stole its plans from the Imperial vault on Scarif. Soft in sound, this Greek name reflects its meaning: “calm.” A former sweet-spot name, it fell out of the SSA charts in 1996, but we think it’s due a revival!

Hera

Hera Syndulla is a Twi’lek revolutionary and captain of The Ghost from Star Wars: Rebels. Her name is apt–Hera is the name of the formidable Greek goddess and means “queen.” Fitting for a woman who would become a general in the Rebellion. While the names of other Greek gods, like Athena and Apollo, have experienced steady popularity, Hera is a truly wearable one that has remained mostly under the radar in the US.

Iella

This name might be a true Star Wars creation in the same way that Anakin is—created for the Star Wars X-Wing novels. A Corellian CorSec agent, our inspiration, Iella Wessiri, would go on to serve the Rebellion as a spy, and she would eventually marry original trilogy pilot, Wedge Antilles in the Legends series of books. We think the name Iella could get some real legs once it’s been introduced to new ears. The hard “I” paired with the desirable -ella ending makes it a name that is both strong and sweet.

Jannah

Right now, we don’t know much about Jannah, who is slated to make her first appearance in Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. What we do know is that we love her name, spelled like Hannah but with a J, and sounding just like Jana, which is a Hebrew name that means “God is gracious.” But while Jana can be pronounced by like “Jan-ah” and “Yan-ah,” Jannah is most definitely on the side of the former, which leaves no question about how to say this lovely name.

Kanan

An Arabic name, Kanan means “merchant.” It also brings to mind the ancient land of Canaan, which has a similar pronunciation. However, when you’re talking Star Wars, it makes us think of Kanan Jarrus, one of the few Jedi knights to survive Order 66. Though Kanan Jarrus is male, Kanan has unisex appeal, with parents often bestowing the name on their baby girls. We also love the nickname potential in Kane.

Leia

General Organa to some and Princess to others, the one and only Leia we associate with this name and spelling is the formidable resistance leader herself, played by the equally commanding Carrie Fisher. Though the name is surprisingly popular (in the US top 300), it’s still much less common than the similar sounding Leah and Layla. A name of either Hindi or Hawaiian origin, depending on your source, it’s one befitting royalty.

Luke

The most Star Wars-associated name is also probably its most traditional, relatable, and long-loved. Meaning “light,” Luke has never dropped out of the top 600 most popular names in 118 years of SSA rankings. It began a sharper jump in the 1970s that coincided with the premiere of Star Wars: A New Hope. Since that time, this name has risen and stayed atop the male names list. Greek in origin, Luke might be most known for its religious ties. Yes, the ones tied to the Force, but moreso to Christianity where Luke was the author of one of the Gospels.

Lyra

In Rogue One, the first Star Wars anthology movie, Lyra Erso was a scientist and mother to the film’s heroine, Jyn Erso. A believer in the Force without having access to it, Lyra was also an incredibly strong and resilient woman who ended up giving her life trying to save her husband from the clutches of the Empire. As a name, lyrical Lyra is a musical name that means “lyre.” It also has celestial ties as well as literary ties: it is the name of the heroine of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.

Mara

This is a name as strong, no-nonsense, and commanding as its Star Wars namesake, Mara Jade. A former Imperial assassin and Emperor’s Hand, Mara Jade came to our attention when she tried to kill Luke Skywalker in the now-Legends novels by Timothy Zahn. She’d make a full turn eventually, not only joining Luke to learn how to harness her Force powers, but marrying him! One of the more popular characters to come out the 1990s novels, there’s been a lot of curiosity about whether or not she’ll be reintroduced to canon. A name meaning “bitterness,” Mara can also be a water name where it means “the sea.” 

Nomi

On Earth, Nomi is either a Hebrew or Japanese name, meaning “beautiful, pleasant, delightful.” That’s how we feel about this cross-cultural name, too! Nomi’s -i ending sets it apart from the other names on this list, but it fits in perfectly with the growing trend of baby names ending in -i. In Star Wars, Nomi was a Jedi with the cool last name of Sunrider, and she was a Jedi of the Old Republic, first appearing in the comics in Tales of the Jedi 3: The Saga of Nomi Sunrider, Part 1.

Padmé

A key player in the Skywalker Saga and the rise of the Rebellion against the Empire, Padmé Amidala was the Queen of Naboo before she was its senator, and before she was a leader in the fledgling Rebellion. Wife of tragic Anakin Skywalker and mother to Luke and Leia, her life and death played a tremendous role in the history that would follow. While her character is so closely tied to the name, we think enough time has passed since the prequels that this name can take on a life of its own. A Persian name meaning “lotus,” it also has a similar ring to the stunning name Padma.

Poe

Before Poe Dameron hit the screens in The Force Awakens, this name was most closely tied to master of horror, Edgar Allan Poe. Now, Poe’s got some additional pilot swagger and modern appeal with its Star Wars (and Oscar Issac) association. We love the one-syllable power of this name, and for parents who love short-and-sweet names, this one might be for you.

Qi’ra

Don’t let the spelling fool you, this pretty name is pronounced the same as Kira or Keira. The name of Han Solo’s youthful first love, Qi’ra would go on to work for Dryden Vos, the leader of Crimson Dawn, before betraying him in order to save Han from death. For Star Wars fans, this could be an excellent homage name for fans of Solo. It’s a name that’s very familiar in sound but with that special spelling that signals from where it came.

Rey

Heroine of the new sequel trilogy, one-name Rey has taken this previously male-centric name and upped its unisex use. While the name means “king” in Spanish, we think Rey is a name also fit for a queen. It gives a fresh spin on the old standard, Ray (from Raymond). And we’d bet that little girls and boys growing up with this new Star Wars trilogy would love sharing a name with such a badass protagonist.

Sabine

Mandalorian warrior and explosives expert Sabine Wren has an infinitely wearable name, both first and last. But we have a particular affinity for French beauty Sabine, with its bold sophistication and sleek style. Parents who like Sabrina or Serena might like the added edge of Sabine’s strong ending.

Shara

A pilot in the Rebellion, Shara Bey fought to help restore the Republic. Her son, Poe Dameron, would eventually follow in her footsteps after her death. We think Shara could be used to honor a loved one with the name Sarah, from which the name is derived. Like Sarah, Shara means “princess,” but it’s still an undiscovered gem, having only had a brief burst of popularity in the 1970s and 1980s before fading off the SSA list in 1986.

And those are our favorite Star Wars baby names! What are your favorites? Any that didn’t make the list?