Baby Names Inspired By Classic Elizabeth Taylor Characters

From her undeniable acting chops to her colorful love life and extravagant personal style, Elizabeth Taylor remains one of Old Hollywood's most legendary figures. For any parent-to-be who wants to create a sense of glamour and drama (in the best way possible) for the next generation, she's the perfect person to inspire a baby name. And with a showbiz career spanning 60 years from 1942 to 2002, the late star had a lengthy list of acting credits to browse through for ideas. 

Ironically, her most famous role probably won't work as a baby name for most people. Taylor won over audiences as Egyptian queen Cleopatra in the epic 1963 drama of the same name, but this Greek moniker is probably a little too well-known with established associations for most people to pull off, at least as a first name. Cleo, however, gives you the best of both worlds: a nod to Taylor's unforgettable role, without people instantly imagining graphic eye makeup and donkey milk baths, and a love triangle with two Roman bigshots.

The good news is there are plenty of other wonderful characters in Taylor's repertoire that can give you baby name inspo. Some are classic and traditional with profound meanings that you may want your baby to carry through life, while others are a little more fun. Beyond Cleopatra, no character was exclusively synonymous with Elizabeth Taylor, who was a fresh-faced beauty even without makeup. So you can use any of these names without ever mentioning why you chose them. Unlike the baby names inspired by classic Audrey Hepburn characters, they're not so famous that they make a scene, but they're special enough for you to quietly pay a personal tribute to the film icon.

Any name given to an Elizabeth Taylor character feels mighty because of the sheer star power of this legendary actor. But on top of that, some characters she portrayed had names with deep, bold meanings. The first one is the classic moniker Louise, taken from the character of Louise Durant in the 1954 flick "Rhapsody." This name feels timeless, given as both a first name and middle name across generations; many people don't even realize that it's a name rooted in French, which actually means "renowned warrior." Not too shabby for a baby that you want to succeed in life!

A similar-sounding name, which also has an historic, deep meaning, is the much less common Lise. Taylor played this character in the '74 film "The Driver's Seat," but it doesn't have too many claims to fame beyond that. A Hebrew and English name, Lise means "my God is an oath," so it's a good choice for those who appreciate a biblical or religious choice. It's also far rarer than Louise, or even Lisa, so you won't have to worry about several other kids in your child's class sharing the same name. 

In 1952, Elizabeth Taylor portrayed the role of Anastacia Macaboy in "Love Is Better Than Ever." This is another great option if you're looking for a baby name with a significant meaning. Stemming from Greek, Anastacia — which comes in various spellings and is widely popular across Eastern Europe and the Balkans — means "resurrection." This one definitely won't make people instantly think of Taylor, since Anastacia is more commonly associated with the Russian princess (spelled Anastasia) and the hero of the 1997 animated movie.

In 1959, Elizabeth Taylor starred in "Suddenly, Last Summer," a psychological drama following a young girl whose aunt is trying to get her to undergo a lobotomy rather than reveal the family's dirty laundry. Taylor's character is Catherine Holly, and while she doesn't have a fairy-tale story in this particular film, there's no denying that this moniker feels naturally princess-like. Thanks to Katherine Hepburn, this is also an Old Hollywood-inspired baby name that sounds so glamorous.

Nowadays, the name Catherine most often makes people think of Catherine, Princess of Wales, the future queen of England. It's associated with British royalty now, and has been the name of other European royals over the centuries, from Catherine the Great of Russia to Catherine of Aragon and Catherine de' Medici. This name is actually of Greek origin, meaning "pure," and seems to be enduringly popular across generations. "Catherine is the FIRST name that comes to mind if you were to ask me to give an example of a 'timeless' girls' name," one Redditor shared, while another said, "Catherine is a gorgeous classic without being fussy."

For a slight variation, you could also look to one of Elizabeth Taylor's most famous films, the adaptation of William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," in which she played the role of Katharina in 1967. Much less popular than its royal counterpart, Katharina is of German and Scandinavian origin. In an English-speaking environment, this is commonly pronounced as "Kath-ah-rina," but you could also pronounce it as "Kat-ah-rina," given that in some languages a "th" makes a hard T sound. It doesn't have those instant royalty connotations, but it is perfect for those who love the name Catherine while wanting something just a little more unusual.

Elizabeth Taylor has been immortalized as a goddess of the screen, but some of the characters she played were named after real mythological goddesses. There's no better way to capture Taylor's magic than by paying tribute to the character of Flora Goforth, whom she portrayed in 1968's "Boom!" A name rooted in Latin, Flora belonged to the goddess of spring in Roman mythology and means "flower." Even for those who aren't well-versed in the who's who of the Roman pantheon, the name Flora automatically brings up sweet, springtime, flowery vibes.

Fans of Flora might also like the similar-sounding Leonora, after Leonora Penderton from 1967's "Reflection in a Golden Eye." (Taylor also played a character called Leonora in "Secret Ceremony" in 1968.) This elegant name doesn't come from a god, but it is of Greek and Arabic origins and means "compassion" or "light."There's also Gloria Wandrous, portrayed by Taylor in "Butterfield 8." A Latin word meaning "glory," Gloria is another old-world name with a similar sound, and one that you probably won't hear used as often as other vintage names which have had modern revivals.

Earlier in her career, in 1947, Taylor portrayed the character of Cynthia Bishop in "Cynthia."  This name comes from the Greek goddess of the moon. While she was best-known as Artemis, she was also referred to by the epithet Cynthia. This makes the name a good option if you want celestial vibes without an unusual name that sounds like it was taken from a fantasy novel, or an out-there celebrity baby name that got way too much hate.

Not every Elizabeth Taylor character has a melodic, traditional name rooted in either history or mythology. Some feel much fresher and more modern, including the name Maggie. Taylor famously played Maggie Pollitt in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in 1958, putting this Greek moniker on the map. It's often assumed that Maggie is just short for Margaret, but it does stand as its own name, and it means "pearl." As one Redditor noted, "I love Maggie as a stand-alone name, I think it's lovely! It absolutely does not need to be a longer name and I don't think it's in any way limiting. Personally, I like Maggie totally independently of anything it could be short for."

For the modern generation, the most famous Maggie, and the one that people probably think of when they hear this name, is Maggie Simpson. Fans of "The Simpsons" know that the baby of the family famously didn't talk for decades, but when she finally uttered her first word in one of the show's most iconic moments, guess who voiced her? That's right: Elizabeth Taylor. It's a double-whammy for Taylor fans seeking a short and sweet girls' name, and also a baby name inspired by a classic TV show.

Another two-syllable name that feels both modern and classic is Amy, which has decreased in popularity since its golden years in the 1970s. In 1949, Taylor played a very famous Amy — Amy March in "Little Women," who was later portrayed by Kirsten Dunst and Samantha Mathis in the 1994 adaptations, and then Florence Pugh in 2019. A name meaning "beloved," Amy is an unexpected choice for the next generation, but one that clearly carries a lot of history. It's certainly a baby name from the '70s that deserves a comeback.

Elizabeth Taylor is a great source of inspiration for girl names, but her long list of acting credits can also lend itself to some gender-neutral baby names that you may not have considered. Just look at Kay Banks, the character she played in the 1950 comedy "Father of the Bride." Meaning "pure," this name is Greek in origin and often used as a shortened version of Katherine, but it can be adapted as the main name rather than the nickname, for girls or boys. "I absolutely LOVE Kay!" one Redditor gushed when asked for their opinion on this short name choice. "I'd say go for it! It's so sweet, yet sophisticated. Excellent name!"

Another gender-neutral name, which also happens to be a monosyllable option, is Jean, after Jean Latimer from 1953's "The Girl Who Had Everything." The character of Jean is an attorney's daughter who gets swept up in a romantic entanglement with one of her father's dangerous clients, lending a bit of rebelliousness to the name. Rooted in French, it means "God is gracious," and its pronunciation can be versatile. In the original French, it's pronounced "jon," as in Jean Paul Gaultier, but you could also go for more of an English-sounding Jean, as in Billie Jean King.

For another short name with a very vintage vibe, you could also consider Ruth, after Ruth Wiley in the 1954 "Elephant Walk." For a long time, it was giving grandma, but it's actually been steadily rising in the 2020s and sits at number 382 on The Bump's most popular baby names list. Ruthie for a baby is particularly adorable, and definitely a vintage baby name you can make feel fresh in 2026 while paying tribute to Elizabeth Taylor!