Baby Names Inspired By Classic Grace Kelly Characters

Nearly a century after she was born, Grace Kelly remains one of the most enchanting icons in American history. After she conquered the shining lights of Hollywood, starring in a series of films that made her a household name in the mid-1950s, she continued her fairytale in the palaces of Europe, officially becoming Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco upon her wedding to Prince Rainier III in April 1956. With a legacy that encompasses showbiz and royalty, not to mention legendary sartorial style — Grace Kelly's lace wedding dress is still inspiring brides to this day — it's easy to understand why fans want to name their babies after her. Choosing a name based on a character she played during her film and television career is one of the best ways to pay tribute to the icon.

Of course, parents-to-be could cut to the chase and name their baby Grace, which also happens to be a baby name inspired by a Reba McEntire song. In 2025, the Social Security Administration listed Grace as the 35th most popular moniker in the country, while it's also number 88 on The Bump's list of popular girl names in 2026 and has been rising in popularity since the 1970s. Kelly could also be a sweet way to honor the late actor, who was given 142 royal titles upon her marriage. Both of these choices would instantly evoke the elegance that the princess was known for. But going for a character name, like Catherine or Frances, is a more indirect way to bestow her glamorous energy onto a child. And it's much less expected than naming a baby Grace or Kelly! With that said, the below names are top options for any Grace Kelly fan.

Grace Kelly was an actor who became a princess, but she also played a few princesses on screen before a real prince swept her off her feet and put a tiara on her head. In 1956, the year she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, she starred in "The Swan" as Princess Alexandra. Unlike some fictional princess names that have few real-life royal connections (sorry, Cinderella), Alexandra does evoke a sense of royalty in real life, making it a great choice for your own little princess.

This Greek name comes from Alexander and means "man's defender," most commonly linked to Alexander the Great. Despite its ancient connotations, Alexandra is alive and well in palaces today; you just have to look at the full versions of unique royal baby names and their hidden meanings. The late Queen Elizabeth II was born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, and then there's Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, who will one day be queen. Luxembourg also has a Princess Alexandra, not to mention the many royals all over the world who have had this moniker throughout history. "Alexandra is a beautiful and timeless name!" one Redditor commented, in a thread debating whether a name with all that history might seem a little tired. "I don't consider it outdated at all." Another agreed: "Alexandra — Classic dream of a name."

For another royal-coded baby name, you might also like to go with Catherine, after the character of Catherine Knowland in 1954's "Green Fire." This traditional name, which means "pure" and is also a baby name inspired by a classic Elizabeth Taylor character, is Greek in heritage. Thanks to Catherine, Princess of Wales, it's another name which instantly brings up a vision of royalty.

Grace Kelly might not be the first person you think of when imagining classic mid-century American names, but some of the characters she played during her film career can provide inspiration for this sort of vibe. In 1954, Kelly portrayed Nancy Brubaker in "The Bridges at Toko-Ri," and unlike Alexandra and Catherine, this name has an entirely different feel. There were several prominent people named Nancy during the 20th century, from the fictional Nancy Drew to the real figures of Nancy Sinatra and Nancy Reagan. The name, which means "favored" and "pure," has mixed origins, stemming from British, Greek, Hebrew, and Latin, even if today it has the reputation as a classic American name. 

For a similar feel, you might also consider Tracy. One of Kelly's final films before retiring from Hollywood in 1956 was "High Society," in which she played Tracy Lord. This French and Irish name has a surprisingly strong meaning, associated with the terms "warlike" and "fighter." It's a particularly good option if you're looking for a gender-neutral name, and aren't in the business of raising shrinking violets. 

Finally, for a similarly mid-century classic American name, there's Linda, after Linda Nordley in 1953's "Mogambo." Rooted in German and Spanish, it means "pretty" and has belonged to many public figures, particularly throughout the last century. Between former child star Linda Blair, rock singer Linda Ronstadt (there are also plenty of baby names inspired by her songs to consider!), songwriter Linda Perry, and model Linda Evangelista, your little Linda will be in good company. 

With French being the official language of Monaco, a French-inspired name might be a good choice for fans of Grace Kelly. We can't think of a more popular French name in the 2020s than Margot, and Kelly played a character with this name well before it had its comeback. In 1954, she portrayed Margot Wendice in "Dial M for Murder," but it's recently risen to prominence again thanks to A-listers like Margot Robbie, who's had a stunning style transformation.

A French name with Greek roots, it means "pearl," which makes it even cuter. It's steadily increased in popularity since the mid-noughties, so it's no longer the best option for someone who wants their child's name to be totally unique on the classroom roll call. "Margot is the name, I think, breaking a lot of hearts right now because it's growing in popularity," baby name expert Colleen Slagen revealed on the "Name 911" podcast. "Everyone thinks it's a little niche ... so all these people that have waited [to use the name], they're disappointed," she explained. "French names have a classic elegance that people are really drawn to."

If you like names that have associations with France but aren't necessarily French themselves, there's also Frances. This was the name of one of Kelly's most iconic characters: Frances Stevens, whom she played in 1955's "To Catch a Thief." It's actually of German and Latin origins, but it means "Frankish" or "of the Franks," aka the ancient people who set the foundations for the country we now know as France. Frances is another gender-neutral name option you might not have considered, and you can also spell it as "Francis."

While Grace Kelly evokes elegance, sophistication, and all the glamour of royalty, the name Georgie carries a totally different vibe. Traditionally a nickname for Georgia or Georgina, Georgie can also be used as a first name, and has a naturally sweet and playful vibe. "I can just picture a really cute little girl named Georgie," one commenter wrote on a What to Expect forum discussing the baby name, and many people online agree. "I have a [niece] who is just Georgie," a Redditor shared. "I love it so much, I wanted to name my daughter Georgie but my sister beat me to it."

The name doesn't seem to have much to do with the Princess of Monaco, but she did play the character of Georgie Elgin in "The Country Girl" in 1954. It's one of the many variations of George — a baby name inspired by classic TV shows — which is a Greek name, and can definitely be a gender-neutral moniker. You could also use Georgie as a nickname, as one Redditor suggested: "Georgette called Georgie is the CUTEST!!!! Love it!!!!!" But whether you use it as a first name or nickname, Georgie is the perfect way to make a vintage baby name feel fresh in 2026.

Even with all the opulence that Grace Kelly exuded, sometimes the best way for fans to honor her is with a short and simple name. A few of her characters had monikers that were understated, traditional, and straight to the point, like Lisa. She portrayed Lisa Fremont in the classic 1954 suspense thriller "Rear Window," and this Hebrew name, which comes from the even more traditional Elisabeth, means "God's promise." There are plenty of ways to make this name your own if you like the vibes and still want to pay tribute to the Kelly character, whether you change the "S" to a "Z" for Liza, or even add an "E" to make it Elisa. 

A similar name that carries the same sort of feel is Lucy, which is perfect for Kelly fans, since she portrayed Lucy Bakewell Audubon in "The Philco Television Playhouse." The show, which aired between 1950 and 1953, was one of the places where Kelly made a name for herself and found her acting feet before becoming a global icon, so naming a baby after this character is a fitting tribute. Lucy, of Roman, Latin, and British origins, means "light." In 2025, it sat at number 25 on the Social Security Administration's list of popular baby names, having steadily risen from 2020. "I think Lucy is a beautiful name and works for all stages of life!" one Redditor concurred.

Like Lisa, Lucy can be adapted to your tastes. The Italian and Latin version is Lucia, while the more traditional alternative is Lucinda. But honestly, keeping it short and sweet is the best way to honor Kelly's original character, and thanks to Lucille Ball, it's also a baby name inspired by a classic sitcom.