129 Best Movie Character Names That Everyone Should Know

Martha Martins
Feb 16, 2024 By Martha Martins
Originally Published on Apr 22, 2022
Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath
Slytherin house costumes : Harry Potter movie



Are you also inspired by any character played by an actor in your favorite movie?

Characters in popular movies like 'Kill Bill', 'Mad Max', and 'Harry Potter' are popular across the world. These movie characters sometimes get more popular than the movie itself.

Read on for names of the best movie characters of all time.

Disney Movie Character Names

Below is a list of Disney movie character names.

Adella (German origin), meaning, ‘noble’, is one of the six sisters of Ariel in the movie 'The Little Mermaid'.

Aladdin (Arabic origin), meaning, ‘excellence of religion’, was the main protagonist in the classic movie 'Aladdin'.

Alana (Irish and Aramaic origin), meaning, ‘high’ or ‘precious’, is a minor character in the animated movie 'The Little Mermaid'.

Alice (Old French origin), meaning, ‘noble’, is the main character of the film 'Alice in Wonderland'.

Anastasia (Greece origin), meaning, ‘resurrection’, is a secondary antagonist in the movie 'Cinderella'.

Apollo (Greek origin), meaning, ‘protector’, is an important character in the movie 'Hercules'.

Belle (Latin origin), meaning, ‘a beautiful girl’, is the main character of the film 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Charlotte (French origin), meaning, ‘vigorous’, is a character in the movie 'The Princess and the Frog'.

Darla (Old English origin), meaning, ‘dearly beloved’, is a character in the film 'Finding Nemo'.

Donald (Celtic origin), meaning, ‘world’ and ‘power’, is one of the main characters in the movie 'Mickey Mouse'.

Dory (Old French origin), meaning, ‘to guild’, is a regal blue tang in the movie 'Finding Nemo'.

Elsa (German origin), meaning, ‘pledged to God’, is the heroine in the movie 'Frozen'.

Flora (Latin origin), meaning, ‘flower’, is the oldest fairy in the movie 'Sleeping Beauty'.

Flynn (Irish origin), meaning, ‘son of a red-haired man’, is the main character in the film 'Tangled'.

Hercules (Latin origin), meaning, ‘glory of Hera’, is the cool main character of the movie 'Hercules'.

Jane (English origin), meaning, ‘God is gracious’, is the daughter of professor Archimedes Q. Porter in the movie 'Tarzan'.

Jasmine (Persian origin), meaning, ‘gift from God’, is the main character of 'Aladdin'.

Mary Poppins (Hebrew and Old French origin), meaning, ‘beloved’ and ‘awe inspiring’, is the heroine in the movie 'Mary Poppins'.

Mickey (English origin), meaning, ‘short for Michael’, is the main character in the movie 'Mickey Mouse'.

Moana (Hawaiian and Maori origin), meaning, ‘deep sea’, is the main character in the movie 'Moana'.

Mowgli (English origin), meaning, ‘frog’, is the main character of the movie 'Jungle Book'.

Mufasa (Swahili origin), meaning, ‘king’, is the main character in the film 'The Lion King'.

Mulan (Chinese origin), meaning, ‘wood orchid’, is the main character in the movie 'Mulan'.

Nemo (Greek origin), meaning, ‘no one’, is the clownfish in the movie 'Finding Nemo'.

Nora (Anglo-Norman and Latin origin), meaning, ‘honor’, is a character in the film Pete’s 'Dragon'.

Simba (Swahili origin), meaning, ‘lion’, is the son of Mufasa in the movie 'The Lion King'.

Stella (Latin origin), meaning, ‘star’, is Charlotte’s pet in the movie 'The Princess And The Frog'.

Toby (Middle English origin), meaning, ‘God is good’, is a character in the film 'The Great Mouse Detective'.

Winnie (Welsh origin), meaning, ‘fair one’ or ‘pure’, is the main character in the movie 'Winnie The Pooh'.

Pawfect Movie Character Dog Names

Some of the best movie character dog names are listed down below.

Balto (Babylonian origin), meaning, ‘protect the king’, is the main protagonist in the 'Balto' series.

Benji (Hebrew origin), meaning, ‘son of the right hand’, is a mixed-breed dog in the movie 'Benji'.

Bolt (Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘small farm’, is a white Swiss shepherd dog in the movie 'Bolt'.

Buddy (English and Gaelic origin), meaning, ‘friend’, is a labrador retriever in the movie 'Air Bud'.

Comet (Greek origin), meaning, ‘long-haired’, is a golden retriever in the movie 'Full House'.

Dug (American origin), meaning, ‘dark stranger’, is a golden retriever in the film 'Up'.

Fly (French and Proto-Germanic origin), meaning, ‘winged’, is a pet dog in the movie 'Babe'.

Perdita (Latin origin), meaning, ‘lost’, is a character in the movie '101 Dalmatians'.

Samantha (English and German origin), meaning, ‘listener’, is a pitbull in the film 'I Am Legend'.

Sandy (English origin), meaning, ‘defender of man’, is a mixed breed dog in the movie 'Annie'.

Scooby (Unknown origin), meaning, ‘someone that helps to solve a problem’, is one of the most popular and cool dog characters.

Shadow (English origin), meaning, ‘shade from the Sun’, is a golden retriever in the movie 'Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey'.

Slinky (Unknown origin), meaning, ‘sleek and graceful’, is a character in the movie 'Toy Story'.

Snoopy (Unknown origin), meaning, ‘inquisitive’, is a spotted white beagle in the movie 'Snoopy, Come Home'!

Toto (Italian and Greek origin), meaning, ‘priest’ or ‘pet form of Salvatore’, is a dog in the movie 'The Wizard Of Oz'.

Female Movie Character Names

Some female movie character names are given below.

Bellatrix Lestrange (French origin), meaning, ‘female warrior and foreign’, is a pure-blood witch in 'Harry Potter'.

Claire Dearing (French and Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘clear’ and ‘beloved’, is the park operation manager in the 'Jurassic World' franchise.

Dorothy Gale (Greek and Middle English origin), meaning, ‘God’s gate’ and ‘jovial’, is the protagonist in 'The Wizard of Oz'.

Elizabeth Bennet (Hebrew and Anglo-Norman origin), meaning, ‘God is my oath’, is the protagonist in the movie 'Pride And Prejudice'.

Ellie Sattler (Ancient Greek and German origin), meaning, ‘shining light’ and ‘saddle’, is a paleobotanist in the 'Jurassic Park' series.

Gamora (American origin), meaning, ‘sheaf’, is the adoptive daughter of Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ginevra Weasley (Italian and German origin), meaning, ‘white shadow’ and ‘bright in mind’, is a pure-blood wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Gwen Stacy (Welsh and Greek origin), meaning, ‘resurrection’, is Peter Parker’s young girlfriend in 'Amazing Spider-Man' movies.

Harley Quinn (Old English and Scottish origin), meaning, ‘hare’s meadow’ and ‘head’, is a character in the movie 'Suicide Squad'

Hazel Grace Lancaster (Old English and Latin origin), meaning, ‘the Hazel tree’, is the protagonist in the movie based on the novel 'The Fault In Our Stars'.

Hermione Granger (Greek, English, and French origin), meaning, ‘messenger’ and ‘farm bailiff’, is a muggle-born witch in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Katniss Everdeen (Greek and Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘aquatic plant’, is the protagonist of 'The Hunger Games' series.

Lara Jean (Greek and Russian origin), meaning ‘God is gracious’, is the main character in the 'To All the Boys' series.

Leia Organa (Latin and Greek origin), meaning, ‘weary’ and ‘determination’, is a Star Wars character in the 'Star Wars' series.

Lily Evans Potter (English origin), meaning, ‘pure’, is a muggle-born witch and Harry Potter’s mother in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Lucy Hale (Latin and Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘light’ and ‘small hollow’, is the main character in the movie 'The Hating Game'.

Luna Lovegood (Latin and German origin), meaning, ‘moon’ and ‘love God’, is a pure-blood Ravenclaw witch in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Maleficent (Scottish origin), meaning, ‘causing harm’, is the villain in the movie 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Maleficent'.

Meg March (English, Greek, and Old French origin), meaning, ‘pearl’ and ‘Mars’, is one of the main characters in the movie 'Little Women'.

Mia Thermopolis (Egyptian and Greek origin), meaning, ‘dear’ and ‘hot city’, is the princess of Genovia in 'The Princess Diaries' series.

Minerva McGonagall (Italian and Gaelic origin), meaning, ‘wisdom’ is a Transfiguration professor in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Natasha Romanoff (Greek and Russian origin), meaning, ‘birthday’ and ‘son of Roman’, is the Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Peggy Carter (English, Greek, and Irish origin), meaning, ‘pearl’ and ‘transport of goods’, is a British officer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Pepper Potts (Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘hot spice’ and ‘form of Phillip’, is Iron Man’s wife in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Rapunzel (German origin), meaning, ‘rampion’, is the princess and the main character of the movie 'Tangled'.

Rose DeWitt Bukater (Latin and Dutch origin), meaning, ‘a flower’ and ‘white’, is the central character of the famous movie 'Titanic'.

Wanda Maximoff (Polish and Russian origin), meaning, ‘wanderer’ and ‘fast’, is the Scarlet Witch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Horror Movie Character Names

Some horror movie character names are given down below.

Annabelle (English and French origin), meaning, ‘grace and beauty’, is a raggedy and haunted doll in 'The Conjuring' universe.

Charlie Graham (Old English and Scottish origin), meaning, ‘free man’ and ‘grey home’, is a character in 'Heredity.'

Chris Washington (Greek and English origin), meaning, ‘bearer of Christ’ and ‘from the intelligent one’s farm’, is a character in 'Get Out'.

Clarice Starling (Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘clear’ and ‘the bird’, is the protagonist in the movie 'The Silence Of The Lambs'.

Danny Torrance (Hebrew and Gaelic origin), meaning, ‘God is my judge’ and ‘little hills’, is the psychic child in the movie 'The Shining'.

Dracula (Romanian origin), meaning, ‘dragon’, is the main character of the movie 'Dracula'.

Ed Warren (English and Irish origin), meaning, ‘protector’ or ‘guard’, is the main character in 'The Conjuring' universe.

Esther (Hebrew origin), meaning, ‘hide’ or ‘conceal’, is one of the main characters in the movie 'Orphan'.

Frankenstein (German origin), meaning, ‘stronghold of freeman’, is the main character of the movie 'Frankenstein'.

Jack Torrance (Celtic and Gaelic origin), meaning, ‘strong’, is the antagonist in the movie 'The Shining'.

Lorraine Warren (Latin and Irish origin), meaning, ‘famous army’ and ‘guard’, is the clairvoyant in 'The Conjuring' universe.

Norman Bates (English origin), meaning, ‘man from the north’ and ‘boat’, is the main character of the movie 'Psycho'.

Pennywise (German origin), meaning, ‘beautiful fear’, is the monster in the 'IT' movies.

Regan (Irish origin), meaning, ‘the king’s child’, is the main character in the movie 'The Exorcist'.

Richie Tozier (English and Devon origin), meaning, ‘brave ruler’ or ‘carder of wool’, is one of the members of the Losers Club in the 'IT' series.

Samara Morgan (Hebrew and Welsh origin), meaning, ‘protected by God’ and ‘sea chief’, is the central character in the movie 'TheRing'.

Tree Gelbman (Ancient Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘optimistic’, is a character in the movie 'Happy Death Day'.

Funny Movie Character Names That Kids Will Love

Some funny movie character names are listed down below. 

Bitsey Boom (Hebrew and Dutch origin), meaning, ‘pledged to God’ and ‘tree’, is a character in the movie 'The Life Of David Gale'.

Christmas Jones (English and Welsh origin), meaning, ‘Jehovah has favored’, is a nuclear physicist in the movie 'The World is not Enough'.

Cole Trickle (English origin), meaning, ‘swarthy’ and ‘fall by drops’, is a race car driver in the movie 'Days Of Thunder'.

Derek Zoolander (English origin), meaning, ‘people-ruler’, is the main character in 'Zoolander'.

Flipper Purify (Unknown origin), meaning, ‘marine mammals’, is a successful Harlem architect in the movie 'Jungle Fever'.

Helen Shivers (Greek and Gaelic origin), meaning, ‘bright’ and ‘a narrow place in the river’, is a character in the movie 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'.

Jupiter Jones (Welsh origin), meaning, ‘king of the Roman Gods’ and ‘Jehovah has favored’, is acharacter in the movie 'Jupiter Ascending'.

Male Movie Character Names

Some male movie character names are given below. 

Alan Grant (Gaelic and English origin), meaning, ‘cheerful’ and ‘range’, is a paleontologist and the main character in the 'Jurassic Park' movies.

Alastor Moody (Scottish, English, and Irish origin), meaning, ‘defender of the people’ and ‘brave’, is a pure-blood wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Albus Dumbledore (German and Archaic origin), meaning, ‘white’ and ‘bumblebee’, is Harry Potter’s mentor and the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.

Arthur Weasely (Celtic and German origin), meaning, ‘bear’ and ‘bright in mind’, is a pure-blood wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Augustus Waters (Latin and Welsh origin), meaning, ‘venerable’, is the main character of the movie 'The Fault In Our Stars'.

Bruce Banner (English origin), meaning, ‘the willowlands’ and ‘ensign bearer’, is the main character in 'The Tramp'.

Darth Vader (American origin), meaning, ‘dark father’, is Anakin Skywalker, a good Jedi in the 'Star Wars' universe.

Draco Malfoy (Latin and French origin), meaning, ‘dragon’ and ‘bad faith’, is a pure-blood wizard belonging to the 'Harry Potter' series.

Edward Cullen (Anglo-Saxon, Irish and Gaelic origin), meaning, ‘protector’ and ‘handsome’, is the main character and a vampire in the 'Twilight' series.

Fitzwilliam Darcy (Old German, English, and Irish origin), meaning, ‘willpower’ and ‘dark’, is the central character in 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Fred Weasley (English and German origin), meaning, ‘peaceful ruler’, is one of the Weasley twins in the 'Harry Potter' series.

George Weasley (Greek and German origin), meaning, ‘farmer’ and ‘bright in mind’, is one of the Weasley family twins in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Hardin Scott (Old English origin), meaning, ‘valley’, is the main character in the 'After' movies.

Harry Potter (Middle English and Dutch origin), meaning, ‘home ruler’ and ‘person who makes pottery’, is a half-blood wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Ian Malcolm (Scottish and Gaelic origin), meaning, ‘God is gracious’, is a mathematician in the 'Jurassic Park' franchise.

Jack Dawson (Celtic and English origin), meaning, ‘healthy’ and ‘son of David’, is the main character in the classic movie 'Titanic'.

James Bond (Hebrew and Old English origin), meaning, ‘supplanter’, is a spy who appears in the movie 'Casino Royale'.

James Potter (Hebrew and Dutch origin), meaning, ‘supplanter’ and ‘person who makes pottery’, is the father of Harry Potter, a pure-blood wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Jonathan Larson (Hebrew and Scandinavian origin), meaning, ‘to give’ and ‘son of Lars’, is a musician and composer in the musical 'Tick, Tick… Boom'!

Loki (Scandinavian origin), meaning, ‘flame’, is a trickster in Norse mythology and appears frequently in the 'Marvel Cinematic Universe'.

Mr. Bean (English origin), meaning, ‘bean farmer’, is a very popular character in the comedy television program 'Mr. Bean'.

Olaf (Proto-Norse origin), meaning, ‘descendent’, is a friendly snowman in Frozen movies.

Owen Grady (Welsh, Irish, and Celtic origin), meaning, ‘young warrior’ and noble’, is an animal behaviorist and a Velociraptor trainer in the 'Jurassic World' franchise.

Peter Kavinsky (Greek and Russian origin), meaning, ‘stone’ and ‘thank you’, was the main character in the 'To All the Boys' series.

Peter Parker (Greek and Old French origin), meaning, ‘stone’ and ‘keeper of the park’, is the Spiderman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Remus Lupin (Latin origin), meaning, ‘oar’ and ‘pertaining to the wolf’, is a half-blood wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Robin Hood (Old German and Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘bright’, is a heroic outlaw that features in the 'Robin Hood' movie.

Ron Weasley (English and German origin), meaning, ‘advice’ and ‘bright in mind’, is a pureblood wizard and Harry Potter’s best friend in the 'Harry Potter 'series.

Rubeus Hagrid (Latin origin), meaning, ‘red’ and ‘worried’, is a half-giant wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Scott Lang (Scottish and German origin), meaning, ‘someone who belongs to Scotland’, and ‘tall’, is Ant-Man in 'Marvel' movies.

Severus Snape (Latin and Old Norse origin), meaning, ‘stern’ and ‘to outrage’, is a half-blood wizard and potions professor in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Sherlock Holmes (Middle English and Old Norse origin), meaning, ‘bright’ and ‘island’, is a mastermind detective in 'Sherlock Holmes' movies.

Shrek (German origin), meaning, ‘terror’, is a green ogre in the 'Shrek' series.

Sirius Black (Greek and Middle English origin), meaning, ‘glowing’ and ‘fair’, is a pure-blood wizard in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Steve Rogers (Latin and Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘crown’ and ‘son of Roger’, is Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Steven Strange (Greek and Old French origin), meaning, ‘to encircle’ and ‘foreign’, is a doctor and sorcerer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Tramp (Middle English origin), meaning, ‘to walk with heavy footsteps’, is one of the characters in 'Lady And The Tramp'.

Thor (Scandinavian and Swedish origin), meaning, ‘God of thunder’, is a hammer-wielding God in Norse mythology and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Tom Marvolo Riddle (Archaic, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon origin), meaning, ‘malevolent’, and ‘valley’, also known as Lord Voldemort, Tom Riddle, or the Dark Lord in the 'Harry Potter' series.

Tony Stark (Latin, Scottish, and English origin), meaning, ‘priceless’ and ‘strong’, is Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Main image credit: Joyce Nelson / Shutterstock.com

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Written by Martha Martins

Bachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha Martins picture

Martha MartinsBachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics

Martha is a full-time creative writer, content strategist, and aspiring screenwriter who communicates complex thoughts and ideas effectively. She has completed her Bachelor's in Linguistics from Nasarawa State University. As an enthusiast of public relations and communication, Martha is well-prepared to substantially impact your organization as your next content writer and strategist. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to delivering high-quality work enables her to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.

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Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

Pratiti Nath picture

Pratiti NathBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

A Master's in Biotechnology from Presidency University and a Bachelor's in Microbiology from Calcutta University. Pratiti holds expertise in writing science and healthcare articles, and their inputs and feedback help writers create insightful content. They have interests in heritage, history, and climate change issues and have written articles for various websites across multiple subjects. Their experience also includes working with eco-friendly startups and climate-related NGOs.

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