William Shakespeare

Shakespearean Names

These names are all particularly associated with the plays of William Shakespeare. In some cases, he may have been the first to use them but many are based on existing forms.

Male

Some of these forms may be feminine as this is now quite popular as a girl's name

Hamlet 'Hamlet, Prince of Denmark' (dim of OG 'Hamo')

Oberon King of the Fairies 'A Midsummer Night's Dream (form of Aubrey?)

Othello 'Othello, The Moor of Venice'

Otello

Prospero exiled duke and magician 'The Tempest' (It form of Lat 'Prosperus' fortunate)

Romeo son to Montague 'Romeo and Juliet' (Lat Romeus 'pilgrim to Rome')

Female

Cordelia daughter of 'King Lear' (Celtic Creiryddlydd 'daughter of the sea' or Lat cor horn)

Cressida Trojan princess in 'Troilus and Cressida' (Greek Khryseis, khrysos 'gold')

Desdemona 'Othello' (Greek dysdaimon 'ill-starred')

Imogen 'Cymbeline' (Celtic inghean 'girl/maiden'?)

Jessica daughter of Shylock 'The Merchant of Venice' (Heb Iscah/Jesca 'God beholds')

Juliet daughter to Capulet 'Romeo and Juliet' (dim of Julie/Julia)

Miranda daughter of Prospero 'The Tempest' (Lat mirandus 'admirable)

Nerissa Portia's maid, 'The Merchant of Venice' (Greek nereis 'sea sprite/snail'?)

Olivia 'Twelfth Night' (fem of Oliver or Lat oliva 'olive')

Ophelia daughter of Polonius, 'Hamlet' (Greek masc Ophelos 'helper')

Perdita 'A Winter's Tale' (Lat perditus 'lost')

Portia rich heiress 'The Merchant of Venice' + wife of Brutus 'Julius Caesar' (Lat nomen Porcius porcus 'pig', infl. by 'Porsche', the make of car)

Regan daughter of 'King Lear' (influenced by Irish surname Reagan)

Rosalind 'As You Like It' (OG Roslindis, hros 'horse' + lind 'serpent'or 'tender')

Titania Queen of the Fairies 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (Lat masc Titianus, dim. of Titus)

Viola 'Twelfth Night' (Lat 'violet')

Viole

Other Names

These all occur as characters in the plays. Some may be invented but most are of Italian, Latin, Greek or Biblical origin. Names of historical characters from the history plays are not included.

Male

Mechanicals and Servants

Female

Spirits and Fairies

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This collection of names compiled by Kate Monk. Copyright January 1997, Kate Monk. Last updated June, 98. Copies may be made for personal use only.