Meanings & themes
Shakespeare names still stealing scenes
19 names · 16 girls · 3 boys · records through 2025
Shakespeare invented or popularized more first names than any writer in history — Olivia, Miranda and Jessica all owe him their careers.
This guide has 19 names: 16 girl names and 3 boy names. A curated set of Shakespearean names matched against the latest records; only names in real use appear. Built from US Social Security birth records through 2025. Tap + beside any name to keep it on your shortlist as you read.
Before the names
These names step straight from his plays into current birth records, each with its real rank.
Girl names
16 names
Boy names
3 names
Every rank and count here is published by the US Social Security Administration and refreshed each year when the new figures land. The method is stated at the top of this page.
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