First Names from the Works of William Shakespeare

The Literary Origins of the Names

William Shakespeare drew on various sources for his theatrical plays. Many of his characters bear names that already existed before his time. He borrowed from historical figures, Greek and Roman mythology, as well as European legends. Because many of his plays are set in Italy, numerous Italian first names can be found throughout his work.

However, Shakespeare also coined several names himself or popularized them in their current form. When inventing names for new characters, he often based them on Latin or Greek roots meant to describe a specific characteristic of the figure. The following list presents a selection of well-known and rarer names from his works.

Shakespearean Names and Their Meanings

Romeo
This name is inextricably linked with the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet." It traces back to the Late Latin name Romaeus. The documented meaning of the underlying root is "the Rome pilgrim."

Julia Julia is the female protagonist in "Romeo and Juliet" and the feminine form of the Roman family name Julius. The form of the name describes belonging to the Julii; the older word meaning of this family name is unclarified.

Ophelia
A name from the tragedy "Hamlet." It derives from the Ancient Greek word "ophelos." The documented meaning is "help" or "benefit."

Hamlet
The title character of one of the most famous tragedies. Hamlet is the English form of the Scandinavian name Amleth. The exact meaning is not definitively clarified; a widespread interpretation derives it from Old Norse and translates it as "fool" or "simpleton."

Miranda
Shakespeare created this name for the female lead in his play "The Tempest." It is based on the Latin word "mirandus," which is documented as "admirable."

Jessica
This name appears in its modern spelling for the first time in "The Merchant of Venice." It is widely assumed to trace back to the biblical name Jiska (Yiskah). Its Hebrew root is often interpreted as "the visionary" or "the one who looks ahead."

Olivia
A first name that gained widespread recognition through the comedy "Twelfth Night." It is derived from the Latin word "oliva," which means "olive" or "olive tree."

Sebastian
Also a character from "Twelfth Night." The name goes back to the Ancient Greek "sebastos." The meaning is documented as "the venerable one." It originally refers to origins from the ancient city of Sebaste.

Viola
The female protagonist from "Twelfth Night" who disguises herself as a man. The Latin root of this name simply means "violet."

Arthur
Arthur's exact origin is not definitively clarified. One explanation connects the name with the Celtic word for bear; other origins are also discussed alongside it. Arthur is also a character in Shakespeare's "King John."

Beatrice
Well-known from the comedy "Much Ado About Nothing." It is the Italian and English form of Beatrix. The Latin root "beatrix" means "she who makes happy" or "bringer of joy."

Celia
A character from "As You Like It." The name traces back to the Roman family name Caelius. The Latin root "caelum" means "heaven" or "sky."

Orlando
The male protagonist in "As You Like It." Orlando is the Italian form of Roland. This Germanic name is composed of the words "hruod" (fame) and "lant" (land).

Helena Helena is a Greek name that is also recorded in the form Helene. "The shining one" is a widespread interpretation derived from the Greek word for "torch." The original meaning of the name is not definitively clarified.

Lysander
Another character from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The name is composed of the Ancient Greek words "lysis" (release, freeing) and "andros" (man). It means "freer of men."

Titania
Shakespeare used this name for the Queen of the Fairies in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The name goes back to the Roman poet Ovid and means "daughter of the Titans."

Ariel
The name of the spirit of the air in "The Tempest." It is a name of Hebrew origin. The documented meaning is "lion of God."

Portia
The female protagonist in "The Merchant of Venice." The first name traces back to the Roman family name Porcius. The Latin root "porcus" means "pig."

Duncan
The King of Scotland in the tragedy "Macbeth." It is a Scottish name of Gaelic origin. It is composed of the words "donn" (brown) and "cath" (warrior).

Cordelia
Cordelia is handed down via the older literary form Cordeilla and is known from Shakespeare's "King Lear." The original meaning is unclarified. "Jewel of the sea" and "heart" are not confirmed translations.

Edgar
Also a character from "King Lear." It is an Old English name. It is composed of the words "ead" (wealth, fortune) and "gar" (spear).

Bianca
An Italian name that appears in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" and in "Othello." The documented meaning is "the white one."

The Interplay Between English First Names and German Surnames

If you choose a name from the English-speaking world, it is worth taking a close look at how it pairs with your surname. Here are three aspects you should evaluate when making your choice:

• The pronunciation: Consider whether you want to pronounce the name in German or English. Names such as Arthur or Edgar sound different in the two languages. An English-pronounced first name can lead to a greater need for spelling it out in everyday life, especially when paired with a traditional German surname.
• The spelling: With names like Juliet or Julia, the question of which spelling variant to use arises. The German variant often integrates more smoothly into a German-speaking environment, whereas the English spelling emphasizes the literary reference more strongly.
• The rhythm: Check the syllable count. A short surname often harmonizes well with a polysyllabic first name like Ophelia or Sebastian. If the first name ends with the same letter that the surname begins with, this can cause the two words to blur together when spoken.

How to Find Your Shared Favorite

The best way to decide on a first name is to take a systematic approach. If you like names from literature, you can collect and compare them in a targeted way. In the HeyName app, you can connect your devices via an invite. That way, you search together, but independently at first.

You rate each name individually as "Favorite," "Maybe," or "Not a match." Names that you both have marked as a favorite will then appear as your shared matches. This saves you long discussions about names that one of you does not like anyway.

In addition, you can apply filters in the app by country, language, length, and starting letter to search specifically for English, Italian, or classical ancient names. Once you have created a shortlist, the app allows you to test the first name directly with your surname and a possible middle name. You can compare up to three favorites side by side and calmly discuss which name best fits your family.

Editorial update: September 22, 2026

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