Artistic Baby Names

  1. Greco
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "from Greece"
    • Description:

      A name with a lot of panache, with ties to the great Spanish Mannerist painter El Greco--though his real name was DOMENICOS.
  2. Knoll
    • Origin:

      English and German surname
    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the hill; lump"
    • Description:

      An architectural take on Noel. Knoll honors Florence Knoll, the Michigan-born modernist architect and furniture designer. Her namesake company still produces her designs today.
  3. Ponti
    • Origin:

      Italian surname
    • Meaning:

      "bridge"
    • Description:

      A surname not particularly suitable as a first name, even though it's attached to influential architect Gio Ponti--and it is Sophia Loren's married name.
  4. Maillol
    • Origin:

      Artist name
    • Description:

      Aristide Maillol was a French sculptor whose last name might be translated as a first.
  5. Braque
    • Origin:

      Artist name
    • Description:

      A strikingly creative and unique name well worth considering, recalling the great cubist paintings of Georges Braque.
  6. Manzu
    • Origin:

      Italian artist name
    • Description:

      Could make a singularly creative choice inspired by modern Italian sculptor Giacomo Manzù.
  7. Morandi
    • Origin:

      Italian artist name
    • Description:

      The last name of the twentieth-century Italian painter of quietly expressive still lifes presents an artistic possibility. Can absolutely work for girls too.
  8. Manet
    • Origin:

      French artist name
    • Description:

      Manet is the accessible, attractive name of an Impressionist great; it could be the next Monet.
  9. Rabanne
    • Origin:

      Spanish surname
    • Description:

      A plausible unisex name, inspired by Basque fashion designer Paco (actually born Francisco Cuervo)--who was known for his 1960s "Unwearables "--metal-linked plastic dresses and designs for the futuristic movie "Barbarella."
  10. Pelli
    • Origin:

      Latin surname
    • Description:

      The renowned Argentina-born architect Cesar Pelli, designer of some of the world's tallest buildings, could provide naming inspiration for an architectural family.
  11. Gauguin
    • Origin:

      French surname
    • Description:

      We've heard artists' surnames MONET and MANET used as first names, and so, even though it's a bit of a stretch, the family name of the great post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin (go-GAN) could be a possibility.
  12. O'keeffe
    • Origin:

      Irish surname
    • Description:

      If you love the venerable Southwestern painter but feel Georgia's gotten too overheated, you might want to go all the way to this Irish surname in the fashionable O' family.
  13. Vigee
    • Origin:

      French surname
    • Description:

      This portion of the name of the famous eighteenth century French painter Elisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun could make a cute and perky girl's name.
  14. Robbia
    • Origin:

      Italian surname
    • Description:

      A creative alternative to the dated Robin, and also a reference to the famed Della Robbia family of Florentine Renaissance artists.
  15. Picabia
    • Origin:

      Artist name
    • Description:

      A middle name idea to honor surrealist painter Francis.
  16. Currier
    • Origin:

      English occupational surname
    • Meaning:

      "person who dressed leather after it was tanned"
    • Description:

      Has a fresh occupational name feel, combined with old-fashioned Currier & Ives charm.
  17. Tadao
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "satisfied"
    • Description:

      Borne by the esteemed Japanese architect Tadao Ando.