Names with main character energy are strong, might be quirky and are seriously trending right now.
Parents looking to branch out for more unusual names aren’t just looking for something few others are using, they also want something with real strength and character.
Many of these main character energy names also give off romantic vibes, which taps wonderfully into the current 2000s trend that we’ve seen in fashion and style. Sometimes referred to as “Romcom Core”.
People are seeking out that style and aesthetic straight out of a scene of popular 2000s movies, such as How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days and 13 Going on 30.
Pinterest even picked romcom core out as being a surging trend of 2023, with cool girl aesthetic outfits, pink mini skirt outfits and vintage 90s outfits search terms all seeing a sharp surge.
So these names will tap into those big main character energy vibes with a romantic, dreamy quality to bring that nostalgia as well as the strength you expect in a lead character.
Romantic main character energy girl names
These powerful girl names are inspired by your favourite book, movie and TV show heroines. There are also some top picks here that are standout unique special names that work within the trend.
Andie
In the hit move How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days Andie Anderson, played by Kate Hudson, took on Matthew McConaughey’s Benjamin in a fun boys vs girls comedy.
The name Andie is a fun short girl’s name – more typically familiar as a boy’s name, short for Andrew, making it a great standout choice for a girl. The name means strong, making it perfect as a main character energy name.
Bridget
Bridget Jones’ Diary is a classic novel of the 90s and the movies inspired by the book became 2000s hits.
The name means power, strength and exalted one.
Bronwyn
An unusual girl’s name of English origin meaning fair and white raven.
Cady
If it’s 2000s energy you are looking for then the name Cady is a perfect example of romcom core style, as it’s the name of the lead character in Mean Girls.
The name means pure and idyllic place.
Cher
In the hit movie Clueless Cher was a ditzy teen going through big changes in her life.
I love this single syllable name and think it’s super cute for a baby girl. It’s of French origin and means dear or beloved.
Daphne
In the first hit series of the Netflix adaptation of Bridgerton, Daphne was the lead female character.
The name is of Greek origin and means laurel tree.
Dove
This pretty name is super unique and taps into the one syllable, nature and word baby name trends, making it a cool standout choice.
The bird symbolises peace so it’s perfect if you love the idea of a pure and delicate girl name.
Dylan
Boy names as girl names give off amazing main character energy. The name means son of the sea.
Elle
Elle means bright and shining one. This is the name of the lead character in Legally Blonde, played by Reese Witherspoon.
Esmeralda
Esmeralda means emerald. This Portuguese name is the lead female character in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Estella
I love this name which is similar to the very pretty Estelle. Estella is the lead female character in Great Expectations.
This sweet girl’s name also means star in Latin.
Harper
This popular girl’s name meanings someone who plays the harp. Harper is the name of the lead female character in the movie Set It Up.
Isolde
A strong but soft girl’s name meaning iron ruler or fair leader. It’s a great choice if you love vintage names.
Isolde was the lead female character in the movie Tristan and Isolde, a popular 2000s romantic movie.
Josie
Josie was the lead character in the hit romcom movie Never Been Kissed.
It means god will add or increase.
Lara Jean
This lovely double barrel girl’s name is from the lead character in the movie To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.
Lara means protection and cheerful, while Jean means god is gracious.
Leilani
This Hawaiian name is super pretty and rarely used. It means heavenly garland of flowers and royal child.
Lola
A simple two-syllable name that packs a real punch! This Spanish name means sorrows.
Lumi
This cute gender neutral name means light-bringer or snow.
Lux
The one-syllable name Lux means light. I love how this super short name is still full of character, it’s definitely a great choice if you want something unique.
Lyra
This Greek name means harp. Lyra is the main character in the Golden Compass adventure movie, making it a great choice for a powerful strong girl’s name.
Marley
This gender neutral name means pleasant wood.
Marlowe
I adore this pretty and romantic gender neutral name. It means from the hill by the lake and is of English origin.
It’s very rarely used, still out of the top 100 popular names, but is similar to the name Harper making it a great choice of you love the sound of that name.
Raya
Raya is the titular character in the Disney movie Raya and the Last Dragon.
It also has a powerful and lovely meaning – friend or queen.
I love this name for parents who want a Disney baby name.
Riley
A gorgeous unisex baby name meaning courageous and valiant.
Rue
I love this short girl’s name that’s from the movie Hunger Games. It’s a French name meaning herb or regret.
Sara
A gorgeous Hebrew name meaning princess.
Sloane
This beautiful one-syllable gender neutral name means raider or warrior. It’s a powerful but soft sounding name.
Stella
Stella is a short name with a big meaning! It means celestial star.
Summer
A name inspired by the seasons. It’s a perfect light and bright girl name.
Sutton
The name Sutton is typically a surname that means southern settlement. But I love it as a girl’s name, as it has such a pretty two-syllable sound that rolls really nicely into whatever middle name you may choose.
Tessa
Tessa is the name of the lead female character in the After movie and book series.
This name is of Greek origin and means to gather.
Valentina
This sweet romantic girl’s name means strong. It’s a lovely variant of the name Valentine.
Veronica
A Greek name meaning she who brings victory or true image.
Wednesday
The name Wednesday is a perfect example of a main character energy name thanks to the hit Netflix show of the same name.
The hit show was full of drama, humour and romance, and with a second series on the way I think it will continue to grow in popularity with parents.
Wren
This pretty girl’s name means little bird.
Wynter
I love this unusual twist on the name Winter, which is a lovely choice if you like names inspired by the seasons and natural world.
The name is of English origin and means born in winter.
Strong boy names with main character energy
If you want a boy name that’s unique and heroic then you’re in the right place. These cool main character energy boy names are powerful and unusual.
Some of these are also from Greek mythology inspired by leading mythical figures giving them strong meanings.
You may also like this list of rare boy names.
Apollo
This cool three-syllable boy name means destroyer.
It’s a great choice if you love the idea of an outer space baby name or want a Greek mythology name.
Archer
The name Archer is a variant of the name Archie. It means bowman.
August
In the book The Fault in Our Stars the main male character is Augustus Waters. Shortened to Gus. I love this sweet boy’s name!
The name means great or to increase.
Atlas
I suspect Atlas will be a big name for 2024! That’s thanks to the upcoming movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling book It Ends With Us.
The movie will star Blake Lively as a lead female character Lily Bloom, whose old love Atlas comes back into her life! Atlas is a gorgeous unique boy name meaning to carry.
Want to see more names that will be big in 2024? See these baby names trends for 2024.
Beau
This cute one-syllable boy name means beautiful.
Caleb
A cool two-syllable boy name meaning faithful, bold and brave.
Caspian
A Latin name meaning white.
Dart
A name of English origin that is rarely used and also taps into the word baby names trend.
Dash
A bold boy’s name meaning to run quickly.
David
A vintage boy’s name that means beloved.
Dax
This name is of French origin and means leader.
Dayton
An Old English name meaning bright and sunny town.
It’s a great choice if you love the idea of a urban name for a boy.
Edward
Edward is the lead male character in the Twilight series of books and movies.
It’s a classic vintage choice and means wealth and fortune or protector.
Ellery
A gender neutral name that means joyful.
Ellis
A Welsh name meaning kind and benevolent.
Elio
I love this sweet short boy’s name that means sun.
Ender
A cool name that was the name of the lead character in the movie and book Ender’s Game.
It means extremely rare.
Eros
A name of Greek origin meaning desire.
Everest
A powerful boy’s name taken from the world’s tallest mountain.
It means dweller on the river.
Finn
A boy’s name of Irish origin meaning fair. It’s an awesome leading man name.
Frost
If you love nature baby names and word baby names then this one is perfect. It means freezing.
Gideon
A bold boy name meaning one who cuts down.
Hartford
A name of English origin meaning deer crossing. It’s a great choice if you love surnames as first names.
Heath
We’ve added this name to the list inspired by the amazing Heath Ledger who definitely brought main character energy to every role he played in movies.
The name means heathland dweller.
Hector
A Greek name meaning holdfast.
Kai
A Hawaiian and Welsh name meaning sea or keeper of the keys.
Kane
I love boy names that start with K and this is a great choice for something a little different.
It means golden or warrior.
Knox
A Scottish surname meaning round hill.
Lennon
An awesome name of Irish origin meaning cloak, blackbird or lover.
Logan
Logan, aka Wolverine, is the lead character of the X-men movies. The name is of Irish origin and means little hollow.
Maverick
Maverick is a cool name made famous by the hit movie Top Gun. I love this name as a unique middle name, but I think it can work as a first name too.
It means an unorthodox or independent-minded person. Ideal for a main character energy name!
Peter
A popular boy’s name that means rock. Peter Parker is the true identify of the superhero Spiderman.
Silas
A Latin name meaning forest.
Soren
A cool boy’s name meaning stern or strict.
Thor
One of the most powerful leading characters you can think of! Thor is a figure of myth and legend made even more famous in recent years by the Avengers movie series.
Tobias
This sweet boy’s name means god is good.
Tristan
Tristan was the lead character in the romantic movie Tristan and Isolde. It means sad or melancholy.
Westley
A very rarely used boy’s name but one you should be familiar with thanks to the classic movie The Princess Bride.
It’s a variant of the name Wesley, and means western meadow.
Willoughby
The name Willoughby is traditionally an English surname however I love this as a unique first name.
Willoughby was one of the main characters in the book Sense and Sensibility, so it’s perfect if you love the idea of a vintage literary name.
Zephyr
This Greek gender neutral name means west wind.
Final thoughts
I hope you’ve found a special unique baby name in this list of cool romcom core names with main character energy!
You might also like these tips for how to choose a baby name.
