100 Popular Shakespearean Character Names
For many years, Shakespeare has captivated readers, audiences, and theatre lovers with his unforgettable characters.
Part of the curative power of Shakespeare’s works is rooted in his unique character names.
Shakespeare’s characters (which include tragic heroes, witty lovers, cunning villains, and wise fools) are brought to life not just through their actions and dialogue, but importantly through their character names.
Names like Macbeth, Desdemona, and Puck encapsulate fascinating meaning, drama and a charmingly wasted history.
In this post, we will delve into the potency of character names in Shakespeare’s remarkable works, unhairing their meanings, experiences, and the imaginative means in which they enhance our understanding of Shakespearean plays.
You are bound to learn something and even be entertained along the way, no matter if you are a scholar of literature, or a curious writer looking for inspiration.
Shakespearean character names are a lens into the art of the one of the greatest playwrights of any time.
shakespearean character names
Hamlet – Danish origin, meaning “home” or “village”; symbolizes introspection and inner conflict.
Macbeth – Scottish Gaelic, meaning “son of life”; represents unchecked ambition and fate.
Othello – Derived from Otho, meaning “wealth”; a tragic figure torn by jealousy.
Desdemona – Greek origin, meaning “ill-fated”; symbolizes purity and tragic innocence.
Lear – Based on King Leir, meaning “legendary king”; represents aging, pride, and madness.
Cordelia – Latin, meaning “heart” or “daughter of the sea”; symbolizes loyalty and integrity.
Romeo – Italian, meaning “pilgrim to Rome”; a symbol of passionate, doomed love.
Juliet – French origin, meaning “youthful”; embodies innocence, love, and defiance.
Antony – Latin origin, meaning “priceless”; a Roman general symbolizing love and loyalty.
Cleopatra – Greek, meaning “glory of her father”; represents power, charisma, and sensuality.
Prospero – Latin, meaning “fortunate” or “prosperous”; symbolizes wisdom, control, and forgiveness.
Miranda – Latin, meaning “admirable” or “wonderful”; represents innocence and curiosity.
Caliban – Possibly derived from cannibal; symbolizes savagery and colonial themes.
Iago – Spanish form of Jacob, meaning “supplanter”; a master of deceit and manipulation.
Falstaff – Old English, meaning “stout staff”; represents comic excess, cowardice, and wit.
Beatrice – Latin, meaning “she who brings happiness”; known for her sharp wit and charm.
Benedick – Derived from Benedict, meaning “blessed”; symbolizes pride and reluctant love.
Portia – Latin, meaning “piglet”; represents intelligence, resourcefulness, and justice.
Shylock – Possibly derived from Hebrew Shalah, meaning “to draw out”; symbolizes greed, revenge, and marginalization.
Jessica – Hebrew origin, meaning “God beholds”; Shylock’s daughter, symbolizing rebellion and change.
Tybalt – Derived from Theobald, meaning “brave people”; symbolizes aggression and family loyalty.
Puck – Old English for “mischievous spirit”; a symbol of chaos, magic, and trickery.
Oberon – Germanic origin, meaning “noble bear”; king of the fairies, symbolizing power and mystery.
Titania – Latin, meaning “great one”; queen of the fairies, representing beauty and authority.
Helena – Greek origin, meaning “bright” or “shining”; symbolizes unrequited love and persistence.
Demetrius – Greek, meaning “follower of Demeter”; represents fickle love.
Hermia – Derived from Hermes, meaning “messenger”; symbolizes defiance and true love.
Lysander – Greek, meaning “liberator”; represents romantic devotion.
Rosalind – Old French, meaning “beautiful rose”; symbolizes wit, charm, and independence.
Orlando – Italian, meaning “famous throughout the land”; a courageous and romantic hero.
Jaques – French form of Jacob, meaning “supplanter”; represents melancholy and philosophical reflection.
Cymbeline – Derived from a Celtic king, meaning “lord”; symbolizes nobility and leadership.
Imogen – Possibly a variation of Innogen, meaning “maiden” or “innocent”; symbolizes loyalty and resilience.
Posthumus – Latin, meaning “born after death”; represents honor, jealousy, and redemption.
Perdita – Latin, meaning “lost”; a foundling who symbolizes hope, rebirth, and innocence.
Florizel – Possibly Persian origin, meaning “flower-like”; represents love and idealism.
Leontes – Greek origin, meaning “lion-like”; symbolizes jealousy, regret, and redemption.
Paulina – Latin, meaning “small”; a courageous, wise, and loyal character.
Volumnia – Latin, meaning “flowing”; symbolizes maternal strength and influence.
Coriolanus – Named after the city of Corioli; symbolizes pride, honor, and downfall.
Brutus – Latin, meaning “dull” or “heavy”; symbolizes betrayal, honor, and internal conflict.
Cassius – Latin, meaning “hollow”; represents manipulation and political ambition.
Octavius – Latin, meaning “eighth-born”; represents leadership and pragmatism.
Marcus – Latin, meaning “warlike”; symbolizes loyalty and virtue in Titus Andronicus.
Tamora – Hebrew, meaning “palm tree”; a vengeful queen symbolizing cruelty.
Lavinia – Latin, meaning “purity”; represents suffering and victimhood.
Aaron – Hebrew origin, meaning “enlightened”; symbolizes evil and ambition.
Banquo – Possibly from Gaelic, meaning “fair-haired”; represents loyalty and honor.
Malcolm – Scottish Gaelic, meaning “devotee of Saint Columba”; symbolizes rightful kingship.
Ferdinand – Germanic, meaning “bold voyager”; represents love and nobility in The Tempest.
Stephano – Greek, meaning “crowned”; symbolizes comic relief and ambition.
Trinculo – Italian origin, meaning “to trick”; a clownish character representing folly.
Cressida – Greek origin, meaning “golden”; represents betrayal in Troilus and Cressida.
Troilus – Greek, meaning “glory of Troy”; symbolizes doomed love and honor.
Pandarus – Greek, meaning “all-giving”; represents manipulation and meddling.
Ajax – Greek, meaning “eagle”; a warrior known for pride and impulsiveness.
Thersites – Greek, meaning “bold”; a cynical, mocking figure.
Theseus – Greek, meaning “to set”; represents leadership, justice, and order.
Hippolyta – Greek, meaning “horselet”; queen of the Amazons, symbolizing strength.
Egeus – Greek, meaning “sea-born”; a stern, authoritarian father.
Angelo – Italian, meaning “angel”; a hypocritical and corrupt deputy in Measure for Measure.
Isabella – Hebrew, meaning “God is my oath”; represents virtue and moral strength.
Claudio – Latin, meaning “lame”; a young lover in Much Ado About Nothing.
Hero – Greek, meaning “protector”; symbolizes innocence and purity.
Borachio – Spanish origin, meaning “drunkard”; represents deceit and manipulation.
Leonato – Italian, meaning “lion-like”; a nobleman symbolizing honor.
Escalus – Latin, meaning “ladder”; symbolizes justice and moderation.
Lucio – Latin, meaning “light”; a comic figure known for his wit.
Mariana – Latin, meaning “of the sea”; represents patience and forgiveness.
Timon – Greek, meaning “honor”; a misanthropic figure in Timon of Athens.
Apemantus – Greek, meaning “immovable”; a cynical philosopher.
Alcibiades – Greek, meaning “strength of the valley”; a warrior and leader.
Proteus – Greek, meaning “changeable”; a fickle lover in The Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Valentine – Latin, meaning “strong” or “healthy”; a loyal and noble friend.
Laertes – Greek, meaning “gatherer”; represents impulsive revenge in Hamlet.
Horatio – Latin, meaning “timekeeper”; symbolizes loyalty and reason.
Gertrude – Germanic, meaning “spear of strength”; Hamlet’s conflicted mother.
Ophelia – Greek, meaning “help”; symbolizes innocence, love, and madness.
Polonius – Possibly Latin, meaning “city”; a verbose and meddling courtier.
Rosencrantz – Germanic, meaning “wreath of roses”; symbolizes political opportunism.
Guildenstern – Germanic, meaning “golden star”; represents sycophancy.
Lancelot Gobbo – Italian, meaning “little lance” and “hunchback”; a comic servant.
Stephano (from The Merchant of Venice) – Greek, meaning “crowned”; represents loyalty.
Nerissa – Greek, meaning “sea nymph”; Portia’s witty confidante.
Gratiano – Italian, meaning “grace”; a jovial and talkative companion.
Antonio – Latin, meaning “priceless”; represents sacrifice and friendship.
Bassanio – Italian, meaning “fox”; represents love and ambition.
Balthasar – Greek, meaning “Baal protects the king”; represents disguise and loyalty.
Feste – Possibly from Latin, meaning “festival”; a wise fool in Twelfth Night.
Malvolio – Italian, meaning “ill will”; symbolizes self-righteousness.
Viola – Latin, meaning “violet”; represents disguise, wit, and love.
Sebastian – Greek, meaning “venerable”; a lost brother in Twelfth Night.
Sir Toby Belch – Old English, symbolizing excess and revelry.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek – Mocking name, symbolizing foolishness.
Fabian – Latin, meaning “bean-grower”; a minor comic character.
Duncan – Gaelic, meaning “dark warrior”; a virtuous king in Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth – Symbolizes ambition, guilt, and manipulation.
Hecate – Greek, meaning “far-reaching”; goddess of witchcraft.
Sicinius – Latin, meaning “belonging to Sicinius”; a tribune symbolizing populism.
Menenius – Latin, meaning “belonging to the tribe of Menenius”; a patrician in Coriolanus.
