Disney has put out over sixty animated feature films, and many of these films have ended up popularizing particular baby names.
The best example of this is probably Ariel, which ranked among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1990 to 1992 thanks to the success of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which was released in November of 1989.
Here are dozens of other Disney character names that might make good baby names:
| Elio | Elio (2025) |
| Asha | Wish (2023) |
| Ember, Wade | Elemental (2023) |
| Mirabel, Bruno | Encanto (2021) |
| Luca, Alberto, Giulia | Luca (2021) |
| Raya, Namaari | Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) |
| Miguel, Coco, Héctor, Imelda | Coco (2017) |
| Moana, Maui | Moana (2016) |
| Judy | Zootopia (2016) |
| Arlo | The Good Dinosaur (2015) |
| Riley, Joy | Inside Out (2015) |
| Hiro, Tadashi | Big Hero 6 (2014) |
| Anna, Elsa, Kristoff | Frozen (2013) |
| Ralph, Vanellope | Wreck-It Ralph (2012) |
| Merida, Elinor | Brave (2012) |
| Flynn | Tangled (2010) |
| Tiana, Naveen | The Princess and the Frog (2009) |
| Remy | Ratatouille (2007) |
| Bob, Helen, Violet, Dashiell | Incredibles (2004) |
| Kenai, Koda | Brother Bear (2003) |
| Nemo, Dory | Finding Nemo (2003) |
| Lilo, Nani | Lilo & Stitch (2002) |
| Milo, Kida | Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) |
| Kala, Jane | Tarzan (1999) |
| Mulan, Shang | Mulan (1998) |
| Esmeralda | The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) |
| John, Nakoma | Pocahontas (1995) |
| Woody | Toy Story (1995) |
| Simba, Nala | The Lion King (1994) |
| Ali, Jasmine | Aladdin (1992) |
| Belle, Maurice | Beauty and the Beast (1991) |
| Eric, Sebastian | The Little Mermaid (1989) |
| Oliver, Jenny | Oliver & Company (1988) |
| Basil, Olivia | The Great Mouse Detective (1986) |
| Taran, Eilonwy | The Black Cauldron (1985) |
| Tod, Copper | The Fox and the Hound (1981) |
| Bernard, Bianca, Penny | The Rescuers (1977) |
| Robin, Marian, John | Robin Hood (1973) |
| Duchess, Thomas | The Aristocats (1970) |
| Arthur, Merlin | The Sword in the Stone (1963) |
| Anita, Roger, Perdita | One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) |
| Aurora, Philip, Flora, Fauna | Sleeping Beauty (1959) |
| Jim, Tony | Lady and the Tramp (1955) |
| Peter, Wendy | Peter Pan (1953) |
| Alice | Alice in Wonderland (1951) |
Sources: List of Disney theatrical animated feature films – Wikipedia, SSA
Image: Screenshot of One Hundred and One Dalmatians
I’ve always thought Ariel sounds like a pretty name and so does Belle but Simba would have my quietly chuckling. I would feel sorry for anyone carryint that name.
I love Ariel as a girl’s name, but I think of the spirit in the Tempest, not The Little Mermaid, when I hear it. I just couldn’t bear to watch Disney’s perky version of the sad sad story.
When I hear Miranda or Ophelia, I think Shakespeare…but the Disney association is just too strong for me to think of anything but The Little Mermaid when I hear Ariel.
I love Ariel as a girl’s name as well. When I hear the name Ariel (and pronounced in english as ‘air-ee-ul’), I think of it’s original meaning: an Angel. The name Ariel may have entered into popular culture because Disney chose it for it’s little mermaid, but it is actually a biblical name from the old testament with great meaning. Most people know that Michael and Gabriel are names of archangels, so is Ariel. Ariel is known as the Angel of healing and the Angel of new beginnings.
I also think of the movie Footloose (long before the little mermaid came out) when I hear the name Ariel. It was classic movie from the eighties, with a gorgeous young woman named Ariel.
I’m a pre-Disney Esmeralda (and not in America). I was named for my mother, and it is a common name in Portugal, where I am from. When I see Ariel I think of the Jewish male name not the Disney (i.e. Ariel Sharon, former leader of Israel).