Top 10 Cool Movie Character Names

That whole being a serial killer and eating people thing might not actually be all that cool, but at least this creepy character’s name is. In this thriller, Anthony Hopkins plays Hannibal Lecter, a nightmarishly calm and unnervingly cool murderer who has a penchant for eating his victims. He’s a key player in an investigation to catch yet another serial killer, but his demeanor makes conversation a tad difficult, if not just plain uncomfortable. Somehow, in a movie with two serial killers carrying the story, Hannibal the Cannibal doesn’t only manage to live up to his nickname, but he does so from behind bars.

This sweeping classic film from the ‘30s featured a number of memorable characters with some pretty remarkable names. Between Rhett, Suellen, and Aunt Pittypat, there are a slew of names that are delightfully Southern, if not also a little…antiquated. And of course, there’s Scarlett, the character whose name conjures up images of mint juleps, fainting couches, and debutantes in distress. In a romantic drama set against the tumultuous backdrop of the American Civil War, the name “Scarlett” seems fitting for a woman looking for love in all the wrong places, and finding it unexpectedly in others.

With a name like “Rocky,” you’d expect the character to either be a bouncer, a boxer, or have ongoing relationship issues. And while one and a half of those are kinda right, the story of this good-natured muscle-for-hire turned hardscrabble boxer hits us right in the feels. That’s thanks in large part to the plot, the acting, the directing and the script, but also because of the apt character title. Rocky’s a rough name for a rough guy who’s been through some rough things, but you root for him to succeed. And that’s basically the theme of the film and its sequels.

While southern belle Scarlett O’Hara may’ve been dealing with the destruction of her family’s slavery-dependent way of life, the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s western was just trying to exist without shackles. The story revolves around Jamie Foxx’s character, Django, who has earned his freedom from bondage working as a bounty hunter for Dr. King Schultz, but is also desperately trying to find his way back to his still-enslaved wife, Broomhilda. In an era when slavery shaped and formed the American landscape, for Django Freeman, being a free man wasn’t just a cool name – it was a remarkable feat.

If you ever wondered what the feminized version of the word “cruel” was, the question was answered in both the classic Disney animated tale and the live-action remake. The character of Cruella is indeed cruel. She lives for fashion and kills for coats. She likes her fabrics extra exclusive and when faux fur just won’t cut it, spotted Dalmatian fur from actual Dalmatians becomes an absolute must. This ridiculously obsessive fashionista will stop at nothing in pursuit of glamor – she’ll even kidnap a bunch of puppies so she can murder them. If that’s not Cruella; we don’t know what is.

We know we were supposed to care about Neo and his journey of self-discovery. As the hero of the popular sci-fi film series, Neo is “the ONE,” but would he have even made it out of the Matrix without the help of the infinitely cool Morpheus? And it’s only fitting that he’s named after the Greek god of dreams, what with him waking so many unsuspecting humans up out of their fictional realities. Not to mention the fact that he’s also a complete badass with neat glasses and deadly fighting skills.

When it comes to elusive crime bosses nobody’s ever seen and that may or may not even exist, this one takes the cake. This mid-‘90s whodunit centers on the story of a heist gone wrong, and one of the remaining survivors isn’t exactly forthcoming with the authorities. Kevin Spacey plays Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint, a criminal who’s been brought in for questioning about a series of murders and ship fire at a dock. As he weaves his elaborate tale about the events in question, we’re given a glimpse at a true criminal mastermind. And with just a name to go by, we don’t know who the real Keyser Söze is until it’s far too late.

What do you do when you’re a child adventurer who resents being named after your father? You decide to name yourself after the family dog. This highly successful Steven Spielberg franchise follows the escapades of the world’s coolest archeologist. When he’s not being a college professor, he’s off scouring the Earth for ancient artifacts and narrowly escaping being slaughtered by Nazis. And while this action-loving, snake-fearing, whip-wielding smart guy named himself after a pet in an act of rebellion, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

When there’s a battle to the death in the center of a coliseum, shouting out the name “John” or “Bill” just doesn’t seem to pack that much of a punch. A gladiator’s name needs something with teeth – something that a bloodthirsty crowd can chant as they witness a man fistfight a tiger. Russell Crowe gives an Oscar-winning performance as Maximus, an enslaved Roman general looking to avenge his family’s murder. He quickly earns a reputation for himself as a fierce and deadly gladiator. And eventually, he and his name become formidable enough to strike fear into the heart of a crooked emperor.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Donnie Darko
“Donnie Darko” (2001)
- Axel Foley
“Beverly Hills Cop” franchise (1984-94)
- Captain Jack Sparrow
“Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise (2003-)
- Frankie ‘Four Fingers’
“Snatch” (2000)
- Katniss Everdeen
“The Hunger Games” franchise (2012-15)
- Khan Noonien Singh
“Star Trek” franchise (1979-)

One minute you’re a loner hanging out with your Wookie co-pilot, just trying to make a dime transporting some folks to a remote planet. The next minute, you’ve joined a rag-tag team of rebels on a mission to destroy an evil Empire. Han is “solo” no longer after joining up with Luke Skywalker and his bunch to save a princess and fight for the fate of the galaxy. It’s a noble cause if we’ve ever heard one, and Han’s cool name, and supercool vest, make his anti-hero antics that much more enjoyable.

Do you agree with our list? Who do you think has the coolest movie character name? For more entertaining Top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.