Who doesn’t love the circus? It’s an extravaganza full of fun, quirky performances from diverse people, from clowns to trapeze artists. And if you’ve been wanting to bestow a cool, unique name to your child that makes you think of the intriguing elegance and undeniable mystique of the circus, then these baby names are for you.
Now, the circus is full of happy memories, and cool forms of entertainment. But in recent years, people have been gravitating to an aesthetic inspired by the clowns and jesters of a circus, an aesthetic called clowncore.
Clowncore is a type of aesthetic that is all about emulating the colors, nostalgia, and expressionistic parts of being a clown. Sometimes, it’s about the fun, colorful type of clowns, and sometimes it’s based on the darker clowns you find in horror flicks. Either way, all the clowncore stuff is linked back to the circus, and we found the best names for both clowncore and circus lovers.
Below, check out the coolest circus-inspired baby names:
Acro
Get ready for a lot of play on words, but how chic and cool is the unisex name “Acro?” Like for acrobat? Seriously, it’s such a cute circus-themed name.
Aerial
If you’re not feeling Acro, you can try the more feminine circus-themed name: Aerial. It’s such a quirky spin on the name Ariel, and plus, it means “lion of God” in Hebrew, which just adds to the aesthetic when you remember lion tamers were a thing in circuses.
Allegra
Allegra is Italian for “joyous,” and what’s more joyous than someone at the circus?!
Asher
Another strong, happy name that fits right into the circus is Asher, which means “fortunate, blessed, happy one.”
Aurelia
Aurelia has such a magical, circus vibe to it, and so many people online agree. But for those wondering, it actually means “the golden one,” which is just so cool and magical.
Barnum
Okay, so Barnum means “baron’s home,” but it’s associated with the circus because of the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.
Bruno
Bruno is the perfect name for your strong child since the name has been associated with so many strong men. And as for the tie to the circus, what’s a circus without a strong man or woman of some kind to wow and amaze?
Calliope
Calliope is the name of the muse of epic poetry, and is often associated with the music played on the merry-go-round. So it’s circus and poetry, all wrapped into one.
Circe
Circe is another Greek name from mythology. The legend of Circe was that she could turn men into animals with her magic wand, and if that doesn’t scream circus, we don’t know what does.
Cirque
We know it may be a bit on the nose, but Cirque is such a cool and unique word name.
Clarabell
Clarabell is a truly sweet girl’s name of Latin origin, meaning “bright and beautiful.” It’s often associated with clowns because of a character from The Howdy Doody Show. Plus, there are so many nickname options like Clara (which means bright) and Bell/ Belle (which means “ringer of the bell”).
Emmett
Emmett is a powerful, masculine name meaning “universal,” making it a truly unique name. Plus, it’s linked to the circus performer, Emmett Leo Kelly.
Esmerelda
Esmerelda is a truly breathtaking name that’s Spanish and Portuguese for “emerald.” It fits the vibe check for clowncore, and chances are, you instantly think of the Disney humanitarian performer from The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
Fantasia
Fantasia is a stunning name that’s Greek for “imagination,” which is a requirement for any circus!
Grimaldi
If you want a cool name you won’t hear that often, Grimaldi is perfect. Not only does it mean “bold,” but it’s associated with Joseph Grimaldi, the first mainstream clown.
Gustav
Gustav is a strong, powerful name that is of Teutonic origin, meaning “staff of the Goths.” Staff? Goths? Strong name? It’s a match made in heaven for circus names.
Harley
Harley may mean “the long field,” but it’s often linked to the Harlequin-styled character Harley Quinn. So there’s no mistaking how cool and perfect it is for clowncore.
Kaleido
If you hear the name Kaleido, you’ll never forget it. Plus, it literally means “beautiful” in Greek, which just adds to the mystique of it all.
Leo
As many know, Leo is Latin for “lion,” and it fits this theme perfectly since there were lion tamers.
Lucille
Lucille is another gorgeous name meaning “light” in French. It’s often associated with clowns or the comedic Queen Lucille Ball (who did sometimes dress up as a clown)!
Maximus
History buffs probably know about the Circus Maximus, and name nerds like us know that the name Maximus means the “greatest” in Latin — like “the greatest show on earth” maybe? — making it a perfect fit.
Penny
Penny is such a cute English name that means “weaver,” but Penny is often associated with the horror clown, Pennywise!
Petunia
Petunia is a “trumpet-shaped flower,” making it a unique flower name for your daughter, but it’s also associated with the circus since clowns would sometimes wear them on their lapel.
Philip
If the name Philip Astley is familiar to you, it’s because that’s the name of the man who people have dubbed the father of the modern circus. And the name Philip also fits the circus theme, because, like Pippa, it means “lover of horses.”
Pierre
For those who don’t know, Pierre is a strong French name meaning “rock, stone,” which is perfect for your strong man! And it’s often associated with…
Pierrot
… Pierrot, which has the same meaning, but it’s a character of pantomime!
Pippa
While you probably think of Princess Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, Pippa is a unique name that actually means “lover of horses.” And horses have been an integral part of circuses since the 18th century!
Quidam
If you want a name that makes a statement, you can’t go wrong with Quidam, which is a Latin name meaning “a certain one” or “an unknown person.” How mysterious! How chic!
Quinn
Did you really think we’d have Harley but not Quinn? Now, this name means “descendant of Conn, chief leader, intelligence” in Irish, and doesn’t that just fit perfectly?!
Soleil
Soleil is both the French word for “sun” and associated with the color yellow, both of which are the sunny things you associate with clowns. And if you need another push, just think of Cirque du Soleil.
Starla
Starla is a cool spin on the name Star (which is also a great choice) — perfect for your star of the show!
Victor
Bit of another history lesson: Victor is known as the name of Victor Pépin, the first American to operate a major circus in the US. Plus, it also means “conqueror!”
Vincenzo
Vincenzo is an Italian variation of Vincent, which means “conquering.” It’s another strong man name with such a cool spin to it.
Xerxes
Xerxes may have the coolest meaning: it’s literally Persian for “hero among heroes,” and its double-X makes it as unique as a circus performance.
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