It is a common trend in baby naming, particularly in 2025, to hit up our own family trees and use names of our ancestral mothers, whether using the exact name or a variation of it. But what about using famous mom names from history and popular culture? Alongside historical names, we also list celebrity moms, movie mothers, and television matriarchs. Below we list the names, meanings, and origins of the famous mom’s first name. Notice how many meanings fit perfectly. Which mothers would you add to our list?
Abigail
Abigail is a name of Hebrew origins and means “joy of the father.” Abigail Adams was the wife of President John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States.
Blythe
Blythe is a name of English origins and means “happy.” Blythe Danner is an American actress and mother of actress and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow.
Candy
Candy is a name of American origin and means “bright, sweet.” Candy Lightner is the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
Carol
Carol is a name of English origins and means “free person, song.” Carol Brady was the mother on the television show, “The Brady Bunch.”
Catherine
Catherine is a name of Greek origins and means “pure.” Catherine Princess of Wales is the wife of William, heir to the British throne.
Clair / Claire
Clair is a name of French origins and means “illustrious, enlightened.” Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Randall Fraser is the heroine in the book and television series Outlander. She is mother to Brianna and baby Faith. Clair Huxtable is the mom on the long-running television series “The Cosby Show.”
Daenerys
Daenerys is known as the “Mother of Dragons” in the televison series franchise “Game of Thrones” and associated book franchise, “A Song of Ice and Fire.”
Diana
Diana is a name of Greek origins and means “divine.” Diana Spencer was the Princess of Wales and mother to William and Harry.
Eleanor
Eleanor is a name of French origins with an unknown meaning. Eleanor of Aquitaine was the Queen of France, Queen of England, and mother of two English kings.
Gloria
Gloria is a name of Latin origins and means “glory to God.” Gloria Delgado-Pritchett is one of the mothers on “Modern Family” and is played by Sophia Vergara.
Goldie
Goldie is a name of English origins and means “made of gold.” Goldie Hawn is an American actress and mother of actress Kate Hudson.
Helen
Helen is a name of Greek origins and means “light.” Helen Parr is the superhero mother in the movie “The Incredibles.”
Jacqueline
Jacqueline is a name of French origins and means “supplanter.” Jackqueline Kennedy Onassis was the wife of John F. Kennedy and mother to his children.
Jada
Jada is a name of Hebrew origins and means “wise.” Jada Pinkett Smith is an American actress and mother to children Willow and Jaden.
Jeanine
Jeanine is a name of French origins and means “God is gracious.” Jeanine Stifler was the irresistible mom of Stifler in the movie “American Pie.” Technically known as Stifler’s Mom, the name “Jeanine” is used later in the franchise.
Josephine
Josephine is a name of French origins and means “God will increase.” Josephine Baker was a singer and actress who adopted 12 children.
Judy
Judy is a name of English origins and means “from Judaea.” Judy Garland was a famous American singer and actress, and mother of singer and actress Liza Minelli.
June
June is a name of Latin origins and means “follower of Juno.” June Cleaver was the matriarch on the television show “Leave it to Beaver.”
Kris
Often referred to as the “matriarch” of the Kardashian-Jenner family, Kris Jenner has been instrumental in building a pop-cultural brand and has been featured on numerous magazine covers.
Lois
Lois is a name of Greek origins and means “better.” Lois Griffin is the mother character on the animated series “The Family Guy.”
Lorelai
Lorelai is a name of German origins and means “alluring enchantress.” Lorelai Gilmore is the mom on the television show “The Gilmore Girls.”
Lucy
Lucy is a name of English origins and means “light.” Lucy Stone was an advocate of women’s rights and abolitionism. Lucille (Lucy) Ball was a famous comedienne and television producer. She is also one of the few celebrities who named her daughter after herself.
Marge
Typically a diminutive form of Margaret, Marge is a name of English origins and means “pearl.” Marge Simpson is the mom on the television show “The Simpsons.”
Mary / Maria
Maria is a name of Latin origins and means “of the sea, bitter.” Mary/Maria is an iconic name most associated with the mother of Jesus, in the new testament of the Bible. Maria von Trapp was the singing stepmother of the Trapp Family who were immortalized in the movie “The Sound of Music.”
Marie
Marie is a name of French origins and means “of the sea, bitter.” Marie Curie was a famous scientist and working mother who won two Nobel Prizes.
Michelle
Michelle is a name of French origins and means “who is like God?” Michelle Obama was the first lady of the United States and wife of President Barack Obama.
Moira
Moira is a name of Scottish origins and means “of the sea, bitter.” Moira Rose is the mother on the television series “Schitt’s Creek.”
Molly
Molly is a name of English origins and means “of the sea, bitter.” Molly Weasley is the mother of the Weasley family in the “Harry Potter” movie and book franchise.
Rainbow
Rainbow is a name of American origins and is color made from water and light. Rainbow Johnson is the mom on “Black-ish” played by Tracee Ellis Ross.
Rebecca
Rebecca is a name of Hebrew origins and means “to bind.” Rebecca Pearson is a mother on the television show “This is Us.”
Sarah
Sarah is a name of Hebrew origins and means “princess.” Sarah Connor is an important mother character in the movie franchise of “The Terminator.”
Serena
Name of Latin origin meaning “tranquil, serene.” Serena Williams is a world champion tennis player and mother who has spoken openly about balancing motherhood and career.
Sophia
Sophia is a name of Greek origins and means “wisdom.” Sophia Petrillo was the spicy mom on the television show “The Golden Girls” and was played by Estelle Getty.
Wilma
Of German origin meaning “resolute protector.” Wilma Flintstone is the beloved cartoon mom from The Flintstones.
As vintage and old-fashioned names rise in popularity again, it’s a wonderful opportunity to draw inspiration from the iconic women who have carried them with strength, grace, and influence. Whether you are moved by a groundbreaking historical figure, a beloved television mom, or a powerful woman in today’s culture, these names come with rich legacies of resilience, love, and leadership. Choosing a name connected to one of these mothers is not just a stylish choice, it is a meaningful way to honor the strength and spirit of women throughout history.
Mallory Moss is the co-founder of BabyNames.com and co-host of The Baby Names Podcast. Mallory has a PhD in psychiatric nursing and has written articles for The Huffington Post on names and name trends. She has one grown daughter, Veronica, who lives in Austria.
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