Superhero Baby Names For Your Little Marvel

Naming a baby after someone you personally admire is a long-standing and sweet tradition. The option opens up the list of namesake possibilities: You could honor a beloved grandparent or uncle, or use the name of a character you loved from an '80s or '90s comfort-TV show (Dorothy! Jesse! Phoebe! Carlton!). But why stop there when you could name your baby after a famous superhero? We're talking about the secret identities of comic-book characters, of course, not their crimefighting pseudonyms. (Still, no judgment if you want to go with Star-Lord or Beast Boy.)

If you're among the hundreds of thousands who dress up and flock to conventions like the San Diego Comic-Con, honoring your favorite superhero is a natural choice for your newborn. Considering there are more than 80,000 characters in Marvel comic books, movies, and TV shows alone, there are plenty of options out there. If you're more of a fan of the DC Universe or other superheroes on the big screen, don't worry, we have some options for you as well. In the end, choose a name from someone who embodies the type of courage and selflessness you hope to see in your child. Then be prepared to have your baby's Halloween costume predetermined for years to come.

Naturally, Superman and Batman top the list of superhero icons. When not fighting crime in Metropolis and Gotham City, the Man of Steel and the Caped Crusader lead double lives as a newspaper reporter and a billionaire playboy, respectively. Their alter egos give new parents four excellent name options for boys: Clark, Kent, Bruce, Wayne, or combinations of all. Want something a little more unusual? There's also Kal-El, Superman's birth name; Nicolas Cage chose it for his own son.

Spider-Man's lasting appeal comes from his total relatability. Behind the mask and web-swinging prowess is a high-schooler from Queens who learns that "with great power there must also come — great responsibility" (via Scifistackexchange). Spidey's secret identity, Peter Parker, could be used as a creative way to give siblings matching names, or as a first and middle name for one child (but maybe not if your last name is actually Parker). 

Fighting both crime and public discrimination has been the mission of the mutants known as "The X-Men" since the comic's debut in 1963. The comic books, movies, and TV shows feature many characters whose real names work just as well on non-mutant babies. Start your list with the original X-Men names: Scott Summers (Cyclops), Jean Grey (Phoenix), Warren Kenneth Worthington (Angel), Henry Philip McCoy (Beast), Robert Louis Drake (Iceman), and, of course, Charles Francis Xavier, their wise mentor Professor X. 

Another of the early superhero teams in the comic universe was the Fantastic Four, who gained extraordinary powers through exposure to cosmic rays and joined forces to help stop evil. Any one of their names would be super, too: married couple Reed Richards and Susan Storm; Sue's brother Johnny Storm; and Benjamin (Ben) Grimm, Reed's best friend. Just make sure your little one doesn't take after them too closely; the phrases "Flame on!" and "It's clobbering time!" hit different coming from a 3-year-old.

Disney/Pixar's 2004 feature "The Incredibles" combined both heroism and heart in its story of a family forced by law to conceal their superpowers and live as average suburbanites. Here, new parents can choose from such classic names as Bob and Helen (parents Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl); Violet, Dashiell, and Jack (their children); Lucius (their totally cool friend Frozone); and Edna (their brilliant "no capes!" super-suit designer). 

Set at the beginning of the 20th century, "Wonder Woman" stood out from the comic-book pack for starring not only a woman, but a strong and independent one at that. The Amazon warrior has most famously been depicted on-screen by Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot (seen here). Her real name, Diana, is a winner on several counts. Meaning "divine," it's a baby name inspired by the moon (Diana was the Roman goddess of the moon), plus the name of one of England's most popular royals.

You've noticed by now that American superheroes often have very common first names. This not only helps prevent them from standing out when they're off duty, but also reinforces the message that everyday people can be heroes. Consider a few more examples: Steve Rogers (Captain America), Tony Stark (Iron Man), Wade Wilson (Deadpool), Natasha Romanova (Black Widow), Barry Allen (The Flash), Barbara Gordon (Batgirl), Kara Zor-El (Supergirl), and Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel). Super choices, all!