Naming a kid is terrifying.
I remember the exact moment the panic set in. I was sitting at the kitchen table, staring at a blank yellow legal pad, while my wife read through a book of “Top 100 Baby Names.” Everything sounded the same. Everything felt… beige. I didn’t want a name that just sat there. I grew up tearing apart radios and staring at the Orion Nebula through a cheap telescope. I wanted a name with some grit to it. I wanted a name that had already been to the moon, or cured a disease, or cracked a code that ended a war.
We started looking at the pioneers. The women who didn’t just ask for permission but kicked the door down.
If you’re hunting for Names Inspired by Famous Female Scientists, you aren’t looking for cute. You’re looking for a legacy. You want a name that gives your daughter—or your dog, or your protagonist—a standard to live up to.
Here is the real list. No fluff, just the heavy hitters of STEM history.
Also Read: Nature Names for Girls Inspired by Plants and Elegant Names That Mean ‘Peace’ or ‘Joy’
Key Takeaways
- Stories Over Sound: These names aren’t just phonetic; they carry the weight of history and resilience.
- Old School vs. New School: You’ll find Victorian classics like Ada alongside modern sharp-shooters like Nova.
- The Stealth Factor: Some of these are common names (Mary, Jane) that hold a secret, geeky backstory.
- Last Names Rule: Don’t sleep on surnames. “Curie” hits harder than “Marie.”
Why Should You Steal a Name from a Lab Coat?
Honestly? Because these women got things done.
They didn’t wait for the world to catch up. They dragged the world forward. When we finally landed on “Rosalind” for my daughter, it wasn’t because it sounded pretty in a nursery rhyme. It was because Rosalind Franklin looked at Photo 51 and saw the structure of life itself when the guys in the room were still scratching their heads.
That’s the energy I wanted in my house.
Science names hit that weird sweet spot. They bridge the gap between “classic” and “cool” without trying too hard. You aren’t just picking a label; you’re handing your kid a patron saint of intellect. Plus, it’s a great icebreaker at parent-teacher conferences.
Who Are the Absolute Titans of Science?
You have to start with the legends. These are the names that everyone knows, the ones that changed the texture of history.
The Marie Curie Collection
Marie Curie is the undisputed boss here. She’s the only person—man or woman—to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. That’s a flex.
- Marie (The classic)
- Curie (Stronger, punchier)
- Manya (Her actual birth name)
- Sklodowska (Bold middle name territory)
- Polla (Nickname for Poland, her homeland)
- Nobel (A bit much? Maybe.)
- Paris (Where the magic happened)
- Pierre (Her partner in crime)
- Bronia (Her sister, the doctor)
- Eve (Her biographer daughter)
- Irene (Her Nobel-winning daughter)
- Radium (For the brave)
- Sklo (Short, modern, edgy)
- Mania (Variation of Manya)
- Sorbonne (The university she conquered)
The Ada Lovelace Array
I’m a tech guy, so Ada is basically royalty to me. She wrote the first algorithm. She saw the future of computers a century before they existed. 16. Ada (Palindrome, simple, strong) 17. Lovelace (Sounds romantic, means business) 18. Augusta (Her first name) 19. Byron (Her poet father’s name) 20. Lady (She held the title) 21. King (Her husband’s name) 22. Countess (Regal vibes) 23. Babbage (Her collaborator) 24. Analytic (The engine she worked on) 25. Poet (She called it “poetical science”) 26. Algorithm (Nickname “Algo”?) 27. Bird (Childhood obsession with flight) 28. Fly (See above) 29. Code (Modern, unisex) 30. Zero (Where it all starts)
Can We Find a Name Written in the Stars?
Space is just cool. There’s no getting around it. Naming a kid after the women who mapped the universe feels infinite.
The Hidden Figures Group
These women did the math that got Americans into orbit. Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson. Legends. 31. Katherine (Solid, traditional) 32. Johnson (Great first name for a girl or boy) 33. Dorothy (Vintage comeback) 34. Vaughan (Sleek) 35. Mary (Simple, effective) 36. Jackson (Action-hero name) 37. Globe (Anagram of Goble, Johnson’s maiden name) 38. Orbit (The goal) 39. Taraji (Played Katherine in the movie) 40. Octavia (Played Dorothy) 41. Janelle (Played Mary) 42. NASA (Bold choice) 43. Langley (The research center) 44. West (West Area Computers) 45. Computer (The original job title)
The Stellar Astronomers
- Vera (Rubin, dark matter queen)
- Rubin (Sounds like a gem, acts like a scientist)
- Cecilia (Payne-Gaposchkin, decoded stars)
- Payne (Tough)
- Stella (Latin for star)
- Nova (Explosive)
- Caroline (Herschel, comet hunter)
- Lucretia (Her middle name)
- Comet (Direct)
- Maria (Mitchell, American pioneer)
- Mitchell (Unisex classic)
- Jocelyn (Bell Burnell, pulsars)
- Bell (Rings clear)
- Pulsar (Sci-fi cool)
- Burnell (Distinguished)
- Sally (Ride, broke the ceiling)
- Ride (Verbs make great names)
- Valentina (Tereshkova, first woman up there)
- Seagull (Her call sign)
- Mae (Jemison, absolute icon)
- Jemison (Flows beautifully)
- Endeavour (Her shuttle)
- Kalpana (Chawla, tragic hero)
- Chawla (Strong)
- Ellen (Ochoa, inventor/astronaut)
- Ochoa (Rhythmic)
- Peggy (Whitson, space endurance)
- Whitson (Smart)
- Sunita (Williams, spacewalker)
- Shannon (Lucid, biochemist in space)
- Eileen (Collins, commander)
- Christa (McAuliffe, teacher)
- Judith (Resnik, engineer)
- Nancy (Roman, Hubble mother)
- Roman (Strong history)
- Hubble (Why not?)
- Grace (Roman’s middle name)
- Margaret (Hamilton, Apollo code)
- Hamilton (Founding father vibes)
- Apollo (The big mission)
- Hypatia (Ancient genius)
- Alexandria (Her city)
- Theon (Her dad)
- Astro (Retro cool)
- Cosima (Order/Universe)
- Celeste (Heavenly)
- Luna (Moon)
- Esther (Star in Persian)
- Andromeda (Galaxy)
- Lyra (Constellation)
- Vega (Bright star)
- Cassiopeia (Queen of the sky)
- Ursa (Bear)
- Aurora (Lights)
- Halley (The comet)
What About the Mud and the Trees?
My brother is an outdoorsman. He wanted a name that smelled like rain and pine needles. Biology names ground you. They feel real.
The Environmentalists & Primatologists
- Jane (Goodall, obviously)
- Goodall (Sounds noble)
- Chimp (Kidding. Don’t do this.)
- Tanzania (Place name)
- Gombe (The park)
- Valerie (Jane’s middle name)
- Rachel (Carson, silent spring)
- Carson (Super popular for a reason)
- Louise (Rachel’s middle name)
- Silent (Quiet strength)
- Spring (Season)
- Dian (Fossey, gorillas)
- Fossey (Unique surname)
- Mist (Atmospheric)
- Virunga (Mountains)
- Biruté (Galdikas, orangutans)
- Galdikas (Lithuanian roots)
- Sylvia (Earle, ocean queen)
- Earle (Classic)
- Ocean (Direct)
- Deep (Mysterious)
- Aqua (Water)
- Marina (Sea)
- Wangari (Maathai, trees)
- Maathai (Peace prize winner)
- Green (Color name)
- Kenya (Place)
- Beatrix (Potter, mushrooms and rabbits)
- Potter (Clay or wizard, take your pick)
- Helen (Beatrix’s middle name)
- Fungi (Probably too weird)
- Spore (Also weird)
- Fern (Vintage plant name)
- Flora (Flowers)
- Fauna (Animals)
The Medical Pioneers & DNA Decoders
- Rosalind (Franklin, DNA structure)
- Elsie (Her middle name)
- Helix (The shape)
- Gerty (Cori, sugar metabolism)
- Cori (Short, sweet)
- Theresa (Gerty’s middle name)
- Radnitz (Maiden name)
- Rita (Levi-Montalcini, nerve growth)
- Levi (Cool, biblical)
- Nerve (Maybe a nickname?)
- Barbara (McClintock, jumping genes)
- Maize (Corn—her study subject)
- Gene (The blueprint)
- Jean (Spelling variation)
- Elizabeth (Blackwell, first female MD)
- Blackwell (Sounds aristocratic)
- Geneva (Her college town)
- Florence (Nightingale, nursing)
- Gale (Windy)
- Lamp (Symbol of nursing)
- Clara (Barton, Red Cross)
- Barton (Sturdy)
- Red (Color)
- Cross (Symbol)
- Virginia (Apgar, the newborn score)
- Apgar (Unique)
- Score (Winning)
- Françoise (Barré-Sinoussi, HIV discovery)
- Tu (Youyou, malaria cure)
- Artemis (Artemisinin root)
- Alice (Ball, leprosy cure)
- Ball (Energetic)
- Augusta (Her middle name)
- Chaulmoogra (The oil… okay, maybe not)
- Nettie (Stevens, chromosomes)
- Stevens (Surname)
- Chromie (Cute nickname)
- Linda (Buck, smell receptors)
- Buck (Nature)
- May-Britt (Moser, brain GPS)
- Christiane (Nüsslein-Volhard, embryos)
- Volhard (German strength)
- Elizabeth (Blackburn, telomeres)
- Carol (Greider, telomeres)
- Telomere (Sci-fi vibe)
Also Read: Vintage Hollywood Girl Names
Do Math Names Actually Sound Good?
Math is the language of the universe. Naming a kid after a mathematician is like saying, “You’re going to understand how the gears of the world turn.”
- Sophie (Germain, primes)
- Germain (Fancy)
- Prime (Optimus?)
- Emmy (Noether, algebra)
- Noether (Sounds like “Northern”)
- Amalie (Her full name)
- Algebra (Bold)
- Maryam (Mirzakhani, geometry genius)
- Mirza (Cool short form)
- Fields (The medal she won)
- Julia (Robinson, logic)
- Robinson (Reliable)
- Grace (Hopper, the Admiral)
- Hopper (Jumpy)
- Admiral (Rank)
- Cobol (Her language)
- Bug (She found the first one)
- Nanosecond (Her teaching tool)
- Sofia (Kovalevskaya, calculus)
- Vasilyevna (Middle name)
- Karen (Uhlenbeck, analysis)
- Abel (The prize)
- Ingrid (Daubechies, images)
- Wavelet (Nature/Math mix)
- Florence (Nightingale was a stats nerd too)
- Data (Star Trek)
- Chart (Pie chart creator)
- Rose (Her diagram type)
- Hedy (Lamarr, wifi roots)
- Lamarr (Hollywood glam)
- Eva (Her birth name)
- Wifi (Don’t do it)
- Frequency (Musical)
- Radia (Perlman, internet)
- Perl (Code/Gem)
- Spanning (Tree protocol)
- Sister (Mary Kenneth Keller, computer nun)
- Keller (Strong)
- Basic (Language)
- Margaret (Dayhoff, bioinformatics)
- Dayhoff (Unique)
- Atlas (Protein map)
- Thelma (Estrin, biomedical)
- Estrin (Sounds elven)
- Adele (Goldberg, Smalltalk)
- Goldberg (Classic)
- Smalltalk (Irony)
- Jean (Bartik, ENIAC)
- Bartik (Sharp)
- Betty (Holberton, ENIAC)
- Marlyn (Meltzer, ENIAC)
- Ruth (Teitelbaum, ENIAC)
- Kay (McNulty, ENIAC)
- Fran (Bilas, ENIAC)
- Eniac (The big machine)
Can We Dig Up Some Chemistry and Physics Gems?
These women played with the building blocks of reality. Radiation, atoms, glass.
- Lise (Meitner, fission)
- Meitner (Element named for her)
- Fission (Explosive)
- Atom (Tiny but mighty)
- Ida (Noddack, fission prediction)
- Noddack (Quirky)
- Rhenium (She found it)
- Masur (Masurium)
- Marguerite (Perey, Francium)
- Perey (French)
- Francium (Place element)
- Dorothy (Hodgkin, X-ray)
- Crowfoot (Maiden name—super rustic)
- Crystal (What she studied)
- Insulin (She mapped it)
- Penicillin (Mapped that too)
- Stephanie (Kwolek, Kevlar)
- Kwolek (Polish)
- Kevlar (Tough name)
- Armor (Meaning)
- Blodgett (Katharine, invisible glass)
- Glass (Sharp)
- Film (Thin films)
- Maria (Goeppert Mayer, shell model)
- Mayer (Common)
- Shell (Protective)
- Magic (Magic numbers)
- Chien-Shiung (Wu, physics queen)
- Wu (Short, strong)
- Parity (Equality)
- Beta (Decay type)
- Cobra (Her nickname)
- Queen (Her title)
- Mildred (Dresselhaus, Carbon queen)
- Carbon (Life element)
- Nano (Small)
- Tube (Nanotubes)
- Esther (Lederberg, microbes)
- Lederberg (Science family)
- Replica (Plating method)
- Patsy (Sherman, Scotchgard)
- Sherman (Tank)
- Gard (Protect)
- Giuliana (Tesoro, polymers)
- Tesoro (Treasure)
- Poly (Many)
- Fire (Retardants)
- Hazel (Bishop, makeup chem)
- Bishop (Chess)
- Ruby (Hirose, chem)
- Hirose (Japanese)
- Alice (Hamilton, toxicology)
- Safety (Her work)
- Lead (The metal she fought)
- Katharine (Burr Blodgett again)
- Langmuir (Her mentor)
- Irène (Joliot-Curie)
- Joliot (Hyphenated cool)
- Artificial (Radioactivity)
- Isotope (Variant)
Is There Inspiration in Dirt and Bones?
Kids love dinosaurs. It’s a fact of life. Why not name them after the women who dug them up?
- Mary (Anning, fossil hunter)
- Anning (Great surname)
- Hunter (Literal)
- Dino (Obvious)
- Rex (King)
- Plesio (Sea lizard)
- Ichthy (Fish lizard)
- Lyme (Her town)
- Regis (Royal)
- Inge (Lehmann, earth core)
- Lehmann (Strong)
- Core (Center)
- Seismic (Shaking)
- Wave (Energy)
- Florence (Bascom, geologist)
- Bascom (CEO vibes)
- Stone (Hard)
- Rock (Solid)
- Marie (Tharp, ocean mapper)
- Tharp (Sharp)
- Map (Guide)
- Ridge (Mountain)
- Rift (Valley)
- Tanya (Atwater, tectonics)
- Atwater (English)
- Plate (Tectonics)
- Drift (Movement)
- Eothea (Miss Benett)
- Benett (First geologist)
- Wiltshire (Place)
- Zonia (Baber, geography)
- Baber (Unusual)
- Geo (Earth)
- Claudia (Alexander, planets)
- Rosetta (Mission)
- Galileo (Mission)
- Juno (Mission)
- Katia (Krafft, volcanoes)
- Krafft (Intense)
- Lava (Hot)
- Magma (Molten)
- Pyro (Fire)
- Maurice (Husband)
- Volcano (Mountain)
- Helen (Megaw, minerals)
- Megaw (Irish)
- Megawite (Her mineral)
Why Are Surnames the Best First Names?
I’m a huge fan of surnames as first names. It sounds distinguished. It sounds like the kid already has a law degree or a PhD before they can even walk.
- Lovelace (Ada)
- Curie (Marie)
- Franklin (Rosalind)
- Carson (Rachel)
- Hopper (Grace)
- Rubin (Vera)
- Burnell (Jocelyn)
- Anning (Mary)
- Noether (Emmy)
- Meitner (Lise)
- Bell (Jocelyn)
- Jemison (Mae)
- Ride (Sally)
- Goodall (Jane)
- Fossey (Dian)
- Vaughan (Dorothy)
- Johnson (Katherine)
- Jackson (Mary)
- Hamilton (Margaret)
- Roman (Nancy)
- Payne (Cecilia)
- Blackwell (Elizabeth)
- Nightingale (Florence)
- Germain (Sophie)
- Herschel (Caroline)
- Mitchell (Maria)
- Sabin (Florence, medical)
- Cannon (Annie Jump, stars)
- Leavitt (Henrietta Swan, stars)
- Swan (Her middle name)
- Jump (Annie’s middle name—energetic!)
- Bassi (Laura, physicist)
- Agnesi (Maria, math)
- Somerville (Mary, polymath)
- Fairfax (Mary’s maiden name)
- Gold (Goldberg)
- Sutter (Katherine)
- Ross (Mary G, engineer)
- Clarke (Edith, electric)
- Morgan (Julia, architect/engineer)
- Roebling (Emily, Brooklyn Bridge)
- Brooklyn (The bridge she saved)
- Bridge (Connector)
- Easley (Annie, rockets)
- Granville (Evelyn, math)
- Boyd (Evelyn’s middle name)
- Caldicott (Helen, physician)
- Yalow (Rosalyn, medical physics)
- Elion (Gertrude, pharmacology)
- Gertrude (Vintage)
- Trudy (Cute)
- Barr (Yvonne, virus)
- Epstein (Anthony, partner)
- Salk (Jonas, but connected)
- Fell (Honor, biology)
- Honor (Virtue)
- Manton (Sidnie, zoology)
- Sidnie (Unisex spelling)
Can Concepts Be Names? (Feminine & Unisex)
Sometimes the best name isn’t the person, but the thing they fell in love with.
- Astra (Star)
- Ciel (Sky)
- Cloud (Weather)
- Rain (Water)
- Storm (Power)
- Gale (Wind)
- Sunny (Light)
- Sol (Sun)
- Terra (Earth)
- Gaia (Earth spirit)
- River (Flow)
- Brook (Small stream)
- Delta (Change)
- Coral (Reef)
- Pearl (Gem)
- Amber (Resin)
- Jade (Stone)
- Opal (Stone)
- Ruby (Laser gem)
- Beryl (Mineral)
- Mica (Mineral)
- Flint (Spark)
- Slate (Rock)
- Onyx (Black stone)
- Jet (Speed/Stone)
- Silver (Metal)
- Goldie (Metal)
- Violet (Light)
- Indigo (Deep blue)
- Scarlett (Red)
- Hazel (Plant)
- Olive (Plant)
- Willow (Tree)
- Ivy (Vine)
- Rose (Flower)
- Lily (Flower)
- Iris (Flower/Eye)
- Poppy (Flower)
- Daisy (Flower)
- Jasmine (Flower)
- Sage (Wise/Herb)
- Basil (Herb)
- Rowan (Tree)
- Ash (Tree)
- Aspen (Tree)
- Juniper (Berry/Tree)
- Cedar (Wood)
- Linden (Tree)
- Holly (Tree)
- Laurel (Victor)
The Modern & Unique List
For parents who want a name that stands out in the playground sandbox.
- Tesla (Nikola, but works for girls)
- Edison (Thomas, but sounds crisp)
- Newton (Gravity)
- Pascal (Pressure)
- Kelvin (Temp)
- Joules (Energy)
- Lumen (Light unit)
- Lux (Light)
- Photon (Particle)
- Ray (Beam)
- Gamma (Radiation)
- Alpha (Leader)
- Omega (End)
- Zeta (Greek)
- Sigma (Greek)
- Pi (Math constant)
- Dot (Tech + Dorothy)
- Matrix (Structure)
- Cipher (Secret)
- Logic (Reason)
- Theory (Idea)
- Axiom (Truth)
- Lemma (Helper theorem)
- Vector (Direction)
- Scalar (Size)
- Radius (Circle part)
- Arc (Curve)
- Chord (Line)
- Echo (Return sound)
- Sonic (Fast)
- Lyric (Song)
- Melody (Tune)
- Harmony (Agreement)
- Rhythm (Beat)
- Cadence (Voice fall)
- Unity (One)
- Liberty (Free)
- Justice (Fair)
- Honor (Respect)
- Truth (Fact)
- Verity (True)
- Hope (Wish)
- Faith (Trust)
- Charity (Love)
- Grace (Smooth)
- Joy (Happy)
- Felicity (Happy)
- Serenity (Peace)
- Patience (Waiting)
- Prudence (Care)
International Innovators
Science doesn’t care about borders. Here are names from brilliant minds all over the map.
- Fei-Fei (Li, AI visionary)
- Li (Common, strong)
- Sau (Lan Wu, physics)
- Lan (Orchid)
- May (Nymeyer, medical)
- Tiera (Guinn, rockets)
- Guinn (Surname)
- Jedidah (Isler, stars)
- Isler (Surname)
- Burçin (Mutlu-Pakdil, galaxies)
- Mutlu (Happy)
- Sara (Seager, planets)
- Seager (Surname)
- Lisa (Randall, physics)
- Randall (Surname)
- Sabrina (Pasterski, physics)
- Gonzalez (Surname)
- Pasterski (Surname)
- Kiara (Nirghin, teen genius)
- Gitanjali (Rao, inventor)
- Rao (Surname)
- Alyssa (Carson, astronaut hopeful)
- Aditi (Pant, ocean)
- Pant (Surname)
- Asima (Chatterjee, chemistry)
- Indira (Power name)
- Kamala (Sohonie, biochem)
- Sohonie (Surname)
- Janaki (Ammal, botany)
- Ammal (Surname)
- Tessy (Thomas, missiles)
- Thomas (Classic)
- Mangala (Mani, rockets)
- Mani (Jewel)
- Ritu (Karidhal, Mars)
- Karidhal (Surname)
- Moumita (Dutta, physics)
- Dutta (Surname)
- Nandini (Harinath, rockets)
- Anuradha (TK, satellites)
The Final Countdown: Mix and Match
- Marie-Curie (The double barrel)
- Ada-Grace (Code queens)
- Vera-Rose (Stars and flowers)
- Jane-Louise (Nature duo)
- Sally-Mae (Space pioneers)
- Rosalind-Elsie (The DNA code)
- Lise-Meitner (Physics power)
- Katherine-Johnson (The calculation)
- Dorothy-Vaughan (The computer)
- Mary-Jackson (The engineer)
How Do You Actually Pick One?
You’ve got the list. Now you have to make the call.
When we were naming our dog (yeah, this works for pets too), I pitched “Kepler.” My wife looked at me like I had three heads. She said, “You can’t yell ‘Kepler’ at the dog park. You’ll sound like a textbook.” We settled on “Nova.” It’s punchy, it’s spacey, and it sounds like a normal name until you ask me about it.
That’s the secret.
Say the name out loud. Yell it up the stairs like they’re late for dinner. Picture it on a business card. Does “Hypatia Smith” work? Maybe not. But “Hypatia” as a middle name? That’s a secret weapon. That’s a story waiting to be told.
You’re giving a gift here. You’re handing over a legacy of curiosity, guts, and brains. Whether you go with Ada for the coder, Mae for the astronaut, or Rosalind for the one who saw what others couldn’t, you’re telling the world that this kid is going places.
If you need more proof of how cool these women were, check out the Nobel Prize Women in Science official list.
Good luck. You’ve got this. And seriously, if you name your kid “Radium,” send me a photo. I need to shake your hand.
FAQs
What are some notable names from the Marie Curie collection?
Notable names include Marie, Curie, Manya, Skłodowska, Bronia, Irene, Radium, and Mania, each carrying historical significance and strength.
Why should I consider space-themed names for my child?
Space-themed names evoke the infinite and awe-inspiring universe, linking your child’s identity to exploration, discovery, and the pioneering spirit of women mapping the cosmos.
What is the benefit of using surnames as first names?
Using surnames as first names sounds distinguished and creates an impression of academic achievement, making your child feel built-in sophistication and legacy.
Can concept names like Gaia or Luna be suitable for girls?
Yes, concept names like Gaia or Luna symbolize natural and cosmic elements, offering a feminine and unisex option that celebrates connection to nature and the universe.
