Notable Film Noir Names: I was on a little classic Film Noir kick and came across the below names. Some are character names and some are actual names/stage names. All combos are actually fn/ln but I’d consider some of the ln’s great mn contenders. Thought I’d share them.
Maltese [name]Falcon[/name]: (1941)
[name]Sam[/name] Spade – iconic [name]Bogart[/name] character. I kind of like the alliteration and was thinking it almost makes a great fn/mn combo.
[name]Floyd[/name] Thursby – I was a little surprised to find the name Floyed in a 1941 film. Felt unexpected. I’m also kind of digging Thursby as a great alternative to Thursday or [name]Thurston[/name].
[name]Effie[/name] – [name]LOVE[/name] this as a nn.
Double Indemnity: (1944)
[name]Phyllis[/name] Dietrichson – [name]Phyllis[/name] is always a bit of an old lady name to me (probably because I know a [name]Phyllis[/name] who is 80) but I was intrigued to rediscover her as the cold calculating femme fatale in this film.
[name]Barton[/name] [name]Keyes[/name] – when was the last time you came across a [name]Barton[/name] in real life?
Sunset Blvd: (1950)
[name]Norma[/name] [name]Desmond[/name] – [name]Desmond[/name] is usually all male to me but combined with an old classic like [name]Norma[/name] I kind of like it as a mn for a spunky girl.
Strangers on a Train: (1951)
[name]Guy[/name] [name]Haines[/name] – [name]Guy[/name] always strikes me as an odd name for a boy. It’s not like I’d give my daughter a given name of Girl or Lady. (Though I like Lady as a nn).
[name]Miriam[/name] [name]Haines[/name] – anyone else feel like [name]Miriam[/name] comes up too seldom when we recommend names?
Actors/Writers/Directors:
[name]Orson[/name] Welles – If your are Film Noir fan [name]Orson[/name] or Welles would be a great homage to the man who unofficially started Noir with “Citizen [name]Kane[/name]” and made the last classic noir “Touch of Evil”. [name]Orson[/name] is a great and underused O- name anyway.
[name]Charlton[/name] Heston – can’t really decide which I like better. But I think both could make for really great names for a little boy.
[name]Farley[/name] [name]Granger[/name] – [name]FARLEY[/name]. I could have sworn it was a hippie version of Far-out but apparently it’s got some classic roots.
[name]Hedda[/name] [name]Hopper[/name] – [name]Hedda[/name] could be a great alternative to the popularity gaining [name]Hattie[/name].
[name]Humphrey[/name] [name]Bogart[/name] – nuff said.
[name]Mary[/name] Astor – Really liking Astor as a unisex name. (There is also a [name]Gertrude[/name] Astor – not related).
[name]Wallace[/name] [name]Ford[/name] – [name]Just[/name] sounds like a great combo for a 1940’s Hollywood writer.
[name]Hume[/name] [name]Cronyn[/name] – [name]Hume[/name]?!?
[name]Niven[/name] [name]Busch[/name] – Can’t say I expected to see a name like [name]Niven[/name] on this list.
[name]Gene[/name] [name]Tierney[/name] (f) – Not really surprised by [name]Gene[/name], but you know I would have expected [name]Jean[/name] on a girl instead of [name]Gene[/name].
Loretta Young - I was looking over the back of the new DVD boxset I got for Christmas and Loretta was listed as one of the stars. I instantaneously fell in love. Obviously not unheard of but just a great -Etta name that we don’t seem to consider all that often. To me it combines the charm and mystique of Lorelei and Henrietta. (This might have just made my top 20, if not top 10 list).
Yul Brynner - Yul? Yul. YUL! Maybe this one strikes me so strongly because it was just Yule-tide season but… Talking about unexpected name which means “beyond the horizon”.
Hedy Lamar - She needs little introduction but could Hedy be a 1940’s classy alternative to the Hattie?