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If you’ve spent even a few minutes on #BookTok (or are just a bookworm in general), you’ve no doubt heard about the bestselling adult fantasy series that has been credited with reviving the entire genre: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas — or ACOTAR, to those who are immersed in the universe. The five-book series follows the journey of mortal Feyre Archeron after she is brought into the faerie lands of Prythian for murdering a faerie, and the epic love story and fierce struggle that follows. Since the first book came out in 2015, it has become a cult favorite with a passionate fandom, inspiring a ton of fan fiction and art.
@miyasmind i love this world so much, it’s like nothing else 🌌 #acotar #acotarseries #acotarbooks #acomaf #foryou #books #bookshelf #fantasybooktok
The series has also inspired the folks at Hulu, who are developing a live-action show that is anticipated to stick closely to the events in the books. It’s being co-created by Sarah J. Maas and screenwriter Ron Moore, who created the fantasy series Outlander — which was also based on a series of novels — and the remake of Battlestar Galactica. There’s no official word on when the series will air, but sources say it’s unlikely to hit the screen until 2025.
In the meantime, ACOTAR fans will just have to re-read the books and take the time to appreciate details they may have missed during their first go ’round. And one of our favorite details? The gorgeous names, of course! Maas has reportedly revealed that she draws inspiration from Welsh names — and since those are names like Rhiannon, Emir, and Catrin, it’s not hard to see why. The names of the female ACOTAR characters are beautiful, with just the right amount of magic mixed in, so we’ve listed some of our picks below, along with their meanings.
If you’re looking for a fantasy-inspired baby name for your little faerie, these are perfect. An ACOTAR girl name? Why not! People name their children after movie and book characters all the time. Fun fact: the 1984 movie Splash, starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, is credited with popularizing the name Madison (the name of the female lead) — which wasn’t even in the top 1000 most popular baby names before 1985, then skyrocketed as high as #2. And the name Arya is another perfect example; after Game of Thrones and one of its main characters, Arya Stark, aired in 2011, it went from ranking in the 900s to shooting all the way up to its peak at #92. So choosing an ACOTAR baby name isn’t so unusual!
If you’re not committed to using the exact names from the series, though, don’t worry; we’ve included a few similar alternative options for each ACOTAR girl name, so you can still celebrate your love for the books — just more subtly.
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Feyre
Born a mortal into a wealthy family, Feyre (pronounced FAY-ra) first proved her strength when her family fell on hard times. After her untimely death, she was resurrected as a High Fae, and eventually reigns over the Night Court as High Lady. She is confident, clever, loyal, and stubborn.
The name Feyre was created for the ACOTAR series, although it’s been speculated that it stems from fayre, the old English spelling of “fair”.
Similar alternatives: Faye, Eire, Freya
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Alis
Alis is a kind and compassionate faerie, originally from the Summer Court, who serves as Feyre’s maid in the Spring Court. She escaped the Summer Court to protect her nieces, and is described as having brown hair and skin that resembles tree bark. Feyre considers her to be a motherly figure.
The spelling of her name is a beautiful alternative to the more-traditional Alice, which means “noble”.
Similar alternatives: Elyse, Alina.
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Lorelei
Image Credit: SheKnows Lorelei is a priestess of the Night Court who joined the training to become a Valkyrie. Her gorgeous, lyrical name is of German origin and is said to mean “temptress” — a nod to the mythical maiden named “the Lorelei” who lives on a rock along the Rhine River and lures passers-by to their death with her song.
Similar alternatives: Lyra, Laurel, Aurora
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Amren
Amren, a High Fae, is the second-in-command of the Night Court and a member of Rhysand’s Inner Circle. She resides in Velaris, the Night Court’s capital. Amren subsists on blood and treasures a trove of trinkets and possessions, threatening severe (and potentially fatal!) punishment to anyone who dares steal them.
Amren was a name created specifically for this character, so it has no meaning or history outside of the series. But though it’s definitely unique, its proximity to more common names like Amber and Cameron make it feel wearable.
Similar alternatives: Amira, Amara, Aerin
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Cerridwen
Image Credit: SheKnows Cerridwen and her twin, Nuala, are half-breeds, born of a High Fae father and a Wraith mother. Cerridwen serves the Night Court as a spy, trained by Azriel and answering only to him and Rhysand. Able to turn into shadow and smoke, she can slip through walls and move unseen.
There are a couple of theories about where the name Cerridwen comes from. Some sources attribute its origins to the Old Welsh cyrrid, meaning “bent”, while others say it comes from cerdd, meaning “poetry”.
Similar alternatives: Bronwyn, Ceren, Gwendolyn
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Clotho
High priestess Clotho was left incapable of speech and with scarred hands after a brutal attack — but despite this, she can use magic to levitate and move books at will, and communicate by writing her thoughts on paper.
ACOTAR isn’t the only appearance of Clotho, though. In Greek mythology, Clotho was one of the Three Fates or Moirai, and determines when each mortal is born and dies. The name Clotho means “spinner”, because Clotho was the spinner of the thread of life.
Similar alternatives: Clio, Chloe, Clothilde
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Cresseida
Image Credit: SheKnows Cresseida, Princess of Adriata, is a High Fae member of the Summer Court. She is passionate, outspoken, and described as having dark skin, flowing silver tresses, and brown eyes.
Most commonly seen with an alternate spelling — Cressida — this name is derived from the Greek chryseos, meaning “golden”.
Similar alternatives: Cordelia, Cassandra
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Elain
Gentler and more soft-hearted than her sisters Feyre and Nesta, Elain loves to garden and spends hours tending to her plants; despite her refined demeanor, she appreciates the hard work and labor required. Because she is a gentle soul, she is often mistaken for weak — but when it comes to her independence, Elain is very headstrong, insisting that she belongs to no one but herself.
Elain’s soft nature is befitting of her name, which is of Welsh origin and means “fawn”.
Similar alternatives: Milena, Layne, Emeline
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Emerie
Image Credit: SheKnows Described as “sharp, shrewd, and unafraid”, Emerie is an Illyrian shop owner who is as resilient as she is beautiful. She is strong, even in the face of the Illyrian culture which values women who lower their eyes when spoken to.
This is actually a very popular modern name, seen in the upper echelons of the Social Security Administration‘s top 1000 baby names with several different spellings. Emery is most popular, followed by Emory, and then Emerie — but all are within the top 600. It is of German origin, meaning “brave”, “powerful”, or “ruler”.
Similar alternatives: Avery, Amerie, Everly, Emmaline
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Vassa
Image Credit: SheKnows Smart, perceptive, and fierce, Vassa is the ruler of the kingdom of Scythia in ACOTAR’s Mortal Lands. She possesses the ability to turn into a firebird during the day, and is described as having silky red-gold hair and cerulean blue eyes.
Interestingly, Vassa is most often a nickname for the Russian name Vasilisa — which is the Russian feminine form of the male name Basil, meaning “king”.
Similar alternatives: Vanessa, Jessa, Vera
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Gwyn
Image Credit: SheKnows Gwyn is a priestess who works at the library in Velaris. She is fiercely loyal to her friends. She is also a skilled warrior, determined to prove herself in a world that often underestimates her. On the surface, Gwyn appears to be gentle and unassuming — but she possesses a hidden strength and determination that is revealed when she is challenged.
Gwyn means “white” or “fair” in Welsh, though this character’s full name is acutally Gwyneth, which is derived from the Welsh kingdom of Gwynedd.
Similar alternatives: Quinn, Wryn, Gemma
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Morrigan
Image Credit: SheKnows Morrigan is a High Fae warrior and spymaster who serves as the emissary of the Night Court. A skilled archer, tracker, and interrogator, she’s also a formidable opponent in battle, not afraid to use her power to protect those she cares about.
The best part about the name Morrigan, though? Its powerful meaning! It comes from the Old Irish mor and rígain, meaning either “great queen” or “demon queen”. In Irish mythology, Morrigan — often disguised as a crow — was the goddess of death and war.
Similar alternatives: Morgana, Kerrigan, Moira, Regan
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Nesta
Image Credit: SheKnows Strong-willed, ambitious, and authoritative, Nesta is the third sister of Feyre and Elain. She is a both powerful and respected warrior and a loving and devoted sister. Nesta’s story serves as a reminder that even the most damaged people can find healing and redemption.
You’d probably never guess it, but the name Nesta is a medieval Welsh nickname for Agnes — which means “chaste”.
Similar alternatives: Nessa, Esti
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Viviane
Image Credit: SheKnows Hailing from the Winter Court, Viviane — with silver-white hair and ice-blue eyes — is warm, friendly, and at times playful. But she’s also brave, never hestitating to go into battle when necessary.
Her name is derived from Vivian, which comes from the Latin vivus, meaning “alive”. The spelling with the E at the end, however, is the French and Portuguese version.
Similar alternatives: Violette, Genevieve, Evelyn, Vivica
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Deirdre
Deirdre is a priestess who works at the library in Velaris and trained to be a Valkyrie. She’s described as having a distinctive scar across her face that stands out against her brown skin, and tightly curled black hair.
When it comes to the name’s origins, Deirdre could easily fit into our list of baby names with unexpectedly dark meanings. She was a tragic figure in Irish legend who died of a broken heart, so the name is said to mean “sorrowful”.
Similar alternatives: Saoirse (pronounced SEER-sha), Daria
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Nuala
Half wraith and half High Fae, Nuala is the twin sister of Cerridwen — and a masterful spy. It stands to reason, since she is able to turn herself into shadow and smoke, moving undetected.
Her name, Nuala, is a diminutive of the Irish name Fionnuala. It’s derived from the Old Irish words finn and gúala, meaning “white shoulder”. According to legend, Fionnuala was turned into a swan for 900 years.
Similar alternatives: Nella, Nuria, Talulah
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Oleanna
Image Credit: SheKnows High Priestess Oleanna forged a sword named Gwydion, imbuing it with magic when she dipped it into the Cauldron. The sword was given to Fionn to overthrow the Daglan, ushering in a millennium of peace.
The name Oleanna is most likely a feminized form of Ole, which is the Danish and Norwegian form of Olaf, meaning “ancestor’s descendant”.
Similar alternatives: Odelia, Aliana, Olena, Ophilia
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Neve
A Tartera faerie, Neve’s tall, lean figure is cloaked in perpetual shadows, concealing all but her glowing eyes. The rest of her body appears and disappears, flitting in and out of view. She has a jewelry store in Velaris’s Palace of Thread and Jewels and is the preferred jeweler of Rhysand, the High Lord of the Night Court.
Ironically, though she is described as dark, Neve’s name actually means “bright”. It’s the Anglicized (i.e., easier to pronounce) version of the Irish name Niamh.
Similar alternatives: Everly, Viv, Nova
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Madja
A wise and ancient healer whose magic is described as sweet and cooling, Madja is entrusted to heal the ailments and injuries of Velaris’s Inner Circle.
The name Madja seems to be a literary invention, and as such, has no meaning. However, it’s quite close to Majda — the Croatian short form of Magdalena — which means “from Magdalena” (as in the Biblical Mary Magdalene).
Similar alternatives: Madge, Magda, Nadia, Madhi
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