While you can’t guarantee your kids will become nerds like you did, you can at least choose a nerdy name for them!
Whether you want an obvious or subtle nerdy science name, I’ve got you covered!
Here, I collected a list of all scientific names you can think of, courtesy of famous biologists, chemists, physicists, astronomers, and more. I included both modern and historical names, and I even listed some names that mean science or are related to knowledge and learning!
Whether you’re naming a baby, getting a pet, or choosing a name for a character in writing, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
Note: Girls names are in pink, boys are in blue, and orange are either.
Science Girl Names
- Aber
- Dian
- Galilea
- Hypatia
- Mae
- Mina
- Nora
- Radia
- Rosalind
- Sagan
While the list of boy names is shorter than the list of girl names, it still has plenty of options you can consider. Besides, the girl list includes some gender-neutral names that you can choose for a boy if you want to!
Science Girl Names (A-J)
Ada. This short but sweet name means noble, and it belongs to Computer scientist Ada Lovelace who worked with Charles Babbage on an early mechanical computer..
Aemilia. Aemilia is a feminine, soft name that has a nerdy side to it. There’s a popular Gallon Roman physician called Aemilia Hiaria (300-363 AD) who wrote books on gynecology and obstetrics.
Aganice. Aganice of Thessaly lived in the 1st or 2nd century BC. She was the first Greek female astronomer to study lunar eclipses, and she was so renowned for her ability to predict lunar events that some regarded her as a sorceress. There’s also a popular Greek proverb that states “Yes, as the moon obeys Aganice.” It’s a truly unique name with a nice background story to it.
Agnes. This name means chaste, and it belongs to Agnes Robertson, the first female botanist in the Royal Society. She often went by her beautiful pen name, Arber. Both names are great in my opinion.
Alice. Alice Ball (1892-1916) was an African-American chemist who developed an injectable treatment for leprosy. She was also the first African American to receive a master’s degree from the University of Hawaii and the first female professor at the University of Hawaii.
Anna. If you’ve always wanted to name your daughter after the first woman elected as president of one of the world’s largest scientific societies, you’re in luck! Anna Jane Harrison, an educator and an organic chemist, rose above her time to become the first female president of the American Chemical Society. The name Anna is originally a shorter version of Hannah, and it means “favored” or “grace.”
Annie. Annie Easley is an American rocket scientist who changed the world because of her mathematical prowess. Her technological contributions fueled the success of future space explorations, along with military and weather satellite launches.
Astrid. Astrid Cleve was a Swedish botanist, geologist, and chemist. She was the first woman in Sweden to obtain a doctoral degree in science. This name is my personal favorite of the scientific girl names. It belongs to a famous scientist, sounds beautiful, and relates to the stars—checks all the boxes in my opinion.
Barbara. If you’re as much a nerd as I think you are, you’re probably already familiar with scientist Barbara McClintock. She received the 1983 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine after she developed the first genetic map for maize. Her theories demonstrated that genes can turn physical characteristics on and off.
Beatrice. Beatrice Tinsley (1941-1981) was a British-born New Zealand astronomer and cosmologist who pioneered the study of the life cycles of stars and galaxies. The name truly taps into your inner astronomer!
Beatrix. If you like the name Beatrice with a twist, Beatrix Potter was a naturalist and author of the Peter Rabbit books. She was also a pioneer in conservation.
Bertha. Bertha Parker Pallan is the first female Native American archaeologist. She studied North America during the Pleistocene and worked at Gypsum Cave. Bertha Chapman Cady is also a great namesake. She was an American entomologist who worked with the Girl Scouts of the USA program.
Caroline. Here’s a classic name for inspiration! Caroline Herschel was a German astronomer who discovered multiple comets. She was the first woman to receive a salary as a scientist and the first woman in England to hold a governmental position.
Cecilia. British-born American astronomer Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin pretty much laid the foundation of modern astrophysics. Her theories proved that stars were primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, and the rest was history!
Chien. Chinese-American particle and experimental physicist Chien-Shiung Wu was a key researcher on the Manhattan Project. She’s the one who developed processes for separating uranium isotopes. Her work led her to be known as the “First Lady of Physics”, the “Chinese Madame Curie” and the “Queen of Nuclear Research.”
Chika. Japanese chemist Chika Kuroda was the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Science in Japan. The name is cheerful and easy on the ears.
Christiane. German developmental biologist Christiane Nusslein-Volhar is the 1995 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine laureate, thanks to her work on the genetic control of embryonic development.
Cynthia. Cynthia Irwin-Williams (1936-1990) was an American archaeologist who studied the prehistoric Southwest. She was considered a “ground-breaker” (pun intended!) for women in archaeology.
Dian. Dian is another form of Diane that means heavenly or divine. There’s a popular primatologist called Dian Fossey who studied mountain gorillas in Rwanda.
Dorothea. Would you rather name your daughter after Dorothea Bate (1978-1951), a British paleontologist and pioneer of archaeozoology? Or after Dorothea Leighton (1908-1989), an American social psychiatrist and founder of the medical anthropology field?
Dorothy. Some women can really dig history, not just metaphorically but in the name of science and knowledge. Dorothy Garrod is an English archaeologist who directed excavations that uncovered skeletal remains. These remains were used later on in the study of human evolution. Dorothy is also the borne name of the British chemist and Nobel Prize winner Dorothy Hodgkin. She came up with the first chemical structure of a steroid, penicillin, Vitamin B12, and Insulin. To achieve this, she and her team spent years improving scientific techniques. What a true inspiration for dedication!
Edith. The name Edith means wealth, fortune, and battle. It’s also the given name of three notable scientists. Edith Clements, together with her husband, pioneered the study of plant ecology and was the first woman to be awarded a Ph.D. by the University of Nebraska. Second is Edith Clarke, the first woman to be employed as an electrical engineer in the US. She invented the graphical calculator that simplified the determination of electrical characteristics of long electric lines. The last one is Edith Flanigen, the American chemist who made a critical impact in the petroleum industry with her molecular sieves invention. All these great women share the same name and passion for science!
Eleanor. Do you like butterflies? Eleanor Glanville had a great curiosity for moths and insects back in the 1600s. She collected specimens, conducted her research, and pioneered the science of entomology. Eleanor Carothers, an American zoologist and geneticist, also carries this name. Carothers discovered physical evidence that would later be vital to the modern understanding of genetics.
Elena. Elena is another form of the name Helen, which means torch, and is possibly related to the Greek word Selene, which means moon. A scientist of inspiration bearing this name is Elena Piscopia. She was the first woman to receive an academic degree and be awarded a Ph. D in Italy.
Elizabeth. The name Elizabeth means “my God is an oath,” and the Queen isn’t the only remarkable woman in history to bear it. Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman doctor in the US, and Elizabeth Blackburn is a Nobel Prize-winning biochemist. Her discoveries related to cellular division and DNA replication offer hope for new types of cancer treatment.
Elzada. This unique name means child of the people. Elzada Clover was an American botanist who studied and created the first catalog of plant life in the Grand Canyon.
Emily. Emily Warren Roebling is an engineer who helped her bedridden husband complete the Brooklyn Bridge. She became the “bridge” of communication between her husband and the rest of their team by supervising the on-site construction. She also defended her husband’s work as chief engineer of the construction, took over project management, and attended meetings on his behalf. Now, you can look at Brooklyn Bridge knowing that a woman of devotion, passion, and intelligence was behind it!
Emmy. The name Emmy is another form of Emma, which means whole or great. It’s a truly fitting name for the great Emmy Noether, a German mathematician who made critical contributions to abstract algebra. She is famous for her work in mathematical physics and is considered the Mother of Modern Algebra.
Esther. Esther means star in Persian and is possibly inspired by the name of the goddess Ishtar. A notable female scientist bearing this name is Esther Lederberg. She was a microbiologist and a pioneer of bacterial genetics. Her experiments helped in the study of gene regulation and genetic recombination.
Fatima. Did you know that a woman is behind the oldest operating university in the world? Fatima al-Fihriya, an Arab Muslim woman, founded the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco in 859 AD. Though not much is recorded of her, her legacy is a testament to her dedication to knowledge and education. The name also bears significance in the Islamic religion because it’s the name of Prophet Muhammed’s daughter.
Florence. Florence isn’t just a beautiful city in Italy. The name is held by Florence Bascom, who broke the status quo during her time by earning two bachelor’s degrees. She was an American pioneer for women as a geologist and educator, inspiring other women to pursue sciences. Another great scientist who shares this name is Florence Nightingale. She was a statistician and a courageous woman who wrote over 200 books and reading materials on nursing and hospital management. She is known as The Lady With The Lamp and the Mother of Modern Nursing.
Francoise. Francoise is the feminine version of the French name Francis, and it’s held by a great woman in the world of science. Francoise Barre-Sinoussi is a French virologist who discovered HIV as the cause of AIDS. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology for her revolutionary discovery.
Galilea. This name is a feminine form of Galileo, which comes from a Hebrew term that translates to rolling sea. It’s also a nod to Galileo Galilei, who’s known as the father of modern science. The name is unique yet recognizable—it’s one of my favorites!
Gertrude. Gertrude means spear of strength, and it’s held by a famous woman in the science world. Gertrude Belle Elion achieved a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with her team, thanks to their efforts in developing new drugs using innovative methods.
Gerty. Gerty Cori, a biochemist, was the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine together with her husband for their discovery of glycogen.
Gloria. Gloria Lim was a successful botanist and mycologist who studied tropical fungi. She broke the norms during her time by becoming the first female Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Singapore. She also became the first Director of Singapore’s National Institute of Education later on.
Grace. Grace Hopper, also known as “Amazing Grace,” was a computer scientist and a US rear admiral. She was among the first programmers of the Harvard Mark 1 computer, and because she worked until her 80s, she became the US Navy’s oldest active-duty commissioned officer. Now that’s brilliance and dedication!
Grete. Grete is said to be a shorter form of Margaret, which means pearl. The name is also held by Grete Mostny, a Jewish Austrian-Chilean anthropologist whose work and studies on Chilean culture led to numerous archaeological investigations.
Hedy. This short form of Hedwig means battle and combat. It’s not a common name, but it’s known thanks to Austrian-American Hedy Lamarr who developed a radio frequency-hopping system to stop torpedoes and missiles.
Henrietta. The name Henrietta comes from the name Henry, which means home ruler. There’s an astronomer called Henrietta Swan Leavitt who discovered relationships between the luminosity of stars and their other properties.
Hertha. Hertha is a more feminine-sounding version of Nerthus, the Germanic goddess of fertility. The name was once held by Hertha Ayerton, a Jewish British engineer, mathematician, and scientist who studied electrical arcs. She was a close friend of Marie Curie.
Hester. Hester Davis, an American archaeologist, was Arkansas’ first State Archaeologist. Her work was critical in establishing conservatory laws and standards for cultural preservation.
Honor. True to her name, Honor Frost was among the pioneers of underwater archaeology. She led numerous Mediterranean archaeological explorations and was known for her skills in archaeological illustration.
Hypatia. This unique name means highest or supreme. It belongs to the one and only Mathematician Hypatia of Alexandria—a 5th-century philosopher who rose against the misogynic nature of her time.
Idelisa. Idelisa is a possible extension of the name Idalia, which means work or labor. The Mother of Marine Conservation in the Caribbean, Idelisa Bonnely, bears this name. She helped create plenty of sanctuaries and was listed by BBC as one of the most important women scientists in Latin America.
Inge. Inge Lehmann was a Danish geophysicist and seismologist whose work led to the discovery of Earth’s inner core. Luckily, Inge is a gender-neutral name. It’s supposedly a short form of Scandinavian and Germanic names coined after the god Ing.
Jacoba. Jacoba may not be a common name, but it belongs to the founder of the first all-female science academy in the world, Jacoba van den Brande. It’s also the feminine version of Jacob.
Jane. Jane Cooke Wright was a pioneer in cancer research, and she contributed to the treatment of breast cancer and skin cancer by making advancements in chemotherapy. She also developed new techniques for human tissue culture.
Joan. Joan Beauchamp Procter was a British zoologist whose work on taxonomy contributed a lot to veterinary practice. She wrote many scientific and zoological articles, and her achievements are commemorated with a marble bust in the Reptile House at London Zoo.
Jocelyn. Jocelyn Bell Burnell is an astrophysicist who discovered the radio pulsars in 1967. She was awarded the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for it.
Julia. This gorgeous, common name is a female version of Julius, related to the Roman god Jupiter. It was once held by Julia Robinson, an American mathematician known for her work on Diophantine equations.
Related post: More Math Names for Babies!
Science Girl Names (K-L)
Kate. This name is an abbreviation of Katherine, and it’s said to be a nod to the Greek goddess Hecate. In different theories, it means ‘pure.’ Kate Gleason was the first female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and she played a pivotal role in expanding her family’s machine tool company. She was also the first woman to serve as the president of a national bank.
You might also enjoy our list of names that mean machine.
Karen. Karen Horney was a German psychoanalyst whose theories questioned the traditional Freudian views. She traced the differences in the psychology of men and women to the differences in society and culture rather than biology. The name is also said to be a short form of the name Katherine.
Katherine. The name Katherine has a Greek meaning, “pure.” Creola Katherine Coleman was an American mathematician who famously worked at NASA. Her mathematical prowess contributed to the success of the first and subsequent US crewed spaceflights. She was also the inspiration for the lead character in the film Hidden Figures.
Katia. Katia is the nickname of Catherine Josephine Krafft. She and her husband were French volcanologists and were known as the pioneers in filming and recording volcanoes, getting shots within a few feet close to the lava.
Katsuko. Katsuko is a Japanese word that means victorious child. Saruhashi Katsuko was a geochemist who invented tools to measure carbon dioxide levels in seawater. She also established the Society of Japanese Women Scientists, inspiring Japanese women to follow in her footsteps and pursue science careers.
Laurie. Laurie is another form of the name Laura, which comes from the laurel leaves. It’s the given name of English engineer Laura Annie Wilson, one of the founding members of the Women’s Engineering Society. She was awarded as a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Lillian. Lillian supposedly comes from Lily, referring to the flower. In other theories, it comes from Elizabeth, meaning my God is an oath. American industrial engineer Lillian Gilbreth is credited with being the first industrial psychologist and the mother of modern management, thanks to her contributions to motion study and human factors in scientific management. She was among the first female engineers to earn a Ph.D. and was later dubbed as a Genius in The Art of the Living. She’s the main inspiration behind the Cheaper By the Dozen story.
Linda. Linda means soft, tender, and flexible in German, and means beautiful in Spanish. A notable scientist bearing this name is Linda Brown Buck, an American biologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on the olfactory system and receptors.
Lise. Lise is a form of the name Elizabeth. German Physicist Lise Meitner helped discover the element protactinium and nuclear fission. Albert Einstein praised her as the “German Marie Curie.”
Related post: 59 Names that mean Technology
Girl Names (M-N)
Mae. This name comes from the Roman goddess Maia. Mae Jemison was the first African American woman to reach space aboard the Endeavour space shuttle. She wrote books for children, has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame, and holds nine honorary doctorates.
Mamie. Mamie Phipps Clark was an African-American social psychologist who worked on the psychological effects of racial segregation and societal racism on children. The results of her research became a critical reference in the Brown v. Board of Education court case.
Margaret. The name Margaret means pearl. Irish astronomer Margaret Huggins worked with her husband William to discover spectroscopy and the Doppler shift. There’s also British-American astrophysicist Margaret Burbidge, known for studying the masses, compositions, and rotations of galaxies. Apparently, the name Margaret is quite popular in the science community because those two aren’t the only ones. British-Indian Egyptologist Margaret Murray became the first female educator in archaeology in the UK, and was called “The Grand Old Woman of Egyptology.”
Maria. Maria is the Latin form of Mary, which is supposedly coined from the Egyptian word myr or mr, meaning beloved. Maria Goeppert Mayer was an American theoretical physicist and the second woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics for her studies in the nuclear shell model. Another scientist bearing this name is Maria Mitchell, an American astronomer and educator who was the first woman to work as an astronomer and professor. Mitchell discovered a comet that was later named after her in her honor. Sharing this name too is German entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian. She was one of the pioneering scientific illustrators documenting observations about insects and publishing evidence on the process of metamorphosis. There’s also Maria Gaetana Agnesi, an Italian mathematician, philosopher, theologian, and humanitarian. She wrote the first book discussing differential and integral calculus.
Marie. Marie is the French and Czech variation of Mary. Famous scientist Marie Curie was a Polish chemist and physicist celebrated for discovering radium and polonium. She was the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize and later became the first woman to receive it twice.
Marjorie. Marjorie is another variation of Margaret. Anthropologist and archaeologist Marjorie Lambert was known for her study of the Native American and Hispanic cultures. Her archaeological work was known for its technical detail and cultural sensitivity, publishing nearly 200 papers during her career. There’s also Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a conservationist writer who wrote The Everglades: River of Grass, highlighting the invaluable ecosystem of the Miami River and inspiring the public for its protection.
Martha. This Aramaic name means the lady. It was once held by engineer Martha Coston who developed signaling flares and pyrotechnics in the late 1800s.
Martine. Martine de Bertereau was the first record female mining engineer and mineralogist. Together with her husband, Martine was able to travel throughout Europe and survey lands for mining. Amusingly, she, her husband, and her daughter were accused of witchcraft and stayed in prison for some time. Despite that, her literary contributions provided the world with information about the craft and skills of 17th-century mining.
Mary. Mary and its variations mean beloved or love. There are plenty of inspirational scientists named Mary, starting with Mary Anning, a paleontologist and fossil collector known for her discovery of Jurassic fossil beds along the English Channel. Then, there is Mary Agnes Chase, a botanist who specialized in the study of grass, inventor Mary Anderson who developed the windshield wiper, and Mary Leakey, a British paleo-anthropologist known for discovering several humanoid artifacts and fossils. Lastly, there’s Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to receive the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics.
May. May is a shorter form of Mary or Maria. Norwegian psychologist and neurologist May-Britt Moser shared a Nobel Prize win in Physiology or Medicine for her contribution to the discovery of grid cells in the brain.
Related Post: Enjoying some of the more unique, old-fashioned names on this list? Check out 88 Medieval Baby Names You Can Use Today!
Mina. Surprisingly, this name comes from William, meaning will-helmet. Scottish astronomer Williamina “Mina” Paton Stevens Fleming helped develop a common system for designating stars, cataloging thousands of stars, and discovering the Horsehead Nebula.
Nettie. Nettie Maria Stevens was an American geneticist who discovered the X and Y sex chromosomes.
Nobel. This name comes from the town of Ostra Nobbelov in Southern Sweden. Alfred Nobel was a famous Swedish engineer, chemist, and inventor who went on to create the Nobel Prize. Luckily, the name is gender-neutral.
Nora. This name can be short for Eleanor or Lenora, and its meaning is unknown. Nora Blatch was an American civil engineer who worked for the American Bridge Company and the New York City Board of Water Supply.
Girls Names (O-V)
Olive. The name Olive comes from the olive tree. Olive Dennis was the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s first service engineer. She was responsible for engineering improvements to passenger service.
Patricia. Patricia Era Bath paved many ways for female ophthalmologists by becoming the first female member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute. She also got elected as the first woman honorary staff of UCLA Medical Center and was the first African-American woman doctor to receive a patent for medical purposes.
Rachel. Marine biologist and environmentalist Rachel Carson wrote the book Silent Spring. Her work laid the foundation for the global environmental movement!
Radia. The meaning of the name Radia is unknown, but it belongs to American computer programmer and network engineer Radia Perlman. She invented STP (spanning-tree protocol) and wireless network bridges. Plus, she is known for her work in network security.
Rita. Rita is a shorter form of Margherita, an Italian word that means daisy flower. Rita Levi-Montalcini was an Italian neuroscientist who co-won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her team’s discovery of nerve growth factor.
Roberta. Roberta means bright fame, so it’s a fitting name for the multi-awarded astronaut Roberta Lynn Bondar. She is the first Canadian female astronaut and the first neurologist in space.
Rosalind. This name means tender horse, and it has so many wonderful nicknames, like Rose, Rosa, Lin, and Linda! Rosalind Franklin was a chemist famous for her research in the molecular structure of DNA.
Rosalyn. Rosalyn is an extended form of Rose. Rosalyn Sussman Yalow, an American medical and nuclear physicist, was a co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her contributions to the development of radioimmunoassays of peptide hormones.
Sagan. The meaning of Sagan is unknown, but it’s held by American astronomer Carl Sagan who contributed to our understanding of extraterrestrial life.
Sally. This name is a form of Sarah, meaning lady, princess, or noblewoman. Sally Ride was the first American woman to go into space.
Sau Lan. Sau Lan Wu is a Chinese-American particle physicist. She was a part of the international efforts that helped confirm the existence of the three fundamental building blocks of protons.
Shirley. The name Shirley means bright clearing. Shirley Ann Jackson is the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics. Her research and inventions contributed to the advancement of telecommunications, including touch-tone telephones, fiber optic cables, caller ID, and call waiting. She also became the Chair of Barack Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board.
Sophia. Sophia means wisdom in Greek, and it belongs to Sofya Kovalevskaya, a Russian mathematician known for her work on analysis, partial differential equations, and mechanics. And then there’s Sophie Germaine, a French mathematician known for her work on differential geometry.
Sylvia. Sylvia is from the Latin word silva, meaning wood or forest. Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist, oceanographer, and educator. She was the first woman to become the chief scientist of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. And she was recognized as the first Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine.
Stephanie. This Greek name means crown or wreath. American chemist Stephanie Kwolek performed research that led to the development of Kevlar, the synthetic fiber used in bulletproof vests.
Temple. This name comes from a surname that originally referred to people associated with the Knights Templar. Temple Grandin is an American zoologist known for improving conditions in handling livestock and animal welfare.
Tessy. Tessy is a shorter version of Theresa, which means summer and harvest. Dr. Tessy Thomas was an Indian Scientist and the Director General of Aeronautical Systems. She is the first woman to lead a missile project in India.
Tsuneko. Tsuneko translates to “always a child” in Japanese. A great woman scientist with this name is Tsuneko Okazaki. She is one of the Japanese pioneers in molecular biology and is best known for her research on DNA replication and the discovery of the Okazaki fragments with her husband.
Toshiko. Toshiko is a Japanese name that means clever child. Toshiko Yuasa was more than clever for her name. She was a Japanese nuclear scientist and the first Japanese woman physicist. She created her own laboratory, where she invented equipment for her research on radioactivity and beta decay.
Valentina. Valentina means strong, vigorous, and healthy. Valentina Tereshkova is a Soviet cosmonaut and engineer who became the first woman in space. From being a textile factory worker to becoming a major rank in the Air Force, Valentina Tereshkova surely lived up to her name!
Vera. Vera means faith in Russian and true in Latin. One of the famous scientists bearing this name is Vera Fedorovna Gaze, a Russian astronomer. She studied the phenomena in outer space and discovered about 150 nebulae, plus minor planets like the planet 2388 Gase and the Gaze Crater Venus. These discoveries were named after her. Another astronomer with this name is Vera Florence Rubin, who pioneered the work on galaxy rotation rate. Her research provided evidence for the existence of dark matter. Lastly, there’s Vera Danchakoff, a Russian anatomist, cell biologist, and embryologist. She was known as “the mother of stem cells.”
Virginia. American obstetrical anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar invented the Apgar score, a way to improve infant mortality. Her method checks a baby’s health at birth at an impressive speed, and it’s still used today!
Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina is from the German name Willehelm, which means desire and protection. Wilhelmina Feemster Jashemski was an American archaeologist who pioneered garden archaeology. Her work focused on the evidence of ancient gardens and settings in ancient Pompeii.
Yvonne. Yvonne Barr was an Irish virologist who co-discovered the Epstein-Barr Virus, a type of virus that increases the risks of cancer.
Zhenyi. Zhenyi Wang was a Chinese astronomer in the late 1700s. She went against the norms and educated herself in various sciences, including mathematics, geography, and medicine. In her article “Dispute of the Procession of the Equinoxes,” she was able to explain and prove the movements of equinoxes.
Zora. Zora means dawn and is a shorter form of Aurora. Zora Neale Hurston was an African-American anthropologist and writer whose works focused on folklore, cultures, rituals, and ethnicity. She published novels and articles that featured these lores and the racial struggles during the time.
Zulema. Zulema L’Astròloga was a Moorish astronomer who assisted James I the Conqueror, King of Aragorn in the early 1200s.
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Science Boy Names: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Names for Babies!
- Amedeo
- Aston
- Ernst
- Kurt
- Pascal
- Otto
- Rene
- Thales
- Tycho
- Wallace
Luckily for people looking for boys’ names, there are so many name ideas from ancient history, medieval times, and even modern times! Though many of these unique and foreign names are uncommon in the US, there are also many science baby names that could fly under the radar or that are easily pronounced!
Science Boy Names (A)
Alan. This name’s meaning is uncertain, but some theories say it means handsome. Alan Turing was a mathematician and computer scientist known for his work with encryption and the Turing Test.
Albert. The name Albert means noble and bright, and both apply to the most popular holder of the name. Albert Einstein was a physicist known for his work on the theory of relativity. There’s also Albertus Magnus, a German mathematician in the 12th century
Alexander. This name means defending men, and it popularly belongs to Alexander the Great, one of the most famous men in history. On the scientific side, Alexander Grothendieck was a German mathematician who contributed to algebraic geometry. There’s also Alexandre Eiffel, known as “the magician of iron.” He was a French engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower. Plus, he constructed several bridges for France’s railway network
Alfred. Meaning: elf counsel. Alfred North Whitehead was a British mathematician known for Principia Mathematica. An even more popular scientist is Alfred Nobel, who was a Swedish chemist known for inventing dynamite and other explosives. He started the Nobel Prize organization. Lastly, there’s Alfred Werner, a Swiss chemist who founded coordination chemistry
Amar. The name Amar means immortal or long-lived. Amar Bose is an American engineer who specialized in psychoacoustics and speaker technology. If you haven’t already guessed it, he’s the founder of the Bose Corporation, which is known for its high-quality acoustics and sound systems.
Amedeo. You may have heard the variation of this name, Amadeus, which means love of God. Amedeo Avogadro was an Italian scientist known as the founder of the atomic molecular theory. Most famously, he formulated Avogadro’s Law.
Anders. This form of Andrew means “manly.” Anders Jonas Ångström was a famous physicist.
Antoine. Antoine Lavisier was a French chemist known as the “father of modern chemistry.” He’s the one who named hydrogen and oxygen.
Aston. This old English name means east town. Francis Aston was a British scientist famous for developing the mass spectrograph and discovering 212 naturally occurring isotopes.
Augustus. This Roman name means exalted. Augustus De Morgan was a British mathematician known for his work on universal algebra.
Boys (B-D)
Benjamin. This name means son of the south in Hebrew. Benjamin Franklin was a famous American statesman, inventor, scientist, and philosopher.
Bernhard. Bernhard means brave bear, and it was once held by Bernhard Riemann, a German mathematician who contributed to number theory and differential geometry.
Blaise. Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician and philosopher known for Pascal’s Wager, Pascal’s Triangle, Pascal’s Law, and Pascal’s Theorem. Talk about a true genius!
Carl. This name may mean “man” or “army.” Carl Gauss was a famous mathematician who carried the name.
Chaim. Meaning: life. Chaim Weizmann was a British chemist responsible for the discovery of industrial fermentation, a process in which certain chemicals mass-produce another substance.
Charles. Meaning: man. Charles Messier was a French astronomer, and Charles Babbage was a scientist and mathematician known as the father of computers.
Clarence. This British name comes from the name of the town Clare. Clarence Birdseye was the founder of the technique for freezing food. Luckily, it’s a gender-neutral name that you can use for a girl.
Claude. Claude is a French name that may mean crippled. Claude Pouillet was a French physicist and Claude Bernard was a French physiologist.
Claudius. Claudius Ptolemy was an ancient Greek astronomer.
Dalton. Meaning: valley town. English chemist John Dalton theorized the existence of atoms.
Daniel. This biblical name means God is my judge. Daniel Bernoulli was a Swiss mathematician known for Bernoulli’s Principle.
Deke. Deke was the nickname of Donald Kent Slayton, a World War II pilot who later became an astronaut and NASA administrator.
Dimitri. This name comes from the Greek goddess Demeter, possibly meaning “earth mother.” Dmitriy Mendeleev was a Russian chemist who devised the periodic table of the elements
Related post: Names that mean Earth
Boys Names (E)
Edison. Edison means son of Adam, and it belongs to one of the most popular inventors throughout history, Thomas Edison.
Edward. Meaning: rich guard. Edward Lorenz was an American mathematician known for his contributions to Chaos Theory, Lorenz Attractor, and the Butterfly Effect. Next, there’s Eduard Buchner, a German chemist known for his revolutionary work on enzymes in the biochemistry field.
Edwin. Meaning: rich friend. Astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon. In addition, Edwin Hubble was an American astronomer. And finally, Edwin Krebs was an American biochemist known for his work with enzymes and proteins.
Elon. You probably know who we’re talking about here! Elon Musk is a modern inventor famous for developing PayPal, SpaceX, and Tesla electric cars.
You might also enjoy reading: Names That Mean Electric or Electricity
Enrico. Before looking names up, I had no idea this Italian name came from the name Henry, which means home ruler. Physicist Enrico Fermi was the creator of the world’s first nuclear reactor.
Erasmus. Meaning: beloved. Erasmus was Charles Darwin’s grandfather. He founded the Lunar Society, a group of philosophers and industrialists, and wrote poems about evolution and history.
Ernst. This German, Dutch, and Scandinavian form of Ernest means “serious.” Richard Ernst is a Swiss chemist known for his developments of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). His work led to the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in medical diagnostics.
Related post: Find more names that mean magnetic.
Escher. This German name refers to someone from places called Esch, Esche, or Eschen. Maurits Escher was a Dutch mathematician known for his drawing and printing works.
Euclid. Meaning: good glory. Euclid was a Geek mathematician known for his work on Euclidean geometry.
Evariste. This French name means “well-pleasing.” Evariste Galios was a French mathematician known for his work on the theory of equations.
You might also like names that mean Carpenter.
Science Boys Names (F)
Felix. Felix means lucky, and it belongs to Felix Klein, a German mathematician known for his work on group theory and non-Euclidean geometry.
Ferdinand. Meaning: brave journey. Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian-Hungarian automotive engineer famous for three things: founding the Porsche automobile company, creating the first gas-electric hybrid, and developing the Volkswagen Beetle.
Fleming. This name refers to a person from Flanders in the Netherlands. Alexander Fleming was a botanist and biologist, famous for his discovery of benzylpenicillin.
Francis. This name originally referred to someone from France. I already mentioned Francis Aston, a British scientist famous for developing the mass spectrograph and discovering 212 naturally occurring isotopes. There’s also Sir Francis Bacon, an English philosopher credited with developing the scientific method. Lastly, Francis Crick was a British biologist known for discovering the double helix structure of DNA.
Related post: Learn about 76 names that mean doctor here!
Frederick. Frederick means “peaceful ruler.” Sir David Frederick Attenborough is an English natural historian, well-known for his nature documentaries. There’s also Frederick Sanger, a two-time Nobel Prize-winning chemist who is famous for determining the base sequences in DNA.
Fritz. Fritz is a German name that comes from the name Friedrich, which means “peaceful ruler.” First, there’s Fritz Haber, a German chemist known for his work on synthesizing ammonia and discovering calcium, sodium, potassium, and boron. And then there’s Fritz Lippman, a German-American biochemist who co-discovered coenzyme A.
Boys (G)
Galileo. This name means “from Galilee,” which may refer to the rolling waves of the sea. Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer in the Renaissance era, and he was dubbed the father of modern science.
Gaspard. This name is the French version of Jasper, which means “treasurer.” Gaspard Monge was a French mathematician known for his work on descriptive geometry.
George. Meaning: farmer. George Boole was an English mathematician known for his work on Boolean algebra. There’s also Georg Cantor, a German mathematician known for his work on set theory.
Gerhard. This German form of Gerard means “brave spear.” Gerhard Herzberg was a German-born Canadian physicist known for pioneering molecular spectroscopy.
Giovanni. This Italian form of John means “Yaweh is gracious.” Giovanni Cassini was an Italian astronomer, engineer, and mathematician.
Giulio. This Italian form of Julius may be related to the Roman god Jupiter. Giulio Natta was an Italian chemist known for his work on polymers.
Glenn. Meaning: valley. John Glenn was an astronaut, well-known for being the first American to orbit Earth.
Gottfried. This name is a bit uncommon, and it means peace of God. Gottfreid Leibniz was a German mathematician known for his work on calculus.
Gottlieb. Another uncommon name that means beloved God. Gottlieb Daimler was a German industrial engineer famous for his work on the internal combustion engine.
Graham. This name comes from a Scottish surname that means “gravelly homestead.” Thomas Graham was a chemist famous for his work on the diffusion of gases, which later became known as Graham’s Law. There’s also the famous inventor Alexander Graham Bell who devised the telephone.
Gregor. Meaning: watchful. Gregor Mendel was a Czech scientist who studied genetics, and Grigori Perelman was a Russian mathematician known for his work on Riemannian geometry.
Hawking. This name comes from the word hawk—Stephen Hawking was an American theoretical physicist and cosmologist.
Henri. This French form of Henry comes from the Germanic name Heimrich, which means “home-ruler.” Henri Poincare was a French mathematician known for the Poincaré Conjecture. A more popular Henry is Henry Ford, an American industrialist famous for founding the Ford Motor Company and developing the assembly line.
Herschel. This Yiddish name means “deer.” William Herschel was a British astronomer.
Hubble. This Norman name means “brave spirit,” and it belongs to Edwin Hubble, a known American astronomer.
Boys Names (I-J)
Irving. This name originated in Scotland, where it meant “green water.” Irving Langmuir was an American chemist and physicist. He’s the winner of the 1932 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work on surface chemistry.
Isaac. This Hebrew name means “he will laugh.” Sir Isaac Newton was an English astronomer best known for developing the universal law of gravitation.
Jacob. Jacob means “supplanter” in Greek. Swiss mathematician Jacob Bernoulli was known for his work on the Bernoulli Differential Equation and Bernoulli Numbers.
James. The name James comes from the Hebrew name Jacob. James Watt was a scientist who invented the steam engine.
Jens. Jens is a Danish form of John, which means “Yaweh is gracious.” Jens Skou is a Danish scientist known for his research in enzymes, including the ion pumps that control muscle contraction.
Johnathan. Another name that stems from John! Johann Bernoulli was a Swiss mathematician known for the development of infinitesimal calculus. Meanwhile, Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press, and Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer. There’s also John Napier, a Scottish mathematician known for his work on logarithms., and John Dalton, a chemist famous for identifying and presenting the atomic theory.
Joseph. This name means “he will add” in Hebrew, and it’s held by plenty of scientists. There’s Joseph Fourier, a French mathematician known for Fourier transformations, and Joseph Lagrange, an Italian mathematician known for his work on number theory. On top of that, Sir Joseph William Bazalgette was a British civil engineer who designed the London sewer system. Lastly, Sir Joseph Banks was a famous botanist and voyager along with Captain James Cook. He discovered many new plants in the South Seas.
Boys Names (K-L)
Karl. This name is a variation of Charles, meaning “man.” German automobile engineer Karl Benz founded several factories, including an iron foundry, a factory for sheet metal working, and the cars that are now known as Mercedes-Benz
Kepler. This name comes from a German surname referring to someone who makes cloaks or hoods. Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer.
Klein. Meaning: small or little. German mathematician Felix Klein is popular for his work on group theory and non-Euclidean geometry.
Kurt. The name Kurt means courteous or brave, and it has German and Turkish origins. Austrian mathematician Kurt Godel developed Gödel’s Completeness Theorem.
Leonardo. Meaning: brave lion. Leonardo Da Vinci was an inventor and artist whose models proved effective 500 years later. Father of the plastics industry Leo Baekeland was also a Belgian-American chemist who invented photographic paper and the plastic Bakelite. Lastly, Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler developed Euler’s Formula.
Linus. Meaning: flax. Linus Pauling was an American chemist known as one of the founders of quantum chemistry. Plus, there’s Finnish-American software engineer Linus Torvalds who invented the Linux operating system.
Liu. Meaning: willow tree. Chinese mathematician Liu Hui wrote The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art.
Lorenz. This name comes from Laurence, meaning laurel. Edward Lorenz was an American mathematician known for his contributions to Chaos Theory, Lorenz Attractor, and the Butterfly Effect
Louis. Meaning: famous battle. Louis Pasteur was a French chemist known for discoveries related to tartaric acid, chiral molecules, and crystallography.
Luca. Luca Pacioli was an Italian mathematician known for writing one of the most popular mathematics books in history, Summa de Arithmetica.
Boys Names (M-O)
Magnus. This Latin name means great. Albertus Magnus was a German mathematician in the 12th century.
Mario. Did you know that the names Mario and Maurots come from Mars, the Roman god of war? Mario Molina is a Nobel Prize winning chemist who co-discovered the hole in the ozone layer. Meanwhile, Maurits Escher was a Dutch mathematician known for his drawing and printing works.
Michael. Meaning: who is like God? Michael Faraday was a chemist famous for his contributions to electrochemistry and electromagnetism.
Mo. Mohamed means “praised” or “commendable” in Arabic, and it’s the most popular name in the Islamic world because it’s Prophet Mohamed’s name. Sudanese-born British electrical engineer Dr Mohamed “Mo” Ibrahim founded Celtel International. It’s now one of Africa’s largest mobile communication service providers.
Neil. Meaning: champion or cloud. Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon, really living up to the meaning of his name!
Newton. Meaning: new town. The name belongs to the one and only Sir Isaac Newton.
Nicholas. Meaning: victory of the people. Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer, and Nikola Tesla was a scientist famous for his inventions and research on AC electricity, the Tesla coil, and the AC induction motor.
Odd. Meaning: point of a sword. Odd Hassel was a Norwegian chemist famous for his study of the three-dimensional geometric structure of molecules.
Omar. This Arabic name means talented speaker. Persian mathematician Omar Khayyam was a mathematician who developed the Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra. He was also an eloquent poet, living up to his name.
Otto. This German name means wealth and fortune. Otto Hahn was a German chemist, often known as the “father of nuclear chemistry.”
Boys Science Names (P-S)
Pascal. Meaning: relating to Easter. Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician known for Pascal’s Wager, Pascal’s Triangle, Pascal’s Law, and Pascal’s Theorem.
Paul. The name Paul comes from a Latin word that means humble. Paul Dirac was an English theoretical physicist known as a pioneer in quantum mechanics.
Pierre. This name comes from Peter, which means stone. Pierre de Fermat was a French mathematician known for Fermat’s Last Theorem.
Prafulla. Prafulla Ray was an Indian scientist known as “the father of Indian pharmaceuticals.”
Rene. The name Rene means born again, and it’s a gender-neutral name. Rene Descartes was a French mathematician known for his work on analytical geometry.
Roald. This modern form of an Old Norse name means famous ruler. Roald Hoffman is an American chemist known for his work and theories on chemical reactions and quantum mechanics.
Robert. The name Robert means bright fame. Robert Boyle was famous for being one of the first people to apply the scientific method to chemistry and physics.
Rudolf. This name comes from Germanic words meaning fame and wolf. Rudolf Diesel was a German mechanical engineer famous for inventing the Diesel engine.
Svante. This Swedish name means blessed people. Svante Arrhenius was a chemist famous for developing the Arrhenius equation, which calculates chemical reaction rates.
Boy Names (T-W)
Tadeusz. Did you know that this name comes from Thaddeus, which might mean heart in Aramaic? Or, it could be related to Theodore, which means the gift of god. Anyway, Polish-born Swiss chemist Tadeusz Reichstein discovered hormones of the adrenal cortex, which led to the isolation of cortisone for the treatment of arthritis.
Thales. Meaning: to blossom. Thales was a Greek mathematician known for the Thales Theorem.
Thomas. The name Thomas means twin. Thomas Graham was a chemist famous for his work on the diffusion of gases. He’s also the name behind Graham’s Law.
Tycho. I recently learned that the name Tycho actually comes from the Old Norse word for thunder, and it’s related to the name of the Norse god Thor. Tycho Brahe was a Danish astronomer.
Wallace. Meaning: Welsh or foreigner. Wallace Hume Carothers was an American chemist who invented the nylon and neoprene rubber.
Walther. This variation of Walter means ruler of the army. Walther Nernst was a German chemist famous for his contributions to thermochemistry and the development of the Nernst Equation.
William. Meaning: will-helmet. William Hamilton was an Irish mathematician known for Hamiltonian mechanics, and William Zeise was a Danish chemist famous for synthesizing the first organometallic compound. Plus, there’s British astronomer William Herschel!
Cool Science Names
If you’re looking for cool science names that are easy to pronounce, here’s a compilation:
- Aber
- Amedeo
- Dian
- Ernst
- Hypatia
- Radia
- Sagan
- Thales
- Tycho
- Walther.
These unique science baby names are truly unique, and most people will probably pronounce them correctly!
Names that mean science
Some names that mean science include Chanwit, Fannur, Khoa, Renat, Vidaya, Srividya, and Suwit. Meanwhile, names that mean knowledge or learning include Daris, Episeteme, Ilma, Ismene, Natthika, Prin, and Talib.
Science baby names don’t have to come from famous scientists! These names are a great way to give your child’s name a nerdy science twist without naming them after an actual scientist.
Here are more names that mean science or knowledge:
- Chanwit. This Thai name comes from the words meaning expert and science.
- Daris. I love this interesting Bosnian name—it’s simple to pronounce and means studying or learning. In Bosnia, it’s typically a male name, but I think it could work as a girl’s name too!
- Episteme. This name means knowledge in Greek.
- Fannur. In Persian, Fannur means science, knowledge, and learning.
- Ilma. Another Bosnian name meaning knowledge.
- Ismene. Ismene comes from Greek mythology and means knowledge.
- Khoa comes from a Vietnamese word meaning science
- Natthika is a Thai name meaning wise, intelligent, and knowledgeable.
- Prin. This unisex name may come from the Thai words for knowledge or understanding.
- Renat. This name is a form of Renatus, and in Russian, it refers to scientists.
- Talib. Talib means seeker of knowledge or student in Arabic.
- Vidya. In Sanskrit, this name means knowledge, science, or learning. Related names include Srividya.
- Suwit. Suwit comes from the Thai words meaning good, well, and science.
Biology Inspired Baby Names
If you’re only interested in the biology field of science, you may want to choose a biology-coded name for your child. Here’s a collection of biology inspired baby names you can use:
- Gene. Gene is a nice name that’s easy on the ears, and it also has a nerdy twist to it because it comes from genes—the most interesting branch of biology!
- Darwin. If you’re THAT interested in biology, maybe you’d love to name your child after one of the most famous biologists in history.
- Eva. Eva is a twisted abbreviation of the word evolution—another name related to Darwin and his theories.
- Fauna. Fauna is a unique feminine name that refers to animals living in a specific period of time or region. It’s a scientific name that’s not too nerdy—a win-win!
- Marina. If you’ve always been impressed by the sheer size of the ocean and its depth, you may want to choose the name Marina for your little girl. It’s a twisted version of the word marine.
Conclusions: Baby Names for Science Nerds
Whether you’re looking for a science baby name inspired by famous people from history, or names that mean science, I hope you’ve found some to add to your list of potential baby names!
If you have science baby names in mind that aren’t on my list, please share them in the comments! I’d love to add new ideas to my list or hear about how you chose the name you love!
If you’re looking for more names, check out these related posts:
- 49 Uniquely Geeky Engineering Baby Names here
- 135 Chemistry Related Names here
- If you want an even broader look, check my list of 127 Nerdy Names from Sci-Fi, Fantasy, TV, literature, and more here!
Sources: I use Behind the Name for name meanings and origins.
And a big thanks to Reddit for tons of ideas! (Source 1 and Source 2).
