Top 100 Literary Names For Your Baby
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With the amount of good books out there, literary baby names can be difficult to narrow down.
These literary baby names come from a variety of different famous books from Catcher in the Rye to Game of Thrones to Little Women. Naming your baby after literary greats such as Jane Austen may instill a love of reading in them that they will carry for the rest of their lives.
So we have put together a list of the top 100 literary name for babies, which will you choose?
For more baby name inspiration, take a look at this list of the best boy names ending in -er or this list of the best girls' names ending in -on.
Classic Literary Baby Names For Girls
These famous female literary characters' names all come from classic books that most people have at least heard of, if not read. These baby names from books are perfect for your baby names list.
1. Clarisse (Latin), meaning "clear" and "bright," the name of a character from Fahrenheit 451
2. Daisy (Old English), meaning "day" and "eye", the name of a character from The Great Gatsby
3. Estella (Latin), meaning "star," the name of a character from Great Expectations
4. Georgianna (Old Greek), meaning "farmer," the name of a character from Pride and Prejudice
5. Holiday (English), meaning “holy day,” from Breakfast at Tiffany's
6. Jane (Hebrew), meaning "Yahweh is merciful," a name shared by Jane Eyre.
7. Lenina (English), meaning "like a lion," the name of a character from Brave New World
8. Lydia (Old Greek), meaning "woman from Lydia," the name of a character from Pride and Prejudice
9. Nora (Old Provencal), meaning "honored" and "honorable", the name of a character from a play called A Doll's House
Classic Literary Baby Names For Boys
These famous male literary baby names are from some of the most well known books out there. These baby names from timeless classics are perfect for your baby boy.
10. Arthur (Celtic), meaning “art” and “bear,” the name of a character in The Scarlet Letter
11. Atticus (Latin), meaning “from Attica,” the name of an important character from To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a lawyer
12. Gilbert (Germanic), meaning "bright pledge," the name of a character from Anne of Green Gables
13. Milo (Slavonic), meaning "imitating", the name of a lieutenant character from Catch-22
14. Philip (Old Greek), meaning "friend of horses," the name of a character from Great Expectations, the character is nicknamed Pip
15. Ralph (Germanic), meaning "wise" and "strong," the name of a character from Lord of the Flies
16. Simon (Hebrew), meaning "he who hears" and "God has heard," the name of a character from Lord of the Flies
17. Wilbur (Germanic), meaning "desire" and "protection," the name of a lovable pig from Charlotte's Web
18. Winston (Old English), meaning "friend" and "stone," the name of the main character from 1984
Girl Baby Names From Children's Books
These literary baby names come from famous literary characters in popular children’s books such as ‘Harry Potter’.
19. Augusta, this name comes from ‘Harry Potter’, being the name of Neville Longbottom's grandmother
20. Coraline (English), form of the name Coral, the name of the title character in Coraline
21. Isolde (Old French), meaning "beautiful" and "fair," the name of one of the title characters in a children's novel that is the retelling of an ancient legend
22. Junie (English), a form of June, derived from the month, the name of the title character in children’s books Junie B Jones
23. Matilda (Germanic), meaning “mighty in battle,” the name of the title character in Matilda
24. Violet (English), the name of one of three siblings in the Series of Unfortunate Events series
Boy Baby Names From Children's Books
These names come from popular literary characters in some famous children’s books.
25. Christopher (Old Greek), meaning “bearing Christ,” named after Christopher Robin, a character in Winnie The Pooh, and the son of the author
26. Edmund (Old English), meaning “wealthy guard,” named after one of the siblings in the Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe series
27. Klaus (Scandinavian), meaning “victor of the people,” named after one of the siblings in the A Series of Unfortunate Events books
28. Peter (Old Greek), meaning “rock” and “stone,” named after one of the siblings in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
29. Phineas (Hebrew), meaning “oracle,” the name of a former headmaster in the Harry Potter literary series
30. Tristan (Celtic), meaning "riot" and "tumult," one of the title characters in a children's novel that is the retelling of an ancient legend
Baby Names From Fairy Tales
These fairy tale names come from classics.
31. Alice (Czech), girls' name meaning “of a noble kind,” after the title character in Alice in Wonderland
32. Aurora (Latin), girls' name meaning “dawn,” after the main character in Sleeping Beauty
33. Jack (Middle English), boys' name that was slang for “man,” after many fairytale characters from stories such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Jack and Jill
34. Tom (Scandinavian), from the boys' name Thomas, meaning “twin,” the title character from Tom Thumb
Names Of Famous Female Authors
These famous female authors have written some popular and classic books. Who wouldn’t want to name their daughter after a famous author like Jane Austen?
35. Agatha (Old Greek), derived from a word meaning "kind" and "good," named after Agatha Christie who wrote novels and short stories
36. Charlotte (Germanic), meaning “free man,” named after Charlotte Bronte the author of Jane Eyre
37. Emily (Latin), derived from a word meaning "imitating" and "rivaling," named after Emily Bronte who is known for her novel Wuthering Heights
38. Harper (Old English), meaning "harp player," named after Harper Lee, a novelist best known for To Kill A Mockingbird
39. Louisa (Germanic), meaning "fights with honor," named after Louisa May Alcott who was a novelist best known for Little Women and its sequels
40. Mary (Hebrew), meaning "sea of bitterness" and "rebelliousness," named after Mary Shelley, a novelist known for Frankenstein
41. Maya (Latin), meaning "great," named after Maya Angelou who was a poet, and civil rights activist
42. Toni (France), meaning "worth of praise," named after Toni Morrison who was a novelist who wrote The Bluest Eye
Names Of Famous Male Authors
Why not name your son after a talented and inspirational author?
43. Aldous (English), meaning “from the old house,” named after Aldous Huxley
44. Charles (Old German), meaning "man" and "free man," named after Charles Dickens who wrote Great Expectations
45. Edgar (Old English), meaning "wealthy spear" and "owner of many spears," named after Edgar Allan Poe who was a writer and poet
46. George (Old Greek), meaning "farmer" and "earthworker," named after George Orwell who was a novelist known for 1984 and Animal Farm
47. Henrik (Germanic), meaning "ruler of the home," named after Henrik Ibsen who was a Norwegian playwright known for A Doll's House
48. Mark (Latin), meaning "war-like" and "dedicated to Mars," named after Mark Twain who wrote the Adventures of Tom Sawyer
49. Oscar (English), meaning "god spear" and "gentle friend," named after Oscar Wilde who was an Irish poet and playwright
50. William (Germanic), meaning “desire” and “protection,” after the man considered to be the greatest English writer in history, William Shakespeare
Shakespearean Girl Baby Names
These Shakespeare girl names come straight from William Shakespeare’s plays and stories.
51. Celia (Latin), meaning “heaven” and “sky,”the name of a character from As Your Like it
52. Cordelia (Latin), meaning “little heart,” the name of a character from King Lear
53. Helena (Old Greek), meaning “bright one” and “shining one,” the name of a character from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
54. Hermia (Old Greek), meaning “heap of stones,” the name of a character from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
55. Juliet (Latin), meaning “Jupiter’s Child,” the name of the title character from Romeo and Juliet
56. Luciana (Spanish), meaning “bright” and “born at daybreak,” the name of a character from The Comedy of Errors
57. Ophelia (Old Greek), meaning “help” and “profit,” the name of a character from Hamlet
58. Portia (Latin), meaning “pig,” the name of a character from Merchant of Venice
59. Rosalind (Germanic), meaning “pretty rose,” the name of a character from As You Like It
60. Titania (Old Greek), meaning “land of giants,” the name of a character from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
61. Viola (Italy), derived from violet, the name of a character from Twelfth Night
Shakespearean Boy Baby Names
These Shakespeare baby names are the perfect literary baby names for those who love his plays.
62. Adrian (German), meaning “dark,” the name of a character from The Tempest
63. Alonso (Spanish), meaning “eager for battle,” the name of a character from The Tempest
64. Antonio (Spanish), meaning “worthy of praise,” the name of a character from Merchant of Venice
65. Cassio (English), variant of Cassius meaning “empty” and “vain,” the name of a character from Othello
66. Claudius (Latin), meaning “lame” and “limping,” the name of a character from Hamlet
67. Duncan (Celtic), meaning “brown warrior” and “brown head,” the name of a character from Macbeth
68. Fabian (Latin), meaning “grower of beans,” the name of a character from Twelfth Night
69. Malcolm (Celtic), meaning “disciple of Saint Columba,” the name of a character from Macbeth
70. Orlando (Germanic), meaning “famous landowner,” the name of a character from As You Like It
71. Romeo (Latin), meaning “pilgrim to Rome,” the name of one of the title characters from Romeo and Juliet
72. Valencio (Latin), meaning “power,” the name of a character from Taming of the Shrew
Edgar Allan Poe Girl Names
These girl literary names are from some of Edgar Allan Poe’s most popular poems and stories.
73. Annabel (Scottish), meaning “beautiful grace,” the title character from a Poe poem titled Annabel Lee
74. Camile (Latin), meaning “acolyte” and “attendant at a ritual,” the name of a character from The Mystery of Marie Roget
75. Lenore (Old Greek), meaning “bright one” and “shining one,” the title character of a poem, it is also the name for his lost love in the Raven
76. Madeline (Hebrew), meaning “of Magdala,” a character from the Fall of the House of Usher
77. Marie (Czech), meaning “to swell” and “wished-for-child,” the title character from the Mystery of Marie Roget
78. Rowena (Welsh), meaning “slender” and “fair,” the name of a character from Ligeia
Edgar Allan Poe Boy Names
These baby names come from popular Edgar Allan Poe short stories and poems.
79. Adolphe (German), meaning “noble wolf,” a character from Murders from the Rue Morgue
80. Julien (Old Greek), meaning “Jupiter’s Child,” a character from The Premature Burial
81. Pluto (Old Greek), meaning “wealth,” the name of the cat in The Black Cat
82. Roderick (Germanic), meaning “famously powerful,” a character from the Fall of the House of Usher
83. Thomas (Aramaic), meaning “twin,” a character from The Balloon-Hoax
84. Walter (Germanic), meaning “folk ruler” and “warrior,’ a character from The Gold Bug
Non-Binary Literary Names
Sometimes you want to choose a first name that will be great with any baby, boy or girl.
85. Charlie (Germanic), meaning “free man,” the name of the title character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
86. Darcy (Irish), meaning “dark,” the name of a character from Pride and Prejudice
87. Sawyer (English), meaning “woodcutter,” the surname of Tom Sawyer from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer
88. Spencer (French), meaning “keeper of provisions,” the surname of the history teacher in Catcher in the Rye
89. Theo (Old Greek), meaning “gift of god,“ typically a nickname for Theodore or Theodora, it is a name from The Goldfinch
90. Waverley (English), meaning “quaking aspen-tree meadow,” the surname of the title character in Waverley
Rare And Unique Literary Names
These names with character are perfect for the parents who want to choose a first name that not only means something to them but will also stand out in the crowd.
91. Aerin (Celtic), a girls' name potentially derived from a name meaning “Irish woman,” from JRR Tolkien
92. Caspian (English), a boys' name similar to Cassian which means “empty,” the title character of C.S. Lewis’ book titled Prince Caspian
93. Eddard (English), boys' name derived from Edward meaning “wealthy guardian,” a character from The Game of Thrones book series, a Song of Ice and Fire
94. Guinevere (Old Welsh), girls' name meaning “fair” and “smooth,” the name of the wife of King Arthur of Camelot
95. Gulliver (English), boys' name meaning “glutton,” the name of the title character in Gulliver’s Travels
96. Heathcliff (English), boys' name meaning “from the heath cliff,” the name of a character from Wuthering Heights
97. Primrose (Spanish), girls' name meaning “first rose,” the name of the sister in The Hunger Games
98. Roald (German), boys' name meaning “famous leader,” the name of the novelist Roald Dahl
99. Rue (English), gender neutral name derived from the evergreen shrub, a character from The Hunger Games
100. Temple (English), girls' name meaning “shrine,” the name of a character from Sanctuary by William Faulkner
Kidadl has lots of great baby names articles to inspire you. If you liked our suggestions for literary baby names then why not take a look at these Disney boy names, or for something different take a look at these modern girl names.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art
Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.
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