Literary baby names
Literary baby names to inspire your shortlist.
English
Of the Caspian Sea
Latin
From Attica
Greek
Helper, aid
French
Page boy, usher
Latin
From the Latin word for violet, famously borne by the heroine of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
English
From a surname and place name meaning clearing on a bank, associated with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Latin
From the Roman family name Vergilius, of uncertain meaning, borne by the great Roman poet.
Germanic
Of uncertain meaning, possibly from the Germanic element lind, meaning soft or serpent, popularized by Alexander Pope's poetry.
Greek
From Greek Homeros, meaning hostage or pledge, borne by the epic poet of the Iliad and Odyssey.
Persian
From Persian Roshanak, meaning dawn or bright, the name of Alexander the Great's wife.
Latin
From the Roman family name Horatius, of uncertain meaning, borne by the famous Roman poet.
Latin
Literary elaboration of Lucia meaning light, coined by Cervantes in Don Quixote.
Scottish
Literary name created by R.D. Blackmore for his character, meaning from Lorne.
Germanic/Spanish
From Germanic hros meaning horse and linda meaning pretty, meaning pretty horse or beautiful rose.
Greek
Variant of Leonore from Greek elements, meaning light or compassion.
Greek
Latin form of Greek Odysseus meaning wrathful or full of wrath.
Irish/Gaelic
Sorrowful or tragic.
Greek/Latin
Related to Leah or Lilia.
Irish/Celtic (variant of Deirdre)
Sorrowful.
English (variant of Byron)
From the cattleshed.
Latin via French
Variant of Tristan, from Tristis meaning sad.
Greek
Derived from ion, meaning violet, or from the Scottish island of Iona.
Hebrew/Greek
Combination of Lee or Leah with -ora, meaning light or God has helped me.
Latin
Derived from portia, possibly from the Roman Porcia family.
Irish
Sorrow; a sad and sorrowful lady.
Old English
Famous friend; renowned and cherished.
Greek/Irish
Violet flower; noble and valuable.
Greek
Helper and aid.
Hebrew
God is my God, devoted to the divine; variant of Elias or Elliott.
Irish/Greek
Irish form of Mary or Maura; derived from Latin meaning dark.
Latin/Spanish
From Leo meaning lion and honor combined, or from Eleanor.
Greek
Variant of Alethea, from Greek aletheia meaning truth.
Greek
From Greek Kore meaning maiden or from the Greek poet Corinna.
Irish/Hebrew
Irish form of Joan or Jeanne, from Hebrew Yohanna meaning God is gracious.
Greek
From Greek Leo meaning lion and aner meaning man.
Hebrew and French
Of the sea or beloved of God; a variant of Marie.
Latin
Living and lively; from the Latin vivus.
Germanic and Spanish
Famous in battle; Spanish variant of Eloise.
Welsh
The Latin name for Wales, related to Cymru.
Greek
Prophetess or oracle.
English
Angel or messenger; variant of Angelica.
Italian
Free one; Italian form of Frances.
French
Cheerful or joyful; French variant of Jocelyn.
Latin/Celtic
Variant of Tristan, from tristis meaning sorrowful or sad.
Greek
Most holy, from Ariadne.
Irish and English
From lark or Irish O'Lorcain.
Greek
Blissful from Elysium.
Welsh
White-browed or noble in Welsh tradition, from 'el' meaning 'noble' and 'gwyn' meaning 'white'.
English archaic/nautical
Archaic English nautical term meaning 'readily', 'nimbly', or 'with agility'.
Greek
Glorious or famous, from the Greek kleos.
Latin
Latin name from 'Beatrix' meaning 'she who brings happiness' or 'blessed'.
Welsh
Fair or good, possibly from glen and water valley.
Greek
Derived from Greek aletheia meaning truth or truthfulness and sincerity.
Greek
From kosmos, meaning order or universe.
Welsh
Welsh meaning noble maiden.
English occupational
One who authors or writes; a creative professional.
Hebrew Literary
Related to Aramaic language; famous from The Three Musketeers.
French/Germanic
From gos (Goth) and lind (serpent), an old Germanic name.
Irish
Woman of sorrow, from the Irish Deirdre.
Latin
Variant of Virgil, the Roman poet.