Literary Baby Names for Book Lovers Who Are Expecting

Choosing baby names can be pretty problematic. If you tell people too soon, you may get some negative feedback on your choices, if you say nothing, a friend may end up naming their own baby the name you’ve chosen. In-laws may want you to choose a family name that you hate, or the name you have wanted to use all your life has ended up being the same name as a gross American politician (just saying).

Why not go a completely different route and delve into some of your favourite books? There’s loads of inspiration, and you’ll likely end up with a name that’s far more unique. Plus, you’ve got a cool story to tell your kid, when they ask where their name came from one day.

This is an incredibly short list of baby names inspired by literature, in reality. There are at least a dozen more each for boys and girls, as well more gender-neutral names. The point is, don’t let family names limit you. The world of literature is your oyster!

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Anne

Anne of Green Gables/Diary of Anne Frank

Anne may be the simplest name on this list, but it is associated with some mighty female protagonists. Anne Shirley, the feisty redhead who takes PEI by storm is an amazing namesake to have, and if she’s not enough, Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who has captivated hearts with her writing for decades, is also a wonderful inspirational person with this name. Anne is most definitely not boring.

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Atticus

To Kill a Mockingbird

There are worse role models to name your son after. Atticus Finch is a decent, moral human being in troubled times, and he fights for what is right. Plus, it’s an adorably old-fashioned name.

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Hermione

Harry Potter

A name you never thought would be cool, hell, you’d probably never even heard of the name, is now symbolic of whip-smart, feisty, brave girls. It’s an unusual name, but I would absolutely consider it for a daughter.

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Holden

The Catcher in the Rye

The banner man of discontented adolescence is, without doubt, Holden Caulfield. Although I wasn’t particularly fond of his character when I read the book in high school, most of my friends felt a kinship with him.

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Huxley

Brave New World

Given that we’re basically living the dystopian future Aldous Huxley wrote about, it seems fitting to name a child by his last name. It’s unusual and it’s smart as hell. It’s also gender-neutral, so, bonus.

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Jo

Little Women

I swear, virtually every woman I know lists Jo Stafford as one of their literary heroines. It might be a stretch to name your child with just two letters, but it’s kind of great that it’s actually gender-neutral as well, isn’t it?

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Ophelia

Hamlet

Okay, bear with me. Ophelia does lose her mind and kill herself in the play, but is it not the best name ever? And there’s a fantastic book about adolescent girls’ self-esteem called Reviving Ophelia, so it’s actually a smart name, if you ask me.

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Sawyer

Tom Sawyer

I will admit that when I think of a character named Sawyer, the TV show Lost is what comes to mind. Thanks, J.J. Abrams. However! If you happen to be a huge fan of Mark Twain, this is the perfect name for a boy.

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Scout

To Kill a Mockingbird

Scout Finch is smart, inquisitive, and willing to stand up for what she believes in. Could there be a more inspiring character to name your baby after? Bonus points for being gender-neutral, as well.

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Tristan

Tristan and Isolde/Legends of the Fall

Being a former opera singer, I gravitate toward the more, well, operatic names. Tristan fits the bill for me and for literature fans, since the name comes from a Celtic legend that is retold in Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur. If you need a more recent reason, it’s the name of Brad Pitt’s character from the cinematic version of Legends of the Fall.