100 Best Baby Names Inspired by Books

Naming your baby is one of the biggest decisions you will make before they even arrive, so it is no wonder so many parents turn to their bookshelves for ideas. After all, books give us characters we love, words we adore, and stories that stay with us for life. What better way to honour all that than by passing it on to your little one?

Whether you are a casual reader or a proper bookworm, this list has something for you. We have gathered 100 of the best baby names inspired by books, from timeless classics to modern fantasy favourites. Each one comes with a quick note on where it comes from, so you can find a name with a story behind it. If you are still hunting for your next great read while you decide, our roundup of 100 classic books you should read in your lifetime is a lovely place to start.

Girl Names Inspired by Books

If you are after a name that feels both pretty and meaningful, these literary picks for girls are hard to beat.

1. Alice – The curious heroine of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
2. Anne – The spirited redhead from L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.
3. Arwen – The elven princess from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
4. Beatrix – After Beatrix Potter, the beloved author of Peter Rabbit.
5. Brontë – A nod to the literary sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne.
6. Cadence – Meaning “rhythm” or “flow of words”, perfect for poetry lovers.
7. Circe – The enchantress from Homer’s The Odyssey and Madeline Miller’s Circe.
8. Coraline – The brave young girl from Neil Gaiman’s Coraline.
9. Dorothy – The plucky traveller from L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz.
10. Elinor – The sensible sister in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
11. Ella – A timeless name found across countless tales, including Cinderella retellings.
12. Emilia – A character from Shakespeare’s Othello.
13. Emma – The well-meaning matchmaker in Jane Austen’s Emma.
14. Eponine – The loyal, lovestruck girl from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
15. Evangeline – The heroine of Longfellow’s poem Evangeline.
16. Fable – Meaning “a story with a moral”, ideal for book-loving parents.
17. Hermione – The clever witch from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
18. Imogen – A princess in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.
19. Iris – A flower name that pops up across poetry and novels.
20. Jane – The strong-willed heroine of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
21. Juliet – The young romantic from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
22. Juniper – A nature-inspired name often seen in fantasy stories.
23. Kya – The “Marsh Girl” from Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing.
24. Lisbeth – The fierce hacker from Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
25. Lucy – The youngest Pevensie from C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia.
26. Luna – The dreamy, quirky witch from Harry Potter.
27. Madeline – The fearless little girl from Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline.
28. Matilda – The book-loving prodigy from Roald Dahl’s Matilda.
29. Mira – Latin for “wonderful”, with a lovely literary ring.
30. Ophelia – The tragic figure from Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
31. Persephone – The Greek goddess who appears throughout poetry and fantasy.
32. Poppy – A symbol of sleep and dreams, and a staple of children’s books.
33. Primrose – The gentle younger sister from Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.
34. Rhiannon – A figure from Welsh myth, beloved in poetry and fantasy.
35. Scarlett – The headstrong lead of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind.
36. Scout – The curious narrator of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
37. Story – A literal pick for anyone who adores a good book.
38. Verity – Meaning “truth”, with a quiet, old-fashioned charm.
39. Violet – The gum-chewing character from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
40. Winnie – The cuddly bear from A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.
41. Dove – A symbol of peace and gentleness in literature.
42. Elowen – A Cornish name meaning “elm tree”, popular in fantasy.
43. June – A warm, sunny name found across poetry and prose.
44. Honey – A sweet name that crops up in many children’s tales.
45. Anaïs – After the writer Anaïs Nin, known for her diaries.
46. Tigerlily – A bold, playful name from J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan.
47. Gwyn – Welsh for “white” or “fair”, common in fantasy worlds.
48. Nesta – A fiery favourite from modern fantasy fiction.
49. Cosette – The cherished daughter from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
50. Wendy – The motherly heroine of Peter Pan.

Spoiled for choice? You are not alone. If you love stories with a darker, spookier edge, you might enjoy browsing our look at America’s most haunted places for a bit of atmospheric inspiration.

Boy Names Inspired by Books

From rugged adventurers to thoughtful poets, these literary names for boys carry plenty of character.

51. Archer – Meaning “bowman”, with a heroic, adventurous feel.
52. Asher – A biblical name meaning “happy” or “blessed”.
53. Aslan – The noble lion from C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia.
54. Atticus – The principled lawyer from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
55. Augustus – A classic name, and the charming lead of The Fault in Our Stars.
56. Caspian – The young king from C.S. Lewis’s Prince Caspian.
57. Cassian – A popular pick from modern fantasy fiction.
58. Darcy – The brooding gentleman from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
59. Dorian – The vain young man from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.
60. Eliot – After the poet T.S. Eliot.
61. Ender – The young strategist from Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game.
62. Finn – An Irish name meaning “fair”, with mythological roots.
63. Finnick – The charming tribute from The Hunger Games.
64. Gatsby – The mysterious millionaire from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
65. Holden – The restless narrator of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye.
66. Ishmael – The narrator who opens Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.
67. Kaz – The cunning lead of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.
68. Laurie – The lovable boy next door in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.
69. Lysander – A romantic lead in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
70. Lucien – A French name meaning “light”, popular in fantasy.
71. Marlowe – After the playwright Christopher Marlowe.
72. Milo – A friendly name found across children’s books and modern novels.
73. Neville – The brave, underestimated wizard from Harry Potter.
74. Oberon – The fairy king in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
75. Oscar – After the witty author Oscar Wilde.
76. Orion – A constellation name with mythical and literary roots.
77. Percy – The demigod hero of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.
78. Peter – The boy who never grew up in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan.
79. Poe – After the master of mystery, Edgar Allan Poe.
80. Rhett – The dashing love interest from Gone with the Wind.
81. Romeo – The young lover from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
82. Rowan – A nature-inspired name common in fantasy tales.
83. Sawyer – The mischievous boy from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
84. Tristan – The tragic hero of Tristan and Isolde.
85. Walden – After Henry David Thoreau’s reflective book Walden.
86. Wesley – A classic name with a quiet literary charm.
87. Wilder – A surname-style name that hints at adventure.
88. William – After the one and only William Shakespeare.
89. Heathcliff – The brooding antihero of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.
90. Pip – The hopeful hero of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations.
91. Atlas – A mythological name found in fantasy and poetry.
92. Edmond – The wronged hero of Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo.
93. Rhys – A Welsh name meaning “enthusiasm”, popular in fantasy.
94. Sirius – The loyal godfather from Harry Potter.
95. Gulliver – The traveller from Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels.
96. Phineas – A spirited name found across classic novels.
97. Tom – The adventurous lead of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
98. Roald – After the much-loved children’s author Roald Dahl.
99. Edmund – The Pevensie brother from The Chronicles of Narnia.
100. Huckleberry – The free-spirited friend in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

If your little one grows up to love crime and mystery as much as you do, keep our guide to the best crime books for teenagers handy for the years ahead.

Tips for Choosing a Literary Baby Name

Picking the perfect name can feel like a lot of pressure, but a few simple pointers can make it easier.

Say it out loud. A name might look gorgeous on the page, but make sure it sounds right with your surname too. Try calling it across a room a few times to see how it feels.

Think about nicknames. Many literary names come with cute shortenings, like Hermione becoming “Mia” or Augustus becoming “Gus”. Decide whether you love the full version, the short version, or both.

Check the meaning. Some names carry lovely meanings, while others belong to characters with, well, complicated stories. It is worth a quick read of the book or a trusted source like Nameberry before you commit.

Look at the popularity. If you want something rare, it helps to know how common a name already is. The UK’s Office for National Statistics publishes yearly baby name rankings for England and Wales, which is a brilliant reality check.

Trust your gut. At the end of the day, this is your child’s name. If it makes you smile every time you say it, that is all the proof you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a literary baby name?

A literary baby name is simply one inspired by books. That could be a character’s name, an author’s name, or even a word with a bookish meaning, like Story or Fable. The beauty of it is that there are no strict rules, so you can pick whatever speaks to you.

Are literary baby names too unusual for everyday life?

Not at all. Plenty of literary names, such as Alice, Emma, and Finn, are already common and blend in perfectly. Others, like Coraline or Ishmael, stand out more. The choice comes down to how unique you want your child’s name to be.

Where can I find more reading inspiration for my own book list?

If picking these names has put you in the mood to read, you are in good company. You can explore our 100 classic books you should read in your lifetime for ideas, and if you want to keep track of everything you read, take a look at our roundup of the best apps to track your books.

Should I tell people the book behind my baby’s name?

That is totally up to you. Some parents love sharing the story behind a name, while others prefer to keep it as a quiet little secret. Either way, knowing there is a meaningful tale behind it makes the name feel that bit more special.

How do I make sure the name still works when my child grows up?

A good trick is to picture the name on a CV, at a graduation, and being called out on a playground. If it fits all three, you are onto a winner. Names that work across a whole lifetime tend to be the ones that age well.

Whichever name you land on, choosing one inspired by a book means giving your child a story they can carry with them forever. Take your time, enjoy the process, and let your favourite reads guide the way. Happy naming, and happy reading.