Looking for a name with character? Then what about the name of a character? Both classic and modern literature are abrim with distinctive and elegant names. Whether it be the honourable Atticus, eccentric Holly Golightly or brooding Heathcliff, giving your child the name of a favourite hero or heroine imbues the name with a meaningful story. So many literary leads possess admirable qualities such as courage and kindness, and who better to look to for a beautiful or original name than a great writer? Start with some of the suggestions below.
Names from English Novels
The recent Jane Austen craze has popularised many of the distinguished names from the English literary canon, and with a star-studded film release of Wuthering Heights on the cards, these classic names are reemerging.
Jane Austen novels are full of sensible lads and ladies with terrific names.
For a lady, you might like:
- Emma – Emma
- Lydia – Pride and Prejudice
And for a gentleman:
- Charles – Pride and Prejudice
- Fitzwilliam – Pride and Prejudice
The Bronte sisters' timeless novels are also a wonderful resource.
For girls:
- Catherine – Wuthering Heights
- Jane – Jane Eyre
- Georgiana - Jane Eyre
- Rosamond - Jane Eyre
- Zillah – Wuthering Heights
For boys:
- Edward – Jane Eyre
- Hareton – Wuthering Heights
- Heathcliff – Wuthering Heights
- Linton – Wuthering Heights
- Lockwood – Wuthering Heights
Charles Dickens' novels are the source of many original names and wonderful personalities.
For girls:
- Anastasia – Bleak House
- Estella – Great Expectations
For boys:
- Chevy – The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit
- Horatio – Sketches by Boz
- Pip – Great Expectations
And where better could you find a beautiful and original name than in the Elizabethan works of William Shakespeare?
For girls:
- Beatrice – Much Ado About Nothing
- Portia – The Merchant of Venice
- Rosaline – Romeo and Juliet
- Tamora - Titis Andronicus
For boys:
- Quince - A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Berkeley - Richard III
- Green - Richard II
Other notable names from English/UK novels include:
- Clarissa – Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
- Arabella – Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
- Freddie - Blandings Castle by P.G.Wodehouse
- Basil - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
- Utah - Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas
Names from American Novels
Many children are named after the well-loved characters from the American classics. From Steinbeck's memorable and sweet Winfield to Salinger's rebelious Holden, these characters carry the wisdom of their stories. Atticus, for instance, after Atticus Finch in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is sometimes chosen for his social conscience and courage. Holly, on the other hand, after Holly Golightly from Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's, may be chosen for her individuality, humour and grace, as well as Audrey Hepburn's wonderful portrayal in the 1961 film.
Other names for girls from American novels include:
- Lily – The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
- Prairie – Vineland by Thomas Pynchon
- Jewel – As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
- Petal – The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
- Daisy - The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
And for boys:
- Cash – As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
- Dallas – The Outsiders by S E. Hinton
- Holden – The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- Huck – The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- Winfield – The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Whether you're looking for a character to name your baby after, or just an interesting or beautiful sounding name that compliments your surname, then novels are a great place to start. Remember surnames can be used as first names, for instance Sawyer from Tom Sawyer, and place names, as Dylan Thomas did with Utah, can often work well too. Start browsing your favourite novels and let the words within inspire you.
Need more suggestions? Try old Hollywood baby names for more unique names and ideas.
Colette Haydon John - Colette Haydon John graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Major in Creative Writing, and holds a Graduate Diploma in Education ...
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