Literary Names

Shows some promise via its connection to the growing interest in Ewan.

Most often spelled without the final "e"--unless you're a particular fan of writer Bret.

Pleasant surname connected to humorist James Thurber, with a sound as happy as a baby's gurgle.

Falmouth may be a beautiful seaside spot in Massachusetts, but as a name it's perilously close to "foul mouth." Falmouth Kearney was the name of Barack Obama's great-great grandfather.

A unisex surname familiarized by male actor Dabney Coleman, but with potential to carry over to the girl's side as well. Dabney feels in line with the Irish Darcy and Darby.

Cool and casual, a la humorist Ring (born Ringgold. ) Lardner.

National Book Award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward brought this uncommon spelling of a lovely name into the public eye. Jasmine is the flower-y version, and Jessamine the genteel British version. Jessamyn West was an American writer in the 20th century.

The mixed-race heroine of one of Gertrude Stein's Three Lives searches for knowledge and power.

Name of pastoral Vermont town and college sounds too stiff and starchy.

Pronounced GHEED, this surname of Nobel Prizewinning novelist Andre could make a smooth, sleek middle name choice.

Remarkable Pettibone was a self-important housekeeper in James Fenimore Cooper's The Pioneers. Such names were not uncommon in early America, with such choices as Remember and Experience showing up in the records along with Puritan virtue names such as Chastity and Patience.

To modernize and add some oomph to the dated CASEY, add an O'-and also honor the great Irish playwright Sean.

Samuel Johnson invented the name Rasselas for the title character of his novel, Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia. Rasselas is actually the son of the prince.