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Literary Names (Characters)

  1. Granger

    • Origin:

      English and French surname

    • Meaning:

      "worker of the granary; farmer"

    • Description:

      If you're seeking a solid but underused occupational name with a warm, friendly sound, and an earthy feel, Granger is one to consider. Associated with faming, grain, and the outdoors, it fits in with the likes of Colton, Sawyer, and Cooper, with a hint of classic George about it too.
  2. Pippi

    • Origin:

      Norse variation of Philippa

    • Meaning:

      "lover of horses"

    • Description:

      Pippi may be cute but isn't very practical. In addition to being forever Pippi Longstocking, there is that variant pee-pee spelling to consider. Try Pippa instead.
  3. Hester

    • Origin:

      Medieval variation of Esther, Persian

    • Meaning:

      "star"

    • Description:

      The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an eccentric aristocrat, much more accepted in the U.K. than she has been here.
  4. Coraline

    • Origin:

      Variation of Coralie, French from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "coral"

    • Description:

      Coraline may not be original to Neil Gaiman's wonderful book of the same name, but it might as well be. Gaiman's young heroine Coraline Jones is constantly called Caroline but as a name Coraline is more distinctive and has a more mysterious feel. The 2002 novel Coraline was made into a 2009 animated film voiced by Dakota Fanning and nominated for an Academy Award.
  5. Lux

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "light"

    • Description:

      This name of a character played by Kirsten Dunst in the movie Virgin Suicides, originally a novel by Jeffrey Eugenides, is gaining attention, also thanks to the heroine Lux, Lady of Luminosity in the League of Legends games. Luz is the Spanish version.
  6. Carlisle

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from the walled city"

    • Description:

      This stuffy English surname and hotel name took on Twilight cool when attached to vampire Carlisle Cullen. Inspired by the character, it's more popular in this spelling than as Carlyle and more widely used for boys than for girls.
  7. Renesmee

    • Origin:

      Literary invention

    • Description:

      Invented by author Stephenie Meyer for the Twilight series for the half-human, half-vampire daughter of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, it's an amalgamtion of the names of Bella's mother Renee and Edward's adoptive mother Esme. Much to our surprise, some people are trying this at home.
  8. Quimby

    • Origin:

      Variation of Quenby, English

    • Meaning:

      "queen's settlement"

    • Description:

      Virtually never heard in this country, with a quirky quality.
  9. Lolita

    • Origin:

      Spanish, diminutive of Lola and Dolores, Spanish

    • Meaning:

      "lady of sorrows"

    • Description:

      In Nabokov's notorious novel, Lolita is the pet name given by the pedophilic narrator, Humbert Humbert, to his victim: a young girl called Dolores and nicknamed Lola or Lo by her mother. Still, it seems that a few parents are prepared to look past this problematic association, seeing this as a offbeat option for those who defy convention. We would recommend thinking seriously about the background of this name before bestowing it on your daughter.
  10. Othello

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "he has the sound of God"

    • Description:

      Shakespeare's moor has exclusive ownership of this name.
  11. Shirley

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "bright meadow"

    • Description:

      Shirley Temple almost single-handedly lifted the gloom of the Great Depression, and in tribute (and perhaps wishing for a similarly curly-headed, dimpled darling of their own), thousands of parents of that generation gave their little girls her name. In 1935, Shirley was the second most popular girls' name in the country with more than 42,000 babies named Shirley.
  12. Gatsby

    • Origin:

      German surname and literary name

    • Meaning:

      "from Gaddesby"

    • Description:

      Gatsby is one of the most famous literary surnames, borne by the titular character of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. The book's Jay Gatsby gussied up his surname from Gatz, whose meaning is given variously as left-handed, cat, God, and person from Gat. As a first name, it's got a lot of energy and that great literary pedigree.
  13. Tris

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Beatrice, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "she who brings happiness; blessed"

    • Description:

      In the Divergent series, Tris was used as a short form of Beatrice, but it could also be given as a nickname for names like Tristan, Patricia, or Demetris.
  14. Lisbeth

    • Origin:

      German, diminutive of Elizabeth

    • Description:

      Lisbeth is one of the many short forms of Elizabeth that are used on their own. Not only is it the name of the mother of the main character in George Eliot's novel Adam Bede, but it takes on a whole new, powerful image as the heroine of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. Lizbeth is another spelling.
  15. Murry

    • Description:

      Murry as a feminine name represents an unusual gender crossover from what was traditionally a masculine name and surname. Derived from Scottish and Irish origins, Murry (also spelled Murray) originally meant "settlement by the sea" from Gaelic elements. While historically used primarily for boys and as a family name, its adoption as a feminine name reflects the modern trend of repurposing surnames and traditionally male names for girls. The name has a gentle, unpretentious quality with its soft consonants. When used for girls, Murry may be considered a unique alternative to more common names like Mary or Marie, sharing some phonetic similarities while standing apart. As a feminine name, Murry remains quite rare, giving it a distinctive quality for parents seeking uncommon options.

  16. Crewe

    • Description:

      Crewe is a masculine name derived from the Old Welsh 'criu' meaning 'ford' or 'crossing.' It originated as a place name in Cheshire, England, where the town of Crewe developed around an important railway junction in the 19th century. As a given name, Crewe represents the growing trend of adopting location names for children. It carries associations of industrial heritage and transportation history while maintaining a distinctly British feel. Though uncommon as a first name, Crewe has seen modest increased usage in recent years, particularly among families seeking short, strong-sounding masculine names with historical connections. Its single-syllable structure and distinctive sound pattern make it a noteworthy alternative to more common place-inspired names.

  17. Alianora
    • Aslan
      • Bovary
        • Cimorene