Poetic Baby Names
Poetic baby names have never been hotter. Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughter Rumi and an influx of celebrity babies with Poet as a first or middle name have inspired many parents to go down a similar route for their own children’s names.
Poetry baby names can come directly from the names of poetic forms, like Poem and Sonnet, great poets of history such as Emerson and Langston, or names with poetic meanings, like Edda and Teagan.
Along with Langston and Teagan, other poetic baby names in the US Top 1000 include Blake, Brooks, Byron, Dante, Emily, Ezra, Nash, and Sylvia. Recognizable names from famous poems include Annabel, Lenore, and Uriel.
Modeled after Rumi, the names of ancient poets are a particularly haute subset of poetry names. Many come from Ancient Greece, such as Homer and Virgil, Corinna and Sappho. Another intriguing possibility is Mirabai, the name of a 16th century Hindu poet and Rajput princess.
Whether you’re a poet yourself or just appreciate the art, a poetic baby name would make a stunning choice for your child. Here, a selection of perfect poetry-inspired baby names for your baby boy or baby girl, along with many gender neutral names with a poetry theme, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
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- Adda
Origin:
Welsh form of Adam
- Afanasy
Origin:
RussianMeaning:
"immortal"
- Aino
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"the only one"
- Aisling
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"dream, vision"
- Akam
Origin:
TamilMeaning:
"love"
- Aleem
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"knowledgeable"
- Alfred
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"wise counselor; elf counsel"
- Aneirin
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"very golden or noble"
- Angelou
Origin:
Literary name
- Annabel
Origin:
Scottish variation of AmabelMeaning:
"loving"
- Apollinaire
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"of Apollo"
- Apollo
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"destroyer"
- Araminta
Origin:
Invented hybrid name from Arabella and Aminta
- Arion
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"moon creature on high"
- Aristeia
Origin:
Literary term from GreekMeaning:
"the best"
- Arna
Origin:
Diminutive of Arnaud, FrenchMeaning:
"ruler; strong as an eagle"
- Arofan
Origin:
Welsh, meaning unknown
- Assia
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"protect"
- Astrophel
Origin:
Literary nameMeaning:
"star lover"
- Auden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"old friend"
- Auden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"old friend"
- Audre
- Bacchus
Origin:
Roman mythology name
- Baird
Origin:
Scottish occupational nameMeaning:
"minstrel, poet"
- Bard
Origin:
Irish variation of Baird, ScottishMeaning:
"minstrel, poet"
- Belphoebe
Origin:
Invented name from "The Faerie Queene"; roughly translates as "beautiful Diana"Meaning:
"beautiful Diana"
- Beowulf
Origin:
Old EnglishMeaning:
"bee wolf"
- Bishop
Origin:
English occupational name
- Blake
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fair-haired, dark"
- Bly
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"happy, friendly"
- Bly
Origin:
English surname nameMeaning:
"friendly"
- Bolan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little poet"
- Brighid
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"strength or exalted one"
- Brigid
Origin:
Irish variation of BrighidMeaning:
"strength or exalted one"
- Brooks
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"of the brook"
- Byron
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"barn for cows"
- Cadman
Origin:
Anglo-SaxonMeaning:
"warrior"
- Caedmon
- Caissa
Origin:
Italian invented name
- Calliope
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"beautiful voice"
- Canto
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"song or stanza"
- Caoilte
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"slender"
- Carew
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"fort near a slope"
- Carroll
Origin:
Anglicized variation of Irish CearbhallMeaning:
"hacking with a weapon"
- Catullus
Origin:
Latin, meaning unknown
- Ceridwen
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"beautiful as a poem"
- Chaucer
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"maker of breeches"
- Christabel
Origin:
Latin and FrenchMeaning:
"fair Christian"
- Clio
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"glory"
- Cliona
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"shapely"
- Corinna
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"maiden"
- Crane
Origin:
English surnameMeaning:
"crane"
- Cullen
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"holly tree"
- Cynri
Origin:
Welsh
- Dalma
Origin:
Hungarian, Literature
- Danae
Origin:
Greek
- Danaë
Origin:
Greek
- Dante
Origin:
Latin diminutive of DurantMeaning:
"enduring"
- Dearbhla
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"daughter of the poet"
- Dervla
Origin:
Anglicized form of Irish Dearbhla or DeirbhileMeaning:
"daughter of the poet"
- Devin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"poet"
- Devin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"poet"
- Dickinson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Dick"
- Diggory
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"Lost one"
- Dove
Origin:
Nature nameMeaning:
"dove, a bird"
- Dove
Origin:
Color and nature nameMeaning:
"dove, a bird"
- Dryden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"dry valley"
- Dylan
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"son of the sea"
- Edda
Origin:
NorseMeaning:
"poetry"
- Edmund
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fortunate protector"
- Egan
Origin:
Variation of Aidan, IrishMeaning:
"little fire"
- Eithne
Origin:
GaelicMeaning:
"nut kernel"
- Elegy
Origin:
English word name from the Greek ElegeiaMeaning:
"lament"
- Eliot
Origin:
Variation of ElliotMeaning:
"The Lord is my God"
- Emare
Origin:
French
- Emerson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Emery"
- Emily
Origin:
Feminine variation of Emil, LatinMeaning:
"rival"
- Epic
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"grand, heroic, monumental in scale; a long poem derived from ancient oral tradition"
- Epic
Origin:
English word name
- Epik
Origin:
Variation of Epic; English word nameMeaning:
"heroic tale or event"
- Erinna
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"spring or hero"
- Etheridge
Origin:
EnglshMeaning:
"wealthy ruler"
- Eulalie
Origin:
French form of Eulalia, GreekMeaning:
"sweetly speaking"
- Euphelia
Origin:
Invented name, combination of Euphemia and Ophelia
- Evangeline
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"bearer of good news"
- Ezra
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"help"
- Farid
Origin:
Arabic and PersianMeaning:
"unique, precious"
- Frost
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"freezing"
- Frost
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"freezing"
- Geraldine
Origin:
German and French, feminine variation of GeraldMeaning:
"ruler with the spear"
- Gertrude
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"strength of a spear"
- Gilgamesh
Origin:
Akkadian from SumerianMeaning:
"the [kinsman] is a hero"
- Giovanni
Origin:
Italian variation of JohnMeaning:
"God is gracious"
- Gwendolyn
Origin:
Variation of Gwendolen, WelshMeaning:
"white ring"
- Haiku
Origin:
Japanese poetic form
- Hart
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"stag"
- Herrick
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"war ruler"
- Hilda
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"battle woman"
- Homer
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"security, pledge"
- Horace
Origin:
Latin clan nameMeaning:
"timekeeper"
- Hughes
Origin:
English, Scottish, Irish surnameMeaning:
"mind, intellect; son of Aodh"
- Hugo
Origin:
Latinized form of HughMeaning:
"mind, intellect"
- Hyperion
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"the high one"
- Imagery
Origin:
English word name
- Imtiaz
Origin:
Arabic and UrduMeaning:
"distinction"
- Jarrell
Origin:
English and French surname derived from a place-name, Gerville
- Jarrell
Origin:
German variation of Gerald
- Jia
Origin:
Italian or ChineseMeaning:
"God's gracious gift or home, family"
- Kahlil
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"friend"
- Kalliope
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"beautiful voice"
- Kavi
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"poet, sage"
- Kavita
Origin:
Hindi, SanskritMeaning:
"poem"
- Kavya
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"poem"
- Kealoha
Origin:
HawaiianMeaning:
"loved one"
- Keats
Origin:
English literary nameMeaning:
"kite"
- Keats
Origin:
English literary nameMeaning:
"kite"
- Knight
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
" a mounted man-at-arms serving a feudal superior"
- Kyoka
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"mirror; fragrant flower"
- Kyrielle
Origin:
English literary term from Greek Kyrie
- Lamia
Origin:
Greek mythology name
- Langston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"tall man's town"
- Larkin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"rough, fierce"
- Larkin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"rough, fierce"
- Laudine
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"woman from Lothian"
- Lazarus
Origin:
Latinized Greek variation of Hebrew EleazarMeaning:
"God is my helper"
- Lenore
Origin:
German variation of Leonora, Italian derivative of Eleonora, meaning unknown
- Liadain
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"grey lady"
- Liadan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"grey lady"
- Ligia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"clear-voiced, whistling"
- Limerick
Origin:
Irish place name; poetic form
- Linus
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"flax"
- Longfellow
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"tall one"
- Lorca
Origin:
Spanish place name and surname
- Lowell
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"young wolf"
- Lucasta
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"pure light"
- Madrigal
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"song for unaccompanied voices"
- Majnun
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"mad, possessed"
- Malvina
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"smooth-browed one"
- Marlowe
Origin:
Variation of Marlow, EnglishMeaning:
"driftwood"
- Meera
Origin:
; SanskritMeaning:
"prosperous"
- Mererid
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"pearl"
- Millay
Origin:
English literary name
- Mirabai
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"ocean"
- Mireia
Origin:
Catalan form of MireilleMeaning:
"to admire"
- Moore
Origin:
English place-nameMeaning:
"the moors"
- Myra
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"sweet-smelling oil"
- Nash
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"by the ash tree"
- Neele
Origin:
German, English
- Neruda
Origin:
Literary name
- Nicander
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"man of victory"
- Ode
Origin:
Word name or medieval English form of Otto
- Ode
Origin:
Word name or medieval English form of Otto
- Ogden
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"from the oak valley"
- Oisin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little deer"
- Oriana
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"dawn"
- Orpheus
Origin:
Greek mythology nameMeaning:
"the darkness of the night"
- Osian
Origin:
Welsh variation of Oisin
- Ossian
Origin:
Old IrishMeaning:
"little deer"
- Ottava
Origin:
Word name from the LatinMeaning:
"eight"
- Ottilie
Origin:
German, FrenchMeaning:
"prosperous in battle"
- Ovid
Origin:
Latin, meaning unknown
- Pablo
Origin:
Spanish variation of PaulMeaning:
"small"
- Pamela
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"all honey"
- Paz
Origin:
Hebrew; SpanishMeaning:
"gold; peace"
- Percival
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"one who pierces the valley"
- Phenex
- Phillis
Origin:
Spelling variation of Phyllis, GreekMeaning:
"green bough"
- Poe
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"peacock"
- Poe
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"peacock"
- Poem
Origin:
Literary name, English word nameMeaning:
"a composition in verse"
- Poesy
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"poetry"
- Poet
Origin:
English word name
- Poet
Origin:
Word name
- Poetic
Origin:
English word name
- Poetic
Origin:
English word name
- Poetry
Origin:
Word name
- Polyhymnia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"one of many praises"
- Publius
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"of the people"
- Quatrain
Origin:
English word name
- Ravenna
Origin:
Italian place-name
- Rhymer
Origin:
English word name
- Riordan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"bard, royal poet"
- Rondel
Origin:
English from FrenchMeaning:
"circle"
- Rudyard
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"red enclosure"
- Rumi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"beauty, flow, lapis lazuli"
- Rumi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"beauty, flow, lapis lazuli"
- Runo
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"poem"
- Rupa
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"silver"
- Sanelma
Origin:
FinnishMeaning:
"story, poem"
- Sappho
Origin:
Ancient GreekMeaning:
"sapphire"
- Sayer
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"woodcutter or reciter"
- Seamus
Origin:
Irish variation of JamesMeaning:
"supplanter"
- Sestina
Origin:
Form of poetry
- Sonnet
Origin:
English from ItalianMeaning:
"little song"
- Spenser
- Speranza
Origin:
Judeo-ItalianMeaning:
"hope"
- Stanza
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"poetic verse"
- Stella
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"star"
- Sylvia
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"from the forest"
- Tadhg
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"poet"
- Tahirih
Origin:
PersianMeaning:
"the pure one"
- Taliesin
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"shining brow"
- Tasso
Origin:
ItalianMeaning:
"cup"
- Teagan
Origin:
Irish or WelshMeaning:
"little poet or fair"
- Teague
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"bard, poet"
- Tennyson
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Dennis"
- Thalia
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"to flourish"
- Thamyris
Origin:
Greek
- Thoreau
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"strength of a bull"
- Tiril
Origin:
Norwegian
- Triolet
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"short verse poem"
- Troubadour
Origin:
French word nameMeaning:
"lyric poet"
- Twm
Origin:
Welsh
- Uriel
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"God is my light"
- Vachel
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"one who raises cows"
- Vanessa
Origin:
Literary invention; also a species of butterfly
- Verse
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"verse"
- Villanelle
Origin:
English from ItalianMeaning:
"pastoral song"
- Villemo
Origin:
Swedish, literary name
- Virelai
Origin:
French poetic form
- Virgil
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"staff bearer"
- Vision
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"the state of being able to see"
- Vision
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"the state of being able to see"
- Whitman
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"white man"
- Wilde
Origin:
English surname, variation of Wild, English word nameMeaning:
"undomesticated, uncultivated"
- Wilde
Origin:
English surname, variation of Wild, English word nameMeaning:
"undomesticated, uncultivated"
- Wystan
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"battle stone"
- Yeats
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"gates"
- Yeats
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"the gates"
- Yvain
Origin:
WelshMeaning:
"youth or well-born"
- Zalan
Origin:
Hungarian