Names Created by Authors

Miguel de Cervantes invented this elaborate-sounding name -- which roughly translates as "sweetness" -- for the beautiful maiden Don Quixote is obsessed with in his great novel. Even in the fictional world of the book, though, Dulcinea is not the woman's real name; Aldonza is. And because she never appears in person in the text, it's unclear whether she is as beautiful and saintly as the protagonist believes her to be. Probably not, given Don Quixote's track record.

One familiar name never used for real people, for obvious reasons. Read more about Cinderella and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.

The name Jiraiya was created in 1806 for yomi-hon — a type of book from the Edo Period — called Jiraiya Monogatari. The character was revived later in the century for a folk tale series Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari, in which Jiraiya, a ninja, shapeshifts into a giant toad.

A literary name coined by the French playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais for the central character in his plays The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother. It is thought that he based the name on his own nickname. In modern French, the word has come to mean "barber", due to the famous character's profession.

Used by C.S Lewis in his Narnia novels, Tirian is a variation of the Welsh mythology name, Tirion, or the Latin name, Tyrian. From soft-but-strong Tirion, it means "kind, gentle", while from Tyrian it means "from Tyre", a place name meaning "rock". It is also associated with the natural reddish-purple dye, also known as royal purple.

The name of the character in Edmund Spenser's "The Faerie Queene" whom the poet intended as a representation of Queen Elizabeth I. While it will no doubt thrill your daughter's English professor, the addition of the "Bel" to already great Phoebe is on the fussy side.

Author Toni Morrison is an acknowledged master of naming, and Sethe, the name of one of the main characters of Beloved, which can be pronounced as Seth or Seth-eh, relates to the male biblical name Seth but is also the name of the Egyptian god of confusion.

A unisex name of Welsh origin, Eilir has a mystical yet familiar feel. It was coined by the 18th century Welsh poet, antiquarian and literary forger, Iolo Morganwg, from the elements ail meaning "second" and ir meaning "fresh, verdant".

A literary creation, used by John Steinbeck in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath. It is a contracted form of "Rose of Sharon", which could make an interesting middle name to honor a Sharon or an unusual way to nicknames Rose or Rosie.

A literary creation, used by John Steinbeck in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath. It is a contracted form of "Rose of Sharon", which could make an interesting middle name to honor a Sharon or an unusual way to nicknames Rose or Rosie.

There aren't many characters in the notoriously amoral world of Game of Thrones with a spotless record of moral righteousness -- but Brienne of Tarth comes close. She's one of the most accomplished, ferocious fighters in the entire series -- she was one of the few people ever to best The Hound in one and one combat. And yet she always tries to use her power for good.

The name of a main character in Leigh Bardugo's successful Six of Crows novels, Wylan fits right in with on-trend names like Wayland, Waylon and Ryland.

A multicultural nickname with a number of origins and multiple meanings, particular to the bearer. It can be a short form of Bozhidar, or any other name with the Slavic element "božĭjĭ", meaning "divine". It can come from the surname style Bosley, or the Biblical name Boaz. Ambrose and Boris could be alternative long forms.

Cersei Lannister is one of the most villainous -- and, in a certain light, glamorous -- characters in HBO's Game of Thrones, played by beautiful actress Lena Headey.Though we can't say for sure how author George R.R. Martin came up with the character's name, it is a near-homophone with Circe, a seductive witch in Greek mythology.

Sweet but strong, Tuula is a variation of the Finnish name and word, Tuuli. Sometimes considered as a literary invention, created by the poet Larin-Kyösti for the song Tuulan tei, it is borne by fashion and lifestyle influencer Tuula Rose Capewell and by ice hockey player Tuula Puputti.

Queen Jadis, also known as The White Witch, is the main villain in The Chronicles of Narnia. She is the force responsible for freezing Narnia and creating the Hundred Year Winter.

This delicate and pretty member of the prolific Lily family is best known as the name of the heroine of Alexander Chee's novel Queen of the Night, Lilliet Berne. A combination of Lillian and Juliet, Lilliet and its near-twin Liliet were given to no baby girls in the US in recent years, but do have some history of use. If you can't decide between Lily and Juliet, this is obviously the name for you.

While this African place-name is much more popular for boys, nearly 40 girls were named Zaire last year. Among African baby names, this is one of the best-known in the US.

The original name of Glinda from Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked and the subsequent Broadway musical. She drops the 'a' from her name to honor a goat, who mispronounced her name as a Glinda.

In JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn is the heir of the Dúnedain kings of the north.