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Celebrity Names · Names from the Arts and Pop Culture

Literary Baby Names Inspired by Authors

Sophie Kihm

By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026

Names127

Pages7

Total Names127

Across 7 pages

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Showing 81–100 of 127

Bly
English surname name
"friendly"
The surname of enterprising journalist Nellie Bly and poet Robert Bly makes a simple, modern, and upbeat sounding choice for either a boy or a girl.
Brontë
Greek
"thunder"
Bronte is the lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name; a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. An extra element of Bronte's appeal: the…
Byatt
English
"by the enclosure"
For fans of the (female) author A. S. ; makes an interesting alternative to Wyatt or the hotelish Hyatt.
Cheever
English
"female goat"
Cheever has a nice, cheery sound, literary ties to novelist and short writer John Cheever and also, sideways, to the Edward Arlington Robinson narrative poem "Miniver Cheevy," as well as a subliminal…
Crane
English surname
"crane"
This elegant surname has great potential to turn into an unusual first name, especially with its literary associations to both Stephen and Hart Crane. Crane is a surname that originated for a tall…
Didion
Didion is a masculine name with roots as a surname, most famously associated with American author Joan Didion. As a first name, it remains extraordinarily rare. The name likely derives from ancient…
Djuna
Invented name, variation of Juna, English from Latin
"born in June; young; moon"
Novelist Djuna Barnes introduced this interesting and unusual name with an arty, Bohemian feel to the mix. She explained that it was invented by her father, saying it came about as a combination of…
Forster
English, variation of Foster
"scissors maker"
Forster, a variation of Foster or potentially even Forester, is associated with British novelist E.M. Forster, author of A Passage to India , Howard's End , and A Room with a View . But if you choose…
Galway
Place-name
Associated with the poet and novelist Galway Kinnell, this name of an Irish city, county, and bay would make an evocative choice. For further literary cred, writers Liam O'Flaherty and Frank Harris…
Gide
French surname
Pronounced GHEED, this surname of Nobel Prizewinning novelist Andre could make a smooth, sleek middle name choice.
Glasgow
Scottish place-name
An undiscovered place-name with an appealing o-sound ending.
Gore
English
"wedge-shaped object"
Surname from a landscape feature, associated with author Gore Vidal and Bill Clinton's Vice President Al Gore. Its alternative meaning - as in gory - may explain why it's never made it into the…
Hammett
English surname
A possibility for fans of the mystery writer, but most parents would prefer Dashiell.
Harte
English
"stag"
Most often spelled without the final "e"--unless you're a particular fan of writer Bret.
Hemingway
English place name
No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.
Jesmyn
Variation of Jasmine or Jessamine, Persian
"jasmine"
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
Variant spelling of Jessamine
"jasmine flower"
An alternative spin on Jasmine and Jessica, Jessamyn is a spelling variation of floral Jessamine, with just a little less frill. Notable bearers include writer Jessamyn West, wrestler Jessamyn Duke,…
Jhumpa
Bengali, pet name
Most recognizable as the name of London-born, America-raised author Jhumpa Lahiri. The award-winning writer was born Nilanjana Sudeshna Lahiri, but her Kindergarten teacher insisted she go by her…
Keats
English literary name
"kite"
Poetic and easy to pronounce (it's keets), this is one of many poets' names to consider, such as Auden, Eliot, Frost, Byron, Lorca, Marlowe, Blake, Emerson and Tennyson. Likely meaning "kite", in…
Kerouac
Breton literary name
Kerouac could make for a meaningful possible modern literary inspiration, via On the Road author Jack. The writer's baptism certificate read Jean Louis Kirouac, though he later claimed his full name…