Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Literary Names
Across 23 pages
of 23
Tamlin
Literary diminutive of Tam, Scottish
"twin; son of Thomas"
A gentle name with a playful and spirited air, Tamlin appears in a traditional Anglo-Scottish ballad that tells the story of Tamlin who is abducted by the Queen of Faeries and later rescued by his…
Lenina
Literature, feminine form of Lenin
"large river; shining torch; like a lion"
Created by the author Aldous Huxley for his novel, Brave New World , Lenina is a feminine form of Lenin, the surname of the founder of the Soviet state. It is borne by the central female character in…
Okonkwo
Igbo
"born on Nkwo day"
Given to boys born on the last of the four Igbo market days ( Nkwo Things Fall Apart , in which Okonkwo is a famous wrestling champion and feared warrior, who opposes the Christian missionaries and…
Ikemefuna
Igbo
"may my strength not be in vain, let my strength not be wasted"
Predominantly used in Nigeria, Ikemefuna is a name of Igbo origin, with a hopeful and determined meaning. It appears in Chinua Achebe's classic novel, Things Fall Apart , borne by an ill-fated boy…
Etelka
Hungarian
"little father"
This Hungarian name was created by the author András Dugonics for the central character of his 1788 novel of the same name. It is likely an elaboration on Etele, a Hungarian feminine form of Atilla.…
January
English month name, Latin
"doorway"
Cooler than the older month names like April and May, and a highly unusual and eye-catching choice. The most famous real-life January is female – January Jones – but the month is named for the Roman…
Lyndall
English, South African
"linden or lime tree valley; lake in the valley"
Lynda and Linden meet Kendall and Randall in this surname-style choice, familiar in South African, owing to its use by author and activist Olive Schreiner in her 1883 novel, The Story of an African…
Capulet
Literature, Italian
"little chief; little headstrong one"
The name of one of warring families in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Capulet might appeal to those who enjoy names that are literary and unique. Capulet likely comes from the Italian capo ,…
Montague
Literature, French
"pointy hill"
The family name of Shakespeare's Romeo, Montague has a touch of old-fashioned grandeur about it. With clunky-cute nickname Monty and similar sounds to Montgomery, it has been used as a given name…
Hieronimo
Variation of Hieronymos, Literature, Ancient Greek
"sacred name"
A bold name, best known as the central character in the 16th century classic play The Spanish Tragedy or Hieronimo goes mad again by Thomas Kyd. In the play Hieronimo enacts his revenge for the death…
Sephy
Short form of Persephone and Seraphina
"bringer of destruction; ardent, fiery"
Similar to popular Sophie and vintage Effie, and a nickname for rising stars Seraphina and Persephone, Sephy is one you might begin to hear more often. Most notably appearing in Malorie Blackman's…
Chaol
Popular culture, literary invention, "narrow; chaos"
"narrow; chaos"
Several names that are used in the popular book series Throne of Glass have been gaining attention in recent years, including Celaena and Aelin, and though Chaol has yet to join them, it may be one…
Ruzan
Armenian literature, meaning unknown
Literary and theatrical, Ruzan has its roots in the 1882 play Ruzan , a historical drama by the Armenian author Muratsan. As a contemporary baby name, it has a lot to stand on: its similarity to…
Wilkins
English, German
"son of Wilkin; resolute protection"
Wilkins is a surname style name, derived from Wilkin, itself a diminutive form of the strong classic William. Used quietly in the US across the 19th century, it may be one to consider if you want…
Shadrack
Variation of Shadrach, Akkadian, Biblical
"command of Aku"
A variation of Shadrach, an old Akkadian name borne by the Babylonian god of the moon. It appears in the Old Testament, as the Babylonian name of Hananiah (who was saved by God from a burning…
Parisina
Historical, Italian, Spanish, Persian
"Parisian; like a fairy"
Poetic and ornamental, Parisina appears as the central figure of a work by Lord Byron in 1816, which went on to inspire operas by Mascagni and Donizetti. The figure behind the name, Laura Malatesta,…
Carraway
English
"path to a triangular piece of land"
While Caraway-with-one-R brings to mind nature and herbs, the double R variant is reminiscent of Nick Carraway, the narrator of the classic novel The Great Gatsby . With its trendy surname feel and…
Carraway
English
"path to a triangular piece of land"
While Carraway brings to mind Nick Carraway, the narrator of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby , there is no reason why this cool surname-name wouldn't work on a girl. Modern and stylish, with a…
Bingley
English
"hollow clearing; people of the woodland clearing"
Originally used as a habitational surname for someone from a town of the same name in the North of England, Bingley is perhaps best associated with the good-natured Charles Bingley in Austen's Pride…
Alisander
Variation of Alexander, English, Greek
"defending men"
Sleek and poetic, Alisander is a Medieval form of Alexander, notably appearing in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur . An appealing choice to those who like the strength of Alexander, the literary…