Writing-Related Names

Wed Jan 27 2021By Sophie Kihm

Literary names, culled from great novels and the authors who penned them, have become a very stylish group in recent years. But writing-related names are offshoot that's gotten less attention. With credit to @Vana, a Berry who created an original list of similar names, these names all relate to writing itself.

Writing-related names in the US Top 1000 include Devin, Kyrie, Legend, Lyric, and Teagan. Names connected to poetry and writing have been fashionable among celebrities in recent years. Among the choices used for starbabies are Canon, Epic, Hero, Ode, Poet, and Story.

Writing-related baby names can connect to poetry, plot structure, and literary devices. If you're a writer or simply a book lover, one of those original word names connected to writing may be, well, right for you.

Teagan

Origin:
Irish or Welsh
Meaning:
"little poet or fair"
Description:
As Meghan/Megan and Reagan/Regan show signs of wilting, along comes Teagan to take up the slack: definitely one to consider. The vast majority of American babies named Teagan are now girls. A variant spelling is Teaghan.

Teagan Continued

Legend

Origin:
English word name
Description:
Legend joins cousins Story, Saga and Fable in the baby name pantheon of narrative words. Unlike Story and Fable, however, Legend comes with additional weight, being used for fame ("living legend") and to denote a person who is fantastic "what a legend"). Who can live up to that?

Legend Continued

Tadhg

Origin:
Irish
Meaning:
"poet"
Description:
The name of several ancient kings and princes of Ireland, Tadhg became so common at one point that it was used to represent a kind of Irish Gaelic everyman, or man in the street, as Paddy and Mick would later. Tadhg has seen a major resurgence in recent years and is also now ranked in England. It is sometimes used as the Irish equivalent of Timothy and is also anglicized as Teague and Thaddeus. Tadleigh and Thad are pet forms.

Tadhg Continued

Rune

Origin:
German and Swedish
Meaning:
"secret"
Description:
Name with connotations both mystical and tragic, newly popular in Europe. For English speakers, though, this name might be ruined by its homonym ruin.

Ceridwen

Origin:
Welsh
Meaning:
"beautiful as a poem"
Description:
Celtic goddess of poetry, though less-than-poetic name.

Ceridwen Continued

Devin

Origin:
Irish
Meaning:
"poet"
Description:
Devilishly handsome, Devin arrived as Kevin was moving out. Not to be confused (though it often is) with the English place-name Devon. While both Devin and Devon are flagging somewhat for boys, the names have dropped out of the Top 1000 for girls, making it more a masculine and less a unisex name these days.

Devin Continued

Quill

Origin:
Irish, diminutive of Quillan or Quiller; also English word name
Description:
Quill is a unique possibility for the child of writers -- even if they do use computers rather than pens; could also serve as a rhyming tribute to an ancestor named Gil, Phil, or Bill (or Jill).

Quill Continued

Bard

Origin:
Irish variation of Baird, Scottish
Meaning:
"minstrel, poet"
Description:
Great Irish middle name choice for Shakespeare lovers.

Hero

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"demi-god"
Description:
Despite the possibility of gender confusion, the Hero in Greek myth was a woman. Myleene Klass got that when she chose Hero for her daughter, and Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson used it as their daughter's middle--and we wouldn't be surprised to see more girls with this heroic name.

Booker

Origin:
English occupational surname
Meaning:
"scribe"
Description:
Booker would make for a very cool name, for writers, reformers, R & B fans and those wanting to pay tribute to Booker T. Washington.

Booker Continued

Baird

Origin:
Scottish occupational name
Meaning:
"minstrel, poet"
Description:
Meaning bard, this is an original choice with poetic and melodic undertones. Bard itself has also come into consideration, both names bringing to mind Shakespeare and other literary lights.
The Scottish surname Baird's most notable bearer was John Logie Baird, the Scottish engineer and inventor of the televisor, the world's first practical television system in 1926, and also the world's first fully electronic color TV tube two years later. Some might also remember puppeteers Bil and Cora Baird.

Baird Continued

Kavya

Origin:
Sanskrit
Meaning:
"poem"
Description:
Looking for a discreet poetic name? Extremely popular Indian actress Kavya Madhavan is a notable bearer of this lovely Indian name.

Kavya Continued

Saga

Origin:
Swedish word name
Meaning:
"story; seeress"
Description:
Apt name for a little drama queen with a long future ahead of her. Saga is a Top 30 girls' name in Sweden.
/br> Saga was the Norse goddess of poetry, storytelling, and history. She was a prophetess — able to predict events.

Lyric

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"lyre"
Description:
A musical name with Greek roots, appealing to parents who like such other names as Harmony, Melody, and Cadence.

Lyric Continued

Fable

Origin:
Word name
Description:
Fable, like Story, is a word name with real potential, combining enchanted tale-telling with a moral edge. And soundwise, it would fit right in with the likes of Abel and Mabel.

Fable Continued

Riordan

Origin:
Irish
Meaning:
"bard, royal poet"
Description:
Has a legitimate first name history in its native land and an appealing meaning, but pronunciation is far from obvious.

Riordan Continued

Lyric

Origin:
Greek
Meaning:
"lyre"
Description:
A musical name that's more popular for girls.

Lyric Continued

Sonnet

Origin:
English from Italian
Meaning:
"little song"
Description:
Could there be a more poetic name than Sonnet? Actor Forest Whitaker was inspired to choose it for his daughter.

Sonnet Continued

Aristeia

Origin:
Literary term from Greek
Meaning:
"the best"
Description:
In epic poetry, the term aristeia is used to denote the climactic point where the hero/heroine has their finest hour. Aristeia feels at home with other big Greek names like Atalanta, Cassiopeia and Galatea. We think this name has potential for parents who think Poem, Saga and Rhapsody are too obvious.

Aristeia Continued

Kavi

Origin:
Sanskrit
Meaning:
"poet, sage"
Description:
A subtle and attractive name for the child of a poet or poetry-enthusiast.

Muse

Origin:
Greek mythology name
Description:
Remember, the Muse is passive: someone else's inspiration.

Mystery

Origin:
Word name
Description:
Pretty sound, provocative meaning, but a little over-the-top.

Mystery Continued

Edda

Origin:
Norse
Meaning:
"poetry"
Description:
This Old Norse girls' name has a lovely meaning but not too appealing a sound when removed from her native habitat. If you're looking for a girl namesake name for Ed, try Edwina instead.

Madrigal

Origin:
Latin
Meaning:
"song for unaccompanied voices"
Description:
Madrigal might be a pretty and highly distinctive choice for a child of a musical family--or for the parent looking for a less conventional path to the nickname Maddie than Madeline or Madison . Definitely more striking than Cadence or even the increasingly popular Aria.

Madrigal Continued

Story

Origin:
Word name
Description:
A new unisex word name with a lot of charm, especially appropriate for the child of writers. Soleil Moon Frye named her second baby boy Story and Jenna Elfman called her son Story Elias.

Story Continued

Fable

Origin:
Word name
Description:
Inventive name for the child of a writer.

Fable Continued

Paradox

Origin:
English word name
Description:
A paradox is a statement that while seeming true contradicts itself. With the less-than-pleasant "Doxy" as an obvious nickname, Paradox is perhaps a better name for a cat than a baby.

Paradox Continued

Bolan

Origin:
Irish
Meaning:
"little poet"
Description:
An Irish surname name with a combination of boldness and élan. Some might connect it to the founder of the group T. Rex -- Marc Bolan.

Bolan Continued

Kyrie

Origin:
Short form of Kyra or Greek
Meaning:
"Lord"
Description:
Kyrie elieson is one of the oldest religious refrains, meaning Lord, have mercy. As a first name, though, Kyrie is less a name of God and more a nickname-name that might be short for Kyra or a diminutive that stands on its own, a la Kylie. The best-known Kyrie is the male basketball player Kyrie Irving, who pronounces the first syllable to rhyme with my rather than fear. He has inspired more than 1000 baby boys to be given this name one recent year in the US, while it was given to 178 baby girls. Impressive numbers.

Kyrie Continued

Fantasy

Fantasy Continued

Canon

Origin:
Variation of Cannon, English word name
Description:
Cannon variant for photography buffs.

Canon Continued

Haiku

Origin:
Japanese poetic form
Description:
Short and sweet, just like the form of poetry - this name has serious potential as an interesting and plucky international choice.

Haiku Continued

Rhythm

Origin:
Word name
Description:
A musical name that is undeniably cool and, well, rhythmic. Its biggest challenge may be the spelling. Well, maybe not the biggest challenge. Save this one for a middle name.

Rhythm Continued

Dearbhla

Origin:
Irish
Meaning:
"daughter of the poet"
Description:
Dearbhla along with its Anglicized form Dervla are both well-used in modern Ireland. There was a medieval Saint Dearbhla. The spelling Deirbhile is also used.

Dearbhla Continued

Theory

Origin:
English word name from Greek
Meaning:
"idea, speculation"
Description:
Could be an unconventional route to Theo.

Theory Continued

Poem

Origin:
Word name
Description:
A handful of baby girls were named Poem in the US in the most recent year, along with Poet and Poetry. But of course, these word names can work for boys too.

Poet

Origin:
Word name
Description:
Poet is a new entry in both the trendy word and occupational categories as well as a member of the growing group of gender neutral names. A handful of baby boys received the name in the US last year. A perfect choice, especially in the middle, for the child of writers or those with a poetic bent. And Po is an adorable nickname for either gender.

Novella

Novella Continued

Diamante

Diamante Continued

Lyrical

Origin:
English word name
Description:
Lyric is a name given to over 1000 boys and girls each year in the US. Could the more feminine Lyrical (given to only 20 girls each year) become more popular as parents look to find less common alternatives to this musical name?

Lyrical Continued

Ode

Origin:
Word name or medieval English form of Otto
Description:
Ode could be part of the extended Otto/Otis family, or it might be a literary term, referring to an elaborate lyric poem.

Poesy

Origin:
Word name
Meaning:
"poetry"
Description:
This old-fashioned word for poetry has some antiquated charm but doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

Poesy Continued

Ballad

Origin:
English word name
Description:
Ballad could be the masculine answer to Aria. An obvious and cute nickname is Lad or Laddie.

Ballad Continued

Epic

Origin:
English word name
Description:
Epic feels like it could be the boys' version of Saga. Epic poetry tells some of our most celebrated stories - from Beowulf and the Odyssey, to the Divine Comedy and Paradise Lost. Despite being short, Epic is a lot of name, so it might be a choice for an adventurous middle name.

Runo

Origin:
Finnish
Meaning:
"poem"
Description:
The pronunciation is not intuitive to English speakers, who aren't used to Os said as As.

Poetry

Origin:
Word name
Description:
A lyrical choice.

Poetry Continued

Author

Origin:
Word and occupational name
Description:
An occupation name that sounds odd to the modern ear but enjoyed some use a century ago. May make a comeback as a more genteel brother to the new union of boys (and girls) with worker names such as Mason, Carter, and Bailey.

Author Continued

Aubade

Origin:
French
Meaning:
"morning love song"
Description:
Where as a serenade is an evening love song, an aubade is sung first thing in the morning.

Aubade Continued

Allegory

Origin:
English word name
Description:
If Fable, Story and Saga are getting a look in, why not Allegory? Allegory offers the cute nickname Ally.

Allegory Continued

Pen

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