Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 5 pages
of 5
English from Italian
"pastoral song"
Is Villanelle the new Sonnet? This elaborate name is a form of poetry — an example is Dylan Thomas's Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night — but many know it better as an assassin's codename in the…
French poetic form
This could be an obscure choice for literary families, but beware the connotations with virus and virulent.
Persian
"fairy tale, myth, fable, legend"
A name of Persian origin, Afsaneh has a whimsical meaning but a solid sound. Afsana is an alternative spelling of the name
English word name
Booker and Author are being used as names (the former is best known care of Booker T Washington), so why not Reader? Reader certainly fits in with both these and other "doing" names like Ryder,…
Often used in connection with poetry, Imagery has potential as an unusual name. Perhaps you'll get a daydreamer with this one.
Japanese poetic form
Short and sweet, just like the form of poetry - this name has serious potential as an interesting and plucky international choice.
Kicker could be a great name for a cheeky kid, along the lines of Cricker, Striker or Becker. In literature the term Kicker is used to describe the twist or turn in a story.
Fantasy is an uncommon feminine name derived directly from the English word, which originated from Latin 'phantasia' meaning 'imagination' or 'appearance.' As a given name, Fantasy emerged during the…
English word name from the Greek Euphonia
"well sounding"
With the rising use of Eugenie and Eulalia, could literary Euphony make a debut? It certainly has a pleasant meaning and is euphonic itself.
English from Latin
"crowned with laurels"
Eloquence feels right at home with names like Cadence and Rhapsody.
