Poetic Baby Names

An unusual Arabic name, borne by the British poet and author Imtiaz Dharker.

Longfellow is the first name of the eponymous hero of the classic 1936 film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, later remade with Adam Sandler. But it's hard to imagine a modern parent using it except as a middle name to honor the poet.

Erinna was an ancient poetess from the island of Telos near Rhodes. Only fragments of her poems remain, which were reproduced in Bergk's Poetae Lyrici Graeci (published in 1900).

An attractive Polish name, reminiscent of Grace and its related names. Grażyna has its roots in poetry, having been invented by Adam Mickiewicz for his 1823 poem entitled Grażyna. Mickiewicz invented the name from the Lithuanian word gražus, meaning beautiful, making this name an especially sweet choice for your beautiful baby girl. Famous women named Grażyna include the actresses Grażyna Wolszczak and Grażyna Szapołowska, the composer and violinist Grażyna Bacewicz, and the soprano singer Grażyna Brodzińska.

This newly-minted gender neutral word name has a spiritual and creative feel. It was given to 6 baby girls and 13 boys in 2021.

A singular selection, noteworthy for its connection to the great sixteenth-century Italian epic poet, Torquato Tasso.

An elegy is a poem lamenting a deceased person. As a name, it could be used by parents in remembrance of a recently deceased person or as a euphonic and unusual literary name. The original Greek could also work.

Pretty and distinctive choice for poetry lovers.

Surname of a noted modern Urdu poet.

In literary circles, this name will be immediately recognized as a reference to the poetic stanza; outside such circles, this name may cause confusion for names like Coltrane or Cobain.

Phenex is a demon known as one of the Great Marquis of Hell, ruling over legions of demons. He is known for science and poetry.

A variation of an old Irish saint’s name, Liadin, and the name of a lovelorn poetess in Irish folk legend. Be prepared for some clumsy pronunciation outside Ireland, however.

In literature, the Ottava rima is a form of poetry. Alternatively, Ottava could be used as a variation of Octavia.

If Story and Poet and Sonnet can be names that work as well for girls as for boys, why not Ode?

Noted bearers of this surname include a metaphysical poet, a Nobel Prize winner, and a baseball Hall of Famer, so there's plenty of hero-name inspiration.

Eliot is the sleekest spelling of the original, very occasionally used for girls, perhaps to honor novelist George Eliot.

A bold Welsh name with a gentle meaning, Heddwyn is notably associated with the poet Ellis Humphrey Evans, who died at Passchendaele during World War One. He used Hedd Wyn as his Bardic name, having been inspired by the way sunlight broke through the mist in the Welsh valleys, making this a truly poetic feeling choice. In fact, it only started to be used after the poet's death.

Creative alternative to names like Riley, Ryder, and Ryker, of which you'll find many in a Kindergarten classroom.

As a poetry-related baby name, Rhymer feels more unexpected than Sonnet or Poet.

The Phillis spelling of this once-popular name lives on thanks to Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American to publish a book of poetry, in the 18th century.