Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 13 pages
of 13
Word name
"poetry"
This old-fashioned word for poetry has some antiquated charm but doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.
English word name
Poet is one of the most stylish, stand-out occupational names, and Poetic puts a fresh spin on this artsy, lyrical choice.
Greek
"one of many praises"
Polyhymnia was one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology, associated with hymns, poetry, and dance. It's a whole lotta name for one girl, but now that Persephone and Calliope are on the table,…
Latin
"of the people"
An ancient Roman forename that has never been on the modern American charts. Famous bearers include Publius Vergilius Maro (the poet Virgil), Publius Ovidius Naso (the poet Ovid), and Publius Aelius…
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.
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.
English from French
"circle"
The -el ending feels inevitably feminine; also a form of French poetry.
English
"red enclosure"
Often thought of as a one-peson name because of Jungle Book writer Kipling, this was actually his middle name. He was middle-named for Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, the beauty of which inspired his…
Finnish
"poem"
An appealing Finnish name, with a touch of literary magic and whimsy, Runo means "poem" in its native language. Traditionally said with a slightly rolled R and a softer 'oh' sound at the end (more…
Sanskrit
"silver"
Related to the Indian word and currency "rupee', Rupa derives its meaning from the ancient Sanskrit language, and can mean both silver and beautiful. Rupa also has strong historical and literary…
"story, poem"
Sanelma is an invented Finnish name derived from the verb sanella , meaning "to dictate."
Ancient Greek
"sapphire"
Name of the 7th century BC Greek lyric poet born on the island of Lesbos, whose name has been synonymous with lesbian love. Though this name is rarely used today, it certainly could be and, some…
Form of poetry
The sestina is a type of poetry dating back to the medieval troubadours of Spain and France. As its name suggests, the sestina has six stanzas, each with six lines. Perfect for a sixth daughter or…
Judeo-Italian
"hope"
The 19th-century Irish poet Jane Wilde (mother of Oscar Wilde) adopted Speranza as her nom de plume. The name also appears in Spenser’s The Faerie Queene , as one of the three virtues: Fidelia…
Italian
"poetic verse"
Persian
"the pure one"
The name of a venerated 19th century poet and martyr in the Bábí and Bahá'í faiths. She was an early proponent of women's rights, famously removing her veil among a crowd of men at the Conference of…
"cup"
A singular selection, noteworthy for its connection to the great sixteenth-century Italian epic poet, Torquato Tasso.
The name of an ancient Thracian bard in Greek mythology, who boasted that he could sing better than the Muses. He was defeated, and his eyesight and poetic ability taken away, demonstrating that all…
French
"strength of a bull"
A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin…
