names from fiction I like

Ryn

Variation of Rynn, English

"pure"

A great middle name option to honor a Kathryn. Coco Rocha used it for her daughter Iley's middle name.

Sakura

Japanese

"cherry blossom"

Lovely Japanese name that would certainly be appreciated in Europe and the U.S. It was rarely used in Japan until the 1990s, and draws its current popularity from the fact that it is deeply connected…

Sam

Diminutive of Samantha

"told by God"

Sam as a name standing on its own was given to only 18 girls in 2021, versus over 400 boys. But as a short form it's appealing and down-to-earth for both sexes, and heard far more often: There were…

Sapphire

Hebrew, Greek, and Latin jewel name

"blue"

Sapphire goes waaaaay beyond Ruby and Pearl. This September birthstone, occasionally used a century ago, might be worth a reappraisal, perhaps as a Sophie/Sophia alternative. Sapphire is the…

Saria

Saria is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may derive from Arabic roots, where it relates to 'sariya' meaning 'cloud that travels by night' or 'night journey.' In Hebrew contexts,…

Saturn

Saturn is a celestial feminine name derived directly from the Roman god of agriculture and the name of the sixth planet in our solar system. As a given name, Saturn emerged as part of the modern…

Sean

Irish variation of John

"God is gracious"

Sean may be off its peak for boys, but there were still 1300 baby boys named Sean in the US in the most recent year counted, versus only five baby girls. In fact, there were fewer than 30 baby girls…

Shirley

English

"bright meadow"

Shirley Temple almost single-handedly lifted the gloom of the Great Depression, and in tribute (and perhaps wishing for a similarly curly-headed, dimpled darling of their own), thousands of parents…

Silver

English word name

" a metallic chemical element with atomic number 47"

Among the first wave of word names used in the hippie era, it actually is a legitimate girl's name with a lot of luster.

Snow

English word name

There's definitely a cold front of names for winter babies moving in, with Summer, Spring and Autumn giving way to Winter--plus North, January, Frost--and Snow. This name feels brisk, fresh, pure,…

Sonnet

English from Italian

"little song"

Could there be a more poetic name than Sonnet? Actor Forest Whitaker was inspired to choose it for his daughter. The word sonnet derives from the Italian sonetto , meaning 'little song.' And although…

Susie

Diminutive of Susan, Hebrew

"lily"

In the 1950s and 60s, Susie was the name every little girl wanted for her very own. Susie, which might be short for Susan or Susannah, might be off its fashion peak but it's still cute and perky.