Names from the Land of Oz

Gayelette

Invented literary name

A fanciful concoction whipped up by L. Frank Baum for a beautiful and powerful princess in one of his Oz books.

Glinda

Literary name

Glinda is famous as the name of the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz, invented by author L. Frank Baum. but has there ever been a real life, non-fictional Glinda? Not in the US last year. The name may…

Inga

Norse

"guarded by Ing"

Ing was a powerful Norse god whose name inspired several modern variations -- though Inga has become a caricatured Scandinavian choice.

Jellia

Invented literary name

A name created for Jellia Jamb, a sweet and beautiful servant in the Royal Palace in the Emerald City of Oz, who appears in several books in the series.

Jenny

Diminutive of Janet, Jane, Jean, and Jennifer

At the height of the Jennifer craze, many parents were cutting straight to the nickname and putting Jenny on the birth certificate. But now that Jennifer is the mom rather than the daughter, Jenny,…

Lurline

Variation of Lorelei, German

"alluring temptress"

The lilting Lorelei has given birth to many variations, including this one, now extinct.

Mayre

Mayre is a feminine name that likely developed as a variant spelling of either Mary or Maire (the Irish form of Mary). The name ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Miriam, though its exact…