One of my favorite guilty pleasures has always been finding a cozy spot, a snuggly blanket, and sinking into a deliciously good book. Whether it’s a standby classic or a modern favorite with unexpected twists, I’ve always been rather bookish. I’ll often find myself debating book versus movie (they hardly EVER do the book justice!). Also, I found myself looking towards my favorite novels for baby name inspiration that is out of the ordinary, from fables and folktales to epics and more. Literature has proven to be an excellent source of inspiration for baby names.

Literary Baby Names

Literary Girl Names

Celie– a gorgeous, strong name for your girl from The Color Purple.

Esperanza– a hopeful name for a bright chica from Esperanza Rising.

Jane– a classic literary favorite featured in many books, most prominently Jane Eyre.

Lena– who doesn’t remember (and love!) this timid beauty from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?

Luna– whether seeking magic or mystery in your baby’s name, you’ll find it in our inspiration from Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter.

Lyra– inspired by Greek mythology, this ancient instrument is actually a Baby Chick team member’s middle name!

Matilda– this notorious bookworm’s fierce wisdom gives all the millennial kids some *feels*—made famous by the book by Roald Dahl.

Ramona– Beezus, Jesus! Ramona Quimby is another fierce female character whose name we adore.

Rosaleen– a nurturing, powerful character from Secret Life of Bees, your little girl’s heart of gold would shine brightly with this one.

Scarlett– images of Spanish moss and humid Southern nights come to mind with this Gone with the Wind namesake.

Literary Boy Names

Atticus– a grown-up name for a sweet little boy, this protagonist moniker would be an excellent addition to your baby names roster from To Kill a Mockingbird.

Augustus (Auggie) – if you haven’t read (or seen, I won’t judge!) You might not get the hype, but once you do, you’ll surely feel inspired by this sweet boy’s name.

Edison– a regal and historic name attached to a very regal book: Crazy Rich Asians is a fantastic novel that will soon be on the big screen.

Finn– playful adventure awaits your sweet little one with this clever, quirky name from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Ishmael– call your son this: and though he’ll likely never have a keychain with his name on it, the strong boy name with a timeless connection to Moby Dick won’t let your boy falter.

Langston– this brilliant, bright name is not from a specific book per se, but instead one of the greatest poets and novelists to have ever lived: Langston Hughes.

Max– a classic name that can be as it is or lengthened to Maximillian, your son’s favorite book is sure to be Where the Wild Things Are.

Rhett– perhaps your partner has quoted Gone with the Wind’s Rhett Butler to you a time or two when deciding on baby names, but this charmer is sure to win some hearts (and minds!) in his day.

Santiago– if you’re looking for a tenacious name with ties all over the world, consider Santiago from Old Man and the Sea.

Sawyer– another great option for the adventurous spirit, pen down this name if you anticipate a boy with a mind of his own—and hard to pin down like Tom Sawyer himself.

Check out our other baby name lists if you want even more ideas. Try Disney baby names, Netflix-inspired baby names, badass boy names from history and popular fiction, and Greek goddess names for more ideas on what to name your precious little one. Good luck picking out the right one for your baby!