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Naming a baby after a beloved character or author is a quiet way to carry a favorite story forward — and literary and film names often carry a built-in sense of meaning without being too on-the-nose.
Literary names for girls
- Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird)
- Jo (Little Women)
- Elowen — a fantasy-style name popular in modern novels
- Hermione (Harry Potter)
- Anne (Anne of Green Gables)
- Matilda (Roald Dahl)
- Éowyn (The Lord of the Rings)
Literary names for boys
- Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird)
- Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)
- Frodo or Sam (The Lord of the Rings)
- Huck (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
- Dashiell — after author Dashiell Hammett
- Arthur — a nod to Arthurian legend
- Oliver (Charles Dickens)
Names from beloved films
Some names are recognizable enough from a film alone to carry that association clearly (like Leia), while others quietly nod to a favorite movie without being obvious to anyone who hasn't seen it — both are valid approaches depending on how overt you want the reference to be.
Choosing a name that ages well
A character-inspired name works best when you also just like the sound and feel of it on its own — since your child will carry the name long after the specific reference might be recognized by others. Say it out loud, picture it on a resume, and make sure it holds up on its own merits.
