Literary names
Names of Literary origin we cover in depth, each with meaning, etymology, and popularity data back to 1880.
- OpheliaOf uncertain originLiterary#264
- JulietYouthful or downy-bearded, as an English form of the Roman family name JuliaLiterary#274
- VanessaOf uncertain originLiterary#377
- AnakinOf uncertain originLiterary#648
- KhaleesiFrom the Dothraki language, meaning 'queen' or 'ruler'Literary#689
- ElowenOf uncertain originLiterary#797
- SariahPrincess of the LordLiterary#950
- ImogenOf uncertain originLiterary#1,117
- ThorinOf uncertain originLiterary#1,376
- ArwenElvish name from JLiterary#1,382
- AvalonOf uncertain originLiterary#1,458
- EowynOf uncertain meaningLiterary#1,467
- KaladinOf uncertain origin, likely a made-up name from a fantasy seriesLiterary#1,486
- PercivalOne who pierces the valleyLiterary#1,529
- ElanorOf uncertain originLiterary#1,631
- EnderOf uncertain originLiterary#1,743
- DaenerysOf uncertain originLiterary#1,758
- AtreyuOf uncertain meaningLiterary#1,837
- RhaenyraCoined for a fictional character, with no traditional meaningLiterary#1,844
- MindyOf uncertain origin, likely a pet form of names such as Melinda or AmandaLiterary#2,387
- MulanOf uncertain originLiterary#2,458
- DemianOf uncertain meaningLiterary#2,480
- ElowynnDerived from the Cornish name Elowen, meaning 'elm tree'Literary#2,485
- DivitOf uncertain originLiterary#2,991
- AvonleaFrom the fictional village Avonlea in LLiterary#2,998
- MayariGoddess of the moon in Tagalog mythologyLiterary#3,211
- NevaOf uncertain originLiterary#3,296
- PsalmsThe name Psalms is taken directly from the biblical Book of Psalms, a collection of sacred songs and poemsLiterary#3,314
- Khoiof uncertain originLiterary#3,379
- IrohTraditionally a title meaning 'teacher' or 'master' in the fictional universe of Avatar, but as a given name it carries the connotation of wisdom and calmLiterary#3,513
- IridessaPossibly derived from the word 'iris' (rainbow) or a variant of IridianaLiterary#4,172
- TennysonFrom the English surname meaning 'dennison' or 'son of Dennis'Literary#4,396
- SamwiseHalf-wise or simple-minded, from Old English elementsLiterary#4,857
- OdysseyEpic journey or quest, after Homer's OdysseyLiterary#4,878
- Olivanderof uncertain originLiterary#5,208
- TyrionOf uncertain origin, coined by George RLiterary#5,208
- PadmeOf uncertain originLiterary#5,238
- AlucardLiterally 'Dracula' spelled backwardLiterary#5,399
- OberonOriginally a French heroic name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from a Germanic compound meaning 'bear' or 'noble bear'Literary#5,399
- ArriettyOf uncertain originLiterary#5,554
- Eryxof uncertain originLiterary#5,608
- DuneA modern name derived from the English word for a sand hill or ridge, popularized by Frank Herbert's 1965 science fiction novel 'Dune'Literary#5,861
- Yvainepossibly a variant of Yvonne, meaning 'yew' or 'archer'Literary#5,917
- MorganaOf uncertain meaning, possibly 'sea circle' from Welsh 'mor' (sea) and 'cant' (circle) or 'dweller of the sea'Literary#6,116
- Pollyanna"Polly" combined with the suffix "anna," popularized by Eleanor HLiterary#6,116
- Killuaof fictional origin, from the Japanese manga and anime series Hunter x HunterLiterary#6,143
- LestatOften interpreted as 'the star' from French 'l'étoile', but the name was created by author Anne Rice for her vampire character and has no traditional etymologyLiterary#6,143
- NymeriaOf uncertain origin, likely a modern coinage inspired by the fictional character from George RLiterary#6,325
- BambiOf uncertain originLiterary#6,546
- EileeOf uncertain originLiterary#6,546
- AttilaOf uncertain originLiterary#6,803
- DenzellOf uncertain originLiterary#6,803
- LancelotOf uncertain meaningLiterary#6,803
- AramintaOften interpreted as a feminization of the Hebrew name Aram, or as a variant of Araminta, a name possibly coined in the 17th century from Latin elementsLiterary#7,133
- GaladrielMaiden crowned with a radiant garlandLiterary#7,133
- AragornOf uncertain originLiterary#7,194
- MorticiaOf uncertain origin, likely a feminine elaboration of Mortimer or a reference to the Latin 'mortis' (death)Literary#7,491
- NeytiriOf uncertain originLiterary#7,491
- DengOf uncertain originLiterary#7,679
- Geraltof uncertain originLiterary#7,679
- Dejahof literary origin, coined by Edgar Rice Burroughs for a Martian princess in his Barsoom seriesLiterary#7,885
- SirenA name taken from the mythological creatures whose enchanting songs lured sailors to their doom, also used as a word for a warning signalLiterary#8,362
- CelieOf uncertain originLiterary#8,860
- CressidaOf uncertain origin, possibly meaning 'gold' or derived from Greek 'kresson' (better)Literary#8,860
- GypsyThe name Gypsy derives from the term for a member of the Romani people, though as a given name it is often chosen for its association with a free-spirited or wandering lifestyle rather than ethnic referenceLiterary#8,860
- JadisOf uncertain originLiterary#8,860
- Quynhof uncertain originLiterary#8,860
- HamletLittle home or little villageLiterary#8,910
- Othelloof uncertain originLiterary#8,910
- AradiaOf uncertain meaningLiterary#9,457
- AurynOf uncertain originLiterary#9,714
- GokuOf uncertain originLiterary#9,714
- NephiOf uncertain originLiterary#9,714
- OberynOf uncertain originLiterary#9,714
- NerissaOf uncertain originLiterary#10,107
- LadonOf uncertain originLiterary#10,695
- RamboOf uncertain originLiterary#10,695
- TeancumOf uncertain originLiterary#10,695
- TaurielDaughter of the forest (from Sindarin, the Elvish language invented by JLiterary#10,917
- BethsaidaOf uncertain meaningLiterary#11,932
- KahleesiCoined for the fictional title 'Khaleesi' meaning 'queen' in the Dothraki language from the television series Game of ThronesLiterary#11,932
- KatnissA type of aquatic plant (Sagittaria sagittifolia) bearing edible tubersLiterary#11,932
- MedoraThe meaning is uncertainLiterary#11,932
- SynthiaOf uncertain meaningLiterary#11,932
- TitaniaOf uncertain originLiterary#11,932
- YuchenOf uncertain originLiterary#12,008
- CarmillaA feminine given name of uncertain meaning, possibly derived from the Hebrew Carmel, meaning 'garden' or 'vineyard'Literary#13,208
- NimueThe meaning is uncertainLiterary#13,208
- AlminaOf uncertain originLiterary#14,942
- AviendhaOf uncertain meaningLiterary#14,942
- IllyriaPlace name of an ancient region in the western BalkansLiterary#14,942
- Meilingbeautiful and cleverLiterary#14,942
- SigourneyOf uncertain meaningLiterary#14,942
- Alroyof uncertain originLiteraryboy
- BilboOf uncertain originLiteraryboy
- CaillouOf uncertain origin, likely a French diminutiveLiteraryboy
- CapitolaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- CinderellaLittle ashes girlLiterarygirl
- Clorindaof uncertain originLiterarygirl
- ColumbiaThe feminine form of the Latin adjective meaning 'of Columbia,' referring to the United StatesLiterarygirl
- Corrinnamaiden (of uncertain originLiterarygirl
- Cungfrom a Vietnamese surname of uncertain meaningLiteraryboy
- DezziePossibly a diminutive of Desdemona or a variant of DessieLiterarygirl
- DjunaOf uncertain origin: possibly a feminine form of the Roman name Junius or a variant of the archaic Roman name Dius FidiusLiterarygirl
- ElmireOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- EragonCreated name, derived from the invented language of the Inheritance Cycle seriesLiteraryboy
- Haideeof uncertain originLiterarygirl
- HelamanOf uncertain meaningLiteraryboy
- IcelOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- JesiccaVariant spelling of Jessica, a name of uncertain origin, possibly a feminine form of Jesse or an invention by ShakespeareLiterarygirl
- JieJie is a unisex Chinese name with multiple meanings depending on the characters used, such as 'hero' or 'cleanLiteraryboy
- KizzyOf debated originLiterarygirl
- KongOf uncertain origin, possibly a Chinese surname or a reference to a legendary monsterLiteraryboy
- LauranaBorne by a character in the Dragonlance fantasy seriesLiterarygirl
- LuviniaOf uncertain origin, possibly a diminutive or variant of Lavinia, the name of a legendary Roman figureLiterarygirl
- MlissOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- MoraimaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- NeekaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- NefiOf uncertain originLiteraryboy
- NydiaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- OndineLittle wave, from the Latin 'unda' meaning waveLiterarygirl
- OthellaPossibly a feminine form of Othello, which is of uncertain originLiterarygirl
- OuidaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- PakouOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- Pamof uncertain originLiterarygirl
- PamilaDiminutive of Pamela, a name invented in the 16th century by Sir Philip Sidney, possibly from Greek pan 'all' and meli 'honey', thus 'all honey' or 'honeyed'Literarygirl
- PemaOne sentence: It means 'lotus' in TibetanLiterarygirl
- PorshiaProbably a respelling of Portia, a Latin name of debated meaning possibly related to 'pig' (porcus) or 'gate' (porta)Literarygirl
- PriseisOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- RadamesOf uncertain originLiteraryboy
- RaistlinName created by author Margaret Weis for the fantasy series DragonlanceLiteraryboy
- SheccidDerived from a character in the 1994 novel 'Sheccid' by Mexican author Carlos Cuauhtémoc SánchezLiterarygirl
- Tamoraof uncertain origin, possibly a feminine form of Tamar or a variant of TamaraLiterarygirl
- TannisOf uncertain originLiteraryunisex
- ThanosOf uncertain meaningLiteraryboy
- TitianaOf uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Titania, the queen of the fairies in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'Literarygirl
- TrilbyThe name is derived from the title of George du Maurier's 1894 novel 'Trilby', possibly based on a painting of a woman named Trilby O'FerrallLiterarygirl
- TristaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- TristramOf uncertain meaningLiteraryboy
- TruongFrom a Vietnamese surname meaning 'school' or 'administrative bureau'Literaryboy
- VenessaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl
- VinetaOf uncertain originLiterarygirl