You never know where inspiration for your baby name list may strike. Maybe it’s from your favorite TV show, the name of an old friend, a certain letter, or even someone’s pet (yes, my friend named her baby after her neighbor’s dog, June). But one of the best places to look for a timeless baby name is in your favorite books. These literary girl names are pulled straight from the pages of classics, fairy tales, children’s books, and more contemporary novels.
Many of the baby girl names on this list — like Anne, Jane, or Maya — feel classic without being overtly literary. But it’ll still be fun to explain why you named your baby what you did, and to one day get to share a great book with the character’s namesake. Other names on this list of baby girl names are inspired by authors rather than their protagonists, while some give a nod to more current literary names like Katniss or Bridget.
Naming a baby girl is hard — choosing a name for your baby can feel like a lot of pressure. If you want to be sure you pick a name you won’t grow tired of, turn to your favorite book for a literary-inspired girls’ name perfect for an English major in training. After all, if you can read your favorite book over and over again, you won’t get sick of hearing your favorite character or author’s name (except maybe when that “protagonist” is having a major meltdown).
Alice
Parenting feels positively mad sometimes, which is fitting for this literary named plucked from Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland. Meaning “noble” this classic name has both French and English origins, and it’s simple and easy to spell without being overly used.
Anne
Fans of the Anne Of Green Gables series will feel transported to Prince Edward Island when they hear this name. Less well-known, Anne Bradstreet was the first person (male or female) to have a book of poems published in America, and one of the Brontë sisters is also Anne. The strong, one syllable girls’ name actually means “Grace.”
Cordelia
Give a nod to Shakespeare with the name Cordelia, who was King Lear’s youngest daughter. This literary girls’ name has so many nicknames (Cor, Delia, Lia, or even Cora) and it’s uncommon without being unheard of. The name means “heart” or “daughter of the sea.” Buffy fans will appreciate this one, too.
Jane
Jane Eyre is a heroine your child will be proud to share a name with, even if they may not read Charlotte Brontë’s famous novel for quite a while. Simple, short, and classic, Jane means “God is gracious.”
Hester
Maybe it’s time for the name Hester to get a second chance. Inspired by Hester Prynne, the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter the name is a cool twist on Esther. If Hester, which means “star” isn’t right for you, you could go with Pearl, Hester’s daughter in the novel.
Matilda
Meaning “powerful and mighty” Matilda is a strong name for a girl and the French version, Mathilde, is also very pretty. Of course this name brings to mind Roald Dahl’s famous protagonist, Matilda, who is as lovable as she is fierce. Tilly is a super cute nickname, too.
Scarlett
A beautiful literary name, Scarlett stands on its own and is also instantly recognizable as the protagonist in Gone With The Wind. The name reads “red” and it calls to mind a fiery, independent girl, but you could also pull other names from the classic book like Melanie or Rhett.
Winnie
At first it may seem odd to name your baby girl after a cartoon bear who doesn’t wear pants, but Winnie is such a cute name. Interestingly, Winnie The Pooh got his name from a black bear at the London Zoo in the 1920s. The name is often (though not necessarily) short for Winifred, Edwina, or even Gwyneth and on its own it means “happiness” or “fair.”
Jo
Any of the names of the March sisters from Little Women feel instantly classic and literary. Jo, which is often short for Josephine, is the eldest sister and possible the most recognizable in terms of literary names, but Beth, Meg, or Amy work well, too.
Wendy
With this name, your baby will soar to new heights just like Wendy from Peter Pan. Known for being responsible yet whimsical, the older sister from the classic book-turned-movie is a great namesake. The name Wendy means “friend.”
Juliet
Juliet is an undeniably literary name for girls (and she’s sure to get random Shakespeare quotes lobbed in her direction when people learn her name) but it’s also just a really pretty and timeless name meaning “youthful.”
Charlotte
Whether you’re referencing Charlotte’s Web or Charlotte Brontë, this beautiful and classic girls name meaning “free” is always a good choice. Charlie is a sweet nickname too.
Catherine
Catherine Earnshaw is the protagonist of the 1847 novel Wuthering Heightsby Emily Brontë. Other literary classics with characters named Catherine include The Taming of the Shrew, Pride & Prejudice, and Catherine, Called Birdy (another cute literary name).
Daisy
Flower names for girls are always lovely, and Daisy has the added bonus of being playful but also literary, thanks to the character in The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan.
Scout
This is one of the rare names that as cute for a baby as it is cool for an adult. Borrowed from To Kill A Mockingbird, this strong one syllable name is fitting for an adventurous spirit.
Celie
Celie is the protagonist in The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and while the character has a rough childhood, she eventually does find her voice. It’s a beautiful, unusual name meaning “blind” and it’s a nice alternative to Cecilia or Cici.
Bridget
Looking for a more contemporary literary girls name? How about Bridget, named after the cheeky Bridget Jones (but no one will necessarily think that right away). It means “exalted one” and is typically thought of as an Irish name.
Maya
Instead of naming your baby girl for a literary character, opt for a favorite author instead. Maya Angelou is one of the most celebrated authors of the 20th century and her name means “good mother.”
Zora
Zora Neale Hurston is another wonderful author of the 20th century best known for writing Their Eyes Were Watching God one of the most important pieces of literature about Harlem Renaissance and race. The name means “sunrise” and is a nice alternative to the more popular Nora.
Drew
Drew is a cool unisex name meaning “strong” and it’ll make you think of beloved amateur detective, Nancy Drew. While the name is usually short for Andrew for boys, it’s not a nickname in most cases for girls.
Katniss
Fans of The Hunger Games will know exactly what this name calls back to. It’s not a made up name, though Katniss Everdeen is responsible for reviving it. Katniss means “a beautiful plant.”
Lisbeth
Lisbeth is sometimes short for Elizabeth (though it totally stands on its own) and it also happens to be fierce protagonist from the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo books. Lisbeth is typically a Hebrew name meaning “God is my oath.”
Madeline
Eloise
What little kid wouldn’t want to live (at least for a little bit) like Kay Thompson’s Eloise? Kids will like seeing their name on the cover of the book, and this whimsical, cute name for girls means “healthy.”
Ramona
There’s a lot to love about Ramona Quimby, the imaginative protagonist of the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. The name isn’t common but it’s easy to spell and pronounce, and it means “wise protector.” It’s actually a feminine version of the male name Raymond.
Whatever name your pick for your literary little one, you’re sure to adore her just as much as the beloved book that inspires your choice.
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