Jane Austen-Inspired Baby Girl Names Are Making A Major Comeback In 2026

If you're expecting a little one and love a good jam session, you may look for baby names inspired by iconic song titles. However, voracious readers of classic literature may turn to their favorite authors, and Jane Austen's novels have plenty to choose from. One popular book adapted into several films is, of course, "Pride and Prejudice," and it includes several vintage baby names you can make feel fresh in 2026. The main protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet, is a great source of inspiration. She's smart, strong-willed, and witty — all admirable traits you'd want in your child. Besides, her name ranks 33rd as the most popular girl name in 2026, according to Baby Center. We also can't forget Elizabeth's sisters, Jane, Mary, Lydia, and Catherine, or Kitty if you want an adorable nickname for the latter.

Another popular Austen's novel has the titular character Emma, which can also be a baby name inspired by your favorite sitcom. If you're a "Friends" fan, you may recall that Rachel chose that name for her little girl. According to the Social Security Administration, it was also the third most popular name in 2025, so we may see an uptick this year as well. Emma's older sister in the Austen book, Isabella, is such a pretty name and can be shortened to Izzie, Isa, or Bella. While those two books have tons of baby name ideas, Austen's other reads provide lots of inspo as well.

Jane Austen fans who really want to put thought behind their baby's name would be interested to learn that the author put meaning behind them, too. For example, the main character of "Northanger Abbey," Catherine Morland, is a play on "more land," per The Guardian. Eleanor is another great vintage name that has steadily gained popularity over the years. Some nickname options could be Ellie or Ella, or even El, if you're a "Stranger Things" enthusiast. You can also go with a different spelling, such as Elinor, like the "Sense and Sensibility" heroine — another great Jane Austen book.

For a simple, yet timeless name, the protagonist of "Persuasion," Anne, is trending upward. Mary, Louisa, and Henrietta are other quaint names that you don't see too often, but you can make them trendy again. Additionally, you can name your baby after the author, with Jane as an option, or even Austen if you want to go with a cool gender-neutral option.