Baby Names Inspired By Classic Novels That Book Lovers Will Adore

When it comes time to make a list of baby names, it's easy to think of some of your favorite TV show or movie characters—but what about your favorite literature icons? Many classic novels are full of vintage baby names you can make feel fresh in 2026, and these monikers often have a cultural significance or a storied history that will help make your baby's name that much more special. Whether you have a connection to a certain character, or if you're hoping to pay homage to your favorite author, look no further than the pages of the legendary classics that have been around for decades.

To narrow down your search, we've compiled a list of literary-inspired baby names that book lovers are sure to adore. Derived from some of literature's most famous characters, these names are broken down into bookworm-approved ideas for baby girl names, baby boy names, and even some gender-neutral name options as well. We've also included some author-inspired monikers for hardcore book lovers, so keep scrolling for a list of meaningful and distinctive names that could be the perfect fit for your future reader.

We already know Jane Austen-inspired baby girl names are making a major comeback in 2026. This is why we can never stop recommending the monikers of some of her most iconic characters, like "Emma," "Jane," "Elizabeth," and "Elinor," just to name a few. You also can't go wrong with the names of a few of the March sisters from Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women," like "Amy," "Beth," and "Meg." Naming your baby girl "Alice" after Lewis Carroll's titular character in Wonderland is always a fun and whimsical option, while "Winnie" is a sweet-sounding name from Natalie Babbitt's novel "Tuck Everlasting." Another classic literary name is "Daisy," after Daisy Buchanan from "The Great Gatsby," which is a pretty and floral option that's perfect if you're hoping to raise a "beautiful little fool."

As for some less common name options inspired by classic novels, the sisters named "Celie" and "Nettie" from Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" are two distinctive baby name ideas to consider, while Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter" features a mother and daughter with the unique names "Hester" and "Pearl." Another one-of-a-kind moniker to add to your list is "Lenina," a character who appears in Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel "Brave New World," as well as the very unique name "Zillah," after a character from Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights."

Classic American literature has some of the best names for a bouncing baby boy, with a few notable names in the titles of some legendary works. Among them are the names "Oliver," from Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist," and "Dorian," from Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray." "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain has not one, but two name ideas in the title: "Huck" after the main character's first name, and "Finn" after his last name.

Another iconic literary boy name we would be remiss not to mention is "Holden," as in Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger. Other options include "Calvin" from the novel "A Wrinkle in Time," or "Gilbert" from "Anne of Green Gables." S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders" also has a number of boy name options, with several of the characters sharing the last name "Curtis," which could be a less common way to reference the fan-favorite story. If you're looking for a baby boy moniker that you don't hear every day, consider names like "Jem" and "Atticus," from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," or "Winston" from George Orwell's "1984," which gives old money vibes. You could even go with the name "Gatsby" after the title character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous roaring '20s tale.

If you've been focused on finding the perfect baby name intended for your baby's specific sex, there may be some gender-neutral baby names that you haven't considered. There are so many literary characters with gender-neutral names, including some of the most famous and beloved protagonists, like Scout Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird." A female character in the book, her real name is Jean Louise, but "Scout" could make an adorable name for either sex. Another versatile option is "Jo," inspired by Jo March from Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women," as well as "Laurie," another character from the same novel. 

You could also look toward one of the all-time classics by Jane Austen, as "Pride and Prejudice" is full of baby-naming material. Two outside-the-box options include "Darcy" (after Fitzwilliam Darcy), which could be used for a boy or a girl, as well as "Bennett," which is the last name of Elizabeth and her sisters, the central family in the story. Other unique names include "Dallas," after a character in S.E. Hinton's "The Outsiders," or "Sawyer," inspired by the last name of Mark Twain's adventure-bound title character, Tom. 

It's not just the characters from classic novels that could make for good baby name ideas, but the authors behind some of the most famous literary works could provide some inspiration, too. For example, "Louisa" would make a pretty name for a baby girl with a tie back to "Little Women" author Louisa May Alcott, while "Ernest" could be a unique boy name in honor of Ernest Hemingway. "Harper" is another idea, inspired by "To Kill a Mockingbird" author Harper Lee, while "Zora" is a less common name, which could serve as a tribute to the pioneering Harlem Renaissance author Zora Neale Hurston.

Some renowned authors even have last names with some solid baby name options, like "Hugo" after Victor Hugo, or "Shelley" after "Frankenstein" author Mary Shelley. Even "Austen," spelled like Jane Austen's last name, could also serve as a subtle literary reference. Other ideas could include "Willa," after "My Antonia" author Willa Cather, or "Oscar" after prolific 19th-century author Oscar Wilde. Avid readers of Wilde could even use his last name for a highly unique moniker for their baby if they're really feeling — well, wild.