10 Timeless Baby Names from Classic Literature

Choosing a name for a new baby is difficult!

But if you’re a big reader, you have a whole library of wonderful names to consider. Here are ten names from classic literature that are perfect for the tiniest bookworms.

• Girls

Blythe

For any avid Anne of Green Gables fan, this is a great name. There aren’t many better characters than Gilbert Blythe. He’s smart and kind, and he waits for Anne for years before she realizes he’s the one for her. Meaning “happy or carefree,” it’s also not a terribly popular name, so if you’re looking for something that’s not made up, but won’t be one of many, it’s perfect.

Darcy

Is there any reader of classic literature who hasn’t felt a little love for Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice? He may start out cold and proud, but as the story progresses and his true character is revealed, it’s hard not to admire and respect him. In the book, Darcy is a surname, but as a first name, it’s beautifully feminine.

Scout

What more could you hope for in a daughter than one who takes after Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird? Brave, loyal, and deeply interested in what’s right, she’s the kind of child every parent dreams of having. Plus, it’s easy to spell and pronounce, and has a lot of spunk to it.

Matilda

What reader hasn’t adored Matilda and her love of books (despite her terrible parents who think the television is the best invention of all time)? Of all the Roald Dahl characters, she has to be my favorite. It’s a Germanic name meaning “strength in battle,” which I really love.

Scarlett

The heroine of Gone with the Wind may have the world’s tiniest waist, but her personality is larger-than-life and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to protect herself and her family. This name has shot up in popularity; before 2000, it wasn’t even in the top 1,000 most popular girl names, now it’s sitting in the number forty-two spot.

• Boys

Atticus

Widely considered to be one of the most upright people in literature, Atticus Finch is the father and lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird who defends a black man when he’s accused of a crime despite obvious disapproval from much of the community. This Latin name is currently in the 400s on the Social Security Administration’s index of popular baby names, so it’s not overused, but won’t be completely unheard of either.

Sawyer

What boy doesn’t want to be Tom Sawyer? Spunky, mischievous, and clever, he’s always getting himself into and out of various scrapes. Its popularity as a first name has skyrocketed in the last two decades — prior to 1991, it wasn’t even in the top 1,000, but now it’s holding steady in the 120s.

Rhett

If there was anyone who could stand toe-to-toe with Scarlett O’Hara, it’s the rich Rhett Butler (who made a fortune during the Civil War as a blockade-runner). Rhett spends years trying to win Scarlett’s heart, a fact she catches on to way too late. This Welsh name appropriately means “ardent or fiery.”

Wilder

For all of us who grew up with Little House on the Prairie, it doesn’t get much better than Almanzo Wilder. Who could forget how he drove his sleigh through the snow every weekend to fetch Laura so she could spend a few days with her parents instead of staying with her miserable hosts? And while Almanzo is depicted as steady, the name Wilder has a fun touch of rebellion to it.

Max

Among classic children’s literature characters, Max of Where the Wild Things Are may be one of the most beloved. Sent to bed with no supper, Max discovers a marvelous world of wild things accessible by boat. But, like most little boys, he’s happy to come back home and be reminded that his mother loves him. This name has been steadily popular (in the top 200) for the last 100 years, so there’s no concern that this name will sound dated or go out of style. It means “greatest,” which every parent thinks their child is anyway.

Was your child’s name inspired by classic literature? Or a favorite book? Let us know in the comments below.