12 Unique Baby Names from
Modern Literature

If you’re a book lover on the hunt for a name for your baby, modern literature is full of great possibilities.

From unforgettable characters to distinguished authors, here are twelve distinct baby names worthy of consideration.

• Girls

Briony

If you’re familiar with the book or movie version of Atonement, it’s hard to forget Briony, the conflicted protagonist who misunderstands a situation she sees as a young girl and jumps to a conclusion that has terrible consequences for decades to come.

Esperanza

For a name that embodies strength of character and perseverance, no matter the odds, you couldn’t do better than Esperanza from The House on Mango Street.

Olivia

It may seem odd to name your child after a pig, but Ian Falconer’s Oliva is so delightful that you can hardly hold it against the name. Or, for a name that’s rising fast in popularity, swap out the “ia” for an “e” and go with Olive instead.

Denver

From Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer-Prize winning Beloved, I love this unique and strong-sounding name for a girl.

Ramona

If there is one character who is the epitome of spunk and independence, it’s Beverly Cleary’s Ramona. I love that it means “protecting hands” – a nice contrast to the sometimes destructive tendencies of this fictional little girl!

Zadie

British author Zadie Smith liked the name Zadie so much that she had her name legally changed from Sadie when she was fourteen. Meaning “princess,” this name has been in the top 1000 for nearly three decades.

• Boys

Boone

This last name of the protagonist in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time makes for a strong and unusual first name. English in origin, it means “blessing,” and, thanks to Daniel Boone, has a definite western vibe to it.

Dallas

He may be the toughest character in The Outsiders, having lived on the streets for three years, but he’s not afraid to put himself at risk for a friend.

Ames

The narrator of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize winning Gilead has this as a surname. It’s a French name, meaning “friend.”

Ender

Brave, smart, and kind, Ender, from Ender’s Game, is just the kind of person you’d want your child to emulate. With the movie recently out, there may be a surge in Enders over the next few years!

Oscar

Sitting firmly in the top 200 for years, this name is neither too popular nor too unusual. The hero of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, his name means “divine spear.”

Wolfe

Famous during his own lifetime and still considered one of the best writers of the 20th Century, Thomas Wolfe’s last name lends itself to a first name for parents who want a strong and slightly unusual name – the final “e” is optional.