For Book Lovers
Literary Girl Names
338 names, each with its meaning, U.S. popularity, and an audio pronunciation.
Looking for boy names instead? Literary Boy Names →
If your child was named on the strength of a paperback you have re-read four times, you are in excellent company. Literary girl names come pre-loaded with a character to live up to, and the classics still do the heavy lifting: Jane is plain-spoken and quietly immovable, exactly as Brontë intended; Ophelia carries the whole weight of a Shakespearean stage and has been climbing again with parents who like their beauty a little haunted; Sylvia nods to Plath without ever feeling heavy; and Rebecca holds onto the gothic hum of du Maurier’s most famous novel.
The livelier corner of the shelf is where the surprises are. Sawyer and Emerson pull straight from American letters and land as brisk, modern and unmistakably capable. Esme has a Salinger short story behind it and a lovely bit of understatement in front. Colette and Camille bring French literary polish, Francesca and Frances give you one ornate option and one deliciously plain one from the same root, and Lorelai, Heidi and Ariel cover storybook, screen and stage in three quick steps.
Every name below opens to its full page — a sourced meaning, its U.S. popularity, and a clear audio pronunciation so you can hear it before you fall for it.
Literary Girl Names
Emerson#122 in the U.S.Son of Emery; Emery derives from Germanic Amalric meaning 'work-power' or 'brave power'▶Jane#221 in the U.S.God is gracious▶Camille#240 in the U.S.Attendant at religious ceremonies; helper of the priest▶Ophelia#264 in the U.S.Help, aid; one who offers assistance▶Sawyer#291 in the U.S.One who saws wood; a woodcutter or sawyer by trade▶Esme#298 in the U.S.Beloved, esteemed; highly regarded▶Sylvia#300 in the U.S.From the forest; spirit of the woods▶Elaine#305 in the U.S.Bright, shining light — Old French form of Helen▶Francesca#307 in the U.S.Free; free person — Italian feminine of Franciscus▶Colette#316 in the U.S.French feminine diminutive of Nicolas, itself from the Greek Nikolaos, composed of 'nike' (vict▶Frances#318 in the U.S.Feminine form of Francis, from the Latin Franciscus, meaning 'Frenchman' or 'free one', ultimat▶Sabrina#321 in the U.S.Latinized form of the Celtic name of the River Severn in Britain. The precise Celtic meaning is▶Lorelai#333 in the U.S.Variant spelling of Lorelei, from German, combining 'lore' (murmuring) and 'ley' (rock), referr▶Heidi#340 in the U.S.Swiss German diminutive of Adelheid (Adelaide), from the Old German 'adal' (noble) and 'heid' (▶Rebecca#350 in the U.S.From the Hebrew Rivkah, possibly from 'ribqah' (to bind or tie) or related to a root meaning 'c▶Ariel#356 in the U.S.From Hebrew Ariel, composed of 'ari' (lion) and 'El' (God), meaning 'lion of God'. In the Bible▶Matilda#365 in the U.S.From Old German Mahthildis, composed of 'maht' (might, strength) and 'hild' (battle) — meaning ▶Mallory#372 in the U.S.From the Old French 'malheure' or Norman 'malorie', meaning 'unlucky' or 'ill-omened' — an unus▶Esmeralda#373 in the U.S.From Spanish and Portuguese 'esmeralda', meaning emerald — the precious green gemstone, from th▶Anya#375 in the U.S.Russian and Eastern European diminutive of Anna, from Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace', 'favor', ▶Vanessa#377 in the U.S.Invented by Jonathan Swift as a pet name for Esther Vanhomrigh, later adopted as a butterfly ge▶Laura#379 in the U.S.From Latin laurus, the laurel tree, a symbol of victory, honor, and poetry in classical antiqui▶Laila#413 in the U.S.From Arabic layla meaning night; associated with the classic Arabic love poem Layla and Majnun;▶Dorothy#421 in the U.S.From Greek Dorothea, a reversal of Theodora: combining doron (gift) and theos (God), meaning gi▶Willa#422 in the U.S.Feminine form of William, from Old High German Wilhelmus combining wil (will, determination) an▶Lyra#435 in the U.S.From Greek lyra meaning lyre, the stringed instrument of Apollo and Orpheus; also the name of a▶Lorelei#441 in the U.S.From the German place name Loreley, a Rhine cliff, derived from Old High German 'lureln' (murmu▶Calliope#451 in the U.S.From Greek 'kallos' (beauty) and 'ops' (voice, face), meaning 'beautiful voice'; name of the Mu▶Madeleine#455 in the U.S.French form of Magdalene, from the place name Magdala on the Sea of Galilee, meaning 'tower' in▶Helen#462 in the U.S.From Greek 'Helene,' possibly derived from 'helios' (sun) or from the root 'hele' (torch, brigh▶Meredith#469 in the U.S.From the Welsh name Maredudd or Meredydd, composed of 'mawr' (great) and 'udd' (lord, ruler), m▶Fiona#470 in the U.S.From Scottish Gaelic 'fionn' meaning white or fair; coined or popularized as a given name by Sc▶Winnie#475 in the U.S.Short form of Winifred, from the Welsh Gwenfrewi composed of 'gwen' (white, fair, blessed) and ▶Edith#499 in the U.S.From Old English 'Eadgyth,' composed of 'ead' (rich, prosperity, fortune) and 'gyth' (battle, s▶Beatrice#508 in the U.S.From the Latin Beatrix, derived from beatus (blessed, happy) + the agentive suffix -trix, meani▶Estella#509 in the U.S.From the Latin stella meaning 'star,' via the Provençal/Spanish form Estela or directly from th▶Kate#522 in the U.S.Short form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine; the meaning is uncertain but was popularly ▶Marlowe#523 in the U.S.From the English surname Marlowe, derived from the Old English place-name Mǣrel-wōh or similar,▶Amaia#555 in the U.S.From Basque Amaia, derived from ama ('mother') and the suffix -ia or -aia, possibly meaning 'th▶Margo#559 in the U.S.French short form of Margot, itself from Marguerite, the French form of Margaret, from Latin Ma▶Della#563 in the U.S.Short form of Adela or Adeline, from Old High German adal meaning 'noble' or 'nobility'; also u▶Elliott#599 in the U.S.My God is Yahweh; English surname from the Hebrew name Eliyahu via medieval forms Eliott/Eliot▶Anne#619 in the U.S.French form of Anna, from Hebrew Channah meaning 'grace,' 'favor,' or 'God has favored me'; the▶Winona#627 in the U.S.From the Dakota Sioux word winúŋna, meaning 'firstborn daughter.' In Dakota tradition, children▶Cassandra#631 in the U.S.Possibly 'she who entangles men'; name of the Trojan prophetess cursed to speak true prophecies▶Miranda#656 in the U.S.From Latin mirandus, gerundive of mirari meaning to wonder at or to admire; literally meaning s▶Myra#663 in the U.S.Invented or popularized by the poet Fulke Greville in the 16th century, possibly as an anagram ▶Ellis#682 in the U.S.Welsh form of Elijah / Eliseus; from Hebrew Eliyahu meaning 'my God is Yahweh'▶Coraline#683 in the U.S.A blend or elaboration combining Cora (from Greek kore meaning maiden or heart) with the -line ▶Lara#693 in the U.S.Protection; from the Roman Lares (protective household gods), or as a Russian diminutive of Lar▶Louisa#697 in the U.S.Renowned warrior; Latinate feminine form of Louis, from Old High German Hlutwig combining hlut ▶Ramona#733 in the U.S.Spanish feminine form of Ramon, which derives from Raimund, from Old High German Raginmund, com▶Maisy#745 in the U.S.Scottish pet form of Margaret, from the Greek Margarites meaning 'pearl'; Maisy is an alternate▶Celia#774 in the U.S.Heaven or sky; a feminine form derived from the Roman family name Caelius, from the Latin caelu▶Evelina#778 in the U.S.Life or wished-for child; a Latinate elaboration of Eveline, blending Eva (from Hebrew Chavah m▶Elouise#788 in the U.S.Famous warrior or renowned in battle; a variant spelling of Eloise, from Old High German Helewi▶Bellamy#797 in the U.S.Good friend or beautiful companion; from Old French bel ami meaning beautiful friend or good fr▶Zelda#832 in the U.S.Short form of the Old High German Griselda, composed of gris (gray) and hild (battle), meaning ▶Darcy#857 in the U.S.From the Norman-French surname d'Arcy, meaning 'from Arcy' (a place in Normandy); also used as ▶Eleanora#865 in the U.S.An elaborated form of Eleanor, which derives from the Provencal Alienor, possibly meaning 'the ▶Lyanna#877 in the U.S.Modern literary name, likely derived from Liana or Lianna (from Latin liana, a climbing vine) o▶Anais#892 in the U.S.Catalan and Occitan form of Anna, ultimately from Hebrew Hannah meaning grace or favor; the nam▶Guinevere#899 in the U.S.From Welsh Gwenhwyfar, composed of gwen (white, fair, blessed) and hwyfar (smooth, soft, or pha▶Bennett#912 in the U.S.Blessed; medieval English form of Benedict, from Latin Benedictus (blessed, from bene well + di▶Raina#916 in the U.S.From Slavic Rayna, a form of Regina meaning queen (Latin); also used as a variant of the nature▶Waverly#916 in the U.S.Quaking aspen meadow; from Old English wafre (quivering) + leah (clearing, meadow)▶Elliot#944 in the U.S.My God is Yahweh; single-t spelling variant of Elliott, from the Hebrew name Elijah via medieva▶Zora#969 in the U.S.From Slavic zora meaning dawn or the glow of morning light, related to the root zor meaning lig▶Cordelia#981 in the U.S.Possibly from Celtic or Latin roots meaning heart; also possibly from Welsh Creiddylad meaning ▶Annika#995 in the U.S.Scandinavian and German diminutive of Anna, from Hebrew Hannah meaning grace, favor, or He has ▶Scout#997 in the U.S.From Old French escouter meaning to listen, via a military term for a person sent ahead to gath▶Corinne#999 in the U.S.French form of Corinna, from Greek Korinna, a diminutive of Kore meaning maiden or girl; also a▶Mireya#1066 in the U.S.She who beholds God; Spanish form of Miriam or Mireia, from Hebrew marah (bitterness, strength)▶Ellison#1067 in the U.S.Son of Elias; an English patronymic surname from the biblical name Elias (Elijah: my God is Yah▶Tatiana#1079 in the U.S.Of the Tatius family; Latin Tatiana, feminine of Tatianus, from the Roman family name Tatius (p▶Kya#1083 in the U.S.Diamond in the sky; possibly from South African Zulu/Xhosa origin, or a creative variant of Kai▶Wendy#1097 in the U.S.Friend; invented or popularized by J. M. Barrie for Peter Pan; possibly a pet form of Gwendolen▶Imogen#1126 in the U.S.Maiden; possibly from Celtic innogen (maiden, girl) or from Latin imago (image, likeness); the ▶Marian#1151 in the U.S.Beloved; a blend of Mary (Hebrew Miriam: beloved, bitter, wished-for) and Ann (Hebrew Hannah: g▶Clarissa#1159 in the U.S.Bright, clear, famous; Latinate form of Clara or Clarice, from Latin clarus (clear, bright, fam▶Kit#1240 in the U.S.Pure; English pet form of Katherine (Greek Aikaterine: pure) or Christopher (Greek: bearer of C▶Rue#1241 in the U.S.The rue herb (Ruta graveolens); or sorrow, regret; from Old French rue and Latin ruta (the bitt▶Marlow#1319 in the U.S.Drained lake, lake remnants▶Renesmee#1325 in the U.S.Invented compound of Renee (reborn) and Esme (esteemed, beloved)▶Ellery#1329 in the U.S.Cheerful, joyful; possibly from elder tree or from Hilary▶Arwen#1344 in the U.S.Noble maiden, royal lady in Sindarin Elvish▶Beatrix#1379 in the U.S.She who brings happiness, bringer of joy▶Cattaleya#1380 in the U.S.The cattleya orchid, queen of orchids▶Mayzie#2241 in the U.S.pearl, via Margaret▶Regan#2357 in the U.S.little king, royally descended▶Rosaline#3000 in the U.S.From Latin rosa (rose) combined with Germanic lind (gentle, soft, tender), or simply 'pretty ro▶Una#3005 in the U.S.From Latin una, meaning 'one' or 'unity'; also used as an Anglicization of the Irish name Úna, ▶Ginny#3021 in the U.S.Diminutive of Virginia (from the Roman family name Verginius, meaning 'pure' or 'maiden') or Gi▶Beth#3046 in the U.S.Short form of Elizabeth (Hebrew Elisheba: 'El' = God + 'sheva' = oath/abundance), meaning 'my G▶Asya#3118 in the U.S.Sunrise or the east, from Turkish and Hebrew Asia; also a Russian diminutive of Anastasia meani▶Gillian#3124 in the U.S.English feminine form of Julian, from Latin Julianus, derived from Julius, the Roman family nam▶Lizzy#3139 in the U.S.Diminutive of Elizabeth, from Hebrew Elisheba meaning 'my God is an oath' or 'my God is abundan▶Maida#3142 in the U.S.From Middle English 'maid/maiden' meaning 'young woman, girl, or virgin.' Also possibly from Ar▶Lorna#3194 in the U.S.Invented by author R.D. Blackmore for his 1869 novel Lorna Doone, likely derived from Lorne, a ▶Auri#3270 in the U.S.Golden; associated with Latin aurum, 'gold', and used as a short form of Aurora and Aurelia▶Ellora#3283 in the U.S.Variant of Elora, generally treated as a modern short form of Eleanora, whose root Eleanor may ▶Khalessi#3299 in the U.S.Queen; a respelling of Khaleesi, the Dothraki royal title invented by George R. R. Martin and p▶Naina#3307 in the U.S.Eyes; from Hindi naina, a poetic word for eyes derived from Sanskrit nayana▶Yulieth#3377 in the U.S.Youthful, downy; Colombian-favored spelling of Juliet, from Latin Julia and the Roman clan name▶Gwenivere#3405 in the U.S.Variant of Guinevere, from Welsh Gwenhwyfar — gwen, 'white, fair, blessed', plus a second eleme▶Rowena#3430 in the U.S.Possibly from Germanic elements hrod, 'fame', and wunn, 'joy, bliss'; the name of a legendary S▶Avonlea#3446 in the U.S.Invented by L. M. Montgomery for Anne of Green Gables' village; readable as avon, the Celtic 'r▶Storie#3490 in the U.S.Variant of Story, the narrative word name — from Latin historia via Old French — with the -ie e▶Giulietta#3521 in the U.S.Italian diminutive of Giulia (Julia) — from Roman Julius, traditionally 'youthful' — the Italia▶Juliett#3526 in the U.S.Double-t spelling of Juliet — from Roman Julia, traditionally 'youthful' — also the NATO phonet▶Novella#3547 in the U.S.New; a short novel or tale; Italian feminine from Latin novellus, 'new, young'▶Griselda#3592 in the U.S.Gray battle; from Germanic gris, 'gray', and hild, 'battle' — the patient Griselda of Boccaccio▶Gwenevere#3593 in the U.S.Variant of Guinevere, from Welsh Gwenhwyfar — gwen, 'white, fair', plus an element read as 'pha▶Arwyn#3639 in the U.S.From Welsh elements including arwyl/ar and gwyn, 'fair, white, blessed'; also echoing Tolkien's▶Navani#3674 in the U.S.Plausibly from Sanskrit nava, 'new, fresh', elaborated to Navani; also known as a fantasy-ficti▶Fable#3708 in the U.S.From the English word fable — Latin fabula, 'story, tale' — a modern word-name▶Koraline#3777 in the U.S.K-spelling of Coraline — an elaboration of Coral (Latin corallium, the sea gem) — with literary▶Renesmae#3794 in the U.S.Spelling of Renesmee — Stephenie Meyer's Twilight coinage blending Renée ('reborn') and Esme ('▶Captola#3810 in the U.S.Captola is a rare early-twentieth-century American name, almost certainly a form of Capitola. T▶Baela#3820 in the U.S.Modern name popularized by Baela Targaryen of House of the Dragon; reads as a Bae-/Bela styling▶Stiorra#3868 in the U.S.From Old English steorra, 'star' — popularized by Uhtred's daughter in The Last Kingdom▶Lisbeth#3920 in the U.S.Contracted form of Elizabeth — Hebrew Elisheva, 'my God is an oath' — Scandinavian and German f▶Bellatrix#3961 in the U.S.From Latin bellatrix, 'female warrior' — the Amazon Star in Orion's shoulder; Potter-famous▶Corinna#3972 in the U.S.From Greek Korinna, a diminutive of kore, 'maiden' — the name of an ancient poet▶Ophilia#4178 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Ophelia, from the Greek ophelia, 'help; aid; benefit.' Ophelia is also Ha▶Emmogene#4444 in the U.S.Emmogene is an early-twentieth-century variant of Imogene, itself from Shakespeare's Imogen - a▶Minola#5054 in the U.S.Minola has two honest strands. It is best known as a surname in Shakespeare's The Taming of the▶Capitola#5373 in the U.S.Capitola is a literary coinage, the name of the plucky heroine Capitola 'Cap' Black in E.D.E.N.▶Lygia#5628 in the U.S.Lygia is best known as the Christian heroine of Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel Quo Vadis. In the st▶Fleda#6012 in the U.S.Fleda is generally traced to an Old English element meaning 'swift' or 'fleet', and it appears ▶Portia#6087 in the U.S.From the Roman family name Porcius (linked to porcus, 'a pig', or to an offering); the clever h▶Gloriana#6222 in the U.S.An elaboration of Gloria — from Latin gloria, 'glory, fame, renown' — 'the glorious one'▶Arrietty#6642 in the U.S.A literary character name — Arrietty, the heroine of Mary Norton's The Borrowers and the Studio▶Cosetta#6943 in the U.S.Cosetta is an Italian form of the French Cosette, best known as the gentle orphan heroine of Vi▶Leanore#7069 in the U.S.Leanore is a spelling of Lenore, itself a contracted form of Eleanor. Eleanor's meaning is deba▶Aradia#7679 in the U.S.Aradia is the name of a goddess-figure in modern Wicca and neo-pagan practice, introduced to En▶Galadriel#7697 in the U.S.An invented Elvish name from Tolkien's legendarium, glossed 'a maiden crowned with a radiant ga▶Verlaine#7771 in the U.S.Verlaine is a French surname carried into use as a first name, most famous through the Symbolis▶Charmian#7879 in the U.S.Charmian derives from the Greek kharma, 'joy, source of delight,' related to charis, 'grace.' I▶Feyre#8079 in the U.S.A modern literary name, made known by the heroine of Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Thorns and Rose▶Merlin#8241 in the U.S.From the Welsh Myrddin, variously 'a sea fortress' and 'a falcon (the merlin)' — the wizard of ▶Pollyanna#8284 in the U.S.A compound of Polly (a pet form of Mary, 'beloved; of the sea') and Anna (Hebrew, 'grace; favou▶Titania#8361 in the U.S.From the Latin Titania ('of the Titans; daughter of the Titans'), used by Shakespeare for the q▶Ardath#8368 in the U.S.Ardath comes from Ardat, a field named in the apocryphal book of Second Esdras where the prophe▶Christabel#8531 in the U.S.A compound of Christ ('the anointed one', Greek) and -bel ('beautiful', Latin bella/Old French ▶Arminta#8600 in the U.S.Arminta is a nineteenth-century American name, usually a shortened form of Araminta. Araminta w▶Lurline#8764 in the U.S.Lurline is a nineteenth-century literary name for the water-siren of the Rhine, a poetic cousin▶Renly#8819 in the U.S.A coined literary name — Renly Baratheon of Game of Thrones (an invented, English-styled name);▶Penellope#8840 in the U.S.A double-l spelling of Penelope, from the Greek, often linked to 'weaver.' In the Odyssey, Pene▶Araminta#8975 in the U.S.An 18th-century coined literary name — a blend variously of Aminta (a pastoral 'protector' name▶Carmilla#9025 in the U.S.A form/spelling of Carmel/Carmen — variously 'a garden; an orchard' (Hebrew karmel) and 'a song▶Othella#9366 in the U.S.Othella is a feminine form of Othello, the name Shakespeare gave the tragic Moor of Venice. Oth▶Stellaluna#9524 in the U.S.A modern blend of Stella ('star,' Latin) and Luna ('moon,' Latin) - also the title fruit-bat he▶Briony#9729 in the U.S.From the bryony, a climbing hedgerow plant (Greek bryonia, from bryein, 'to sprout; swell'). A ▶Aravis#9736 in the U.S.A literary name: Aravis is the spirited Calormene heroine of C.S. Lewis's The Horse and His Boy▶Luthien#9944 in the U.S.A literary name coined by J.R.R. Tolkien for an Elf-maiden, variously glossed 'a daughter of fl▶Cordella#10055 in the U.S.Cordella is a variant of Cordelia, best known as the loyal youngest daughter in Shakespeare's K▶Wendi#10192 in the U.S.A spelling of Wendy — coined/popularized by J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan (from 'friendy-wendy'), als▶Tissaia#10239 in the U.S.A modern coinage, best known as Tissaia de Vries, the powerful sorceress of The Witcher. No doc▶Suleika#10300 in the U.S.A European form of Zulaikha - the traditional Islamic and Persian name for Potiphar's wife in t▶Alyss#10350 in the U.S.A streamlined respelling of Alice, which traces through French Aalis to Germanic Adelheidis, 'n▶Beren#10372 in the U.S.From the Turkish Beren, 'strong; wise; the gifted one'; also the name of a hero in Tolkien's Si▶Celaena#10411 in the U.S.From the Greek Celaeno, 'the dark one; the black one' (one of the Pleiades and a Harpy); also t▶Cortana#10430 in the U.S.From Cortana, the name of a legendary sword (from the Latin curtus/Anglo-French cortain, 'short▶Kordelia#10675 in the U.S.A K- variant of Cordelia, linked to Latin cor ('heart') and to a Celtic 'daughter of the sea'; ▶Marilla#10752 in the U.S.A Mary name, or a form of Amaryllis (uncertain)▶Meranda#10756 in the U.S.Meranda is a spelling of Miranda, a name Shakespeare coined for The Tempest from the Latin 'mir▶Melian#10771 in the U.S.Read variously: it may draw on Greek melas, 'dark,' or meli, 'honey,' and it is also a literary▶Pamala#10788 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Pamela, a name coined by Sir Philip Sidney in the 1580s and often explain▶Deronda#10823 in the U.S.Deronda is an unusual name whose most credible source is literary: the surname of the hero of G▶Poem#10861 in the U.S.The English word poem, 'a work of verse; a lyrical composition,' used as a given name in the wo▶Tamora#10977 in the U.S.Best known as Tamora, Queen of the Goths, in Shakespeare's tragedy Titus Andronicus — a literar▶Ulyssa#11001 in the U.S.A modern feminine form of Ulysses — the Latin name for the Greek hero Odysseus, tied to a sense▶Aelita#11086 in the U.S.A literary coinage from Aleksei Tolstoy's 1923 Russian sci-fi novel 'Aelita,' the name of a Mar▶Aeowyn#11087 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Eowyn, the shield-maiden of Rohan in J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Lord of the R▶Aviendha#11203 in the U.S.A coined name from Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time, borne by a fierce Aiel war▶Wynema#11308 in the U.S.Wynema is best known from the 1891 novel 'Wynema: A Child of the Forest' by S. Alice Callahan, ▶Evangaline#11382 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Evangeline, from the Greek evangelion, 'good news; gospel' — thus 'bearer▶Fiammetta#11443 in the U.S.From the Italian for 'little flame' (fiamma, 'flame'). Famous as the muse Fiammetta in the work▶Heloise#11444 in the U.S.The French Heloise, from Germanic roots (hail, 'hale; healthy,' and wid, 'wide,' or helm/hlod, ▶Pamila#11648 in the U.S.Pamila re-spells Pamela, a name invented by the poet Philip Sidney in the 1580s and often expla▶Lolita#11686 in the U.S.A Spanish diminutive of Dolores, 'sorrows' (from Maria de los Dolores, 'Mary of the Sorrows'). ▶Moranda#11714 in the U.S.Moranda is a variant spelling of Miranda, the name the playwright Shakespeare coined from the L▶Roena#11716 in the U.S.An early-1900s variant of Rowena, a name of uncertain Old English/Germanic roots often read as ▶Nydia#11841 in the U.S.From the Latin nidus, 'nest; refuge,' popularized as a literary name via the blind flower-girl ▶Margery#11854 in the U.S.A medieval English form of Margaret, from the Greek margarites, 'pearl.' Borne by the mystic an▶Myria#11855 in the U.S.Myria reads as an elaboration of Myra, a name invented by the poet Fulke Greville, and as a sof▶Pamelia#11940 in the U.S.An extended form of Pamela, a name coined by the poet Philip Sidney from Greek pan, 'all,' and ▶Tennyson#12015 in the U.S.From the English surname Tennyson, 'son of Dennis' (Dennis from Greek 'Dionysios'). Famous via ▶Zazie#12103 in the U.S.A French name best known from Raymond Queneau's 1959 novel Zazie dans le Metro; it also works a▶Waverleigh#12108 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Waverly, an English place name, 'meadow of quivering aspens' (from waefr▶Zulaikha#12114 in the U.S.From Arabic/Persian tradition, Zulaikha is the traditional name of Potiphar's wife in the story▶Dorinda#12145 in the U.S.Dorinda is a seventeenth-century literary coinage, formed from Dora or Dorothy (Greek doron, 'g▶Amaranta#12317 in the U.S.Amaranta is the Spanish and Italian form of the amaranth flower name, from the Greek amarantos,▶Anjuli#12321 in the U.S.Anjuli comes from the Sanskrit 'anjali', the gesture of the two cupped hands held together in o▶Auryn#12374 in the U.S.Best known as AURYN, the magical amulet in Michael Ende's The NeverEnding Story; as a given nam▶Cressida#12408 in the U.S.A literary name popularized by Chaucer and Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida; derived from Gre▶Dulcinea#12476 in the U.S.A literary name coined by Cervantes for the idealized lady of Don Quixote, from the Spanish dul▶Eliot#12493 in the U.S.A surname and given name derived from Elijah/Elias, 'the Lord is my God.' Usually a boy's name ▶Eavan#12540 in the U.S.Eavan is the anglicized spelling of the Irish name Aoibheann, from a root meaning beauty or rad▶
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Frequently Asked
What are the best literary girl names?
The most enduring picks are the ones tied to characters readers still argue about — Jane, Ophelia, Sylvia and Rebecca. Each one comes with a strong personality already attached.