Elinor, Holden, Hester, Winfield. For the common bookworm, these names are some of the most important names in the literary world. They come from stories that shaped and continue to influence our society.
Even if your little bundle of joy isn’t named after a literary character, he or she can still become the star of their very own book. Book-loving parents can create a personalised children’s book that will give their child their very own piece of literary loving. With a positive storyline, these books will make your child feel special with a story of their very own.
Many parents want to choose a name for their child that evokes special memories or feelings, such as naming a child after a loved one or a person who had an impact in their life. To some, a favorite book may be tied to memories of happiness, youthfulness or nostalgia. A favorite book and its’ beloved characters can leave a lasting mark in a reader’s’ life. Perhaps that is why many expecting parents have chose to name their children after the characters in timeless literary classics. Books that have stood the test of time are seeing their character’s namesakes live on through the offspring of those that fell in love with their stories. These classic characters are strong, determined, smart and lovable, which is exactly what you want from a future child. Here are the names we think you should add to your baby name list.
Elinor
This beautiful girl’s name comes from Jane Austen’s classic, Sense And Sensibility. This practical name with a unique spelling has stood the test of time. This main character is beloved around the world and is remembered as one of the classics. This name will start your little girl off with a strong reputation from the very beginning.
Holden
J.D. Salinger’s classic, The Catcher In The Rye is on school reading lists throughout America and that’s with good reason. The memorable protagonist, Holden Caulfied can identify with a number of people. Despite the character’s questionable physiological state, the name, itself, is strong and unique.
Hester
The name Hester could be used for a girl or a boy. However, in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Hester was a woman, who was outcasted from the conservative society of the time. Despite carrying her red letter, Hester was confident and defied conventional thinking. She has a sense of empowerment as she raises her illegitimate daughter, Pearl. Pearl is also another name that would be great for a literary lover’s child.
Winfield
If you are looking for a little boy’s name that sounds classic, yet still unique, take a page from John Steinbeck’s The Grapes Of Wrath. The American tale of a family’s woes during the Great Depression is a tragic, yet beautiful story of the determination and will of the American society. This name has an old-school feel and you can bet you won’t have to share the name with many others.
Of course, we can’t forget some modern, but still unforgettable names that are definitely popping up in baby nurseries around the world. Love them or hate them, books-turned-movies, such as The Hunger Games and Twilight have been inspiration for baby naming.
Bella and Jacob
These two names of Twilight’s main characters topped the list of popular baby names back in 2011. With a movie series to back up the books’ success, these names still appear on the top of lists.
Gale and Katniss
The two friends of the Hunger Games trilogy are also gaining popularity. As a recent box office hit, these names aren’t going anywhere soon and are believed to grow in popularity within the year.
Remember, even if you want to name your child after a beloved book, it doesn’t have to be a traditional classic. If you love the name and hold the book dear to your heart, then it would make a great name for your future son or daughter. The Huffington Post offered up some unusual book favorites, such as Bartholomew Cubbins. The playful name comes straight out of the pages of The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, a Dr. Seuss classic. This title was special to Dr. Seuss fans because it is one of the few books the beloved author wrote in prose, rather than his usual rhyme. Perhaps, you were fan of Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew series. Naming your little boy after the sleuthing heroine’s handsome boyfriend, Ned would be particularly fitting.
The only rule you should follow when naming your child is choosing a name you love, whether it is a timeless classic or a unique original.
Related: The Top 10 Bestselling Children’s Books of All Time
