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Naming
children or fictional characters after literary characters
is a great idea, provided you find the right ones. Lorilee
Craker's new book A Is for Atticus (see
the review) provides many ideas, both common and obscure,
but the book is severely deficient in both range and literary
explanations, so we're providing our own partial list of suggestions.
For the
most part, we attempted to avoid obvious literary names such
as Elizabeth, Holden, and anything from To Kill a Mockingbird
(Atticus, Scout, Harper) because we figured that those are
well-known enough not to warrant recommendations. And we ditched
other obvious names such as Virginia, Ernest, Sylvia, Hunter,
and Spalding, in order to focus on ones that sounded a little
less…suicidal.
We're
always open to more suggestions, though, and if you have some,
feel free to e-mail us or to post in our LiveJournal community.
ADELINE
(feminine)
This isn't quite as popular as Madeline, nor does it have
the reference to Ludwig Bemelmans's series of cute children's
books, but don't count this one out. It's just as adorable,
and it has a subtler literary reference that can grow with
the girl: Adeline is the true first name of author Virginia
Woolf.
(Nicknames: Addie or Addy)
 BEATRICE
(feminine)
The Florentine inspiration for Dante's La Vita Nuova
as well as his guide through heaven in Paradiso, Beatrice
is one of the most revered women in literary history. Additionally,
Beatrice is one of Shakespeare's strongest female characters;
she is the perfect foil to Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing.
meeting her male rival with tremendously witty and stinging
insults. Beatrice is also the name of Ramona Quimby's older
sister in Beverly Cleary's Ramona series, though she's
better known by the delightfully quirky nickname of Beezus.
(Nicknames: Bea, Beezus)
BENNY
(masculine)
Discharged Navy soldier and "human yo-yo" Benny Profane is
a passive participant in the 20th century zeitgeist in Thomas
Pynchon's V.. Benny is the first character readers
meet, and his ultra-cool hipster demeanor ("black levis, suede
jacket, sneakers"—this is 1955!) and taciturn nature
make him an appealingly mysterious character. Diminutive forms
of longer names are all the rage these days, and Benny will
satisfy those looking for biblical connections (Benjamin is
one of Jacob's sons) and post-modern literary shout-outs.
BERNICE
(feminine)
For some, Bernice may seem a bit dowdy, but hopefully a girl
named after F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story "Bernice Bobs
Her Hair" will learn from her namesake and not be tricked
by catty females or blinded by male suitors. Instead, we're
hoping that Bernice grows to be a sassy, confident little
spitfire capable of owning the name proudly. Plus, the nickname
Berny (or Bernie) is adorable for a girl.
(Nickname: Berny)
BRIONY
(feminine)
As far as characterization is concerned, there are worthier
people in Ian McEwan's Atonement than Briony Tallis.
After all, it is Briony's false accusation that dooms the
love affair between Briony's sister Cecilia and the housekeeper's
son, Robbie Turner. But other than the inherent prettiness
of her name, Briony makes a worthy namesake because she is
a flawed and complex character seeking redemption.
CASSANDRA
(feminine)
The name is pretty without being girly and classy without
being too stuffy. Considering that she is named after the
Greek prophet who was cursed by Apollo never to be believed,
we hope that Cassandra is a girl with poise, even when things
are falling apart. For the romantics, Cassandra Mortmain is
also the precocious narrator of Dodie Smith's beautiful coming
of age story I Capture the Castle.
(Nicknames: Cassie, Cass, Sandy)
 |
| The
painting Robert Lovelace Preparing to Abduct
Clarissa Harlowe by Francis Hayman. |
|
CLARISSA
(feminine)
For Virginia Woolf fans, the reference may be obvious—Clarissa
is Mrs. Dalloway's first name. But those looking for a
more obscure reference could cite Clarissa, or, the
History of a Young Lady, Samuel Richardson's 1748
novel, which is considered the longest in the English
language (the Penguin Classics paperback runs 1536 pages).
Clarissa is a young woman who tries to escape an arranged
marriage by running away with Robert Lovelace, a man who
also wants to take advantage of her wealth. Tragic though
she may be, Clarissa refuses to be exploited by those
around her and longs for freedom—ideals that weren't
common in 1748 (65 years before Pride and Prejudice,
we might note) and ideals that the women of today can
still get behind. The positive spin on the character may
seem to be stretching a bit, but hey, the name is worth
the stretch. |
CORALINE
(feminine)
A girl named Coraline probably will spend a great deal of
time correcting people who mishear her name as Caroline. But
if she is anything like the title character of Neil Gaiman's
children's book Coraline, she'll be able to endure
the dreadfully ignorant. Hopefully, she'll also have Coraline's
quick wit and fortitude…but none of her picky eating habits.
(Nicknames: Cora, Cori)
CEDRIC
(masculine)
This name was first used in Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe
before finding a place in Frances Hodgson Burnett's Little
Lord Fauntleroy. Neither reference makes the name sound
particularly modern, but we're hoping for a comeback thanks
to the noble but ill-fated Cedric Diggory from Harry Potter
and Goblet of Fire. Appropriately for Potter fans, the
name is apparently derived from the Celtic word for "first
choice," but parents probably will glean from the reference
Cedric Diggory's strength, intelligence, good looks, and high
moral fiber.
(Nickname: Ced)
CHARLIE
(feminine)
Though common for men, this name is practically unheard of
for women, automatically giving its bearer a certain charm
that parents are often after when naming their daughters.
In Dear Uncle Nick's High Fidelity, Charlie is a heart-breaker;
"too pretty, too smart, too witty, too much." In a world of
middle-of-the-road ordinary names, not to mention the people
to suit them, we could definitely use a few more Charlies.
And, of course, if it sounds too masculine for a formal name,
you could always make it the diminutive of Charlotte (another
richly literary name) or Charlene.
 |
| Skandar
Keynes as Edmund Pevensie in the film adaptation of The
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. |
EDMUND
or EDMOND (masculine)
For fans of The Chronicles of Narnia (or the young British
actor Skandar Keynes), there is no doubt that younger brother
Edmund Pevensie is bad ass. Austen fans will also associate
the name with Edmund Bertram, the main love interest in Mansfield
Park. This latter connection isn't the most impressive of
Austen men, as Edmund Bertram is exasperatingly dense about
affairs of the heart, but he is very loyal and kind. Of course,
if you're more inclined to use the latter spelling, Edmond could
be named after the Count of Monte Cristo. Put them all together,
and you have a kingly boy who is just, kind, and—if ever
pressed—meticulously good at plotting revenge.
(Nicknames: Ed, Eddie or Eddy)
EDWARD
(masculine)
This is, quite obviously, a well-known name, though it perhaps
sounds a little stuffy currently. But women who love their
leading literary men know that Edward is a strong name with
great literary distinction. Not only is the given name of
Edward Rochester—the brash Byronic hero from Jane
Eyre—but it is also the name of the self-sacrificing
Edward Farrars of Sense and Sensibility. The two also
became the namesake for teen lit's most swoon-worthy leading
man of the moment: Twilight's vampire heartthrob, Edward
Cullen.
(Nicknames: Ed, Eddie)
ÉOWYN
(feminine)
The obvious nod to Lord of the Rings is sure to peg
little Éowyn's parents a couple of nerds. Still, no
one can deny that this name is pretty. And a girl can play
up either the beautiful royal aspect of the name or the fearless
warrior aspect. The latter is what recommends the name more
than Arwen, the half-elf who eventually marries the man Éowyn
loves, but either name will suffice—perhaps both if you're
having twins.
(Nicknames: It's a shame to shorten such a pretty name, but
Wyn or Winnie might be acceptable)
FITZWILLIAM
(masculine)
Thankfully mentioned only in passing in Pride and Prejudice,
Fitzwilliam is the patently disappointing first name of that
perennial literary heartthrob, Mr. Darcy. However, Darcy being
perhaps too obvious a choice, the most ardent Austen fans
might consider this as a middle name if they hope to imbue
their child with some of the intelligence, wit, and, of course,
haughtiness of his literary forbearer. Also compatible with
Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue" philosophy of child-naming,
little Fitzwilliam will certainly have to sink or swim if
you saddle him with this one.
(Nickname: Fitz, Will)
 |
| Illustration
of Geryon for The Divine Comedy by Gustave Doré. |
FORD
(masculine)
What better way to equip your child for a life of learning and
preparedness than to name him after one of the Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy's illustrious team of researchers? Send
your spawn out into the world prepared to absorb information
in a haphazard and possibly incorrect way. It will also earn
your son bonus points among friends when he becomes a nerd in
later life. On a less nerdy note, Ford is also the first and
last name of author Ford Madox Ford, founder of The English
Review and The Transatlantic Review. Additionally,
for those with more megalomaniacal inclinations, noted anti-Semite
and capitalist revolutionary Henry Ford eclipses God Himself
in Aldous Huxley's dystopian classic, Brave New World.
GERYON
(masculine)
Whether you pronounce it with a hard or a soft "g" sound,
the name Geryon sticks out. That's no surprise, of course,
considering the namesake was an ancient Greek monster with
multiple heads, arms, and sometimes legs. By the sixth century,
however, Geryon became not only an existential, winged red
monster with a pet dog and family troubles but also the star
of his own Greek epic, the Geryoneis. Fast forward
about 2500 years and Geryon roams the pages of Anne Carson's
Autobiography of Red; whether his redness or his wings
or his monster-ness came with him is left to the reader. But
if you're looking to name a shy, sensitive artist-intellectual—or
a multi-limbed monster, give or take a set of wings—then
you've found your answer.
(Nickname: Gerry)
HARRISON
(masculine)
If you would like your son to have extraordinary good looks,
vision, muscles, intelligence, and grace, try Harrison, as
in the title character of Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison
Bergeron." The character Harrison overcomes a laughable, downright
ludicrous number of government-imposed hindrances in order
to show the inequality of physical equality, but if that seems
like too much of a literary burden for a child to bear, the
nickname for Harrison isn't bad, either. Little Harry could
always be synonymous with Harry Potter, the young wizard who
overcomes death to defeat the most evil wizard who ever lived—because
that's so much easier live down.
(Nickname: Harry)
HAZEL
(feminine or masculine)
Hazel is a rabbit, yes, but he's also the hero of Watership
Down, leading a band of bachelor rabbits to a safe new
home (he's clever and sensitive). Hazel is also the rabbit
with the most human-appropriate name (though "Cowslip" and
"Blackberry" might serve perfectly well in your average hippie
commune). If you're feeling particularly bold, you can tack
on "Rah" for a middle name.
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