Literary Names

National Book Award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward brought this uncommon spelling of a lovely name into the public eye. Jasmine is the flower-y version, and Jessamine the genteel British version. Jessamyn West was an American writer in the 20th century.

The name of one of the greatest Western philosophers is often used as a first name in its land of origin, Greece, and would make a really interesting, thought-provoking choice here. It is remembered here as the nickname of the memorable character played by Sal Mineo in the classic film "Rebel Without a Cause."

Might be an honorific for novelist Saul Bellow, although bellowing is not the gentlest of sounds. Consider Saul instead.

Pleasant surname connected to humorist James Thurber, with a sound as happy as a baby's gurgle.

This variation of Jacey was the name of the gorgeous small-town heroine of Larry McMurtry's The Last Picture Show.

Shows some promise via its connection to the growing interest in Ewan.

She may have been an appealing Chinese heroine in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but her name won't translate for a modern American girl. Better choices: Snow, or Flora.

A possibility for fans of the mystery writer, but most parents would prefer Dashiell.

An admirable quality to impart; Pleasant was used by Charles Dickens in Our Mutual Friend and in modern times is known via American Girl dolls creator Pleasant Rowland.

For fans of the (female) author A. S. ; makes an interesting alternative to Wyatt or the hotelish Hyatt.

An undiscovered place-name with an appealing o-sound ending.

A Californian mountain range, named for the Indigenous American tribe, the Shasta People, Shasta has been predominantly been used for girls in the US. In Sanskrit, however, it is used as both the name of a male deity and a term meaning "teacher, guide, or ruler". C.S Lewis also used it as a masculine name in the 5th book of his Narnia series, The Horse and His Boy.

Pronounced GHEED, this surname of Nobel Prizewinning novelist Andre could make a smooth, sleek middle name choice.

The Alhambra, which means "red city," is in Granada, Spain. British writer Ali Smith used it for a character in her novel The Accidental.

Is it a real name....or no?

Cool and casual, a la humorist Ring (born Ringgold. ) Lardner.

Used by Emily Brontë in her novel Wuthering Heights , Hareton is a distinctive, rugged and literature-inspired choice. With the sounds of an English place name and the vibes of a last name as a first name, Hareton was likely an invention of Emily Brontë's, which she created by changing up the name of a neighbourhood family, The Heatons.

Most often spelled without the final "e"--unless you're a particular fan of writer Bret.

Kerouac could make for a meaningful possible modern literary inspiration, via On the Road author Jack. The writer's baptism certificate read Jean Louis Kirouac, though he later claimed his full name was Jean-Louis Lebris de Kerouac.

Briefly faddish a few decades ago when Darrell was cool. But does have a creative connection to poet Randall Jarrell.