Poetic Baby Names

  1. Lamia
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      Name of mythological fiend who seduced young men and then ate them, which inspired the Keats poem "Lamia." Described in mythology as a snake with the head and breasts of a woman, this name has been considered in modern times as a vampire name. And if all that isn't discouraging enough, there's the "lame" connection.
  2. Kyoka
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "mirror; fragrant flower"
    • Description:

      Kyōka Izumi was a 19th-century surrealist author. He was a man, but a female character in the anime series Bungo Stray Dogs was named after him in full.
  3. Liadain
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "grey lady"
    • Description:

      A variation of an old Irish saint’s name, Liadin, and the name of a lovelorn poetess in Irish folk legend. Be prepared for some clumsy pronunciation outside Ireland, however.
  4. Bacchus
    • Origin:

      Roman mythology name
    • Description:

      Only if you're hoping for your son to become a wine-besotted poet. To the ancient Romans, Bacchus was the god of agriculture, wine and fertility.
  5. Ode
    • Origin:

      Word name or medieval English form of Otto
    • Description:

      Ode could be part of the extended Otto/Otis family, or it might be a literary term, referring to an elaborate lyric poem.
  6. Runo
    • Origin:

      Finnish
    • Meaning:

      "poem"
    • Description:

      The pronunciation is not intuitive to English speakers, who aren't used to Os said as As.
  7. Lucasta
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "pure light"
    • Description:

      Lucasta was invented by seventeenth century poet Richard Lovelace for a collection of poems dedicated to a lover named Lucy, and is familiar through the Eugene O'Neill play and film Anna Lucasta. Lucasta is a distinctive, rarely used choice and a logical extension of the Luke/Luc/Luca names.
  8. Gilgamesh
    • Origin:

      Akkadian from Sumerian
    • Meaning:

      "the [kinsman] is a hero"
    • Description:

      The Epic of Gilgamesh is an Akkadian poem from Mesopotamia and one of the oldest works of literature that survives today. It follows the story of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian king who journeys to find the secret to immortality. Gilgamesh's name is so strongly tied to the epic, that it would be difficult to wear by anyone else.
  9. Canto
    • Origin:

      Italian
    • Meaning:

      "song or stanza"
    • Description:

      A canto is a literary term denoting a long passage in a poem. Dante's Divine Comedy is broken into such cantos. As a name, Canto packs in literary credentials with pithy punch.
  10. Kalliope
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "beautiful voice"
    • Description:

      Original form of the more familiar Calliope, the muse of epic poetry.
  11. Whitman
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "white man"
    • Description:

      Whitman, a namesake surname for poet Walt, would be much more suited to a boy, probably because of that "man" part. Whit or Witt makes an uplifting short form which can be used on its own.
  12. Bard
    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Baird, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "minstrel, poet"
    • Description:

      Great Irish middle name choice for Shakespeare lovers.
  13. Danaë
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Description:

      A Greek goddess of music and poetry, Danaë has a novel yet familiar sound.
  14. Bolan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little poet"
    • Description:

      An Irish surname name with a combination of boldness and élan. Some might connect it to the founder of the group T. Rex -- Marc Bolan.
  15. Poe
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "peacock"
    • Description:

      Hip new middle-name choice, conjuring up the gothic tales of Edgar Allan, and current single-named pop singer Poe.
  16. Chaucer
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "maker of breeches"
    • Description:

      One of the most distinguished names in literature could become a hero name in a family of poetry-lovers -- or be seen as a trendy new occupational name.
  17. Zalan
    • Origin:

      Hungarian, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Zalán is a very trendy name for boys in Hungary, although its origins are unclear. Zalán's use as a name may be inspired by the Zala River or Zala region, both in Hungary.
  18. Mirabai
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "ocean"
    • Description:

      The Hindu princess and poetess Meera, was also known as Mira Bai. Mira Bai was a Rajput princess, the only child of Ratan Singh, younger brother of the ruler of Merta. Her royal education included music and religion as well as instruction in politics and government. In the West we usually think of such traditional names as Charlotte and George as royal baby names, but this adventurous choice breaks the mold. Mirabai combined the Sanskrit "Mira" (meaning ocean) with the suffix -bai (historically added to the names of women as a sign of respect).
  19. Apollinaire
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "of Apollo"
    • Description:

      Unique baby name and poetic Gallic choice. Guillaume Apollinaire was a French poet and novelist active in the early 20th century arts community, who is said to have coined the terms cubism and surrealism. He based his unique surname de plume on his Polish middle name, Apolinary.
  20. Cadman
    • Origin:

      Anglo-Saxon
    • Meaning:

      "warrior"
    • Description:

      Caedmon is considered the first English poet -- a nice literary tie-in to the streamlined version.