75 Literary Boy Names for Your Future Bookworm

If you are an avid reader, chances are some authors and characters are dear to your heart. Whether you are a fan of Mark Twain or Charles Dickens, there are plenty of options to please your inner geek.

Each of these baby boy names is considered more unique or old-fashioned since they aren't as popular as Noah or Liam. That doesn't mean that they aren't special. Here is the ultimate list of literary baby names that is sure to help you find the perfect name for your brand-new baby boy.

Literary Boy Names

Are you looking for male character names for your child or literary names for boys? Search no further than our list of boy names from books and associated book titles, and click on the individual names to discover popularity and meanings!

1. Abel - One of the sons of Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis.
2. Amory - The protagonist in the book This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
3. Artemis - The name of the title character in the classic novel Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.
4. Asher - A character in the book The Giver by Lois Lowry.
5. Aslan - The lion character in The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis.
6. Atticus - The name of the title character Atticus Finch in the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
7. Augustus - The main character Augustus Waters in the novel The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
8. Barnaby - Comes from the title Barnaby Rudge, a novel by Charles Dickens.
9. Buck - A great choice if you are a fan of the author Pearl S. Buck.
10. Byron - The name of the well-known poet Lord Byron.
11. Calin - The last name of the author William Calin.
12. Calvin - One of the title characters in the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.
13. Charles -The first name of the famous author Charles Dickens.
14. Charlie - The title character in the novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.
15. Clay - One of the stories in The Dubliners by James Joyce.
16. Conrad - Old German for "brave counsel" and is the name of the author Joseph Conrad.
17. Dante - Latin for "enduring one" and shares the name with Dante Alighieri, a famous poet who wrote The Divine Comedy.
18. Darcy - French for "of the fortress" and comes from the character Fitzwilliam Darcy, featured in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
19. Dorian - Greek for "sea" comes from the title character of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
20. Edgar - The first name of the famous poet Edgar Allen Poe.
21. Edward - One of the main characters of the Twilight series, Edward Cullen.
22. Elwyn - The first name of the author Elwyn Brooks White, also known as E.B. White.
23. Ernest - The first name of the famous author Ernest Hemingway.
24. Finn - The name of the title character from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
25. Finnick - This name was created by Suzanne Collins and can be seen in The Hunger Games series.
26. Fitzgerald - Last name of the famous author F. Scott Fitzgerald.
27. Gatsby - This name was created by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is the name of the title character in the novel The Great Gatsby.
28. Gulliver - The title character of the novel Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift.
29. Harper - A great choice if you are a fan of the famous author Harper Lee.
30. Harry - The title character in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.
31. Heathcliff - A character in the book Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
32. Henry - O. Henry is the pen name of the author William Sydney Porter.
33. Holden - A character in the novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, named Holden Caulfield.
34. Homer - The author of two famous epic poems called the Iliad and the Odyssey.
35. Huckleberry - The title character in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
36. Hugo - German for "bright soul" and shares a name with writer Victor Hugo.
37. Ishmael - Hebrew for "God will hear" and is a character in Moby Dick by Herman Melville.
38. Jasper - Persian for "keeper of the treasure" and is a character in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer.
39. Jean - Scottish for "God is gracious" and is the character Jean Valjean in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.
40. Jon - Hebrew for "God's gift" and is a character in The Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin, named Jon Snow.
41. Jude - Hebrew for "praised" and is the title character in Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy.
42. Khal - The name of a character in The Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, Khal Drogo.
43. Laurence - Latin for "glorified" and is the last name of the character Theodore Laurence in Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
44. Lennie - German for "lion-hearted" and is a character in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
45. Magnus - Latin for "the great one" and is the title of a novel by Matthew Dickens.
46. Mark - Latin for "defender" and comes from famous author Mark Twain.
47. Melville - The last name of famous author Herman Melville.
48. Milo - German for "soft-hearted" and is a character in The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
49. Nathaniel - The first name of author Nathaniel Hawthorne who wrote The Scarlett Letter.
50. Oliver - The title character in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
51. Orlando - One of the main characters in As You Like It by William Shakespeare.
52. Orwell - The last name of famous author George Orwell.
53. Oscar - The first name of author Oscar Wilde.
54. Philip - One of the characters in Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations.
55. Phineas - A character in A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
56. Remus - The name of a character in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Remus Lupin.
57. Reuel - One of the middle names of author J.R.R. Tolkien.
58. Rhett - The first name of Rhett Butler in the novel Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.
59. Roald - The first name of popular author Roald Dahl, who is known for his book Matilda.
60. Robinson - The title character of the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.
61. Roland - From the epic poem "The Song of Roland".
62. Romeo - The name of one of the title characters from the play by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.
63. Salinger - The last name of famous author J.D. Salinger.
64. Samwise - A character from The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien.
65. Sawyer - The last name of the title character Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
66. Sebastian - The main character in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.
67. Sherlock - The first name of the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes.
68. Sirius - First name of the character Sirius Black in the Harry Potter series.
69. Tristan - From Tristan and Isolde, a popular opera by Richard Wagner.
70. Truman - The first name of the author Truman Capote.
71. Ulysses - Title Character in Ulysses by James Joyce.
72. Victor - First name of the character Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
73. Watson - Last name of John Watson, a character in Sherlock Holmes.
74. Wilbur - The main character in Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.
75. Winston - For Winston Churchill, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in literature.

Why Choose Literary Names for Boys?

When it comes to choosing a name for a new arrival, literary names can offer both depth of meaning and a connection to beloved characters and authors. Names like Atticus, from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, evoke qualities of justice and moral integrity. Holden, from J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, offers a nod to youthful rebellion and introspection. For those drawn to Shakespearean roots, Sebastian and Lysander are names that echo the poetic and timeless nature of their origins. Each of these names not only connects a child to a rich literary tradition but also provides unique and enduring identity markers.

What Is a Rare Name for a Boy?

Choosing a rare literary name for a boy can imbue him with a sense of uniqueness and a deep connection to storytelling and culture. One such name is Dorian, inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, representing beauty and eternal youth, and Gulliver, from Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels, symbolizing adventure and discovery.

What Is the Most Elegant Name for a Boy?

The most elegant name for a boy from literature arguably is either Fitzwilliam or Darcy, hailing from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy embodies sophistication, intelligence, and the allure of the mysterious. This name carries with it an air of classic charm and aristocratic elegance, making it a distinguished choice.

For more baby name inspiration check out these popular baby name lists:

• Top 1,000 Most Popular Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
• Top 1,000 Most Popular Baby Boy Names in the U.S.
• 105 Classic Literary Baby Names for Girls and Boys

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