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Names from literature

Names from the great novels, poems, and plays of world literature — storied, evocative, and full of character.

A literary name is a conversation starter. It signals that the parents read, that they care about stories, that they chose a name with a narrative behind it. From Atticus (Harper Lee) to Juliet (Shakespeare) to Lyra (Pullman), these names carry the weight of their source material without being heavy. Many are rising fast as parents look for names with built-in depth.

Each name below links to its full profile—meaning, SSA trends, pronunciation, and feasibility.

35 names

= unisex (gender-neutral)

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Browse curated name collections on Namesake →

Popularity data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

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