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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Boys names that appear in literature/arts

33 replies

NatMac · 06/04/2011 17:39

Still trying to think of a good name for DS due in June. Was thinking it would be nice to have suggestions of names of great characters from books/plays or from the art world - sometimes it's nice to have a name with a link to something like that - any suggestions please anyone?

OP posts:

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DarkSkies · 13/04/2011 20:01

I have given both my children names inspired by my favourite authors- means a lot to me, for the hours of pleasure they have provided.

notanumber · 13/04/2011 19:58

You don't have to defend your naming process to me NatMac! I'm sorry if it seemed as though I was having a go at you, or implying you are a wanker - I really wasn't intending to. I was just sort of musing it over. I'm glad the thread has been useful for you.

On that note, if you would like my contribution it is..... ....

Zachary, nicknamed Zooey.

I will think you cooler than cool and not at all a wanker if you use this

Original poster

NatMac · 13/04/2011 18:20

I agree with you notanumber, however, I suggested this way of looking at names as my hormone ravaged brain seems unable to dredge up character names that I liked or can even remember anymore - seeing certain names has prompted me to remember books/plays I've enjoyed and characters I liked/disliked, so really it's been very interesting and helpful from that point of view. Everyone has come up with some wonderful, interesting and unusual names, whether they are connected to literature/'the arts' or not. So, for my purposes this link has been helpful and if as a bonus I can say - oh yes I named my son '......' because I liked the character from a particular book, then that would be nice too - if not I can just say I like the name. I'm not trying to 'be' anything in particular - I'm just trying to find a name that I like. TBH eventually it won't really matter to anyone where the name came from as it will just be his name!

OP posts:

mayanna123 · 13/04/2011 15:51

Quentin (Durward) by Walter Scott

singersgirl · 13/04/2011 10:07

In any case, I reckon almost every name (well, not quite, but you know what I mean...) has a literary link: Andrew (Motion), Philip (Larkin/Pullman), William (Shakespeare), Benjamin (Jonson), John (Donne), Charlotte (Bronte), Jane (Eyre/Austen), Arthur (Knights/Conan Doyle), Roger (kitchen boy in Northern Lights), Joanna (Rowling), Gerald (Manley Hopkins), Margaret (girl addressed in poem by Gerald Manley Hopkins), Zadie (Smith)....

I'm bored now. But it seems a bit of an odd way to go about things.

lockets · 13/04/2011 09:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SilkStalkings · 13/04/2011 09:08

You're right actually, what is the point of a literary name if you don't read books.

OP if you like any of the names on here, please do go to the library and read sopme of the work in question!

jellybeansontoast · 12/04/2011 20:51

I'm going to go against the grain here and say I think it's a bit pretentious to name your child 'Auden', or anything that is quite so obviously named after a poet / writer / character - Oberon anyone?! I think it'd be much nicer if you called them something like quite normal like Jude for example, because you loved the book rather than just because you want a random literary name. Then it's quite nice, a secret meaning as to why you called them what you did.

I met a Byron once. I asked the mother if she liked his poetry. She hadn't even read any of it, she just thought it'd be nice to name her son after him

SilkStalkings · 12/04/2011 19:54

Hareton (Wuthering Heights)
Will (Philip Pullman)
Alex (A Clockwork Orange)
Titus (Gormenghast)
Adam (Adam Bede / Bible)
Wilde
Blake
Kurt (Vonnegut)
Aldous (Huxley)
Jules (verne)
Dunno much about art, erm... Banksy?

ConstanceFelicity · 12/04/2011 16:54

notanumber speaks wisely.

I love the names listed, especially Auden! How cool is that. I might go for Heathcliff, with Heath as nn. I think that is beyond cool.

notanumber · 12/04/2011 16:44

'k.... I have to say that it's probably more usual to start with the love of a text/character from a text and then name accordingly...

I mean, Hepzibah is a horrid name, but it is 'literary' (Silas Marner). Clearly this a poor reason to go for the name.

Edmund has good literary credentials but is often given to a nasty character (King Lear, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe etc). I was quite keen on the name Miranda for DD, but I just couldn't get past the fact that The Tempest is my least favourite Shakespeare play and the character is wet as water. The literary link meant that I couldn't have the name, IYSWIM?

It's pointless having a 'literary' name just for the sake it, so you look erudite or whatever. You have to actively like both the name and the text.

For example:
a) If you love The Beatles and think that Michelle is a pretty name, bingo!

b) If you love The Beatles but hate the name Michelle, then you'd be daft to use the name just 'cause of The Beatles link.

c) If you hate The Beatles but love the name Michelle, you may have to consider how prepared you are to have thaat bloody song sung everytime you introduce her.

Sooooo....What are you into, text-wise?

Pesha · 12/04/2011 16:25

Yousankmybattleship - my ds2 would love your suggestions!!

Sorry no ideas just searching for inspiration for myself, also due in June and completely stumped!

zozzle · 12/04/2011 14:14

If you named your child one of the above you'll def. look well read - but also a bit of a pretentious rude word. Sorry!

Some of the more popular ones are ok though.

discobeaver · 11/04/2011 16:33

Oh, and Thelonius.

discobeaver · 11/04/2011 16:32

Templeton

burntsienna · 11/04/2011 00:46

Jesus

Tuschinski · 08/04/2011 21:17

Sebastian (Brideshead)

lilaloves · 08/04/2011 20:48

Blake

JoanofArgos · 07/04/2011 13:52

Stephen
Tom
Jude
Philip
John
David
Alec
Heathcliffe
Edward
St John
Oliver
Frederic
Buck
Holden
Felix
Jonah
Ishmael

smashingtime · 07/04/2011 13:48

My ds is Laurie - after Laurie Lee of course!

I also love:
Leo (Tolstoy)
Oberon
Henry
Edward
Charles
William

Auden is a great name!

lockets · 07/04/2011 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

NatMac · 06/04/2011 22:01

Gosh, some fabulous and interesting names there - thank you! X

OP posts:

MelinaM · 06/04/2011 21:35

Percy is an awesome name! ...love Auden and Ruskin too! x

oneofsuesylvesterscheerios · 06/04/2011 21:09

I love Gabriel (as in Gabriel Oak from Far From the Madding Crowd)

yousankmybattleship · 06/04/2011 21:08

Thomas, Gordon, James, Percy, Edward, Harold?

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