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Baby names

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

Original poster

Favourite literary boys' names

55 replies

eversomuch · 14/05/2012 10:50

Just found out we're having a boy!

What are your favourite male names inspired by famous literary figures/authors/characters?

Ideally looking for names that aren't extremely common (have pretty much ruled out names like Harry (from Harry Potter) and Will (from His Dark Materials). But neither do we want anything too obscure or too baffling on the pronunciation front. Suggestions? Foreign names are fine, btw.

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MogTheForgetfulCat · 06/06/2012 20:30

DS3 is Laurie because of Little Women (even though he was really Theodore/Teddy - which I also like but DH vetoed).
I also like Benedict, Heathcliff (Blush), Byron, Henry (from Time Traveler's Wife). And if we're stretching the bounds of 'literary', I like Ralph (Thornbirds) and, um, Rupert (Jilly Cooper - even more Blush).

JellyMould · 06/06/2012 18:36

Laurie (Lawrence) from Little women. Gilbert from Anne of green gables. Orinoco the womble? Wombles generally have great names.

scarlettsmummy2 · 06/06/2012 18:21

I like Roddy, as in Roddy Doyle.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 06/06/2012 18:19

Oooh or Wilkie after Wilkie Collins. He was a fab writer.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 06/06/2012 18:19

Marlowe or Kit after the handsome if pervy and ill-fated poet.

choklit · 17/05/2012 05:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Notyetthere · 16/05/2012 22:44

My son's middle name will be 'Awesome'. A child with a name like that has to be confident! They have no choice. Im not brave enough to have it as a first name mind.

purpleloosestrife · 16/05/2012 22:27

yossarian

squoosh · 15/05/2012 14:46

Charles (Bukowski). You'd have to keep saying to people though 'After Charles Bukowski don't you know'.

SilkStalkings · 15/05/2012 14:43

Kurt as in Vonnegut

rocket74 · 15/05/2012 14:06

We have an Edgar Alexander (edgar allen poe)

thought about Rothko and Hunter as options first time around.
This time Rothko is still in the running if DC2 is a boy(but no one on mumsnet likes it :)) (all the more reason to go with it haha!)

squoosh · 15/05/2012 13:50

Hyacinth Bucket's son was called Sheridan.

wordfactory · 15/05/2012 13:49

Shaw.

NeedlesCuties · 15/05/2012 13:46

Sheridan, after the ever-lovely writer, Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

rachel234 · 15/05/2012 09:52

Maurice (Sendak)

justonemorethread · 15/05/2012 09:19

Dylan (Dylan Thomas)

Oscar (oscar wilde)

Madeyemoodysmum · 14/05/2012 21:31

Oh and wickham/wickam
Also Jane Austin

Madeyemoodysmum · 14/05/2012 21:30

Willoby. All jAne austin
Brandon
Darcy
Bingley

Radley to kill a mockingbird
Scout

Sirius Harry potter
Tho most male Potter names are awful in real life

Billy
Rowan. Land of hope and glory

wizzler · 14/05/2012 21:28

Kester : from Precious Bane
Atticus (and Jem).. suggested both for my DS but DH was underwhelmed

Geranium3 · 14/05/2012 20:37

Dante

PerUnaBomber · 14/05/2012 20:31

Amory

OhTinky · 14/05/2012 20:30

Sebastian -Brideshead Revisited

jandymaccomesback · 14/05/2012 20:27

Noddy

Lexiesgirl · 14/05/2012 19:05

Dunno... it just sounds rather old-fashioned to me, but not in a good way - like Reginald, or Raymond - names from my grandparents generation that are really stuck in that generation.

And this is where you have a son called Roland... Grin

PercyFilth · 14/05/2012 19:02

Why ever not?

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