I have friends and acquaintances who chose the name of their child (or pet) based on an author or the characters of their favorite novel. It's not really that surprising--it's both an homage and a telltale sign. True, not all parents who select names like Alice, Emerson, Byron, Harper, Homer, or Anna have thought about the literary connections, but some of us do. And, with every book that comes out, we can sometimes see the ripple effect of popular names derived from novels like Twilight. We are drawn to the characters; we like the traits; and we give the name to our child or pet. And, thus the name is further perpetuated (or some derivative of the name).
Are there names you'd like to name your child or pet? Have you already named them after your favorite literary figure? What are your thoughts on the subject?
Comments
Thanks for all the interesting topics!
I have always wanted to name a child Anselm, a name used in the poem, The Bishop Orders His Tomb at St. Praxed’s by Robert Browning. St Anselm is also the saint of scholasticism. I love the name, and the fact that if the child was walking slow, or not getting ready for school in time I could call out, Is Anselm keeping back? My husband didn’t like the name, so I have no Anselm, however, I still call out that phrase when my children aren’t keeping up.
Some twenty-two years ago, shortly before my son was born, I had read a few of Graham Green’s novels. Since we wanted a name for our son that was uncommon without being unusual, his mother and I decided that Graham would be a good choice. It’s still not a name that I see often; it’s more common in the UK than in the US.
I always make a point to name my puppies after poets: Dylan (for Dylan Thomas) and Spenser (for Sir Edmund Spenser). These names have suited my beautiful boys perfectly.
My daughter’s middle name is Sylvia. I read The Bell Jar as a teenager and promptly fell in love with the collected works of Sylvia Plath. The minute I found out I was having a girl, I selected her middle name.
I’ve named every animal I’ve owned after a character in a book. Whenever I write down a list of each of them in order from when I first got them I can see how I progressed as a reader. Recently I named my three new kittens Edgar Poe(That’s an obvious one although notably not a character, but instead a poet.), Sonia(From Crime and Punishment), and Prince Andrei(From War and Peace).
It’s not exactly literary, but I wanted to name my son Henry Blake (M*A*S*H). I figured he’d always have something to talk about. My husband wouldn’t stand for it.
Its better to give our children a meaning full nam rather then just any name after novel characters .
I am currenty pregnant and my husband and I have decided (not really he said that he got to name the next on, or if it was a boy) to name our daughter Renesmee( Nessa, from Wicked, for short) Isabella. How cute of a name is that.
I am currently pregnant and my husband and I have decided( well not really, he siad that he gets to name the next one or if its a boy) to name our daughter Renesmee (Nessa, like from Wicked, for short) Isabella. How cute is that?