Best of… Young Adult Book Baby Names

My formative years were filled with books. The characters that populated the pages of those stories would become important touchstones for me for the rest of my life. It’s not surprising then that I would have a deep love and affection for the names of many of the heroes and heroines of my youth.

And other parents seem to be riding the same wave of nostalgia. If you don’t know a baby Holden (after Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye) or Atticus (after Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird) yet, you might soon. Both names, most strongly associated with their literary characters, are now more popular than they’ve ever been, with Holden occupying spot 216 on the 2018 SSA popularity chart and Atticus coming in at #326. The name Coraline, currently in the top 600 names, is a more recent example of YA’s influence on baby naming, owing much of its popularity to Neil Gaiman’s character in Coraline (whose unusual name was initially the result of a typo!).  

If you’re looking for literary name inspiration for your own child, there are plenty of other great, wearable names from young adult fiction. Here we offer up 16 of our favorites from a wide variety of genres, from fantasy to sci-fi to tearjerkers to coming-of-age tales.

Augustus (The Fault in Our Stars)

We fell in love with Augustus Waters the way Hazel Grace did in John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. But even those who don’t know the story can fall for his name. While this name has been slowly rising in popularity, it is by no means common. With potential nicknames in August or Gus, we’re kinda head over heels for Augustus.

Blythe (from Gilbert Blythe, Anne of Green Gables)

Oh, how we love Gilbert Blythe, Anne Shirley’s smitten-friend-turned-love-turned-husband! We especially love his last name as a first name.  Airy and bright (the name means “carefree and cheerful” after all), Blythe has us daydreaming about green hillsides, freshly cleaned white linens, and lazy days spent on the riverside.

Ender (Ender’s Game)

The protagonist of Orson Scott Card’s novel was born Andrew Wiggin but given the meaning-heavy nickname Ender. The novel is a modern classic in science fiction, so it’s no surprise that the name has a futuristic feel to it. And while it’s an unusual name, its resemblance to Anders and Ember give it some warmth and familiarity.

Esperanza (Esperanza Rising)

The name Esperanza is just like the protagonist of Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising: lyrical and fairy-like. Meaning “hope” in Spanish, it’s a powerful name to give a child and is reflective of the promise that we all see in our children.

Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Katniss, the heroine of The Hunger Games, has one of the more iconic first names in young adult literature, but our eyes are on her last name. Everdeen has a less obvious association with the book (and film) series while still being a clear homage. Plus, it falls into the current “ever” name trend, alongside Ever and Everly. Really, though, Suzanne Collins’s series is full of name gems. There’s also Rue, Finnick, Prim, Gale, and Cinna, just to name a few.

Huck (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)

If you love names with a playful Southern vibe, Huck (or the complete Huckleberry) might be your style. Nicknames as first names are trending right now, and this one has enough magic and history around it that we can’t ever see it growing old. In fact, we think this may become a classic, just like Mark Twain’s masterpiece.

Karana (Island of the Blue Dolphins)

Karana is the secret name of Won-a-pa-lei, the heroine of Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins. With its soft sound, it’s a name that makes you imagine warm, salty sea breezes and blue skies. And that fresh -ara ending breathes new life into favorite Karina.

Kaz (Six of Crows)

Kaz, a name that means “peacemaker,” is the hero of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows. With its short, snappy sound, Kaz is the name of a confident and just overall cool kid. And we think Kaz is complete enough to stand on its own, especially today, when we’re seeing names like Max, Dax, Cal, and Rex gracing more and more birth certificates.

Khalil (The Hate U Give)

Khalil is an Arabic name that means “friend” or “companion.” The Khalil of Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give is just that—friend to protagonist Starr Carter. Writers and artists may like the name for its ties to the Lebanese-American author of The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran, and Bears fans will be reminded of Khalil Mack.

Lara (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before)

Lara Jean Covey captured Peter Kaminsky’s heart in Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and the name Lara could capture yours. This musical-sounding baby name, like the classic “Laura,” also has a strong meaning. Russian in origin (derived from names like Larissa), the name means “citadel.”

Liesel (The Book Thief)

With a name that means “pledged to God,” you might think that all Liesels are as serious as Liesel Meminger in Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief. But Liesel is a playful name, too, with its lilting sound. A German take on the name Elizabeth, it’s a great choice for those wanting to honor a similarly named loved one or for families with German backgrounds.

Matilda (Matilda)

Roald Dahl loved naming his books after his protagonists–James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory–and of course, Matilda! This is one of our favorite names, with its fierce meaning (“battle maiden”), its covetable nickname (Tilda), and its healthy dose of whimsy.

Parvati (Harry Potter)

For your Gryffindor child, you could go with the names Harry, Hermione, or Ron, but we favor Parvati. In Hinduism, Parvati is the goddess of love and fertility, and the romantic sound of the name captures this spirit. And if you’re looking for a sibling name, the Harry Potter character’s sister has an equally beautiful one: Padma.

Sabriel (Sabriel)

Sabriel is the heroine of Garth Nix’s award-winning fantasy book that bears her name. A very uncommon name, Sabriel has a familiar feel because of its similarity to Gabriel. It’s a pretty name that’s also powerful: its root meaning is “a hero of god.”

Sunny (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

Sunny is the baby of the Unfortunate Baudelaire siblings, and though their adventures are not bright and playful, the name certainly is. Sunny feels just a little bit vintage to us, having been most popular in the ‘70s. But we think the celestial-names trend may give Sunny a boost in the near future. Plus, we love the thought of singing “You Are My Sunshine” as a little baby Sunny dozes off.

Tremain (Johnny Tremain)

This YA classic set during the American Revolution revolves around apprentice silversmith Johnny Tremain, whose Welsh last name could make an amazing first name. Esther Forbes’s book is filled with other great names, too, like Rab, Cilla, Isannah, and Ephraim (though we’ll take a pass on Dorcus).

Young adult books have clearly had an influence on baby naming, and on our own favorite names. What other rising baby names can you think of that owe their success to YA literature?