Characters from literature and film provide great ideas for baby names. Authors and filmmakers put in a lot of time crafting lively, unique names. Literary greats like William Faulkner and Vladimir Nabokov would compile lists of unusual names so that they could choose perfect, distinctive names for their characters when writing a new story or novel.
Parents can benefit from all these efforts when naming a baby by turning to great novels and cinema for inspiration. Though certainly not exhaustive, here is a list of creative baby names based on characters from popular movies and books, as well as some character info and name meanings to help find the best names out there ("m" and "f" denote male and female names.).
Names from Point Break
Starring Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey, and the late, great Patrick Swayze, Point Break is a surfing/skydiving/bank-heist action flick that – for most viewers– falls under the category of "so outstandingly bad that it's good."
Swayze's unforgettable character, Bodhi – the spiritual surfing guru – is the pick of the baby name litter. The moniker is short for Bodhitsattva, which is a Buddhist term that essentially describes a monk who has achieved enlightenment but has taken a vow to remain on earth to help others.
Some other great, unique names from the film include: Pappas (m), Grommet (m), Babbit (m), Tone (m), and Archibald (m).
Names from Pulp Fiction
The film that truly put director Quentin Tarantino on the map, Pulp Fiction is chocked full of a cast of characters with terrifically creative names (a forte of Tarantino's).
One of the finest is Marsellus Wallace, the mob boss played by Ving Rhames (who himself has a very unique name), with close seconds being Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield, the gangster duo played by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.
Other unique baby name ideas include: Ringo (m), Lance (m), Butch (m), Fabienne (f), Zed (m), and Mia (f).
Names from The Godfather
One of the most famous films of all time, The Godfather is replete with excellent Italian names and nicknames that crackle with zest and character.
The big name is obviously Vito, the Don of the family played by Marlon Brando, but there is a long list of other unique names: Santino (m), Sonny (m), Virgil (m), Kay (f), Sal (m), Carlo (m), Fredo (m), Luca (m), Paulie (m), Bonasera (f), Theresa (f), Fabrizio (m), Calo (m), and Vitelli (m).
Names from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A canonical work of contemporary Southern literature, To Kill a Mockingbird boasts a cast of unforgettable characters with very unique names. The central characters are the narrator, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, her father Atticus Finch, and her brother Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch.
The other obvious pick is Arthur "Boo" Radley, but there's a host of other good baby name ideas from the book, such as: Dill (m), Mayella (f), Link (m), Heck (m), Tate (m), Calpurnia (f), and Dolphus (m).
Names from William Faulkner Novels
One of the most important figures in American literature, and a Nobel Laureate, William Faulkner was a master of writing the South, and had an exceptional ear for a great Southern name.
Faulkner's litany of unique names is almost too long to list, but here are a few of the choicest baby name ideas derived from his cast of characters: Caddy (f), Benjy (m), Dilsey (f), Roskus (m), Luster (m), Addie (f), Anse (m), Darl (m), Jewel (m), Cash (m), Dewey-Dell (f), Vardaman (m), Vernon (m), Cora (f), Lafe (m), Armstid (m), Gillespie (m), Clytemnestra or “Clytie” (f), Wash (m), Quentin (m), and Shreve (m).
Or, for a truly unique and meaningful baby name, there is Faulkner’s own middle name: Cuthbert.
Further Inspiration for Unique Baby Names
For expecting parents, finding a unique baby name is a serious task. Browsing through names from favorite movies and novels is a terrific way to find inspiration when naming a baby. The above listed baby name ideas are only the tip of the iceberg. Ideas for cool and unusual baby names can come from any great film or book.
Related Articles:
Unique Baby Boy Names from Shakespeare
William Litton - Will Litton is a writer and comedian living in Chicago, IL. He holds a B.A. in creative writing from Brown University and serves as the ...
