Names Categorized "literature"

Kevin is the Anglicized form of the Irish masculine given name Caoimhín, derived from the Old Irish Cóemgein. The name is composed of the elements cóem meaning "dear, beloved, gentle" and gein meaning "birth", combining...

EtymologyKhaleesi is a feminine given name derived from a fictional title in George R. R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire (first published 1996) and its acclaimed television adaptation Game of Thrones...

Kim is a given name of multiple origins, used in Dutch, English, and German. While it today is most often considered a short form of Kimberly, the name in fact predates Kimberly as a given name. The author Rudyard Kiplin...

Kizzy is a female given name that originated as a diminutive of Keziah, a name from the Hebrew Bible. Keziah herself derives from the Hebrew word for the spice tree "cassia" or "cinnamon" (Qetsiʿa), and she is recorded i...

Kordian is a masculine first name of Polish origin, created by the influential Polish Romantic poet Juliusz Słowacki for the title character of his 1833 drama Kordian. Słowacki is believed to have derived the name from t...

Etymology and OriginKorkut is a Turkish masculine given name, likely derived from the verb korkutmak, appearing as "to frighten, to scare". While the name’s literal meaning evokes fear, its cultural association is far mo...

Laimonis is a Latvian masculine given name derived from the Latvian word laime, meaning "luck, fate, happiness". It thus signifies "lucky", "happy", or "blessed", and is related to the ancient Baltic goddess Laima, a dei...

Lalage is a rare female given name of literary origin, derived from Ancient Greek λαλαγέω (lalageō), meaning "to babble, to prattle" or "chatter." The name was first used by the Roman poet Horace in one of his odes (Odes...

Lalita is a feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning "playful, charming, desirable". In Hindu tradition, according to the Puranas, Lalita was one of the gopis—the milkmaids devoted to the young Krishna. Additional...

Lalla is a feminine given name with a literary origin, also known as a historical masculine name in Indian astronomy. The name is derived from Persian لاله (lāleh) meaning "tulip", a flower symbolizing love and perfect b...

Lancelot is a legendary figure in Arthurian romance, first appearing in the works of the 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes. The name is possibly derived from an Old French diminutive of Lanzo, a short form of G...

Lara is a short form of the Russian name Larisa, ultimately derived from the Greek name Larissa, which in Greek mythology was the name of a nymph, whose name may come from "laros" (λάρος) meaning "seagull" or "pleasant,"...

Lassie is a feminine given name drawn from a diminutive of the northern English word lass, meaning "young girl". The word lass itself is believed to have Norse origins, reflecting the linguistic influence of Scandinavian...

Laudine is a character from the 12th-century Arthurian romance Yvain, or The Knight with the Lion by the French poet Chrétien de Troyes. Her name is likely a feminine derivative of Lot 2, the legendary king of Lothian, o...

Laura is a feminine given name with roots in Late Latin, derived from Laurus, meaning "laurel". In ancient Rome, laurel leaves were woven into garlands to crown victors and poets, making the name synonymous with triumph...

Laurie is a Diminutive of Laura or Laurence 1, primarily used in English and French. As a unisex given name, it functions as a short form of Laura, Lauren, Laurence, or Lawrence, depending on gender. The feminine usage p...

Lavinia is a name of uncertain meaning, probably of Etruscan origin. In Roman mythology, Lavinia was the daughter of King Latinus and the wife of Aeneas, the Trojan hero and legendary founder of the Roman people. Accordi...

Layla is a feminine name of Arabic origin, meaning "night". It is famously associated with the tragic love story of Layla and Majnun, an old Arab tale that has been retold across centuries and cultures. The name gained w...

Legolas is a fictional character and masculine name from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, created for The Lord of the Rings (1954–1955). The name is Sindarin, one of Tolkien's constructed Elvish languages, and means "gree...

Etymology and Literary OriginLeida is a feminine given name of Estonian origin with uncertain etymology. Its meaning is unknown, but it was significantly popularized by Estonian writer Andres Saal in his historical stori...

Etymology and MeaningLeila is a variant of Layla, the usual Persian transcription of a name that means "night" (from Arabic layl). In Arabic and Persian cultures, it is often given to girls born during the night, symboli...

Leili is a primarily Estonian feminine given name. Its origins are debated, but most sources trace it either to the Scandinavian and Finnish name Laila 2 or draw an association with the Estonian word leil, meaning 'vapou...

Lemuel is a Hebrew name found in the Old Testament and in the Book of Mormon, and is also the name of a character in Jonathan Swift's novel Gulliver's Travels. It means "for God" or "devoted to God" in Hebrew, derived fr...

Lenore is a feminine given name that originated as a short form of Eleanor. It became widely known through the melancholic and famous poem 'The Raven' (1845) by Edgar Allan Poe, in which Lenore is the beloved lost maiden...

Leopold is a masculine given name of Germanic origin, used in Czech, Dutch, English, German, Polish, Slovak, and Slovene. It is derived from the Old German elements liut "people" and bald "bold, brave". The spelling was...

Lestat is a given name created by author Anne Rice for the protagonist of her Vampire Chronicles series, first introduced in the 1976 novel Interview with the Vampire. The character, Lestat de Lioncourt, is a French vamp...

EtymologyLigaya is a Tagalog feminine given name meaning "happiness" or "joy". The name derives directly from the Tagalog word ligaya, which carries the same meaning. As a given name, it reflects Tagalog-language naming...

Ligeia is a feminine given name derived from the Ancient Greek λιγύς (ligys), meaning "clear-voiced, shrill, or whistling." In Greek mythology, Ligeia was one of the Sirens — creatures whose enchanting songs lured sailor...

Lilibet (also spelled Lillibet or Lilybet) is a feminine given name in English, originally a childhood nickname of Queen Elizabeth II. As a toddler, the future queen pronounced her own name "Lilibet" because she had diff...

Linet is a variant of Lynet, a name that appears in the Arthurian cycle. The name itself is a feminization of the Welsh name Eluned, derived from eilun meaning "image, likeness, idol."Etymology and OriginsThe ultimate ro...

Lionesse is a variant of the name Lyonesse, from the Arthurian Cycle. The name Lyonesse means "lioness" in Middle English, derived from the Old French word lionesse. In Thomas Malory's 15th-century work Le Morte d'Arthur...

Etymology and Literary OriginsLionors is a variant of the name Lyonors, which appears in Thomas Malory's 15th-century Arthurian compilation Le Morte d'Arthur. The name likely derives from Middle English lyon, meaning "li...

Lohengrin is a central figure in German Arthurian legend, first appearing in the 13th-century epic poem Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach. The name derives from the earlier form Loherangrin, which itself stems from Loth...

Lolita is a Spanish diminutive of Lola, itself a pet form of Dolores, which means “sorrows” from the Spanish title of the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (“Our Lady of Sorrows”). Consequently, the name Lolita...

Loredana is a feminine given name primarily used in Italian and Romanian cultures. It is often claimed to have been invented by the French author George Sand for her novel Mattea (1833), though the name may have been doc...

Lorna is a feminine given name created by the author R. D. Blackmore for the title character in his novel Lorna Doone (1869). The name is believed to be derived from the Scottish place name Lorne or the title Marquess of...

Lot is a figure from Arthurian legend, derived from the name of the region of Lothian in southern Scotland. The origin of the name 'Lothian' is uncertain, though it may have ancient roots predating the medieval period. I...

Louis is the French form of the Latinized name Ludovicus, itself derived from the Old Frankish name Chlodwig. The name originates from the Proto-Germanic elements *hlūdaz ('loud, famous') and *wiganą ('to battle, to figh...

Luana is a feminine given name whose modern popularity was sparked by the 1932 film Bird of Paradise, in which it was borne by the main character, a Polynesian girl. The film itself was adapted from a 1912 play set in Ha...

Lucasta is a feminine name of literary origin, first used by the English Cavalier poet Richard Lovelace. It appears in his 1649 poetry collection Lucasta, dedicated to his beloved Lucy Sacheverel. Lovelace coined the nam...

Lucinda is a feminine given name of Latin origin, meaning light. It originated as an elaboration of Lucia, itself derived from the Roman name Lucius, which carries the same luminous meaning. Lucinda was first created by...

Etymology and OriginLucinde is the French form of Lucinda, an elaborate name created by the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes for his novel Don Quixote (1605). Cervantes likely formed Lucinda by combining Lucia with the...

Lucrèce is the French form of both Lucretia and its masculine counterpart Lucretius. As a feminine given name, it derives directly from Lucretia, the feminine form of the Roman family name Lucretius, which may be related...

Etymology Luke is the English form of the Latin name Lucas, which itself derives from the Greek Λουκᾶς (Loukas). The name is likely a shortened form of Λουκανός (Loukanos), meaning "from Lucania"—Lucania being a region i...

Lunete is a character from Arthurian legend, best known as the resourceful handmaiden who orchestrates the marriage of the knight Yvain to Laudine, the Lady of the Fountain. Her name is a variant form of Eluned, a Welsh...

Luule is an Estonian feminine given name directly derived from the Estonian word luule, meaning "poetry." The name reflects the literary and cultural appreciation for verse in Estonian society, naming a child after an ar...

Lydia is a feminine given name with roots in Greek antiquity. It means "from Lydia" — the name of an ancient kingdom in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). The region was said to be named after the semi-legendary king Lydos,...

Lynet is a form of Lunete used in Thomas Malory's 15th-century tale Le Morte d'Arthur, where it is borne by a woman who enlists the help of Sir Gareth to rescue her sister Lyonesse. She eventually marries his brother Gah...

Lyones is a variant of Lyonesse, a feminine name from Arthurian legend. It appears in Thomas Malory's 15th-century work Le Morte d'Arthur, where Lyonesse is a lady trapped in a castle by the Red Knight. Her sister Lynet...

Lyonesse is a feminine given name derived from Middle English, meaning "lioness." It is primarily known from Thomas Malory's 15th-century epic Le Morte d'Arthur, where it is borne by a woman imprisoned in a castle by the...

Lyonors is a girl's name from Arthurian legend, probably derived from Middle English lyon meaning "lion." It first appears in Sir Thomas Malory's 15th-century compilation, Le Morte d'Arthur, where a woman named Lyonors h...

Lyudmila is a Russian and Bulgarian form of Ludmila. The name originates from the Slavic elements ľudŭ meaning "people" and milŭ meaning "gracious, dear", giving it the overall meaning of "favour of the people". It is us...

Macbeth is the Anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic given name Mac Beatha, meaning "son of life", implying holiness or righteousness. This etymology reflects the Gaelic tradition of names beginning with mac-, meaning "...

Madeline is the English form of Madeleine, ultimately derived from Magdalene. In some traditions it is considered a variant spelling of Madeleine, while in English usage it has developed its own identity, partly through...

Madicken is a Swedish name created by the author Astrid Lindgren for the heroine of her series of children's books of the same name, first published in 1960. The name is a diminutive of Margareta, but its actual inspirat...

Madita is a German equivalent of Madicken, created for the German translation of Astrid Lindgren's beloved children's books. The name Madicken itself was coined by Lindgren for the heroine of her series of books of the s...

Maeve is the Anglicized form of the Irish name Medb, which means "intoxicating" or "she who intoxicates," possibly connected to mead. In early modern Irish, it was spelled Meadhbh or Maedhbh, with the pronunciation evolv...

Mahulena is a female given name of Czech origin, possibly inspired by Magdalena. The Czech author Julius Zeyer created it for a character in his play Radúz and Mahulena (1898). The Slovak variant is Mahuliena.The name li...

Maimu is an Estonian feminine given name, derived from the Estonian word maim, meaning "little one" or "little." The name originated in the 19th century as a literary invention, first appearing in the story Maimu (1889)...

Malvina is a feminine given name invented by the Scottish poet James Macpherson in the 18th century for a character in his Ossian poems. He probably intended it to mean "smooth brow", from Scottish Gaelic mala "brow" and...