Literary Names

Some times an author just can't think of the right name for one of their characters.....so they make one up. Here are some names which were invented for the sake of art, and have caught on and become popular for naming children.

• Amorette - Invented by Edmund Spenser for his poem 'The Faerie Queen'
• Arwen - The elf princess in J.R.R. Tolkein's 'The Lord of the Rings'
• Clea - Used by Lawrence Durrell in the Alexandria Quartet.
• Clorinda - Created by Italian poet Tasso in the poem 'Jerusalem Delivered'
• Caspian - Prince in C.S. Lewis' Narnia books, probably named after the Caspian Sea in Russia.
• Evangeline - Created by Longfellow for his poem of the same name.
• Fiona - Invented by Scottish novelist William Sharp as his pen-name for a series of books on Celtic myths and legends.
• Lorna - Invented by R.D. Blackmore for his novel 'Lorna Doone', possibly one of the most boring books ever written.
• Miranda - Thought to have been invented by Shakespeare for the character in 'The Tempest'
• Perdita - Shakespeare again, this time given to an abandoned baby in 'A Winter's Tale'
• Pamela - Invented by Sir Phillip Sidney for his poem 'Arcadia' in 1590.
• Stella - Pet name of a friend of Jonathan Swift
• Thelma - Created by Marie Corelli for her novel 'Thelma: A Norwegian Princess'.
• Una - Another name invented by Edmund Spenser for his poem 'The Faerie Queen'
• Vanessa - Another pet name of a friend of Jonathan Swift.
• Wendy - Created by J.M. Barrie for the book 'Peter Pan'

Joined-Up Names
Baby Name Books