Becoming a parent is an incredible journey that’s full of emotional and life-changing moments. One of the best parts of the process? Choosing a name for your child. However, deciding on a name can also be more difficult than many parents expect. Of the thousands of names out there, which one is most fitting for your little girl or boy? Many moms and dads look to their interests to help them narrow their options – for a great deal of couples, that means becoming inspired by literature.
Some of the best books to look to for inspiration are children’s stories. These classic tales have characters that little girls and boys can look up to, which is one of the reasons baby names from children’s books are so popular. Here’s how to choose between the many children’s book baby names and find one that suits your family:
Choose a beloved book
There are tons of inspiring children’s books, so look first at the ones you’ve grown up reading and already love. These beloved books will inspire you the most, and narrowing your search down in this way will keep you from becoming overwhelmed. Think about stories your parents read to you, and have your partner do the same. Which ones were your favorites? Did you grow up adoring the “Harry Potter” series? Did your grandmother read “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” to you as a child? Consider the most meaningful children’s books from your adolescence, and start there.
Consider the characters
Some of the most popular baby names can be found in children’s books, so even if you’ve narrowed your selected books to three or four, you’ll still have a lot of names to choose from. Take some time to write down a few of the characters from each book and a couple of their strongest personality traits. Is there a character who stands out for being upstanding, brave or smart? Become inspired by the characters themselves – If you do, your children will likely be inspired by their namesakes as well.
Children’s book boy names
If you’re having a son, take a look at these baby names for boys from classic children’s books:
- Milo, the curious boy from “The Phantom Tollbooth.”
- James, a clever character from “James and the Giant Peach.”
- Harry, a courageous wizard from “Harry Potter.”
- Max, the sensitive 9-year-old from “Where the Wild Things Are.”
- Charlie, a caring child from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
- Huck, a boy with a great sense of adventure from “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
Children’s book girl names
Are you expecting a daughter? Here are some possible literature-inspired popular girls’ names:
- Alice, the curious main character in the classic tale, “Alice in Wonderland.”
- Eloise, a fun-loving 6-year-old from the eponymous book series.
- Ramona, a spunky and intelligent girl from the “Beezus and Ramona” series.
- Charlotte, the warmhearted spider from “Charlotte’s Web.”
- Dorothy, the kind and brave Kansas girl from “The Wizard of Oz.”
- Madeline, the friendly and relatable character from “Madeline.”
Do you know all of the most popular children’s book baby names?
