Borrowing from books gives a name a quiet second life, the literary association is there for those who know, invisible for those who don't. Twelve picks that have aged into real-world wearability.
- Atticus, Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird. Quietly principled.
- Cosette, Les Misérables. French and feminine.
- Scout, also Mockingbird. Adventurous, unisex.
- Arwen, Tolkien. Elvish, lyrical.
- Holden, The Catcher in the Rye. Solid and slightly moody.
- Hermione, Greek originally, Rowling repopularized it.
- Daisy, The Great Gatsby. Bright and ambiguous.
- Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights. Bold pick.
- Ophelia, Shakespeare. Beautiful, with a shadow.
- Bilbo / Frodo, for the deeply committed.
- Jane, Brontë, Austen, both. Quiet strength.
- Auggie, Wonder. Warm and recent.