Poetic Baby Names, Baby Names After Poets, Page 16

Choosing a Poetic baby name is a romantic, artistic gift for a child you hope will grow up loving words, stories, and beauty. Poetic baby names are drawn from poets themselves, from the characters in their poems, and from the soft, lyrical sound of words that feel like lines of verse. They're gentle, unusual, and wear beautifully on anyone who loves a little whimsy.

You'll find beautiful options everywhere literature touches. Poet-inspired names include Shakespeare-related picks like Ophelia (Hamlet), Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Rosalind (As You Like It), Sebastian (Twelfth Night), and Orlando (As You Like It). Romantic-era poets give us Byron, Keats, Shelley, Dante, and Bronte. Modern poet names include Sylvia (Plath), Maya (Angelou), Langston (Hughes), Auden, and Neruda. Simply poetic-sounding names include Lyra (lyre, the poet's instrument), Sonnet, Rhyme, Verse, Meadow, Willow, and Wren. Persian poet Rumi has grown into a popular unisex name, as has the Irish poet-name Seamus (pronounced SHAY-mus).

To pick the right one, read it aloud slowly, then whisper it — poetic names should sound good in both volumes. If you love creative picks, also explore our Musician baby names, Romantic baby names, or our Goddess baby names collection. A poetic baby name is a daily small poem you get to speak over your child's life.