400+ Literary Dog Names for Your Furry Reading Companion

Ever finished a great book and thought, “I wish I could keep a piece of this story with me forever”? Well, naming your dog after a favorite literary character might be the next best thing to living between the pages yourself.

I’ve been a bookworm my entire life, so when I adopted my pup last year, I spent weeks flipping through my favorite novels looking for the perfect name. The result? My terrier mix is now called Atticus (yes, from To Kill a Mockingbird), and it fits him perfectly—wise, dignified, and occasionally stubborn!

In this article, I’ve gathered over 300 literary-inspired dog names that will make any book lover’s heart skip a beat. Whether you’re into classic literature, fantasy realms, or modern bestsellers, there’s a literary name out there that’s perfect for your furry friend.

Let’s dive into the wonderful world where books and dogs collide!

Why Choose a Literary Dog Name?

Naming your dog after a character or author you love comes with some pretty great perks:

• It reflects your personality and interests right off the bat
• Makes for great conversation starters at the dog park
• Celebrates literature in a fun, everyday way
• Creates a special connection between you, your pet, and stories you cherish

Just keep these practical tips in mind:

1. Shorter names (1-2 syllables) typically work better for training
2. Avoid names that sound like common commands (“Kit” sounds like “sit”)
3. Consider your dog’s personality and appearance when choosing
4. Test the name by calling it out loud several times

Now, let’s explore some fantastic options from the vast world of literature!

Literary Dog Names

These names have stood the test of time and come from some of literature’s most beloved works:

• Atticus (To Kill a Mockingbird)
• Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird)
• Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)
• Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
• Pip (Great Expectations)
• Holden (The Catcher in the Rye)
• Rhett (Gone with the Wind)
• Scarlett (Gone with the Wind)
• Sawyer (Tom Sawyer)
• Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights)
• Sherlock (Sherlock Holmes)
• Watson (Sherlock Holmes)
• Poe (Edgar Allan Poe)
• Austen (Jane Austen)
• Bronte (Emily, Charlotte, or Anne)
• Hawthorne (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
• Dickens (Charles Dickens)
• Hemingway (Ernest Hemingway)
• Thoreau (Henry David Thoreau)
• Emerson (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Looking for more character-inspired names? Check out our collection of Disney trivia team names that could double as adorable dog names!

Dog Names from Literature and Mythology

Mythology gives us some of the most powerful and meaningful names:

• Zeus (Greek mythology)
• Apollo (Greek mythology)
• Athena (Greek mythology)
• Thor (Norse mythology)
• Loki (Norse mythology)
• Persephone (Greek mythology)
• Odin (Norse mythology)
• Hercules (Greek mythology)
• Artemis (Greek mythology)
• Odysseus (The Odyssey)
• Beowulf (Beowulf)
• Achilles (Greek mythology)
• Pandora (Greek mythology)
• Hera (Greek mythology)
• Atlas (Greek mythology)
• Hades (Greek mythology)
• Morpheus (Greek mythology)
• Circe (Greek mythology)
• Griffin (mythological creature)
• Phoenix (mythological creature)

Dog Names from Literature

These classic literary references make wonderful dog names:

• Daisy (The Great Gatsby)
• Oliver (Oliver Twist)
• Romeo (Romeo and Juliet)
• Juliet (Romeo and Juliet)
• Ophelia (Hamlet)
• Dorian (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Emma (Emma)
• Matilda (Matilda)
• Finn (Huckleberry Finn)
• Boo (To Kill a Mockingbird)
• Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)
• Arya (A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones)
• Guinevere (Arthurian legends)
• Arthur (Arthurian legends)
• Gulliver (Gulliver’s Travels)
• Hester (The Scarlet Letter)
• Dorian (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Robinson (Robinson Crusoe)
• Jane (Jane Eyre)
• Ishmael (Moby Dick)

If you love these literary names, you might also enjoy our collection of fantasy house names for more magical inspiration!

Literary Names for Dogs

Looking for something a bit more unique? Try these literary-inspired names:

• Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
• Copperfield (David Copperfield)
• Quixote (Don Quixote)
• Ahab (Moby Dick)
• Estella (Great Expectations)
• Fagin (Oliver Twist)
• Ivanhoe (Ivanhoe)
• Karenina (Anna Karenina)
• Lancelot (Arthurian legends)
• Merlin (Arthurian legends)
• Orwell (George Orwell)
• Poe (Edgar Allan Poe)
• Shelley (Mary Shelley)
• Tennyson (Alfred Lord Tennyson)
• Walden (Walden)
• Yeats (William Butler Yeats)
• Zora (Zora Neale Hurston)
• Byron (Lord Byron)
• Kipling (Rudyard Kipling)
• Whitman (Walt Whitman)

Dog Names from Books

These names come straight from the pages of beloved stories:

• Huckleberry (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
• Grendel (Beowulf)
• Gregor (The Metamorphosis)
• Kurtz (Heart of Darkness)
• Lennie (Of Mice and Men)
• Marlow (Heart of Darkness)
• Montag (Fahrenheit 451)
• Offred (The Handmaid’s Tale)
• Queequeg (Moby Dick)
• Santiago (The Old Man and the Sea)
• Starbuck (Moby Dick)
• Tess (Tess of the d’Urbervilles)
• Winston (1984)
• Yossarian (Catch-22)
• Zooey (Franny and Zooey)
• Clarisse (Fahrenheit 451)
• Dimmesdale (The Scarlet Letter)
• Edmund (King Lear)
• Fitzwilliam (Pride and Prejudice)
• Goneril (King Lear)

For more creative naming inspiration, take a look at our spikeball team names collection!

Literary Dog Names for Girls

Perfect for your female furry friend:

• Elizabeth (Pride and Prejudice)
• Beatrice (Much Ado About Nothing)
• Catherine (Wuthering Heights)
• Daisy (The Great Gatsby)
• Elinor (Sense and Sensibility)
• Fern (Charlotte’s Web)
• Galadriel (The Lord of the Rings)
• Hermione (Harry Potter)
• Isobel (The Portrait of a Lady)
• Jo (Little Women)
• Katniss (The Hunger Games)
• Lucy (The Chronicles of Narnia)
• Meg (A Wrinkle in Time)
• Nancy (Oliver Twist)
• Ophelia (Hamlet)
• Portia (The Merchant of Venice)
• Ramona (Ramona series)
• Scarlett (Gone with the Wind)
• Tess (Tess of the d’Urbervilles)
• Viola (Twelfth Night)

Literary Dog Names Female

More elegant female options with literary connections:

• Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
• Anna (Anna Karenina)
• Austen (Jane Austen)
• Belle (Beauty and the Beast)
• Bronte (Charlotte Bronte)
• Clara (The Nutcracker)
• Cordelia (King Lear)
• Diana (Anne of Green Gables)
• Dorothea (Middlemarch)
• Eliza (Pygmalion)
• Emma (Emma)
• Harper (Harper Lee)
• Lyra (His Dark Materials)
• Marian (Robin Hood)
• Matilda (Matilda)
• Pippi (Pippi Longstocking)
• Sylvia (Sylvia Plath)
• Virginia (Virginia Woolf)
• Wendy (Peter Pan)
• Zora (Zora Neale Hurston)

Looking for more feminine name ideas? Our collection of flower usernames might inspire you!

Literary Dog Names Male

Strong male options from the world of books:

• Aramis (The Three Musketeers)
• Athos (The Three Musketeers)
• Bingley (Pride and Prejudice)
• Cyrano (Cyrano de Bergerac)
• Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
• Draco (Harry Potter)
• Ernest (Ernest Hemingway)
• Finn (Huckleberry Finn)
• Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)
• Hamlet (Hamlet)
• Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights)
• Jekyll (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
• Keats (John Keats)
• Levin (Anna Karenina)
• Macbeth (Macbeth)
• Orwell (George Orwell)
• Porthos (The Three Musketeers)
• Rochester (Jane Eyre)
• Silas (Silas Marner)
• Wilde (Oscar Wilde)

Famous Literary Dog Names

Some books have their own famous canine characters that make perfect names:

• Buck (The Call of the Wild)
• Cujo (Cujo)
• Fang (Harry Potter)
• Fluffy (Harry Potter)
• Lassie (Lassie Come-Home)
• Marley (Marley & Me)
• Nana (Peter Pan)
• Old Yeller (Old Yeller)
• Padfoot (Harry Potter)
• Rin Tin Tin (Rin Tin Tin)
• Sirius (Harry Potter)
• Snowy (Tintin)
• Spot (See Spot Run)
• Tock (The Phantom Tollbooth)
• Toto (The Wizard of Oz)
• Winn-Dixie (Because of Winn-Dixie)
• White Fang (White Fang)
• Argos (The Odyssey)
• Blue (Blue’s Clues)
• Clifford (Clifford the Big Red Dog)

Want more famous character inspiration? Check out our Marvel trivia team names for superhero-inspired options!

Dog Names from Books and Movies

These names work double duty, appearing in both literature and film:

• Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia)
• Bilbo (The Hobbit)
• Daenerys (Game of Thrones)
• Frodo (The Lord of the Rings)
• Gandalf (The Lord of the Rings)
• Hazel (Watership Down)
• Legolas (The Lord of the Rings)
• Luna (Harry Potter)
• Malfoy (Harry Potter)
• Neville (Harry Potter)
• Percy (Percy Jackson)
• Primrose (The Hunger Games)
• Remus (Harry Potter)
• Samwise (The Lord of the Rings)
• Severus (Harry Potter)
• Smaug (The Hobbit)
• Theon (Game of Thrones)
• Tyrion (Game of Thrones)
• Westley (The Princess Bride)
• Yoda (Star Wars)

Male Dog Names from Literature and Mythology

Powerful male names with deep roots in stories:

• Achilles (Greek mythology)
• Aragorn (The Lord of the Rings)
• Beowulf (Beowulf)
• Brutus (Julius Caesar)
• Dantes (The Count of Monte Cristo)
• Dorian (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
• Falstaff (Shakespeare’s plays)
• Gilgamesh (Sumerian mythology)
• Hektor (Greek mythology)
• Iago (Othello)
• Jace (The Mortal Instruments)
• Legolas (The Lord of the Rings)
• Merlin (Arthurian legends)
• Nestor (Greek mythology)
• Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
• Perseus (Greek mythology)
• Quixote (Don Quixote)
• Roland (The Song of Roland)
• Theseus (Greek mythology)
• Ulysses (Greek mythology)

Female Dog Names from Literature and Mythology

Elegant female names that carry mythical or literary significance:

• Andromeda (Greek mythology)
• Athena (Greek mythology)
• Beatrice (Divine Comedy)
• Calypso (Greek mythology)
• Circe (Greek mythology)
• Diana (Roman mythology)
• Elaine (Arthurian legends)
• Freya (Norse mythology)
• Gaia (Greek mythology)
• Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
• Iris (Greek mythology)
• Juliet (Romeo and Juliet)
• Kali (Hindu mythology)
• Lyra (His Dark Materials)
• Minerva (Roman mythology)
• Nyx (Greek mythology)
• Persephone (Greek mythology)
• Rosaline (Romeo and Juliet)
• Selene (Greek mythology)
• Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

If you’re drawn to these mythical names, you might enjoy our collection of medieval clan guild names for more fantasy-inspired options!

Pet Names for Book Lovers

These names celebrate the joy of reading itself:

• Atlas (for map lovers)
• Biblio (Greek root for “book”)
• Booker
• Chapter
• Fable
• Fiction
• Folio
• Inkling
• Journal
• Legend
• Library
• Memoir
• Novel
• Novella
• Page
• Poet
• Prose
• Quill
• Saga
• Sonnet

Classic Literature Dog Names

The classics have given us some timeless character names that work beautifully for dogs:

Shakespearean Names

• Romeo – The passionate lover
• Juliet – Beautiful and tragic
• Hamlet – Thoughtful and complex
• Ophelia – Delicate and poetic
• Puck – Mischievous and playful
• Titania – Regal and magical

Victorian Era Names

• Heathcliff – Wild and brooding
• Jane – Simple yet strong
• Pip – Small but determined
• Estella – Beautiful but distant
• Oliver – Innocent yet resourceful
• Uriah – Unusual and memorable

Russian Literature Names

• Anna (from Anna Karenina) – Elegant and passionate
• Levin – Thoughtful and principled
• Natasha (from War and Peace) – Vivacious and evolving
• Raskolnikov (from Crime and Punishment) – Complex and tormented
• Alyosha (from The Brothers Karamazov) – Pure-hearted and spiritual

Modern and Contemporary Literature Dog Names

From more recent masterpieces and bestsellers:

From Bestsellers

• Holden (from The Catcher in the Rye) – Perfect for a dog with a rebellious streak
• Scout (from To Kill a Mockingbird) – Curious and brave
• Clarice (from The Silence of the Lambs) – Intelligent and determined
• Sethe (from Beloved) – Strong and resilient
• Celie (from The Color Purple) – Gentle but strong

Fantasy Names

• Frodo (from The Lord of the Rings) – Small but mighty
• Luna (from Harry Potter) – Dreamy and unique
• Arya (from Game of Thrones) – Fierce and independent
• Lyra (from His Dark Materials) – Brave and curious
• Kvothe (from The Name of the Wind) – Talented and mysterious

Science Fiction Names

• Ender (from Ender’s Game) – Strategic and intelligent
• Katniss (from The Hunger Games) – Survivor and protector
• Ripley (from Alien novels) – Tough and resourceful
• Neo (from The Matrix) – “The One” for your family
• Atreides (from Dune) – Noble and powerful

For sci-fi lovers, our collection of space-themed team names might provide even more galactic inspiration!

Children’s Literature Dog Names

These names from children’s books are both nostalgic and adorable:

Classic Children’s Books

• Winnie (from Winnie-the-Pooh) – Sweet and lovable
• Toto (from The Wizard of Oz) – Small but brave
• Wilbur (from Charlotte’s Web) – Gentle and kind
• Ferdinand (from The Story of Ferdinand) – Peaceful and sweet
• Madeline (from Madeline series) – Brave and adventurous

Modern Children’s Series

• Harry (from Harry Potter) – Brave and loyal
• Percy (from Percy Jackson) – Adventurous and heroic
• Matilda (from Matilda) – Intelligent and kind
• Coraline (from Coraline) – Curious and brave
• Despereaux (from The Tale of Despereaux) – Small but courageous

Poetry and Playwright Dog Names

For the more literary-minded dog owners:

Poet Names

• Byron – Romantic and passionate
• Keats – Sensitive and observant
• Sylvia (for Sylvia Plath) – Intense and intelligent
• Langston (for Langston Hughes) – Soulful and expressive
• Dickinson (for Emily Dickinson) – Thoughtful and deep

Playwright Characters

• Nora (from A Doll’s House) – Independent and determined
• Blanche (from A Streetcar Named Desire) – Elegant but fragile
• Stanley (from A Streetcar Named Desire) – Strong and dominant
• Willy (from Death of a Salesman) – Dreamer
• Hedda (from Hedda Gabler) – Complex and strong-willed

Author-Inspired Dog Names

Name your pup after your favorite writer:

First Names

• Ernest (Hemingway) – Rugged and adventurous
• Virginia (Woolf) – Thoughtful and complex
• Edgar (Allan Poe) – Mysterious and dark
• Louisa (May Alcott) – Kind and creative
• Oscar (Wilde) – Witty and elegant

Last Names

• Austen – Classic and elegant
• Dickens – Storyteller with heart
• Twain – Witty and adventurous
• Tolstoy – Deep and philosophical
• Shakespeare – Timeless and dramatic

Famous Literary Dogs

Your dog could share a name with these canine literary legends:

Lassie (Lassie Come-Home)

The quintessential loyal collie who always finds her way home. Perfect for shepherd breeds or any dog with a strong sense of loyalty.

Toto (The Wizard of Oz)

Dorothy’s faithful companion who helped expose the man behind the curtain. Great for small, brave dogs who are always by your side.

Clifford (Clifford the Big Red Dog)

The gentle giant of children’s literature. Ironically perfect for very small dogs!

Buck (The Call of the Wild)

A domesticated dog who returns to his wild roots. Ideal for husky mixes or dogs with a wild spirit.

White Fang (White Fang)

Half-wolf, half-dog protagonist of Jack London’s novel. Perfect for wolf-like breeds or dogs with a mysterious nature.

Unique and International Literary Names

Looking for something more unusual? Try these international literary inspirations:

Japanese Literary Names

• Hachiko (from Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale) – The ultimate symbol of canine loyalty
• Murakami (for Haruki Murakami) – Dreamy and surreal
• Soseki (for Natsume Soseki) – Thoughtful and observant
• Basho (famous haiku poet) – Simple yet profound

Spanish Literary Names

• Quixote (from Don Quixote) – Idealistic and adventurous
• Lorca (for Federico García Lorca) – Passionate and poetic
• Neruda (for Pablo Neruda) – Romantic and sensual
• Allende (for Isabel Allende) – Magical and spirited

French Literary Names

• Cosette (from Les Misérables) – Sweet and innocent
• Camus (for Albert Camus) – Philosophical and complex
• Voltaire – Witty and intelligent
• Hugo (for Victor Hugo) – Dramatic and passionate

Looking for more international inspiration? Check out our japanese group team names for Eastern influences!

How to Use Literary Names Creatively

Want to get even more creative with your literary dog name? Try these approaches:

Combine Names

• Darcy-Fitz (combining Mr. Darcy and his first name Fitzwilliam from Pride and Prejudice)
• Lizzy-Ben (Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice)
• Jean-Val (from Jean Valjean in Les Misérables)

Nicknames

• Pip (from Philip Pirrip in Great Expectations)
• Boo (from Arthur “Boo” Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird)
• Jo (from Josephine March in Little Women)

Adaptations

• Gender swaps (using Romeo for a female dog)
• Modernizations (shortening Heathcliff to Heath)
• Combinations (using both first and last names like Scout Finch)

Literary Dog Names by Dog Breed

Certain names just seem to fit specific types of dogs better:

Small Breeds

• Toto (The Wizard of Oz) – Perfect for Cairn Terriers or similar small dogs
• Pip (Great Expectations) – Suits small, scrappy terriers
• Winnie (Winnie-the-Pooh) – Adorable for chubby little pups
• Piglet (Winnie-the-Pooh) – Perfect for tiny, nervous pups
• Stuart (Stuart Little) – Great for the smallest dogs

Large Breeds

• Aragorn (The Lord of the Rings) – Majestic for larger breeds
• Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights) – Brooding name for dark-colored large dogs
• Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia) – Perfect for golden retrievers or other lions
• Lassie – The classic collie name
• Buck (Call of the Wild) – Great for huskies or malamutes

Energetic Breeds

• Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) – Perfect for mischievous, playful dogs
• Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird) – Great for curious, adventurous dogs
• Arya (Game of Thrones) – For fierce, independent pups
• Pan (from Greek mythology) – For wild, untamable spirits
• Mercury (Roman messenger god) – For the fastest dogs

For more breed-specific naming ideas, our animal team names collection might provide inspiration!

Most Popular Literary Dog Names

According to pet name databases and surveys, these literary names are especially popular among dog owners:

Current Trends

• Bella (from Twilight) – Consistently one of the most popular dog names
• Luna (from Harry Potter) – Has skyrocketed in popularity
• Charlie (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) – Classic and recognizable
• Loki (from Norse mythology and Marvel) – Popular for mischievous dogs
• Max (from Where the Wild Things Are) – Simple and powerful

Why They’re Popular

These names tend to be from widely-read books, easy to pronounce, and have positive character associations. They’re also typically 1-2 syllables, making them practical for everyday use.

Literary Dog Names: A Quick Reference Table

Genre	Female Names	Male Names
Classics	Jane, Emma, Elizabeth	Darcy, Heathcliff, Rochester
Fantasy	Arya, Luna, Daenerys	Gandalf, Tyrion, Frodo
Sci-Fi	Katniss, Ripley, Lyra	Ender, Neo, Samwise
Poetry	Sylvia, Emily, Annabel	Byron, Frost, Keats
Children’s Lit	Matilda, Alice, Eloise	Harry, Percy, Stuart
Mythology	Athena, Persephone, Freya	Zeus, Apollo, Thor

Fun and Interactive

Which Literary Name Suits Your Dog?

Is your dog…

Loyal and protective? Consider names like Atticus, Samwise, or Nana.

Mischievous and clever? Try Puck, Loki, or Matilda.

Elegant and aloof? How about Darcy, Gatsby, or Emma.

Adventurous and brave? Look at names like Katniss, Frodo, or Bilbo.

Sweet and gentle? Consider Winnie, Wilbur, or Charlotte.

I’d love to hear what literary name you’ve chosen for your pup! Do you have a furry Atticus or Scout at home? Or maybe your dog sports a more unusual literary name like Quixote or Pemberley? Share your dog’s literary name and why you chose it!

Final Thoughts

There’s something special about naming your dog after a beloved character or author. It’s like carrying a piece of your favorite stories with you every day—and having an instant conversation starter at the dog park!

From classic literature to modern bestsellers, from myths to children’s books, the world of literature offers an almost endless supply of unique, meaningful name options for your furry friend.

Remember to choose a name that not only reflects your literary passions but also fits your dog’s personality and is practical for everyday use. The perfect literary dog name is out there—just like the perfect book, you’ll know it when you find it!

Now go embrace your inner bookworm and give your new best friend a name that tells a story all its own!

Looking for more creative naming ideas? Browse our extensive collection of animal crossing island names for even more inspiration!