History MeaningfulName / Literature

* Captain Nemo from ''Literature/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea'': "Nemo" is Latin for "no one", which is likely why the character chose this name after building the Nautilus and exiling himself to the sea. This might have also been used because of a tendency in Victorian literature to reassure the reader that "this isn't real".
** The captain gets smacked with this trope twice. The name he gives in ''Mysterious Island'', Dakarr, is apparently a Hindu word for [[spoiler: Prince. He proceeds to tell the main characters that he was an Indian prince before exiling himself to the sea.]]
** [[Literature/TheOdyssey Another famous character who roamed the sea presented himself with a similar name]].
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** Christopher Robinson’s name is meant to bring to mind [[Literature/WinnieThePooh Christopher Robin]], which relates to innocence and joy, and makes what happens to him even more unsettling.

** Mickey’s name, as well, is meant to be a cute diminutive and bring to mind [[Creator/WaltDisney Disney]] ([[Franchise/MickeyMouse MICKEY]] [=WALTers=]).

* Sometimes obvious in ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', sometimes not. According to WordOfGod, ''[[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Lord of the Rings]]'' references are everywhere; Yeerk is a reference to "Yrch", the Elvish word for Orc, and Elfangor's and Aximili's names are references to elvish cities.

* Literature/ArtemisFowl is named for the Greek goddess of hunting, referring to his [[ThePlan elaborate schemes]]. He references it once. Orion, the [[spoiler:alternate persona of Artemis]], is also a legendary Greek hunter.

* The names of demons in C. S. Lewis's ''Literature/TheScrewtapeLetters'' are generally evocative: Screwtape (thumbscrew and red tape, Lewis himself said), Wormwood (a bitter poison, and mentioned in Revelation), Slubgob, Triptweeze, and Toadpipe.
* In David Prill's ''Second Coming Attractions'' (a novel lampooning the inspirational Christian film industry), there are characters named Ricky Bible, Rance Jericho, Grant Godlee, Buck Verilee, and Paul Pedphill (!). The first two are actors' stage names; the rest, though, are apparently people's legal names. And humor this broad is the ''least'' of the novel's problems...

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}''

** Arguably, Lucifer Niggerbastard is the most profane name for a character in fiction, which is extra meaningful.

** Mary Malone of the LadyLand Azania, whose Irish last name means [[spoiler: "Servant of John"--fittingly so, since she joins the Confederation (and so, indirectly, Rumford) after her HighHeelFaceTurn]]. Her name may also be a reference to the character Mary Malone in Philip Pullman's [[Literature/HisDarkMaterials atheist fantasy series]].
** ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'' goes the route of unpleasant names for antagonists. Primarily there is Snidely Hokem, the governor of Maine who tries to sell the state on LGBT rights. Cloaca Devlin, a female bishop. There's also an Irving P. Zimmerman, ambassador to Mexico, whose name recalls the Zimmerman telegraph and who has his heart removed by Aztecs.

*** Additionally, the LovableRogue Thomas Raith has a Hebrew first name meaning "twin". [[spoiler:This serves as a subtle bit of {{Foreshadowing}} for he and Harry having a closer connection than first thought, [[LukeIAmYourFather with him turning out to be]] Harry's ''older'' half-brother]]. Additionally, Thomas' terrifying older sister Lara has a Latin name meaning "protection"; not only does Lara have her own twisted form of BigSisterInstinct for her younger siblings, but she is also basically the most powerful [[HornyDevils succubus]] alive, resulting in her being someone who a lot of people need protection ''from''.

*** [[HornyDevils MacFirbolg]]

* Upon being marked as fledgings and entering ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight'', young vampyres are given the opportunity to change their names. (It's considered symbolic of the new life they are entering.) All fledgings being teenagers, AwesomeMcCoolname[=s=] are common.

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** The illustrated edition reveals that when the Toad [[BalefulPolymorph was still a lawyer]] he was named Mr. James Natter. A double example: lawyers talk a lot, or "natter", and "Jack Natter" is a play on "natterjack", a species of toad.

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** "[[FishPeople Gilman]]", in ''Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth''. Cleverly used in that "Gilman" is a common name around Gloucester, Massachusetts, the real-life town on which Innsmouth was partially based. Lovecraft may well have used the pun as inspiration for the entire story.

** Some human characters also have names like this -- the SerialKiller [[KnifeNut villain]] of ''Literature/NightWatchDiscworld'' is named Carcer (as in ''incarcerate'') Dun (as in ''whodunit'').

*** The illustrated edition reveals that when the Toad [[BalefulPolymorph was still a lawyer]] he was named Mr. James Natter. A double example: lawyers talk a lot, or "natter", and "Jack Natter" is a play on "natterjack", a species of toad.

* KarmicTrickster Pumphutt in ''Literature/{{Krabat}}''. ([[NiceHat Hut = hat]].)

** In the ''[[Literature/{{Worldwar}} Colonization]]'' series and the novel ''Homeward Bound'', American spaceships tend to be named after explorers. The first nuclear-powered spaceship is called the ''Lewis and Clark'', while the second one is the ''Christopher Columbus''. The first American SleeperStarship is called the ''Admiral Peary'' (after the man who supposedly lead the first North Pole expedition). The first American ''faster-than-light'' starship is deliberately called the ''Commodore Perry'' as a step away from this naming theme, named after the guy who forced the Japanese to trade with outsiders through GunboatDiplomacy. When the [[LizardFolk Race]] learns of the meaning behind the latter name, they are not amused. The second American FTL starship is named after an inventor (Thomas Edison). The Race names all ships in the Conquest and Colonization fleets after past Emperors. Ships built to defend Home when they learn of the ''Admiral Peary'''s impending arrival are named after real or mythical beasts of Home (e.g. ''Horned Akiss'', ''Pterodactyl's Wing'').

*** From the "painfully obvious" archives, we have Grover Underwood the forest-loving satyr and Rachel Elizabeth Dare the fiery redhead.

*** Ethan Nakamura, son of Nemesis, goddess of revenge and balance. 'Nakamura' is a Japanese surname that means 'middle village', which could be interpreted as 'neutral', which is pretty good for describing his mom, who aims to keep the balance. [[spoiler:This may foreshadow his heel face turn in The Last Olympian.]] Also, Ethan is an English transcription of the Hebrew name Eitan, meaning steadfast, and Nakamura sounds like nekama, revenge.

* Seth Sorenson from ''Literature/Fablehaven'', whose name comes from the Egyptian god of Chaos, Set. Seth also regularly causes chaos, usually by breaking the rules.

* Robert Jordan's ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' does this for most of the main characters. And most of the minor character. And most of the characters in general, which is [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters absolutely ridiculous]]:

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** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in ''Literature/TheWeeFreeMen'' when [[MissXName Miss Tick]] points out that hers is "a good name for a witch" because it sounds like "mystic". [[GeniusBonus Less obvious]] is her first name, Perspicacia, which comes from "perspicacious", meaning "observant". It's a good name indeed, for someone who goes around seeking out potential witches.