Great names in fiction can come from anywhere. Sometimes they are accidental, sometimes they are taken from real life people, places, or jobs, and often they serve the purpose of providing depth to a character or describing a place. In fact, there’s even a name for literary names like this – they are known as Cratylic names.
Names that are unexpected and funny usually add to our enjoyment of reading a story. Try these games with literary names.
Let’s begin with a quiz. You can enter your answers in the fields, and check yourself with the answer sheet. How many can you answer?
Ready to check your answers? Look here.
Charles Dickens was a master of storytelling whose meticulously crafted characters have endured through generations. Renowned for his keen observational skills and acute understanding of human nature, the names of his characters serve as a window into his fictional worlds.
From the eloquent to the eccentric, names such as Oliver Twist, Uriah Heep, Nicholas Nickleby, Philip Pirrip, and Pumblechook, Dickens’ characters are etched in the annals of literature with names that often carry deeper significance and symbolic weight.
Most people are familiar with the word game, Wordle. Here I’ve got 2 Wordle games for you to try. Once you’ve found the correct answer in both of them you will have revealed the name of one of Dickens’ most memorable characters, a street-smart pickpocket.
Round 1
Solve this Wordle Game to discover the first name of a Charles Dickens character. Click here.
Round 2
Solve this Wordle Game to discover the second name of a Charles Dickens character. Click here.
Not sure how to play Wordle? Watch this short video.
Ready to check your answers? Look here.
Fictional British Secret Service agent, James Bond, was created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured the character in twelve novels and two short-story collections. After Fleming’s death in 1964, eight other authors have written authorised Bond novels or novelisations. There has been a total of 27 James Bond movies beginning in 1962 with the release of Dr No, until No Time to Die in 2021.
The films are renowned for Bond’s relationships with women, who are popularly referred to as “Bond girls”. Bond girls vary from scantily clad mistresses, those who entertain 007 for one night, and those who act as henchmen and villains, fighting Bond at his own game. The best-known characteristic of Bond girls, apart from their beauty, is their double-entendre names, such as Pussy Galore, Plenty O’Toole, Holly Goodhead, or Xenia Onatopp.
The Word Search grid below contains the names of 43 Bond girls. It is interactive so just drag over the word to select it. Or, if you prefer a printable version, please use the button to print the puzzle only.
Ready to check your answers? Look here.
Pippi Longstocking was named by Astrid Lindgren’s daughter Karin, who asked her mother for a get-well story when she was off school. In the original Swedish language books her full name is given as Pippilotta Viktualia Rullgardina Krusmynta Efraimsdotter Långstrump.
Although Pippi’s surname Långstrump – literally long stocking – translates easily into other languages, her personal names are less easily translated, and one of them, Efraimsdotter, (meaning a personal name based on the given name of one’s father) is unfamiliar in many cultures.
As of 2017, the Pippi books had been translated into 100 languages. Here are the character’s names in some languages other than English.
Have you seen my 60-minute video talk about Astrid Lindgren and Pippi Longstocking? Learn more about the unconventional, strong woman who created Pippi, and how the beloved tale came into being.
Have you successfully solved these puzzles about literary names? You can check your answers here.
How many questions did you answer? Let me know by leaving a comment.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Susannah Fullerton: Charles Dickens
Susannah Fullerton: Meet A Book Addict – Ian Fleming
Ploughshares: A Knack for Names
The Charles Dickens Page: Charles Dickens Characters
007 James: List of All James Bond Girls
Pippi Longstocking character at Astrid Lindgren official site
I provide these links for convenience only and do not endorse or assume liability for the content or quality of these third-party sites. I only recommend books I have read and know. Some of these links may be affiliate links. If you buy a product by clicking on one of these links I may receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but does help cover the cost of producing my free newsletter.
Tell me what you think! Leave a comment.
Margaret Debenham
I managed 6/10 for the names quiz – but does Ivanhoe (NSW) count as a railway station named after a novel? I know it is a station bearing the name of the town which was named after the novel, but still….
Susannah Fullerton
Ivanhoe is a fabulous guess, but I think it was named for the town and not the novel. But, yes, it could be argued. Thanks for thinking of that one.