This page lists 36 literary boy names that start with F, from “Fagin” to “Fyodor Pavlovich”. They come from novels, plays, epics, and myths, and they cover a wide range of origins, from Shakespearean favorites to Russian classics and fantasy heroes. You can use them to name a baby, a character in your own story, or a pet, or simply to find your next book.

Literary boy names are names borne by characters or authors in books, plays, and poems. Some, like “Fitzwilliam” from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, are so tied to one character that they instantly bring the story to mind.

Below you’ll find the table with the name, origin, pronunciation, meaning, and description for each entry.

Name: The first name of the character, author, or figure. You can scan this alphabetical list quickly to spot names you like.

Origin: The language or culture the name comes from. It helps you see where a name fits and what heritage it carries.

Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide to saying the name aloud. You can check it before you pick a name for a child or character.

Meaning: What the name originally meant in its source language. You can use it to find a name with a message or feeling you want.

Description: A short note on the book, play, or legend where the name appears. It tells you who the character is and why the name is famous.

Literary boy names

NameOriginPronunciationMeaning
FaginIrishFAY-ginLittle fiery one
FalstaffEnglishFAWL-staffFalling staff
FaramirTolkien (Sindarin)FAIR-uh-meerSufficient jewel
FabianLatinFAY-bee-unBean grower
FentonEnglishFEN-tunMarsh town
FerdinandGermanicFUR-dih-nandBold voyager
FesteLatinFESTFestive
FinnIrishFINFair, white
FitzwilliamEnglishfitz-WIL-yumSon of William
FitzEnglishFITSSon of
FleanceScottishFLEE-untsUnknown, possibly Gaelic
FlorizelLatinFLOR-ih-zelFlowering
FortinbrasFrenchFOR-tin-brassStrong arm
FrancisLatinFRAN-sisFree man
FrankGermanicFRANKFree man
FrankensteinGermanFRANK-un-stineStone of the Franks
FranzGermanFRANTSFree man
FyodorRussianFYOH-durGift of God
FrodoTolkien (Hobbitish)FROH-dohWise by experience
FaganIrishFAY-gunLittle fiery one
FaustLatinFOWSTLucky, fortunate
FergusScottish GaelicFUR-gusMan of vigor
FinnickPanemian (invented)FIN-ikFair, white
FenrirOld NorseFEN-reerFen dweller
FafnirOld NorseFAHV-neerEmbracer
FingalGaelicFIN-gulFair stranger
FionnIrishFYUNFair, white
FalcoLatinFAL-kohFalcon
FenwickEnglishFEN-wikMarsh farm
FoxEnglishFOKSFox
FlashmanEnglishFLASH-munShowy man
FoscoItalianFOS-kohDark
FennEnglishFENMarsh
FabrizioItalianfah-BREET-see-ohCraftsman
FernandoSpanishfur-NAN-dohBold voyager
Fyodor PavlovichRussianFYOH-dur PAHV-loh-vichGift of God, son of Paul

Descriptions

Fagin
The criminal mastermind who trains young pickpockets in Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist. A famously villainous name.
Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff is Shakespeare’s fat, witty, boastful knight in Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Faramir
The noble, thoughtful Captain of Gondor in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, brother of Boromir.
Fabian
A name used for Fabian in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, who helps trick Malvolio.
Fenton
Young Master Fenton wins Anne Page’s heart in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Ferdinand
The prince of Naples who falls in love with Miranda in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
Feste
The wise clown in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, who sings and sees through everyone’s foolishness.
Finn
Short for Huckleberry Finn in Mark Twain’s novel, and also the name of the legendary Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Fitzwilliam
The first name of Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
Fitz
Nickname of FitzChivalry Farseer in Robin Hobb’s Farseer books, and a shortened form of Fitzwilliam.
Fleance
Banquo’s son in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who escapes the murderers sent to kill him.
Florizel
The prince of Bohemia who loves Perdita in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.
Fortinbras
The Norwegian prince who takes the Danish throne at the end of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
Francis
Used by many literary characters, including Francis Flute in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Frank
Frank is the name of several memorable characters, including Frank Churchill in Jane Austen’s Emma.
Frankenstein
The surname of Victor Frankenstein in Mary Shelley’s novel, sometimes used as a given name.
Franz
The name of Franz Kafka and many characters in German-language literature.
Fyodor
The first name of Dostoevsky, and of the patriarch Fyodor Karamazov in The Brothers Karamazov.
Frodo
The hobbit who carries the One Ring to Mount Doom in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
Fagan
A variant of Fagin, linked to Dickens’s character, and used as a given name.
Faust
The scholar who sells his soul to the devil in Goethe’s play and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus.
Fergus
A name borne by legendary Irish heroes and by characters in Sir Walter Scott’s novels.
Finnick
Finnick Odair is the charming tribute from District 4 in Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games.
Fenrir
The giant wolf of Norse mythology as told in the Eddas, also a name in modern fantasy novels.
Fafnir
The dwarf turned dragon who guards a hoard of gold in the Norse Volsunga saga.
Fingal
The hero of James Macpherson’s Ossian poems, based on the legendary warrior Fionn.
Fionn
The legendary Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhaill, leader of the Fianna in the Fenian Cycle.
Falco
Marcus Didius Falco is the wisecracking Roman informer in Lindsey Davis’s detective novels.
Fenwick
A surname-turned-given-name used for characters in English fiction, including in Dickens-era novels.
Fox
Fox Mulder-style names aside, it appears as a name in many modern novels and tales of cunning characters.
Flashman
Harry Flashman is the bully from Tom Brown’s School Days who became the hero of George MacDonald Fraser’s novels.
Fosco
Count Fosco is the charming, sinister villain of Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White.
Fenn
A short form used for characters in fantasy and children’s fiction.
Fabrizio
Fabrizio del Dongo is the hero of Stendhal’s The Charterhouse of Parma.
Fernando
Appears in works from Beethoven’s Fidelio-era tales to Spanish Golden Age literature.
Fyodor Pavlovich
The greedy, debauched father in Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.