This page lists 41 literary boy names that start with G, running from “Gabriel” to “Gerrit.” They come from epic poems, medieval romances, classic novels, and modern fantasy, and many carry old roots in Hebrew, Welsh, Germanic, and Norse. You can use the list to find a name for a baby, a fictional character, or a pet.

Literary boy names are names borne by characters, authors, or figures from books, poems, plays, and legends. A good example is “Gawain,” the knight of King Arthur’s court, whose name has inspired the modern favorite “Gavin.”

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

Name: The boy name itself, listed alphabetically from G, so you can scan quickly and spot the options that catch your eye.

Origin: The language or culture the name comes from, which helps you choose a name that fits your heritage or the style you want.

Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide showing how to say each name aloud, so you can use it with confidence and avoid mix-ups.

Meaning: The traditional definition of the name, often tied to qualities like strength, wisdom, or peace, which you can weigh when making your choice.

Description: A short note on the book, story, or character linked to the name, showing you where it appears in literature and why it matters.

Literary boy names

NameOriginPronunciationMeaning
GabrielHebrewGAY-bree-elGod is my strength
GaiusLatinGAY-usTo rejoice
GalahadWelshGAL-uh-hadHawk of the plain (traditional)
GalenGreekGAY-lenCalm, tranquil
GandalfOld NorseGAN-dalfWand elf
GarethWelshGAIR-ethGentle
GarrettEnglish/IrishGAIR-etSpear ruler
GatsbyEnglishGAT-beePossibly from Gatty’s settlement
GavinWelshGAV-inWhite hawk
GawainWelshGAH-waynWhite hawk (traditional)
GeoffreyOld FrenchJEF-reePledge of peace
GeorgeGreekJORJFarmer
GeraldGermanicJAIR-uldRule of the spear
GerardGermanicjuh-RARDBrave with the spear
GervaseGermanicJUR-vusSpear servant
GilbertGermanicGIL-bertBright pledge
GilesFrench/GreekJILZYoung goat (shield bearer)
GilgameshSumerianGIL-guh-meshPossibly ancestor is a hero
GlendowerWelshglen-DOW-erFrom the valley of the water
GodricOld EnglishGOD-rikGod’s ruler
GodfreyGermanicGOD-freeGod’s peace
GoliathHebrewguh-LY-uthExile or diviner
GollumInventedGOL-umFrom the sound he makes
GorloisCornishGOR-loysUnknown, possibly Cornish origin
GowerWelshGOW-erPure (possibly)
GrendelOld EnglishGREN-dulPossibly grinder or destroyer
GregorGreek/ScottishGREG-orWatchful
GregoryGreekGREG-uh-reeWatchful, alert
GriffinWelsh/LatinGRIF-inStrong lord or mythical creature
GrigoryRussiangri-GOR-eeWatchful
GulliverEnglishGUL-ih-verGlutton (from the surname)
GunnarOld NorseGUN-arWarrior
GuntherGermanicGUN-terBattle warrior
GusLatin/SwedishGUSRevered or staff of the gods
GustavSwedishGOO-stahvStaff of the Goths
GuyFrenchGYGuide or wood
GuidoItalianGWEE-dohGuide or wood
GideonHebrewGID-ee-unFeller or hewer
Gabriel OakEnglishGAY-bree-el OHKGod is my strength, sturdy tree
GaspardFrench/PersianGAS-pardTreasurer
GerritDutchGEH-ritBrave with the spear

Descriptions

Gabriel
The archangel name appears in Milton’s Paradise Lost and as Gabriel Oak, the steadfast shepherd in Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd.
Gaius
A classic Roman name borne by Gaius Julius Caesar and Gaius Marius in Shakespeare’s Roman plays and countless historical novels.
Galahad
The purest knight of King Arthur’s court, who achieves the Holy Grail in Arthurian romances such as Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur.
Galen
Named for the ancient Greek physician, and used in fantasy fiction, including Galen Marek in Star Wars and several epic fantasy heroes.
Gandalf
The wise wizard of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, drawn from a dwarf name in the Old Norse Poetic Edda.
Gareth
A knight of the Round Table in Malory’s Arthurian tales, known for his courtesy and for being nicknamed Beaumains.
Garrett
Used in modern fiction, including Garrett Hawke-style heroes in fantasy and detective novels, and the Garrett P.I. series by Glen Cook.
Gatsby
Jay Gatsby is the mysterious millionaire of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, making the surname an unusual but striking first name.
Gavin
Derived from Gawain, the Arthurian knight of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and used for many modern characters.
Gawain
Nephew of King Arthur and hero of the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which tests his honor.
Geoffrey
Honors Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, and Geoffrey of Monmouth, who popularized the King Arthur legend.
George
Appears in Of Mice and Men, as one of the Famous Five (Julian, Dick, Anne, George), and in Dickens’s and Austen’s works.
Gerald
Used for Gerald O’Hara, the Irish patriarch of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind.
Gerard
Seen in Dickens’s works and in the medieval romances, and tied to the humanist Desiderius Erasmus, born Gerard.
Gervase
A rare, old-fashioned name used in medieval chronicles and in English period novels and Gothic fiction.
Gilbert
Gilbert Blythe is Anne’s schoolmate and eventual husband in L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.
Giles
Giles Corey appears in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, and Giles is the librarian in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a character in Shakespeare.
Gilgamesh
The king of Uruk in the Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest surviving works of literature.
Glendower
Owain Glyndwr appears as Owen Glendower in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1, as a proud Welsh rebel with magical claims.
Godric
Godric Gryffindor is a founder of Hogwarts in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
Godfrey
Godfrey of Bouillon appears in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered, and the name appears in many Victorian novels.
Goliath
The giant slain by David in the Book of Samuel, used in literature as a symbol of overwhelming strength.
Gollum
The twisted creature obsessed with the One Ring in Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, formerly known as Sméagol.
Gorlois
Duke of Cornwall in Arthurian legend, whose wife Igraine is the mother of Arthur, per Geoffrey of Monmouth.
Gower
John Gower was a medieval poet and friend of Chaucer, and he serves as the narrator in Shakespeare’s Pericles.
Grendel
The monster slain by the hero in the Old English epic Beowulf, retold from Grendel’s view in John Gardner’s novel Grendel.
Gregor
Gregor Samsa is the traveling salesman who wakes up as a giant insect in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis.
Gregory
Gregory appears in Romeo and Juliet as a Capulet servant, and in many novels, including those of Dostoevsky and Gogol (as Grigory).
Griffin
Linked to Gryffindor in Harry Potter and Griffin, the scientist in H.G. Wells’s The Invisible Man.
Grigory
Grigory Melekhov is the tragic Cossack hero of Mikhail Sholokhov’s And Quiet Flows the Don.
Gulliver
Lemuel Gulliver is the traveler in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, visiting Lilliput and other fantastic lands.
Gunnar
A hero of Norse sagas, including Gunnar Hámundarson in Njáls saga and Gunnar in the Volsunga saga.
Gunther
King Gunther of Burgundy is a central figure in the medieval German epic Nibelungenlied and Wagner’s Ring cycle.
Gus
A short form of Augustus or Gustav, used for Gus Fring, Augustus McCrae (Gus) in Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove.
Gustav
Gustav von Aschenbach is the aging writer in Thomas Mann’s novella Death in Venice.
Guy
Guy of Gisborne appears in the Robin Hood tales, and Guy Montag is the fireman in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451.
Guido
Guido Guinizelli and Guido Cavalcanti are poets mentioned in Dante’s work, and Guido appears in Browning’s The Ring and the Book.
Gideon
A biblical judge who appears in Moby-Dick references and in works such as Gideon Nav in Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth.
Gabriel Oak
The reliable, quietly devoted farmer in Thomas Hardy’s Far from the Madding Crowd, an enduring romantic hero of Victorian fiction.
Gaspard
A form of Caspar, one of the Three Wise Men, appearing in French novels such as Dickens’s contemporaries and in Maupassant-style stories.
Gerrit
Used in Dutch literature and in historical fiction, including Gerrit in Fenimore Cooper-era American tales.
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