This list includes 19 Literary girl names that start with I, from “Ianthe” to “Isolde”. These names range from mythic and poetic choices to modern novel characters, useful for expectant parents, writers, baby-name seekers, and literary fans.
Literary girl names that start with I are names first found or popularized in literature and poetic sources. Many come from myths, plays, and novels — for example, Isolde became famous through Arthurian and medieval romance.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Pronunciation, and Meaning.
Name: Shows the literary name as used in texts, so you can spot familiar or novel choices quickly.
Origin: Lists the author, work, and language where the name appears, helping you trace cultural roots.
Pronunciation: Gives a simple phonetic respelling so you can read and say each name confidently.
Meaning: Summarizes etymology or literary significance to explain what the name conveys and why it matters.
Literary girl names that start with I
| Name | Pronunciation | Origin (Author/Work; Language) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isolde | ih-SOHL-də | Tristan and Isolde romances (e.g., Béroul, Thomas of Britain); Old French; 12th century | possibly “ice ruler” or “fair lady” (Germanic roots) |
| Iseult | ih-SOOT | Tristan romances (Welsh/Old French variants; earliest 12th century); Old French/Welsh | variant of Isolde; “fair lady” |
| Iphigenia | if-uh-JEE-nee-uh | Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis; Ancient Greek; 5th century BC | strong-born or “mighty-born” |
| Imogen | ih-MOH-jən | William Shakespeare, Cymbeline; English; c. 1610 | possibly “beloved” or variant of Innogen (Celtic) |
| Iris | EYE-ris | Homer, Iliad/Odyssey; Ancient Greek; 8th century BC | rainbow; messenger goddess |
| Irene | ih-REE-nə | Hesiod, Theogony (Eirene); Ancient Greek; 8th–7th century BC | peace |
| Irina | ih-REE-nah | Anton Chekhov, Three Sisters; Russian; 1901 | peace (Slavic form of Eirene) |
| Isabel | iz-ah-BEL | Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady; English; 1881 | pledged to God (from Elizabeth) |
| Isabella | iz-ah-BEL-ə | William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure (Isabella); English; c. 1604 | pledged to God |
| Ismene | iz-MEE-nee | Sophocles, Antigone; Ancient Greek; 5th century BC | possibly “knowledge” or “wise one” |
| Io | EYE-oh | Ovid, Metamorphoses (and earlier Greek myth); Latin/Greek; 1st century BC (earlier oral sources) | uncertain, ancient name |
| Ino | ee-NOH | Ovid, Metamorphoses (Greek myth Ino/Leucothea); Latin/Greek; 1st century BC | unknown; associated with the sea |
| Iolanthe | eye-oh-LAN-thee | Henrik Hertz, King René’s Daughter; Danish; 1845 (popularized by Gilbert & Sullivan, 1882); Danish/English | violet flower |
| Ianthe | eye-AN-thee | Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (and classical sources); English; 1812 (name from Greek myth) | violet (Greek) |
| Iole | eye-OH-lee | Ovid, Metamorphoses (and Greek myth of Heracles); Latin/Greek; 1st century BC/earlier | violet (Greek) |
| Iphianassa | if-ee-uh-NAS-suh | Homer, Iliad (and Greek myth cycle); Ancient Greek; 8th century BC | mighty/strong queen |
| Ishtar | ISH-tar | Epic of Gilgamesh and Mesopotamian myth; Akkadian/Babylonian; c. 2,000–1,000 BC | goddess of love and war |
| Idunn | ih-DOON | Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda; Old Norse; 13th century (Norse mythic sources earlier) | ever young |
| Ilione | ih-lee-OH-nee | Homeric and Trojan-cycle sources (e.g., Iliad); Ancient Greek; 8th century BC | of Ilium/Troy or Trojan-born |
Descriptions
Isolde
Medieval tragic heroine of Tristan tales; iconic lover-figure; later popularized in art and opera, still romantic and literary.
Iseult
Alternative medieval spelling of Isolde, central to Tristan legend; common in retellings and medieval studies.
Iphigenia
Daughter of Agamemnon in Greek tragedy; sacrifice theme central to classical drama and modern retellings.
Imogen
Shakespearean heroine praised for virtue and resilience; a poetic, literary name often linked to drama and romance.
Iris
Greek messenger goddess appearing in epic poetry; used in later literature and poetry for color, messages, and fleeting presence.
Irene
Name of the Greek goddess of peace; appears across classical literature and later European fiction as calm, dignified figure.
Irina
Youngest sister in Chekhov’s play, hopeful and idealistic; common Slavic literary name, used widely in Russian fiction.
Isabel
Isabel Archer is James’s complex protagonist; literary association lends the name a tone of independence and tragedy.
Isabella
Shakespearean character: a novice torn between conscience and justice; name evokes elegance and classical femininity.
Ismene
Antigone’s sister in Greek tragedy; literary symbol of caution and familial loyalty, often contrasted with Antigone.
Io
Mythic priestess transformed and pursued by gods; brief but potent mythic figure used across classical literature.
Ino
Queen turned sea-goddess in Greek myth; literary figure tied to transformation, rescue, and the sea.
Iolanthe
Romantic heroine in 19th-century drama and comic opera; floral, lyrical name with theatrical associations.
Ianthe
Used poetically by Romantic writers; conveys classical beauty, youth, and floral imagery.
Iole
Young woman associated with Heracles in classical myth; appears in tragedy and epic, evoking passion and conflict.
Iphianassa
Name borne by Trojan-era princesses in Homeric epics; classical, authoritative-sounding name from epic tradition.
Ishtar
Major Mesopotamian goddess in ancient epic poetry; powerful, exotic literary name with divine and mythic connotations.
Idunn
Norse goddess who guards youth with enchanted apples; appears in saga literature, evoking renewal and mythology.
Ilione
Daughter of Priam in Trojan myth cycles; classical name tied to the fall of Troy and epic family sagas.