As 2016 marks 100 years since the storyteller’s birth in Cardiff, we’ve decided to look back over the many amazing characters created by Roald Dahl.
From the phizz-whizzing to the whoops waffling, these fantastic baby boy and girl names are well worth considering when it comes to naming your own little one.
Check it out…
Top 20 baby girl names inspired by Roald Dahl books
1) Amanda
The unfortunate Amanda Thripp takes a starring role in Matlda when Miss Trunchbull spots that the little girl has allowed her mother to plait her hair into pigtails. It’s not long before the Olympic standard hammer-throwing pigtail-hating headmistress decides to take action… sending Amanda on a short, but ill-advised flight, across the playground. Eep.
Meaning: Angel of God
2) Cindy
Cindy - aka Cinderella, from Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes - is feisty, independent, and not at all happy to marry the bloodthirsty prince of the classic fairytale. Cue her doing her own thing in a SERIOUSLY awesome way.
Meaning: From Mount Cynthus
3) Daisy
Miss Milky Daisy is the flying cow from Roald Dahl’s Dirty Beasts, who isn’t willing to let anyone say ANYTHING remotely horrible about her.
Meaning: Pretty little flower
4) Ella
See ‘Cindy’!
Meaning: Beautiful fairy
5) Elizabeth
Elizabeth, aka the QUEEN OF ENGLAND herself, pops up in The BFG as a composed, tactful, and very wise lady. She soon helps them to put a stop to those wicked children-eating giants… and remains utterly unfazed by everything, even the BFG’s whizzpopping demonstration!
Meaning: My God is an oath
6) Eva
Grand High Witch Eva Ernst might be the wickedest witch to ever grace the pages of The Witches, but she sure had style!
Meaning: Full of life
7) Felicity
As in, Felicity Fox - the wife of Mr Fox!
Meaning: Happy and lucky
8) Georgina
Grandma Georgina is the youngest of Charlie Bucket’s parents, and takes on a very important role in the book’s sequel, Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator.
Meaning: Tiller of the soil
9) Gretel
The heroine of Roald Dahl’s Hansel And Gretel, this little girl saves her brother from being gobbled up by a wicked witch.
Meaning: Pearl
9) Honey
Jennifer Honey was best known to readers as Miss Honey - or Jenny, if you read the writing on the blackboard. Her sweetness and kindness helped Matilda to discover her true powers, and Jennifer was the one who gave that brainy little girl her happy ending, too.
Meaning: Sweet
10) Hortensia
Hortensia is the older girl that befriends Matilda and warns her about Miss Trunchbull - and soon becomes something of a hero to the youngster. It’s easy to see why, too; she’s brainy, witty, and willing to risk life and limb in pursuit of her calling.
Meaning: Of the garden
11) Jemima
Jemima Potts is a fun-loving little girl with a fondness of old motor cars - and she starred in Roald Dahl’s film script, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Meaning: Dove
12) Jennifer
See ‘Honey’!
Meaning: White shadow
13) Lavender
Lavender was Matilda’s cheeky best friend in the classic children’s book - and, despite her naughtiness, she was very brave indeed. Who else would have dared to pop the newt in Miss Truncuhbull’s glass, eh?
Meaning: Sweet-smelling flower
14) Louisa
Louisa appears in Roald Dahl’s short story, Edward The Conqueror, where she becomes convinced that her cat is the reincarnation of the great musical composer, Franz Liszt.
Meaning: Renowned warrior
15) Matilda
Matilda Wormwood is bright, brainy AND powerful, teaching us that it’s cool to be kind and clever and good long before Hermione Granger ever came along.
Meaning: Battle-mighty
16) Mary
Mary is one of the feisty little white mice to star in The Witches - and she’s also the rebellious wife of Roald Dahl’s short story, William And Mary.
Meaning: Bitter
17) Roberta
Roberta Squibb is the small girl who adopts Alfie the tortoise and takes him home to live in her garden.
Meaning: Bright fame
18) Sophie
Sophie is the tiny little girl who befriends The BFG in the book of the same title after being kidnsatched from her bed. And she soon helps him come up with a truly marvellous way to stop all of his horrible neighbours - Fleshlumpeater, The Bloodbottler, and the other nasty giants - from gobbling up the little children of the world.
Meaning: Wisdom
19) Truly
Truly Scrumptious from Roald Dahls’ iconic film script for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is sweet, loving, and very adventurous.
Meaning: True
20) Violet
Champion gum-chewer Violet Beauregarde appears in Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - and, while she MAY turn into a blueberry, she’s still one of his most famous characters to date.
Meaning: Flower
Top 20 baby boy names inspired by Roald Dahl books
1) Alfie
Alfie is a tortoise, and the much-loved pet of Mrs Silver. We’re introduced to him in the classic Esio Trot, where he lives on the balcony of her flat, beneath Mr Hoppy (who is secretly in love with Mrs Silver.)
Meaning: Sage, wise
2) Billy
In The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Billy discovers a trio of new friends living in old wooden house. Who needs a ladder when you have a giraffe, eh?
Meaning: Resolute protector
3) Bruce
Bruce Bogtrotter was the brave boy who scoffed an entire chocolate cake in Matilda - and showed the Trunchbull that children can do anything!
Meaning: Perseverance
4) Charlie
Charlie Bucket was the kindly little boy who visited Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory - and wound up becoming Mr Wonka’s protege as a result.
Meaning: Manly
5) Danny
Danny - of Danny, The Champion of The World - is resourceful, and brave, too. Not only does he dream up this great pheasant-catching idea, he also helps his Dad carry it out.
Meaning: God has judged
5) Edward
Edward appears in short story Edward The Conqueror, where he does everything he can to dissuade his wife from believing that her cat is the reincarnation of musician Franz Liszt.
Meaning: Wealth and fortune
6) Eric
Eric is one of Matilda’s school friends - and brings Miss Truncuhbull’s wrath on himself when he challenges her in class, asking her if she’d ever been a little kid herself.
Meaning: Eternal one
7) George
George Kranky whipped up that truly magical and marvellous potion in George’s Marvellous Medicine - not to mention taught his wicked grandmother a lesson she’d never forget!
Meaning: Tiller of the soil
8) Gus
As in, Augustus Gloop, the chocolate-guzzling boy of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.
Meaning: Great one
9) Jack
Think Jack And The Beanstalk of Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes - you know, the one who steals a LOT of gold and becomes a bonafide millionaire.
Meaning: God is gracious
10) James
James Henry Trotter is the lonely little boy of James And The Giant Peach, but his luck starts to change when he meets a mysterious old man. Cue some magical green wriggling beans, a VERY large fruit, an epic journey across land and see, and the most unusual friends a young boy could ever have...
Meaning: Supplanter
11) Jeremy
Jeremy is the curious little boy of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a film script lovingly penned by Roald Dahl himself.
Meaning: Appointed by God
12) Joe
Grandpa Joe is enormously old, but the eccentric storyteller finds the strength to get out of bed and take his grandson, little Charlie Bucket, to visit Mr Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
Meaning: May Jehovah add
13) Luke
While the narrator of The Witches is never named, he was later referred to as Luke in the film adaptation - a fitting name for the brave little witch hunter and mouse trainer extraordinaire, we say!
Meaning: Light giving
14) Magnus
Magnus was Miss Honey’s dignified and loving father, willing to do anything for his little girl.
Meaning: Great
15) Mike
Mike Teavee is the telly-loving little boy who winds up getting SHRUNK in Charlie And The Chocolate factory.
Meaning: Gift from God
16) Oswald
Oswald Hendryks Cornelius appears in a number of Roald Dahl’s short stories, and the fun-loving uncle has a seriously eventful past. He’s an oenophile, scorpion and walking stick collector, opera lover, and an expert on Chinese porcelain, to name but a FEW of his skills!
Meaning: Divine power
17) Nigel
Nigel is one of Matilda’s best friends at school - and, yes, he’s the bright little button who can spell ‘cat’ on his very first day. He may just be the bravest child in the entire book, aside from Matilda herself, that is.
Meaning: Champion
18) Quentin
The wondrous writing of Roald Dahl tend to always feature the incredible illustrations of Quentin Blake!
Meaning: The fifth
19) Roald
As in, the man himself - after all, he is the subject of his book, Boy. Roald Dahl was an imaginative novelist, poet, inventor, chocolate taster, and fighter pilot - we reckon he’s DEFINITELY worth naming your little one after!
Meaning: Powerful
20) William
Willy Wonka needs no introduction; he’s the magical chocolate creator, who comes armed with golden tickets, Oompa Loompas, and fudgemallow delight bars!
Meaning: Resolute protector
Which of these Roald Dahl inspired baby names is your favourite?
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You may also wish to read: Our Complete Guide to picking a baby name