Top Ten Tuesday is the brainchild of The Broke & the Bookish. Every Tuesday, we compile a list of our literary Top 10, and then add it to the blog hop.

This week is all about our Top 10 Characters I’d Name A Child After.

1.) Éowyn from Lord of the Rings
Not only is Éowyn one of my favourite fictional names, she is also such a badass! While she’s loyal, nurturing, compassionate and of royal blood, she’s also a fierce warrior who can fight just like any man.

2.) Sherlock from Sherlock Holmes
I really love the name Sherlock. Sherlock, in any of his incarnations, is a brilliant man. Let’s forget the drug problem (which, btw, was still legal in the original stories). And yes, he can be a twat, but he’s also loyal to the few people who are closer to him than family (John Watson, Mrs. Hudson).

3.) Guinevere from King Arthur / Merlin
I much prefer the old-fashioned spelling to the modern Jennifer. It’s been a while since I read any of the many stories which feature Guinevere (and I prefer her as Merlin’s friend and generally more than “just” Lancelot’s affair), but I like the name and the endless possibilities for nicknames.

4.) Samwise from Lord of the Rings
Let’s face it, Sam is the real hero of the story. And, coincidently, the only hobbit with a name you can actually call a child after. I think Samwise is a nice alternative to Samuel or Samson, and a little less-obviously LotR than Frodo, Bilbo, Meriadoc or Peregrin.

5.) River from Doctor Who
OK, not a literary character as such (although there are Doctor Who novels, so I say it counts!), but River is hell in high heels, self-confident, smart, and River also happens to be one of my favourite names.

6.) Sawyer from Tom Sawyer
Technically, Sawyer is a surname, but I think it works nicely as a boy’s given name as well. I’ve always liked Tom Sawyer’s imagination, how mischievous he can be, and his insights into human nature.

7.) Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing
Beatrice doesn’t need a man, which is why I like her so much. She’s quite sassy and independent, and a strong woman at a time when that was not yet encouraged. Also, her name can be changed around to Beatrix (and all the nicknames it comes with) as well as one of my favourite names Tabea (even though strictly speaking that’s a diminutive of Tabitha).

8.) Hunter from Wicca (aka Sweep)
I like Hunter as a boy’s name, never really understood how it’s considered unisex. Hunter in the Wicca series of books is a loyal character, protecting his own, forcefully if needed. But he’s also loving and nurturing when it comes to his loved ones.

9.) Hermione from Harry Potter
Now, Hermione had to be on the list, didn’t she? Not only did her name regain popularity, she’s also a great role model. Modest, loyal, incredibly smart, compassionate, fierce, and inventive, she’s not a princess but a warrior. I also admire her attitude towards hard work and study. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to learn and be good at it!

10.) Malcolm from Firefly
Again, not strictly speaking a literary character, but there was a novel and comics, so again, I say it counts. Even though he’s technically one of the bad guys, I like how loyal he is to his crew, they’re his family. He gives respect where it is due, commands it easily, he’s a man of his word and doesn’t subscribe to traditional gender roles. Mal is strong in character and mind, would rather die than give up his crew, and even under torture he managed to stop others from breaking and giving up. That’s one awesome role model.