Which real boy inspired the name Peter Pan in J. M. Barrie’s stories?

Peter Llewelyn Davies inspired the name Peter Pan in J. M. Barrie’s stories.

Peter was one of the five sons of Arthur and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, whose family became closely connected with Barrie. Barrie met the boys in Kensington Gardens in the late 1890s and developed a lasting friendship with them.

The character’s name combines Peter, taken from Peter Llewelyn Davies, with Pan, the Greek god associated with wild nature and music. Barrie had already introduced Peter Pan in Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens before developing the character for the stage.

Peter Llewelyn Davies was not the sole model for the fictional character. Barrie drew details from several of the Llewelyn Davies boys and from his own imagination. The real Peter later became a publisher and was involved in bringing Barrie’s writing to print. Confusion sometimes arises because all five brothers influenced Barrie’s creative world, but the name Peter specifically came from Peter Llewelyn Davies.