 In actuality (not the film), Peter Llewelyn Davies was not J.M.  Barries inspiration for the Peter Pan character. His younger  brother, Michael, was. Michael is also said to be Barries favorite  of the children, not Peter. It is not certain why Barrie then chose  to name the main character Peter. One idea why is because of his  brothers, Peter behaved the most like an adult at a young age.  Barrie wished he had had more of a childhood, so he immortalized him  as the symbol of youth.