Claudia

A classic name with a hint of ancient Roman splendor that has never been truly in or truly out, Claudia still feels like a strong, modern choice --one of our 'sweet spot' names.

Claudia was a common female name in ancient Rome, borne by the wives of both Nero and Pontius Pilate. The name is mentioned in the New Testament on one of St. Paul's letters to Timothy as one of the Christian women in Rome in, as a result of which it was taken up in the sixteenth century, and has been in moderate use ever since.

There was a popular mid-century series of novels by Rose Franken, beginning with Claudia: The Story of a Marriage, and the name was also used by Agatha Christie and Penelope Lively, as well as being a main character in Ann Rice's Interview With the Vampire. Model Claudia Schiffer gave it an infusion of glamour, as had earlier Italian actress Claudia Cardinale.