Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 3 pages
of 3
Slavic
"born on Sunday"
Midcentury macramé-maker.
Spanish, diminutive of Bernardo
Possible "nerd" temptation for nicknamers makes Nando a preferable choice.
Italian
"little honey"
This operatic Italian name -- it appears in Mozart's "The Magic Flute" -- is a more unusual route to the nickname Pam/Pammy.
English
"covered with gold"
Gilda, although related to the words gold and gilded, has definitely tarnished. It once shimmered with the seductive image of Rita Hayworth in the film Gilda, then was associated with the beloved…
Floria is a feminine name with Latin origins, derived from 'florus' meaning 'flower' or 'flourishing.' It's related to the more common Flora and can be considered a variant form with a slightly more…
Italian variation of Electra, from Greek
"amber, shining, bright"
Less electric and more serene than Electra which comes with a lot of tragic and psychoanalytical baggage, Elettra is the Italian form that ranks in the Top 200 in the Italian charts. Nicknames Etta,…
Italian diminutive of Anna, Hebrew
"grace"
Elegant and sparky at the same time, Annina is an elaborate Italian form of the international Anna. A sweet and unexpected way to get to nicknames Annie or Nina, the name was briefly popular in…
Italian, from Phoenician
"brother of Melqart"
The Italian form of the ancient Hamilcar has a romantic, elaborate sound, and it could be a handsome choice if you're looking for a rare Italian name that no other child will share on the playground.…
Diminutive of Antonio
This short form of Antonio has long been used as an independent name, and would make a strong international choice.
Theatre name, meaning unknown
Almirena is a character from Rinaldo (1711), an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel. A romantic and melodic name that remains largely undisovered, with sweet nicknames like Alma, Mira or Rena.
Medieval form of Theobald
"from bold people"
Similar in sound to the French "Thibault", which is far more popular, Tybalt is best known as the bloodlustful and brawling cousin of Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . Perhaps this…
Latin
"little muse"
A musette is both a dance and an antique instrument, but the name is most associated with the classic opera La Bohème .
French form of Fiammetta, Italiam
"little flame"
Used by composer Xavier Leroux in his 1903 opera, La reine Fiammette , this fiery name is the French form of Fiammetta, itself an artistic variant of the Italian Fiamma.
