esita's list "Names from a Night at the Opera" of 20 great name ideas: Angelika - Abigaille!

Names from a Night at the Opera

Names of characters and famous opera singers

Angelika is a feminine name representing the Eastern European, German and Scandinavian spelling of Angelica. Derived from Latin 'angelicus' meaning 'angelic' or 'of angels,' it carries celestial and spiritual connotations. This spelling variant with a 'k' instead of 'c' is particularly common in Poland, Germany, Russia, and several Scandinavian countries. While the Angelica spelling is more prevalent in English-speaking regions, Angelika has gained modest usage among families with European connections or those seeking a slightly distinctive twist on the classic name. The name evokes qualities of purity, beauty and heavenly grace. Its international recognition makes it accessible while the spelling gives it a subtle European sophistication.

Angelika

Sweet, nicknamey name belonging to the tragic heroines of both La Bohème and Rent. Mimi might feel too slight for many parents to use on the birth certificate, but as a short form, it's one of the cutest of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/508/cute-baby-names-for-girls">cute baby names</a>.

Mimi

Anahita is the name of the water goddess who rules, among other things, fertility and wisdom. Associated with Venue, Anahita is a stylish Iranian name for girls.
 
Anahita was derived from the Old Iranian elements an and āhita, meaning "not" and "dirty, unclean" respectively.

Anahita

Though the plays by Sophocles and Eugene O'Neill and via the "Electra Complex" proposed by psychoanalyst Carl Jung, this name has, unfortunately, become associated with incest and murder. 
 
Nevertheless, if you can put the mythology and theory aside, Electra makes a bright, spikey, electric feeling choice, with a shiny, gemstone meaning. If you can't, you could follow actress Isabella Rossellini who chose the gentler Italian version, Elettra, for her now grown daughter.

Electra

The first syllable of Laura in Italian rhymes with now, so Lauretta does not really sound like the decidedly midcentury Loretta thought most English speakers will pronounce it that way. Still, this <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/505/italian-names-for-girls">Italian names for girls</a> feels more closely related to the classic beauty Laura and somehow more charming and unusual.

Lauretta

This evocative name of one of the Three Wise Men of the Orient, also spelled Balthasar, may finally be ready for prime time. Balthazar, Melchior and Caspar were the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus, though their names were not mentioned in the Bible.
 Balthazar, in its various spellings, has been attached to a number of distinguished artists, writers and philosophers of the past; the most prominent contemporary bearer is Balthazar Getty, actor and great-grandson of J. Paul Getty. The iconoclastic modern painter Balthus was born Balthasar.
 Balthazar is well represented in literature. The name appears in no fewer than four Shakespeare plays, is the title of a Lawrence Durrell novel, is the main character of a Balzac novel, and has been seen in everything from a James Bond film to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to The Smurfs to Xbox and online games, and there is a J. P. Donleavy novel titled The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B.

Balthazar

On "Sex and the City," Magda was the elderly nanny from the old country -- which is what this name sounds like.  While Magdalene and Magdalena are enjoying fresh life, Magda still feels dated.

Magda

Manon is an endearing French pet name for Marie or Marianne; it has the international yet straightforward feel that makes it a viable import. 
Manon of the Spring was a gorgeous French film, Manon Lescaut a 1731 novel by Abbe Prevost, set in France and Louisiana, that was controversial in its day. It formed the basis of operas by Puccini and Massenet, and several films and TV series.
 Manon is currently a Top 50 name in France and Belgium, and is also relatively common among Welsh speakers. British actors Damian Lewis, of Homeland and Helen McCrory have a daughter named Manon.

Manon

Fidelia stems from the Latin word Fides, meaning faith. It has the some root as the English word fidelity. Fidelia gained popularity in the mid-19th Century after Beethoven's opera "Fidelio" gave this name cultural and virtuous significance.

Fidelia

Also spelled Sigfrid, this hefty German name has an appropriately majestic meaning: "victorious peace". Fittingly, a famous bearer was the English World War I poet and pacifist Siegfried Sassoon. Sassoon was named after the hero of a Wagner opera, which in turn was based on a tragic hero from German legend.

Siegfried

Lotte is a short form of Charlotte and a name used in its own right in Scandinavia as well as Dutch- and German-speaking countries. It’s unlikely to catch on in the US, where even Lottie hasn’t reached its full potential. Unisex Charlie will remain Charlotte’s nickname of choice for the foreseeable future.
 
Lotta is the phonetic spelling, albeit one with more teasing potential.

Lotte

Lucrezia is an elegant Italian feminine name with ancient Roman roots. Derived from the Latin family name Lucretius, it's associated with wealth and prosperity. The name gained prominence during the Renaissance, notably through Lucrezia Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI. Despite controversial historical associations, the name embodies grace and nobility. Lucrezia has maintained steady popularity in Italy and is gaining appreciation internationally for its melodious sound and strong character. With nickname options like Luca or Zia, it offers versatility while maintaining its sophisticated essence. The name carries a timeless quality, blending classical heritage with contemporary appeal.

Lucrezia

Iago, the villain of Shakespeare's Othello, was so treacherously evil that his name has hardly ever been heard offstage. Try the much-more-benign Inigo.

Iago

Australian opera singer Nellie Melba—self-named for her hometown of Melbourne—inspired this now-dated name more associated today with a peach dessert and dietetic toast. 

Melba

Made cool by that final X (as seen in Felix, Lennox, and Rex), Pollux is the Romanized form of Polydeukes, the half-twin of Castor, and the son of Zeus and Leda. Associated with the Gemini constellation, the name means "very sweet".
 
While Castor is held back by the oil, parents may be put off Pollux by its similarity to words like pollock, polyps, pollution, and pox — and with its almost rhyme, beginning with B. 
 
If you can look past that, as a handful of parents in the US have been doing since at least 2008, it could make an unexpected way to honor a Paul or a Polly and a way to nicknames Lux and Lockie.

Pollux

This name of a beautiful Moorish woman character in Don Quixote is rarely heard.

Zoraida

Despina is best known as the clever and wily maidservant character in Mozart's opera Così fan tutte, and as one of Neptune's moons, making it a musical and an astronomy-inspired choice. However, the name is actually of Greek origin, derived from Despoina, who in Greek mythology was the daughter of Demeter and Poseidon. 
 
Used most notably in Russia, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, and South Africa, along within its native Greece, this form has been borne historically by a 14th century Serbian Princess. More recent bearers are singer Despina Olympiou, tennis player Despina Papamichail, musician Despina Mdende, and singer Despina Vandi. 
 
In its native Greece, Despina is pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable – DESS-pi-na (or more accurately THESS-pi-na, the TH like that in then), though elsewhere, it may be said as dess-PEE-nah. Given to 16 girls in the US in a recent year, this form may feel more approachable than the traditional Greek spelling.