Names from Operas

Agathe

French variation of Agatha, Greek

"good woman"

Agathe is a hugely popular name in contemporary France, even if it's English-speaking counterparts have not yet warmed to the usual English version, Agatha. The two-syllable French pronunciation is…

Mathilde

French; Norwegian; Danish; Dutch; German, variation of Matilda

"battle-mighty"

Mathilde is even more popular in France than Matilda, a hipster favorite thanks to Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger, is here. And the French pronunciation, while confusing to English speakers,…

Norma

English or Latin

"from the north; or, the pattern"

Invented for Bellini's opera, Norma had some star quality in the silent-screen and Marilyn Monroe days, but at this point it's a graying grandma in baby name limbo.

Adina

Hebrew

"slender, delicate"

Name of an Old Testament soldier that's been also used as a girls' name in modern Israel. An alternate spelling is Adinah. Some mistake Adina and Adinah to be the root of Dinah, but the Biblical name…

Giannetta

Variation of Gianna, Italian

"the Lord is gracious"

Elaborate, ultra-feminine variation of Gianna.

Lucrezia

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…

Lyudmila

Lyudmila is a feminine Slavic name with deep historical roots, particularly in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian cultures. The name derives from two Slavic elements: 'lyud' meaning 'people' and…

Norina

Norina is a delicate feminine name of Italian origin, functioning as a diminutive of Nora or Eleanor, names that derive from the Greek element 'eleos' meaning 'light.' The name gained literary…

Gilda

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…

Musetta

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 .

Violetta

Italian, Russian and Hungarian variation of Violet, English

"purple"

With Violet in vogue, this vibrant international variation has been on the rise since the 2010s. Vintage and floral like its more popular sister, Violetta has a slightly softer sound and a touch of…

Mimi

Diminutive of Mary, Miriam, and others

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…

Freia

Freia is a feminine name with Norse origins, derived from the goddess Freyja in Norse mythology. Freyja was the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and war. The name Freia (also spelled Freya or…

Sieglinde

Norse

"gentle victory"

In Norse mythology, Sieglinde is often better known as Signy. In Wagner's Ring Cycle, he uses the name Sieglinde to denote the character who is the twin sister of Siegmund and mother of the hero…