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Cities in "Invisible Cities" by Italo Calvino

CileSuns92
By CileSuns92
Updated Thu May 25 2023
If the book wasn't good enough, the names there simply fueled my already there adoration for quirky, peculiar names. It didn't hurt that I share a name with one of the cities in the book ;) For those of you who aren't familiar with the book http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_Cities is the place to go. The cities are listed in order of appearance, since it's pretty significant. In brackets I put the original Italian name, because the Italian alternative sometimes is equally pretty or interesting.
  1. Olivia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "olive tree"

    • Description:

      Olivia, a lovely Shakespearean name with an admirable balance of strength and femininity, is the Number 1 name for baby girls in the US and one of the top girls' names around the world.
  2. Cecilia

    • Origin:

      Feminine form of Cecil, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "blind"

    • Description:

      Cecilia is a lovely classic name deservedly enjoying a new turn in the sun. Always among the Top 500 girls' names in the US, Cecilia is now at its highest point ever.
  3. Chloe

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "young green shoot"

    • Description:

      Chloe is a pretty springtime name symbolizing new growth. Though slightly off its peak in the Top 10 in 2010, Chloe still ranks in the Top 20 and is solidly a modern classic.
  4. Zoe

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "life"

    • Description:

      Zoe is one of those surprising names that has been on the Top 1000 nearly every year since 1880, but it's only since the turn of this century that it's ranked in the Top 100.
  5. Anastasia

    • Origin:

      Greek, feminine variation of Anastasios

    • Meaning:

      "resurrection"

    • Description:

      Anastasia is the feminine form on Anastasius, a Greek name derived from the word anastasis, meaning "resurrection." It was a common name among early Christians, who often gave it to daughters born around Christmas or Easter. There are handful of saints named Anastasia, including the patron saint of weavers.
  6. Irene

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "peace"

    • Description:

      Serene Irene, the name of the Greek goddess of peace and one of the most familiar Greek goddess names, was hugely popular in ancient Rome and again in the United States a hundred years ago.
  7. Octavia

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "eighth"

    • Description:

      Octavia began as the Latin, then Victorian name for an eighth child. While there aren't many eighth children anymore, this ancient Roman name has real possibilities as a substitute for the overused Olivia; recommended for its combination of classical and musical overtones. It was chosen for his daughter by Kevin Sorbo.
  8. Theodora

    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Theodore, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Theodora is one of the most revival-worthy of the charmingly old-fashioned Victorian valentine names, softly evocative but still substantial, as is the reversed-syllable Dorothea.
  9. Dorothea

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of God"

    • Description:

      Dorothea is a flowing and romantic Victorian-sounding name which was popular in the early decades of the twentieth century, but has been off the charts since 1970. Definitely on the brink of a revival!
  10. Zora

    • Origin:

      Serbo-Croatian

    • Meaning:

      "dawn"

    • Description:

      Zora is a meaningful literary heroine name honoring Zora Neale Hurston, an important black writer and leader of the Harlem Renaissance.
  11. Esmeralda

    • Origin:

      Spanish and Portuguese

    • Meaning:

      "emerald"

    • Description:

      Esmeralda came into use as an applied use of the Spanish word for emerald, esmeralda. In the 1831 Victor Hugo novel Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, the heroine was born Agnes, but called La Esmeralda in reference to the jewel she wears around her neck. The name Esmeralda got increased visibility via the Disney version of the story.
  12. Tamara

    • Origin:

      Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "date palm tree"

    • Description:

      Adding a final a to Tamar lends it a more sensual Slavic tone, making it a more popular choice than the original.
  13. Euphemia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "fair speech"

    • Description:

      Ancient martyr's name that, though not especially appealing, might still be mildly possible, especially for Anglophiles. It was widely used in early Scotland, but was overtaken by its nickname, Effie.
  14. Phyllis

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "green bough"

    • Description:

      Phyllis has been used by classical poets for the idealized pastoral maiden. A Greek mythological name of a woman who was turned into an almond tree, Phyllis was in the Top 100 from 1916 to 1958, reaching #24 in 1929, and has the (remote) possibility of joining other revived s-ending names like Iris. In the 'St Clare' book series by Enid Blyton Phyllis is nicknamed Fizz. Just a thought. Phyllida is a variation that sounds at once more old-fashioned and more stylish.
  15. Clarice

    • Origin:

      Medieval form of Clarita, a derivative of Clara

    • Meaning:

      "bright, clear"

    • Description:

      If you’re a fan of the annual animated Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, you’ll recognize the name of Rudolph’s beautiful doe sweetheart, pronounced cla-REES—uncomfortably close to the Silence of the Lambs pronunciation. Clarice was the name of the wife of Lorenzo de' Medici, and Clarice Cliff was a famed British ceramics artist. Though a Top 300 name from 1906 to 1934, modern parents might prefer the more delicate Clarissa.
  16. Isidora

    • Origin:

      Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian variation of Isadora, Greek

    • Meaning:

      "gift of Isis"

    • Description:

      The Isidora spelling, though equally legitimate, is about 90 percent less common than Isadora.
  17. Sophronia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "sensible, prudent"

    • Description:

      A name some people first encountered in the old children's book series The Five Little Peppers, in which Sophronia, the youngest of the Peppers is nicknamed Phronsie.`It was also used by Dickens in two of his novels: The Old Curiosity Shop and Our Mutual Friend.
  18. Hypatia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "highest, supreme"

    • Description:

      Hypatia, an ancient Greek name, has a distinguished namesake: Hypatia of Alexandria was an early philosopher and scholar of mathematics and astronomy--as well as inventor of several scientific instruments.
  19. Zaira

    • Origin:

      Irish literary creation

    • Description:

      Would make a truly original alternative to the overused Sarah.
  20. Zenobia

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "force of Zeus"

    • Description:

      With historical roots as a beautiful and intelligent ancient queen and literary ties to Hawthorne and Edith Wharton novels, this rarity could appeal to adventurous parents seeking the romantically unusual. Tina Fey used it as her daughter Alice's middle name.