banomi's list "Nom nom!" of 20 great name ideas: Raphaela - Idra!

Nom nom!

Yummy names! Names that appeal for one reason or another. Whether I'd actually use many of them is another story!

A euphonious and lovely name with a dark-eyed, long-flowing-haired image, Raphaela is, like Gabriella and Isabella, beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream. 

Raphaela

Bright is a rare yet intriguing word name used for a female character in Ann Patchett's novel The Dutch House.<,/em >

Bright

Brigitta is a feminine name with rich historical roots, derived from the ancient Celtic name Brighid, meaning 'exalted one' or 'high goddess.' It's the Central European form of Bridget, particularly popular in Hungarian, German, and Scandinavian cultures. The name is associated with Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland's patron saints known for her generosity and compassion. Brigitta gained international recognition through characters in literature and film, including Maria's friend in 'The Sound of Music.' While maintaining its classic origins, Brigitta offers a more distinctive alternative to the more common Bridget or Brigitte, combining ancient Celtic heritage with continental European elegance.

Brigitta

Loose, lean, and lanky cowboy-sounding names have become a recent trend, but how about the name of a real one--the Singing Cowboy Gene. Autry might be thought of as a masculine spin on the fashionable Audrey or a fresher version of Austin or Auden. 
Some other cowboy surnames from the Golden Age of movie and TV westerns: Boone, Boyd, Cody, Corrigan, Gibson, Hart, Holt, Houston, McCoy and Renaldo.

Autry

Barnaby, a genial and energetic name with an Irish-sounding three-syllable lilt, is an ancient appellation that manages to be both unusual and highly attractive and deserves to be used more than it is. A sweet-spot name that's a real winner.
 Barnaby is a version of Barnabas, the name of an Apostle companion of St. Paul on his missionary journeys. Barnaby has NEVER ranked on the US Top 1000, though it is on the charts in the UK and is well-liked by Nameberry visitors.
 The name of the good-natured hero of Dickens's novel Barnaby Rudge, it became more familiar to the modern American public through the TV series Barnaby Jones. Barnaby has been a character in Hello, Dolly!, a doctor played by Cary Grant in the movie Monkey Business, a comic strip character, and has starred in a number of children's books.

Barnaby

Ghita is a feminine name with origins in several cultures. In Arabic, it means 'precious' or 'valuable,' while in Romanian it's a diminutive of Margherita (Margaret), meaning 'pearl.' The name also appears in Moroccan culture. Ghita has a melodic quality with its soft 'gh' sound followed by the crisp 't'. While not widely popular in English-speaking countries, it maintains steady usage in North Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. Its distinctive sound and cross-cultural presence make it appealing to parents seeking a unique yet meaningful name with international flair.

Ghita

The handsome Italian variant of Caesar, a name synonymous with Julius, leadership, emperors, and salad, Cesare offers a form with plenty of flair. A rising choice in Italy where it recently made the Top 50, it is pronounced with three syllables: CHEH-za-reh (or CHEH-za-ray among English speakers). 
 
The exact etymology of the name is debated, but theories include that it means "hairy" (or more favorably, "long haired") or "to cut". 
 
Notable historic bearers include Cesare Lombroso (considered the founder of modern criminology, though also a eugenicist) and Cesare Borgia (a cardinal, nobleman, and illegitimate son to Pope Alexander VI, also considered the inspiration behind Machiavelli's The Prince). 
 
More recently, it has been worn by footballer Cesare Casadei.

Cesare

Isla is hot, Iona is cool – maybe it's time Iola got a second look? Last heard from on Carol Burnett's Mama's Family show, Iola feels like just the sort of uncommon, vowel-rich, vintage name that should be ripe for rediscovery.

Iola

A pleasing blend of Natasha and Anastasia. 

Nastassia

Aravis was the name of a female character in C.S. Lewis's A Horse and His Boy, and is also the name of a mountain range in southern France. With the rise of Ava, Avery, and indeed seemingly all names that start with A, Aravis may finally reach a wider audience.
 
The name of the mountain range may derive from the River Arve, which divides it from another set of mountains.

Aravis

With its stylish -o ending and similarity to the likes of Remy, Rio, and Leo, this Italian name could make an appealing and distinctive choice. A variation of Remus, it is associated with Roman mythology, Remus being one of the founders of the city of Rome, alongside his twin brother Romulus — who later killed him. While the exact meaning of the name is unknown, "twin" has been suggested.
 
Familiar in Switzerland, Remo might work for those who enjoy gentler names, and by those who love mythology but want something more subtle — and less Harry Potter connected too.

Remo

Softer and more romantic than Octavia, this is a name once used when it wasn't uncommon for families to have eight children. A possible substitute for the epidemically popular Olivia.

Ottavia

Fiammetta, from the Italian word for flame, has both femininity and fire. Fiammetta could make a good alternative to more conventional Italian girls' names like Giovanna. 
 Fiammetta has some romantic, if not fiery, references. It was the pseudonym of Boccaccio's beloved in the Decameron and other works (the subject of a famous Pre-Raphaelite painting by Dante Gabriel Rossetti); and another Fiammetta was a famous courtesan and lover of Cesar Borgia. Currently there is an Italian model named Fiammetta Cicogna.

Fiammetta

Bold and elegant, Fiorenza is an Italian form of Florence, which was used as the name of the Tuscan city in the Middle Ages. Appearing in the title of a 1907 play but Thomas Mann, it has been notably borne by marine ecologist, Fiorenza Micheli, mezzo-soprano singer Fiorenza Cossotto, actress Fiorenza Pieri, and TV personality and music artist Fiorenza Cocozza. A nickname possibility is the sparky Fio. 

Fiorenza

Despite the possibility of gender confusion, the Hero in Greek myth was a woman. Myleene Klass got that when she chose Hero for her daughter, and Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson used it as their daughter's middle--and we wouldn't be surprised to see more girls with this heroic name.
 In Greek legend young Leander swam across dangerous waters every night to court his beloved Hero. In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Hero is the love interest of Claudio and cousin of Beatrice.

Hero

Romia is a feminine name with Latin roots, possibly derived from Roma, the city of Rome, or potentially connected to the Romani people. It carries the meaning of "strong" or "from Rome." The name has a romantic, old-world quality while remaining relatively uncommon in modern usage. Romia shares phonetic similarities with names like Romina and Roma, but stands as a distinctive variation. Throughout history, it has appeared sporadically across different cultures, particularly in Mediterranean regions. The name's simple pronunciation contrasts with its relative rarity, making it an intriguing option for parents seeking something with historical depth yet uncommon in contemporary use. Romia offers a blend of strength and femininity with its flowing sounds and classical heritage.

Romia

A rarely heard Hebrew name whose zippy first initial Z transforms it from dated Yetta-like image to more lively Catherine Zeta Jones-like appeal.

Zetta

Sophisticated, stylish feminine form of Pascal especially appropriate for girls born around Easter or Passover. 

Pascale

Like Violet, Lavender and Lilac, Ianthe is a purple flower name. Chosen by the poet Shelley for his daughter, Ianthe has a poetic, romantic, almost ethereal quality. In the ancient myth, she was the daughter of Oceanus, supreme ruler of the sea, and also a Cretan woman so beautiful that when she died the Gods made purple flowers grow around her grave.
 Iantha is also used.
 Ianthe was a favorite of the pastoral poets of the seventeenth century and then again in the early nineteenth. She appears in the works of Shelley, Barbara Pym and Georgette Heyer. Writer Richard Brautigan named his daughter Ianthe.

Ianthe

Idra is one of the less obvious botanical names. In ancient times, a fig tree was a symbol of learning, peace, and prosperity. 