KBiz's list "Charry-Love" of 20 great name ideas: Octavian - Aurea!

Charry-Love

Names that inspire new characters, remind me of characters, or are the actual names of my characters

With the rise of ancient Roman names, Octavian suddenly seem plausible again.  A variation of Octavius and relative of the more modern Octavio, it's an equally attractive member of the trio.

Octavian

Common in Holland, the appealing Willem (as in de Kooning and Dafoe) makes William fresh and distinctive.

Willem

No, the pronunciation--ro-SHEEN--isn't immediately obvious to the non-Gaelic viewer, but the sound of this shiny Irish version of Rose is pretty enough to make it worth considering. Very popular in its native Ireland, it's one of many <a href="Irish girl names https://nameberry.com/list/753/best-irish-girl-names">Irish girl names</a> finding a wider audience. Earlier generations Anglicized at as Rosaleen, but we stay stick to the original.
 The name has been associated with a 16th-17th century poem called Roisin Dubh (Dark Little Rose), the eponymous heroine of which is usually regarded as a personification of Ireland.
 Singer Sinead O'Connor has a daughter named Róisin.

Roisin

Brigid is the simpler Irish version of the name of the goddess of fire, which may also be spelled Brighid. Other variations include Bridget, the most usual spelling in the U.S., and the French Brigitte.
 The most famous female saint of Ireland is the fifth century Brigid, who was abbess of Kildare and is the patron saint of scholars. Because of her sanctity, her name did not come into common use in Ireland until the eighteenth century, after which it became wildly popular, eventually used as a generic name for an Irishwoman.
 According to Irish myth, there were three sister goddesses named Brigid: the goddess of poetry, the goddess of healing, and the goddess of agriculture.
 The ancient Brigid may not be exactly stylish but it's beautiful and strong, a true Irish classic.
 Nicknames include Bridie, Bidelia, Biddy, and Breda.
 In literature (and film), Brigid is the devious character in The Maltese Falcon.

Brigid

Cato conjures up images of ancient Roman statesmen and southern antebellum retainers; it could have revival potential, with its 'O' ending and the current interest in the names of Greek and Roman antiquity.
 The Roman statesman known as Cato the Elder was born Marcus Portius, the Cato added in tribute to his natural sagacity, practical wisdom and political expertise.
 Cato appears in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and, to go from the sublime to the ridiculous, in the Pink Panther movies--and Kato was The Green Hornet's valet. Cato is also a 21st century Hunger Games name, which could do more to spur its popularity than all its past history.

Cato

This rarely used New Testament name could make an unusual route to the cool nickname Nico. Borne by the person who helps to entomb Jesus following his crucifixion, it has the powerful meaning of "victory of the people" and is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek Nikodemos. 
 
A literary choice, it is given to the character Nicodemus (Noddy) Boffin in the Dickens novel Our Mutual Friend, while in the real-world, it is chosen for a small but substantial number of boys in the US each year, with 35 born in a recent count. 
 
The English pronunciation is nik-uh-DEE-muhs, while in Latin it would be nee-ko-DEH-moos. Nikodem is the more popular Polish form, also heard in the UK and in the Netherlands.

Nicodemus

Seraphine is the Gallic version of the angelic name Seraphina. But while Seraphina has been rising rapidly since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck chose it for their second daughter, Seraphine has been largely ignored, though we believe the French vowel-sound ending will soon be more stylish than the a-endings that have predominated in <a href="https://nameberry.com/girls-names">girls' names</a> for years.

 Another cousin, Seraphita, is the heroine of an eponymous 1837 Balzac novel.

Seraphine

Seren is a top girls' name in Wales – and a lovely choice almost unknown elsewhere. Seren, in the Sirona form, was an ancient goddess of the hot springs.
 Seren only recently fell out of the girls' Top 10 in Wales, and ranks just below the Top 100 in England and Wales combined.
Seren is also a Turkish surname and girls' name.

Seren

Avie is a charming feminine name with multiple possible origins. It may serve as a diminutive of names like Avery, Avis, or Aviva, or stand as an independent name. In Hebrew contexts, it can relate to 'my father,' while in Latin it connects to 'bird.' Avie has a vintage quality reminiscent of early 20th century nicknames, yet feels fresh to modern ears. Though relatively uncommon, its short, melodic sound fits well with contemporary naming trends favoring brief, vowel-rich names. Avie carries a sweet, gentle quality while maintaining simplicity and elegance. Its versatility crosses cultural boundaries while offering a distinctive alternative to more common names like Ava or Eva.

Avie

Kamaria

Trending down, along with others of both the Car and the issa groups. 

Carissa

Maude, also spelled Maud, is a lacy, mauve-tinted name that was wildly popular a hundred years ago, but has been rarely heard in the past fifty. Some stylish parents are starting to choose it again, especially as a middle. 
 
Maude's early popularity was influenced by the Tennyson poem that included the oft-quoted line, "Come into the garden, Maude." Then, in the 1970s, along came the sitcom Maude, featuring the vociferous and opinionated character Maude Finlay, putting a very different spin on the name. But enough decades have now passed for the name to have settled back into its soft, sweet pastel image.
 
Parents today are more likely to associate the name with young actress Maude Apatow, who rose to fame in HBO's Euphoria. She may be the catalyst needed to finally popularize her name again.
 
The Maud spelling has British royal associations via the daughter of Edward VII, who later became Queen of Norway; Maud Gonne was a famous Irish political activist.

Maude

Eryn is a feminine name of Welsh origin, serving as a modern variant of Erin. While Erin derives from 'Éirinn,' the dative form of 'Éire' (the Irish Gaelic name for Ireland), Eryn represents a contemporary spelling adaptation. The name carries associations with Ireland's lush landscapes and rich cultural heritage despite its altered spelling. Eryn gained modest popularity in English-speaking countries during the 1980s and 1990s, appealing to parents seeking Celtic-inspired names with straightforward pronunciation but distinctive spelling. The name conveys a sense of natural beauty and Celtic heritage while maintaining a modern feel. Though less common than its traditional counterpart Erin, Eryn continues to be chosen by parents drawn to its subtle uniqueness and pleasant sound.

Eryn

Evelia is a feminine name with Latin and Spanish origins. It derives from the Latin name Evelius, which may be related to 'aevum' meaning 'age' or 'eternity.' The name is most prevalent in Hispanic communities, particularly in Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. Evelia has a melodious quality with its flowing vowels, making it both elegant and accessible. While not among the most common Hispanic names, it has maintained steady usage throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The name carries a timeless quality and often evokes associations with beauty and grace. The nickname Evelie or Eve is sometimes used as a familiar form.

Evelia

Serina is a feminine name with multiple potential origins. It may be a variant of Serena, derived from the Latin word "serenus" meaning "clear, tranquil, or serene." Alternatively, it could be related to the Greek name Seira meaning "chain" or have Persian roots as a variant of Shireen, meaning "sweet." The name has a gentle, melodious quality and has maintained modest popularity across several decades without becoming overly common. Serina appears in various cultures, including Italian, English, and Arabic contexts. The name evokes a sense of peacefulness and grace, with its soft sounds and flowing rhythm making it both elegant and approachable.

Serina

St. Kateri Teckakwitha is the first Native American saint, canonized in 2012.  St. Kateri was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior, born in 1656 in upstate New York.  She converted to Christianity at age 20 and died at 24, and was known as "Lily of the Mohawk."  Kateri was the name the saint took on, a native variation of Katherine, upon her baptism.

Kateri

Sad tinge to the name of the beautiful German city firebombed during World War II. Its name derives from Sorbian drezga, meaning "forest".

Dresden

Cool a few decades ago, along with Lori and Tori. Currently out of fashion but may make a retro tomboy choice as an offbeat spin on Charlie.

Corey

If you're looking for a name with Scandinavian roots, Dagny makes a strong and appealing import. Derived from Old Norse, it means "new day", perfect for a girl born around New Year's or the change of the seasons more generally. The name of the heroine in the Ayn Rand novel Atlas Shrugged, the name has several different pronunciations: DAHNG-nee in Swedish, DOW-nee in Danish, DAHG-nee in Finnish, DAWG-nee in Norwegian and DAG-nee or DAHG-nee in English.

Dagny

This golden Saint name was familiar in Spain during the first half of the 20th century, however, it fell out of favor in the 60s. Usually written as Áurea, the similar sounding Aurora is often preferred today.