Bianco

Meaning- (White, Bright, Shining, Beautiful)

Origin- (Italian, Old High German)

Pronunciation- (bee-ANG-ko, bee-AHNK-oh)

Gender- (Male, Uni-Sex)

Here is a seemingly male version of the name Bianca *see on list of names* which is an alternative to Blanche *see on list of names* so all would do well male and female on a character. I really think Bianco is kind of a rugged name with nice meanings and a nice older history. All in all I really do like this name and would love to see it used.

Lynlee

Meaning: (Lake, Beautiful, Affectionate, Adoring, Coming from the Castle, Pool below a Waterfall, Ruddy-Complected, a form of Lynn.)

Origin: (English, Welsh, Irish, Gaelic, Italian)
 

Pronunciation: (LYNN-lee)

Gender: Female

I was reading an article the other day that said a baby girl named Lynlee was the first baby to be taken from her mother’s womb and had a surgery and then was put back in the womb, so she was the first baby to successfully be born twice. She has thus far reached all her milestones and is healthy so I found that to be really quite interesting and I really came to like her name Lynlee. The meanings are all very gorgeous and feminine and exude a delicate beauty as does the name itself. I see an artistic shy girl with an amazing imagination being named this. This is a lovely name that I wouldn’t mind seeing a bit more often.

Armando

Meaning: (Army Man, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese form of Herman.)

Origin: (German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese)

Pronunciation: (ahr-MAHN-do (Spanish, Italian), aaR-MAAN-Dow (Italian, Spanish))

Gender: Male

I have realized I haven’t really put a lot of Spanish names on here or at least not very many for males so I was listening to a music channel on my TV the other day and I was listening to a song and just like Enrique *see on list of posts* I saw the artist known as Pitbulls real first name is Armando. So I added Armando to my list as it is Spanish but also has other origins as well and the name is strong and brave as the meaning showcases. I would love to see this name used more often in literature as I do like the over all look and sound of the name. It’s strong and masculine and attractive but also respectable and regal in a way.

If you are looking for another variant of Herman which often feels old which it is you could go with Armin *see on list of posts*, its still has an old history of use as well but is unique.

Enzo

Meaning: (Winner, Winning, Giant, Rules the Home, House Owner, Lord of the Manor, in some cases it seems to be an Old Italian form of Heinz (diminutive of Henry), though in other cases it could be a variant of the Germanic name Anzo. In modern times it is also used as a short form of names ending in Enzo, such as Vincenzo or Lorenzo.)

Origin: (Italian, Latin, French, Germanic)

Pronunciation: (EHNZow, EHN-zoh)

Gender: Male

I love to watch WWE wrestling and one of the new tag teams is Enzo Amore and Big Cass. After hearing the name Enzo I came to like it and the last name Amore *see on list of posts* of course it’s a ring name not his real name but each part was interesting to me. The meanings of Enzo are pretty strong and great, I particularly like the Lord of the Manor one. I do think it is a great nickname option for names with Enzo in it like, Vincenzo and Lorenzo. However I think it can also stand on its own as its own name.

Lucrezia

Meaning: (Succeed, Italian form of Lucretia: Feminine form of the Roman family name Lucretius, possibly from Latin lucrum "Profit, Wealth". In Roman legend Lucretia was a maiden who was raped by the son of the king of Rome. This caused a great uproar among the Roman citizens, and the monarchy was overthrown. This name was also borne by a saint and martyr from Spain.)

Origin: (Italian, Ancient Roman, Roman Mythology, Latin)

Pronunciation: (loo-KRE-tsyah, loo-KREET-see-uh, to know how to pronounce this name then go to this site and run your cursor over the name to hear how it is said: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=lucrezia+&submit=Submit )

Gender: Female

My list is backed up for a while so I am finally getting to these names. Back during NaNoWriMo 2015 I had posted about it and a fellow blogger Apolla 13 commented about her experience with it and then told me a bit about the story she chose to write about. So for all of my posts for March I will be doing some of the names of her characters for the story she wrote for NaNoWriMo 2015 as I really like many of these names and have yet to add them so I am adding them now.

Lucrezia I do believe was Apolla 13 main characters mothers’ name. It has a very foreign unique prettiness about it. The meanings are very pretty and make the name have even a wealthier noble look and feel to it than it already did. The long history of use and the stories behind some who were named this are interesting but a bit sad at times.

When I saw the name I thought it was an old name of perhaps Latin or Italian Origin and I was right but I am afraid some might not see it that way though from the naming forums I saw with ones discussing this name were positive. I however am afraid some might not know how to pronounce it or may believe it was made up in the current era and see that as bad without knowing the names long history.

I can see a noble woman being named this. It has a very ethereal look and feel to it when said as well. All in all this is a lovely name and I would love to see it used more often if appropriate, I think only the right character and author can pull this name off in the right way.

Genevra

Meaning: (Fair, white wave, Smooth, Yielding, Juniper Tree, Lady of the People, Tribal Woman, Of the Race of Women, River Mouth, Variant of Ginevra, Italian form of Guinevere. This is also the Italian name for the city of Geneva, Switzerland. It is also sometimes associated with the Italian word ginepro meaning “Juniper”.)

Origin: (Italian, Old French, Old Welsh, Germanic, Celtic, English)

Pronunciation: (jee-NEV-rah, jeh-NEHV-rə, Z-eh-NEY-VRah)

Gender: Female

This is the name of an outfit on I think Pearson Renaissance Shoppe website. The spelling throws me off because I prefer Geneva *see on list of posts*, which I’ve used in a novel before. I think this was the full name of Ron Weasley’s sister Ginny in the Harry Potter Novels. The meanings are beautiful and I see it is an Italian form of Guinevere and if it came down to it I would choose Guinevere over Genevra as the spelling as I said throws me off.

It is a beautiful name but I am not totally sold on it as one of my characters names but I started this blog to help other authors and this might be a perfect name for one of their characters names.

Priscilla

Meaning: (Ancient, Old, Little Old Woman, It has been used as an English given name since the Protestant Reformation, being popular with the Puritans. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used it in his poem “The Courtship of Miles Standish” (1858). Short form is Prisca.

**below copied from Insight Book Vol. 2 Published by Jehovah’s Witnesses** The shorter form of the name is found in Paul’s writings, the longer form in Luke’s. Such a variation was common in Roman names. Priscilla was the wife of Aquila, with whom she is always mentioned. The two showed fine Christian works and hospitality not only to individuals but also to the congregation by having congregation meetings in their home in both Rome and Ephesus.

Because of Emperor Claudius’ decree, Aquila and his wife left Rome and went to Corinth in about 50 C.E. Not long after their arrival Paul joined them in tent making. (Ac 18:2, 3) They traveled on with Paul to Ephesus, remained there for a time, and were instrumental in ‘expounding the way of God more correctly’ to the eloquent Apollos. (Ac 18:18, 19, 24-28; 1Co 16:19) Returning to Rome for a time (Ro 16:3-5), they later traveled back to Ephesus. (2Ti 4:19; 1Ti 1:3) Their personal contact with Paul extended from about 50 C.E. to Paul’s death, some 15 years later, during which association they “risked their own necks” for the apostle’s soul.)

Origin: (English, Ancient Roman, Biblical, Italian, French)

Pronunciation: (pri-SIL-ə (English), pree-SHEEL-lah (Italian), PRih-SIHL-ah (English))

Gender: Female

This name always had an old world feel to me but also it reminds me of Elvis Presley’s wife Priscilla. The meanings do coincide with the old feel I get but I could see this being on a younger character. Also with the long history of use it would do well in a historical fiction novel. A good nickname could be Cilla, Pris, Prissy, and Prisca. It also has a great biblical background so that is nice.

Eloisa

Meaning: (Healthy, Famous Warrior, Hale, Wide, Hearty, Sound, Safe, Whole, Wood, Forest, Fame, Loud, Italian form of Eloise.)

Origin: (French, Old German, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Scandinavian)

Pronunciation: (e-lo-EE-zah, eh-loh-EE-sah, eh-Low-IY-Saa)

Gender: Female

I think this is pretty and has several different meanings which make it a diverse meaning name which many authors would love. It is also a nice change from Eloise, which is much more common. It seems a name I could see on a character living in a beautiful mountain location, like Swiss Mountains or something.

Eleanora

Meaning: (Light, Torch, Bright One, Shining One, Other, Foreign, Latinate form of Eleanor. Derived from Alienor, a Provencal form of the Greek Helene, which is derived from the element ele (Light, Torch, Bright).)

Origin: (Greek, English, Old French, Old Greek, Italian, Old Provençal)

Pronunciation: (el-ə-NAWR-ə, ehLLeh-NAOR-aa, eh-lə -NOH-rə)

Gender: Female

This name has really lovely meanings that are very bright, airy and light as well, pun intended. It has an interesting look compared to the much more common Eleanor, even if an A is just added at the end. I know it sounds weird but I think it does look different. It seems to be a name I could see on a royal character. Yet this name seems also to be a name I would think would be on a character from The Wizard of Oz or something.

Coralina

Meaning: (From the Coral of the Sea, Coral Reef, and Diminutive of Cora)

Origin: (Greek, Spanish, Italian, English)

Pronunciation: (ko-rah-LEE-nə, KAORAHLIYNAH)

Gender: Female

I have added a few other names with Cora or Coral in it to this blog, such as, Corabelle *see on list of posts*, Coralie*see on list of posts*, and Coral *see on list of posts*. This is just another name with Cora and Coral in it but I think it is beautiful as well. It is a nice way to combine two short names Cora and Lina to create a longer but still beautiful unique name for a character.

I think it is beautiful and reminds me of a mermaid or someone who loves the water or who was named for a coral reef, maybe the child of oceanographers or marine biologists. I can’t for sure remember but I think I saw this as the name of a character in a Young Adult novel but I can’t remember if that is true and if so which novel. Either way I would love to see this used a bit more often as it is easy to pronounce and is lovely.

Horatio

Meaning: (Time Keeper, Derived from the Roman Clan name Horatius. The close friend of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Tragedy.)

Origin: (Italian, English, Literature)

Pronunciation: (hə-RAY-shee-o, hə-RAY-sho)

Gender: Male

I love watching reruns of CSI: Miami and the leader of that crime scene investigation group is named Horatio Caine. So while watching a while ago I wondered why I had never added the name Horatio to my blog and so without delay I added it. It seems a very masculine name with a very foreign sort of sexiness to it and it also seems a powerful name as in used for Hurricane Horatio or another destructive weather phenomenon, artic storm, ect.

I love the meaning a lot but it’s probably because I write a lot of Time Travel novels so I can see this would be cool on a time traveler. It is also derived from a very old name so it could be used in some form or another in different time periods which is amazing.

Primavera

Meaning: (Springtime, Born at the Beginning of Spring.)

Origin: (Spanish, Latin, Italian)

Pronunciation: (PReh-Maa-VEER-ah, PReh-Maa-Veh-rah, Pree-Maa-VEER-ah, Pree-Maa-Veh-rah)

Gender: Uni-Sex

I added Primeviere *see on list of posts* not long ago. Its meaning and name itself comes from Primavera and this name is much more common with people. The name and meanings are fresh and lovely just like spring. It’s just a lovely whimsical name.

Belinda

Meaning: (Beautiful, Bright Serpent, Beautiful Snake, Bright Linden Tree, Serpentine, This name first arose in the 17th century, and was subsequently used by Alexander Pope in his poem 'The Rape of the Lock' (1712).

It has often been taken to mean 'Beautiful Snake', in reference to the snake as a sacred symbol of wisdom and immortality in medieval times.)

Origin: (Italian, Latin, Old German, English, Spanish)

Pronunciation:  (bə-LIN-də, Beh-LIHND-ah, buh-lIHn-duh)

Gender: Female

Though I don’t use names associated with witches in my novels as I’ve mentioned before this name is most famous for a witch, Belinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of OZ. the meanings are beautiful and the name most everyone’s heard of but it isn’t used too much. I first saw this name in a novel I was reading and at first I was on the fence with it but I do like it a little bit more now.

Of course I was thrown off at first by the meanings with Snake. I was like why would you name someone after a snake as I always associate them with poison and danger. I never knew the snake was a sacred symbol of wisdom and immortality in medieval times. Now that I know that I feel better about the meanings.

The last thing was the poem by Alexander Pope 'The Rape of the Lock' (1712). I was disappointed that the name was associated with the poem but after looking the poem up the poem is not what I thought and I am less upset about it now.

EDIT December 11, 2015:

Okay so I am a dork, lol! I was watching The Wizard of Oz a few weeks back and low and behold the good witch is not named Belinda but Glinda. I so thought it was Belinda. So it may not be a witches name in that movie but I keep thinking I saw it in that capacity some place, whether novel or movie, but maybe I am completely wrong there.

So instead of changing the details above I decided to own up to my stupid dorky mistake here in the edit and leave my stupidness above but do know as far as I know Belinda was not used in The Wizard of Oz.

Splendora

Meaning: (Medieval English name (found in a Curia Regis Roll item dated 1213), derived from Latin splendor meaning "Brilliance, Brightness, Lustre, Distinction". (It was listed in 'A Dictionary of English Surnames' by Dr. Reaney, who noted: "In the Middle Ages there was a fashion for fanciful feminine names, few of which have survived, or given rise to surnames.") This is also the name a small town in the U.S. state of Texas.)

Origin: (Medieval English, Italian)

Pronunciation: (splen-DAWR-ə (Medieval English))

Gender: Female

I was watching a movie once and I saw and heard this name. I thought it was interesting if a little hippie and odd by today’s standards. The meanings are beautiful and absolutely lovely and the name has an interesting to look it. I wouldn’t mind hearing this name in a novel if used the right way. I would hate for this name to be made fun of or used in a bad way but I don’t control how it is used so if I see it in that manner I will just have to deal with it, lol.

Cecilia

Meaning: (Latinate feminine form of the Roman family name Caecilius, which was derived from Latin caecus "blind". Saint Cecilia was a semi-legendary 2nd- or 3rd-century martyr who was sentenced to die because she refused to worship the Roman gods. After attempts to suffocate her failed, she was beheaded. She was later regarded as the patron saint of music and musicians.

Due to the popularity of the saint, the name became common in the Christian world during the Middle Ages. The Normans brought it to England, where it was commonly spelled Cecily - the Latinate form Cecilia came into use in the 18th century.)

Origin: (English, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Finnish, Dutch, German, Latin)

Pronunciation: (sə-SEE-lee-ə (English), sə-SEEL-yə (English), che-CHEE-lyah (Italian), the-THEE-lyah (Spanish), se-SEE-lyah (Latin American Spanish), SE-see-lee-ah (Finnish), sess-seel’yah (English))

Gender: Female

I have never been a huge fan of this name because I didn’t care for the pronunciation but since looking up Shyla *see on list of posts* and it being a variant of it I like it a bit. Though I don’t like the meaning which is a bit off putting and not at all pretty. It has an interesting look and it has an old history which would make this name an ideal name in a Historical Fiction novel. I have heard this name a few times on TV but perhaps that is why I don’t care for it either as the people named this weren’t so great, one was a killer. Though the variant spellings of this name are endless so that is kind of cool.

 

All in all it's not a name I will at present be using in any of my novels but I could see this becoming a name that winds up changing my view of it when the right character, whether book I read or one I write, comes along.

Caprice

Meaning: (Fancifulness, Impulsive, Whim, Whimsical, Playful, Tantrum, a Lively Piece of Music. From Italian Capriccio which originally referred to a feeling of horror causing the hair to stand on end (in Italian Capriccio, meaning, Hedgehog Head) the word later became associated with Italian Capra, referring to the goat, and animal whose sudden changes in direction and jumps indicate Capriciousness. Also hence the musical term.)

Origin: (Italian, French, English)

Pronunciation: (Ka-PREESE, Kah-PREES, Kaa-PRI-Z)

Gender: Female

I have wanted to put this on for sometime but didn’t remember to put in on the list until I saw Pride & Prejudice (2005) the other day and they used the word and it reminded me to use the word as a name as it was often used. I like the sweet look to this and the meanings. It has a sweet lovely feminine vibe to it and I think would make a cool characters name. I think it would look cool on a noblewoman, ex. Lady Caprice, Princess Caprice.

Liana

Meaning: (To Twine Around, Name of a Vine common to Tropical Rain Forests, Also short form of names like Liliana and Juliana or a variant of Eliana.

A tropical drift seed, commonly called a sea bean. This bean is, in fact, a seed produced by a giant legume, called a liana. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines “liana” as “a woody climbing plant that hangs from trees, especially in tropical rainforests.” It uses its tendrils to climb up its host tree—sometimes as high as 100 feet [30 m] above the forest floor. This plant is widely distributed along coasts and rivers in central and western Africa, Colombia, the West Indies, and Central America. In Costa Rica, where arboreal monkeys use it to travel from treetop to treetop, it is known as the monkey ladder.

Measuring up to two and a half inches [6 cm] across, the seed starts its life in a huge pod hanging from its support tree. This large seedpod can grow up to six feet [2 m] in length. It is made up of rounded segments containing one seed each. These are separated by a thin groove. As with many common beans, when the seedpod first forms, it is soft and green. But as it ripens, the pod hardens, becoming dry and heavy. It also turns brown and begins to look woody.

Eventually, because of its increased weight, the seedpod drops off into the river or sea. As the pod floats away, its individual sections break off. Now each seed with its protective casing starts its own journey. Some seeds may get bogged down and grow in the mud along a riverbank. Many, however, will float downriver, sometimes traveling hundreds of miles to an estuary. If a seed journeys through groups of islands, a tide may catch it and wash it onto a nearby beach. *Awake! 2004, Watchtower Library CD Rom, Jehovah’s Witnesses*)

Origin: (French, Italian, Porteguese, Romanian, English)

Pronunciation: (lee-AHN-ah)

Gender: Female

I was looking up the name Lael *see on list of posts* and I saw people liked this name too on the site I visited. As I am a fan of Eliana *see on list of posts* and I intend to some day name a daughter Eliana I looked at Liana and really like it. If I name a daughter Eliana then Liana would be a cute nickname as I have been thinking about nicknames beyond Elle and Ellie. Of course Liana and Elia tie for possible nickname possibilities for Eliana. :~)

As for Liana as a name in a novel I would like to see it more often. It has a unique flare without being too odd. It is generally pronounceable and has a very beautiful foreign-esque look which I love.

Also it has a strong meaning as in reference to a tropical vine. So as a baby name it could be given to a strong little girl. The seeds of the vine travel on quite an interesting journey so perhaps a little girl came into the parent’s life unexpectedly but pleasantly and is a strong hardy little thing with a mind of her own. 

Luna

Meaning: (The Moon, Mythology: it was the name of the Roman Goddess of the Moon, frequently depicted driving a white chariot through the sky, who is usually identified with the Greek Goddess Selene, one of the names of Artemis, Goddess of the Moon.)

Origin: (Latin, Italian, Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology)

Pronunciation: (LOO-nah)

Gender: Female

I have put Selena / Selene *see on list of posts* but I have not ever added Luna. Some people will see this name and think Lunatic or think of the Harry Potter character, I see plenty of that on Yahoo Answers. This is a beautiful short name in my opinion. I haven’t always been a huge fan but I do really like it now. I have even decided to use this as one of the twin sister names in an upcoming novel I intend to write. The twins will be Luna and Lumina *see on list of posts*. I think using the Roman Goddesses name versus the Greek Goddess Selene or even Artemis that Luna seems more bohemian and modern. And the meaning The Moon is so nature connected and lovely.

Bianca

Meaning: (White, Pure, Fair, and Variant of Blanche (French). The meek younger daughter in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew", a courtesan in "Othello", and the subject of a song in a spin-off musical "Kiss Me, Kate". Also made famous by former Rolling Stone wife Bianca Jagger, who was a Nicaraguan fashion model, peace worker, and diplomat. The name is appropriate for a fair-haired baby. Blanca is the Spanish form.)

Origin: (Italian)

Pronunciation: (bee-AHNK-ah, bee-AHN-kə)

Gender: Female

I was watching the show Castles: Secrets and Legends the other day and it had a story about a Italian girl named Bianca in the 1600’s who I don’t remember the whole thing but basically she was supposed to stay hidden by her parents, I think because she was albino. When she leaves and is found with a suitor she is taken back to her castle as she has escaped before. She is taken to a tower hung up by shackles and she is left with a boar and a dog. The room is bricked up and she is left to die. They found evidence of bones of a boar and dog amongst human remains many years later so some believe the story is true. I say if it were how very sad to die alone at the hands of your parents.

The name Bianca I have heard a bit more of lately. It seems a very sophisticated but sometimes preppy name, not a bad thing by any means though unless used by an author to be a mean characters name. The meanings are lovely and the name is a variant of Blanche *see on list of posts* so if you don’t want to use Blanche then Bianca could be a nice alternative. I do really like this name and perhaps will some day use it but would still love to see it used by others more often.

Riva

Meaning: (Enchantingly Beautiful, From the Shore, To Bind, To Tie, short form of Rebecca, Also possibly from the French word for “Shore, River, Riverbank.” Topographic name for someone who lived by a wharf in a port or on the bank of a river, riva (Latin ripa). Cattle Stall)

Origin: (Latin, Hebrew, Italian, French, English)

Pronunciation: (REE-vah, RIY-Vaa)

Gender: Female

I was looking up a name a few weeks ago and Riva was a sibling name suggestion on one of the sites I visited. I think Riva is really pretty and kind of has a link to my favorite name River *see on list of post and Favorite Female Names column*. I love the meaning “Enchantingly Beautiful.” I found it interesting that it was a short form of Rebecca. Riva is pretty and something that although having a long history it is fresh and unique.