Can anyone think of some familiar girls names that also happen to be words in Portuguese? e.g.
[name_f]Mae[/name_f] = mother
[name_f]Lula[/name_f] = squid
[name_f]Neve[/name_f] = snow
My partner and I both have Portuguese heritage and are looking for names with a connection to our ancestry (although maybe not [name_f]Lula[/name_f] for obvious reasons).
Thanks 
[name_f]Rosa[/name_f] (rose/pink)
[name_f]Clara[/name_f] (bright/clear)
Hello, Brazilian [name_u]Berry[/name_u] here!
I donât know if youâre aware, but word names are not very common for people-names, when you look beyond the obvious floral names:
[name_f]Flor[/name_f]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosa[/name_f]
[name_f]Violeta[/name_f]
[name_f]Margarida[/name_f]
Ărica
[name_f]Hortencia[/name_f]
and other nature names like Lua (moon), [name_m]Sol[/name_m] (sun), [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], Dalva (a more obscure celestial name), [name_f]Luz[/name_f] (light), [name_f]Celeste[/name_f], CĂ©u (sky/heaven) among others. However, most of these names tend to be perceived as nearly-unusable old lady names.
In [name_u]Brazil[/name_u], I have seen an increase on some quirky nature names like
Amora (blackberry)
PĂ©tala ([name_f]Petal[/name_f])
[name_f]Flor[/name_f] (flower)
Tulipa ([name_f]Tulip[/name_f])
Lua (moon)
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] (dawn/sunrise) which are usually among more alternative/hipster and middle-to-upper class artsy folk.
Most people, in Portugal and [name_u]Brazil[/name_u] alike, are either very traditional with their naming ([name_f]Maria[/name_f], [name_f]Luisa[/name_f]/[name_f]Luiza[/name_f], [name_f]Teresa[/name_f]/[name_f]Tereza[/name_f], [name_f]Ana[/name_f], [name_f]Manuela[/name_f]/Manoela, [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Isabela[/name_f], [name_f]Helena[/name_f], [name_f]Clara[/name_f], [name_f]Mariana[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f], [name_f]Laura[/name_f], [name_f]Julia[/name_f], [name_f]Juliana[/name_f], [name_f]Elisa[/name_f], [name_f]Beatriz[/name_f], [name_f]Heloisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Antonia[/name_f]) or (in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u]'s case because in Portugal they have a list of names you are allowed to use) are very outlandish, using made-up names or names derived from English but with exaggerated uses of K, Y, W, H and double-Lâs that can hurt oneâs eyes.
The names you mentioned are great, although [name_f]Mae[/name_f] I wouldnât use because in Portuguese itâs spelled MĂŁe and has a completely different pronunciation and [name_f]Lula[/name_f] because yes, itâs the name for squids and octopuses (and our former presidentâs nickname-turned last name) and just no. I really like [name_f]Neve[/name_f] (pronounced [name_u]Nev[/name_u]-EE) for you.
I would suggest you look into some place names from Portugal, there are some really pretty ones: Benfica (also the football team), [name_f]Avis[/name_f], [name_f]Gaia[/name_f], Marialva, [name_f]Mira[/name_f], Sintra, Viana and Lisboa (or Lisbon, Lisbonna and Lisbonne or just Lis). I also would look into words that can be associated to Portuguese culture. The Portuguese are known for the cultivation of olives, so maybe [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] or [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]; for their navigations in the 15th to 17th century that led to the discoveries of the Americas (Though [name_m]Columbus[/name_m] was the first) and the route to the indies, so maybe something referencing the sea like [name_f]Marina[/name_f], [name_f]Sebastiana[/name_f] (SebastiĂŁo, [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] - patron saint of sailors), [name_f]Ondina[/name_f] or [name_f]Onda[/name_f] (waves). Another reference is [name_f]Amalia[/name_f] [name_m]Rodrigues[/name_m]. You canât go more Portuguese than with using the name of itâs greatest and most loved singer.
I hope I havenât bored you with this long comment!
That is a very informative comment that I enjoyed very much! Thank you!
This is a really interesting thread! Sorry, Iâm not a Portuguese-speaker, and canât offer any new suggestions. But I must say I suddenly have the urge to add [name_f]Lula[/name_f] to my list! It sounds so cute, and I actually really love squid/octopuses/the ocean. If you donât live in a Portuguese-speaking country/community, do you think itâs usable?
Luckily (?) this is probably hypothetical since I already have a name picked out for my upcoming daughter and most likely wonât have anymore children after her. Maybe for a dog or cat 
Lua seems like it might be a good alternative for you, op. I also like [name_f]Ondina[/name_f], and some of the place name suggestions (even though place names are not generally my style, there are some great ones in there: [name_f]Gaia[/name_f], Marialva, [name_f]Mira[/name_f], and Viana are my favorites).
Wow that was an amazing run down!!
I think [name_f]Neve[/name_f] pronounced neh-vee is really adorable, as is Amora. Câmon, how cute is blackberry??! [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] is one I think would transition from Portuguese to English well, given its popularity and usage here already. I also love the suggestion of [name_f]Olive[/name_f]/[name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. I think anything relating to Lisbon shouldnât be considered because it sounds like âlesbian.â But I do like the ocean/wave references in [name_f]Marina[/name_f] and [name_f]Sebastiana[/name_f]. Those are both lovely!
Overall, @beasobreira gave great suggestions. Super fun to read. I, like another pp, think [name_f]Lula[/name_f]'s ties to a squid is super cute, although I suppose it wouldnât fly too much in [name_u]Brazil[/name_u]. If youâre just trying to honor the heritage, though, and donât have any physical ties (like relatives or a summer home there, etc.), I donât think it would be something to stress over.
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] someone else is suddenly intrigued by [name_f]Lula[/name_f] meaning squid! I love octopuses and squids!
Canât top the amazing response above except to add my own name [name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f] which is a Portuguese name and word.
Others Iâve heard when back in Portugal:
Esperança
Avid
[name_f]Estrela[/name_f]
Lua
[name_f]Luz[/name_f]
Evora (a place)
Belem (also a place though the pronunciation will get massacred in English )
[name_f]Rosa[/name_f]
Florabela (name of a Portuguese poet)
[name_f]Bonita[/name_f]
[name_f]Querida[/name_f] (bad name in my opinionâŠlike calling your kid âdarlingâ)
Orquida
[name_f]Lula[/name_f]
[name_f]Margarida[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
Isnât [name_f]Noa[/name_f] a Portuguese name as well? I donât think itâs a word name. I just think itâs pretty. (Pronounced the same as [name_u]Noah[/name_u].)
Isnât [name_f]Amada[/name_f] Portuguese or is it Spanish? Anyhow I think it is a lovely name with a great meaning. Also love the suggestions form previous poster!
[name_f]Ela[/name_f] Ă© [name_f]Amada[/name_f] is the exact translation of She is Loved. [name_f]Amada[/name_f] is means Loved in the feminine form.
Portuguese people wouldnât consider [name_f]Noa[/name_f] as a portuguese. It would be exactly the opposite, actually. Itâs seem as a âforeignâ name but itâs fairly recognizable in Portugal, yes.