Hello all, I’ve recently stumbled across the name [name_u]Raven[/name_u], and I’m loving it. Ravens are depicted as vocal, intelligent, intuitive, mysterious, curious and unconventional.
According to Norse legend, Ravens symbolic of mind, thought and wisdom, however, they’ve also been considered a symbol of ill omen and death, which makes me think twice about giving someone this name, and therein lies my internal struggle. If you were to come across the name what would your first impression be? What image comes to mind when you envision a [name_u]Raven[/name_u], [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f], or any other variations?
Personally I see [name_u]Raven[/name_u] as a badass boy name, that being said, for a girl I was also considering something like [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f], just a little more feminine, softens it up. Any suggestions? [name_f]Do[/name_f] prefer [name_u]Raven[/name_u], [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f], any other variations? [name_u]Love[/name_u] it? Hate it? Would something like [name_u]Wren[/name_u] be more fitting?
I really like [name_u]Raven[/name_u]! Though it’s so associated with [name_u]Raven[/name_u] [name_f]Symone[/name_f]'s show “That’s So [name_u]Raven[/name_u]” for me, but that’s not terrible. [name_u]Raven[/name_u] is a beautiful name with a beautiful image attached. It evokes the same things it does for you: mysterious, unconventional, and intelligent. I would assume her parents were interesting people that I would like to meet :).
I really like [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f] too! It certainly is softer. But out of the two, I think I prefer [name_u]Raven[/name_u].
I love [name_u]Raven[/name_u]! I agree that it gives off a very intelligent and mysterious vibe, and it’s a beautiful name. I much prefer this to [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f] though.
[name_u]Raven[/name_u] is an ok name to me. I went to school with a bad girl name [name_u]Raven[/name_u]. “That’s So [name_u]Raven[/name_u]” from Disney [name_f]Channel[/name_f] still made it meh for me. Recently a girl name [name_u]Raven[/name_u] on the bachelor turned the name around for me. I much prefer [name_u]Wren[/name_u], but also a Disney [name_f]Channel[/name_f] name from “[name_m]Even[/name_m] Stevens” for me. [name_u]Raven[/name_u] and [name_u]Wren[/name_u] give off the early 2000’s Disney vibe.
I do love the name [name_u]Raven[/name_u], and I’m a little surprised to see it getting love here on nameberry. I’ve never considered it for my short list tho because I don’t have any personal connection with the name like I do with most of my favourites. I love to see the positives of the name and bird listed here, because one of my drawbacks to the name has been that I thought people would/do find the name unflattering. I’m going to be thinking a little more about this name now.
[name_f]Ravenna[/name_f] is also very beautiful, a small step away from [name_u]Raven[/name_u] if you want a name that’s not so word-y. You could also use [name_u]Raven[/name_u] as a nn for [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f], I think that would be lovely.
I definitely prefer [name_u]Raven[/name_u] to [name_u]Wren[/name_u]! Another bird name that I think is absolutely adorable is [name_f]Starling[/name_f]!
I’ve met a couple of Ravens and although I’ve clocked the quirkiness and coolness of the name, I’ve never thought of death or bad luck or anything like that. I’d imagine a [name_u]Raven[/name_u] to be black-haired, intelligent and quick-witted, by association with the bird.
I can appreciate it as an interesting, cool name choice, though I don’t particularly like it myself. I do like [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f] though - it has the same ancient, mythological vibe as Cornish/Celtic/Gallic names like [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f], Lowenna, [name_f]Morven[/name_f], [name_f]Merryn[/name_f], Rosenwyn, etc.
I think raven is a very pretty name, I’d much prefer that to [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f]. A name that is quite similar though a little more special is the name ravnhilde/ragnhild which literally means raven girl/maiden in old Norse its my danish great-grandmothers name and it’s quite a formidable name in a way, not something you come across everyday
My dh had suggested [name_u]Raven[/name_u] with our first. It’s not my style at all, but I also felt like it totally doesn’t fit unless the person had dark hair. For me anything but dark hair just doesn’t fit the name…
[name_u]Raven[/name_u] is a great name! It first came to my attention watching a recent season of The [name_m]Bachelor[/name_m], which had a contestant named [name_u]Raven[/name_u]. She was a really cool girl, down-to-earth and fun and totally unpretentious (rare on The [name_m]Bachelor[/name_m]!), which made me like the name because I associate it with those traits. (And she did have dark hair.) [name_f]Ravenna[/name_f] is beautiful but feels totally different to me, mysterious and elegant and bewitching, like an ancient or medieval sorceress/warrior princess. It also makes me think of the town in [name_f]Italy[/name_f].