"raven, dark one"
Ravenna
Pronunciation: [ r-uhv-EHN-uh ]
Does Ravenna flow with your last name?
Dark and beautiful, named for Italy's City of Mosaics
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Names Like Ravenna
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Ravenna
4 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"city of mosaics"
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Browse nicknames →Things to Know About This Name
- Queen Ravenna is the villainous queen in Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
The Story of Ravenna
Ravenna is the name of a beautiful ancient city in northeastern Italy, famous for its stunning Byzantine mosaics and as the last capital of the Western Roman Empire. The city's name is believed to derive from the Latin ravenna related to the raven, or possibly from an Adriatic pre-Roman word. As a given name, Ravenna evokes both Italian glamour and the dark mystery of the raven.
Ravenna gained cultural exposure through the 2012 film Snow White and the Huntsman, in which Charlize Theron plays Queen Ravenna, the evil queen. Despite the villainous association, the name's melodic beauty has made it appealing to parents who love Gothic or romantic aesthetic names.
Ravenna, Italy, was one of the great cultural capitals of late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. It preserves some of the world's finest early Christian mosaics, now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city was home to Dante Alighieri in his final years.
Historical Record
Ravenna first appeared in US Social Security records in 1957.
Over 493 babies have been named Ravenna in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Ravenna is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #4,096 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Ravenna, Italy, was the capital of the Western Roman Empire from 402 CE until its fall in 476 CE
- Ravenna's basilicas contain 1,500-year-old Byzantine mosaics that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Dante Alighieri completed The Divine Comedy in Ravenna and died there in 1321
Ravenna in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Ravenna
Galla Placidia
Royalty
388
Empress of the Western Roman Empire who made Ravenna her capital and built its famous mausoleum
Queen Ravenna Fictional
Other
Villainous Evil Queen in the 2012 film Snow White and the Huntsman, played by Charlize Theron
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #4,096
- Total SSA Count
- 36
- Cultural Origins
- Italian English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Ravenna
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Same Origin Names (Italian)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ravenna
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About the Name Ravenna
Ravenna is a girl name with Italian, English, and American origins . The name means "raven, dark one" in Latin .
Ravenna is currently ranked #4,096 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Ravenna has 3 syllables and is pronounced r-uhv-EHN-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Ravenna include Raven, Ravi, Ven, and Renna. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Ravenna include Raven . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis