Melissa and Ari are awaiting the arrival of boy and girl twins, siblings for their elder children Emily and William.
Melissa writes: "We are Catholic/Jewish, myself being Catholic and my husband Jewish (although we are not that observant to be honest but more culturally/secular) and would like something connected to either faith or both, but something we quite like are nature names this time around or animal names but cannot find two we like. We also like astronomy, mythology and astrology, literature and science. Emily and William are named after our grandparents.
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Firstly, I'd like to say that I think Leo would work really well within your parameters. Not only is it a constellation, but it is also the Latin for 'lion' -- reflecting the same meaning as Ari. Furthermore, both Emily and William are names of highly prominent authors (Dickenson, Bronte / Shakespeare, Blake etc) and Leo brings to mind Leo Tolstoy.
Alfred – Borne by the famous poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson, this is Anglo-Saxon name has plenty of royal and literary clout.
Arthur – A kingly name straight from mythology which (very likely) means "bear". Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gives it an author namesake and the constellation Lyra (see below) is known as Talyn Arthur "Arthur's Harp" in Wales.
Asher – A Hebrew name from the Old Testament meaning "happy" which has been used as both a Christian and Jewish given name for centuries and also a Jewish surname.
Ernest – Hemingway gives this sweet Victorian name a literary vibe, but it also boasts royal and saintly namesakes.
Hugo – Victor Hugo is the author link here, but medieval Hugo has ancient royal and religious ties and is also the name of both an asteroid and a crater on the planet Mercury.
Isaac – This Old Testament staple has been borne by both Jews and Christians since the early Middle Ages and its list of scientific, literary and theological namesakes is numerous.
Jonah – A Hebrew name meaning "dove", borne by an eminent Jewish Prophet in the Old Testament who was also important in Early Christianity as an allegory for Christ's resurrection.
Judah – According to the Old Testament, when Jacob blessed his sons, he likened several of them to animals. Judah is compared to a lion. For this reason, amongst Jewish families, Judah is often paired with Ari/Aryeh "lion". Jude is the Anglicised form of the name.
Leon – If you aren't sold on Leo, perhaps its Greek cognate Leon will tip the scales.
Oscar – Wilde makes this a strong literary choice which can be found in old Irish mythology.
Rex – A Latin name meaning "king" borne by writers, artists and an aircraft designer who was responsible for the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic non-stop.
Zev – A Hebrew name meaning "wolf" that works well in English.
Adara – This Hebrew name meaning "noble" also has an astronomical theme thanks to the spelling Adhara: the second brightest star in the constellation Canis Major.
Aurelia – If you like Aurora, perhaps Latin Aurelia will appeal. Meaning "golden", it was borne by a 10th-century saint. An asteroid and type of butterfly also answer to the name.
Beatrix – For the famous Miss Potter, Beatrix not only belongs to several saints and blesseds, it also serves as a feistier form of Beatrice.
Eden – The Garden of Eden is a key feature of the first book of both the Jewish and Christian Bible. There is also Eden Phillpotts (1862–1960), British novelist, poet and dramatist, who, although male, gives the name an author namesake also.
Felicity – Borne by two early martyrs, this lovely Latin name meaning "happiness" could also boast the nickname Citty if you were feeling bold.
Jemima – A Biblical name which, like Jonah (above) means "dove".
Keturah / Calista – Kitty is adorable and, if you are willing to be creative, there are ways to get to it as a nickname beyond Katherine and Kathleen. Keturah is a Biblical name meaning "perfume, incense" and Calista derives from the Ancient Greek name Kallisto meaning "most beautiful". Kallisto appears in Greek mythology as a nymph who was persued by Zeus and turned into a bear by Hera and eventually set amongst the stars by Zeus, becoming the constellation Ursa Major.
Lyra – The name of a constellation shaped like a lyre which has been brought to life thanks to Philip Pullman's literary heroine in the His Dark Materials series.
Maya – Maya is a name with several different origins. One of them is a Hebrew name meaning "water". It can also be used as an alternate spelling for Maia, who, in Greek and Roman mythology, was the eldest of the Pleiades ("the Seven Sisters"), the group of seven stars in the constellation Taurus. Maia is also a Basque spelling of Maria, making it a Marian name, also. It is famously born by author Maya Angelou. So it's a Hebrew name, Marian name, mythological, literary and astronomical all in one!
Phoebe – A Titan goddess in Greek mythology, a character in the New Testament, the name of one of Saturn's moons, a Shakespearean character and borne by a whole host of worthy women in history.
Susanna – A Biblical name which appears in both the Old and New Testament. In ancient Hebrew, the name meant "lily" but in Modern Hebrew (where it is well used by Jewish parents) it now means "rose". Both the lily and the rose are also Marian flowers.
Tabitha – A figure in the New Testament whose name means "gazelle".
Coincidentally, there are quite a few pairings here that subtly match if that was something you were looking into: Arthur & Lyra (after the constellation), Asher & Felicity (happy/happiness), Jonah & Jemima (dove) and Oscar & Tabitha (deer/gazelle)
I hope this has been of use. Best wishes for finding the perfect name.
