Aravis as a girls name?

[Dogzeyes]

Honestly is it cute or odd?

It's from the horse and his boy by C.S Lewis. She was one of my favourite characters growing up and I always liked the name. But it turns out it isn't actually a real name C.S Lewis made it up. This is slightly putting me off. What do people think?

I actually really like it.

How about Athena?

Goddess of wisdom (and military strength?)
Not quite a character from a book, but still a strong female

I like it.

But it is quite easy to confuse with Avarice I guess.

Maybe C.S Lewis was inspired by the Aravis Mountain range in France? It's an absolutely stunning place! An excellent 'nature' name, sounds pretty but with personal meaning to you. That makes it a "good" name, surely?

I also recognised it immediately and am a fan of Aravis as a character. But it does sound as if either she would be instantly pegged to 'named after Narnia', which might be more specific than any of us really want, or that people who don't know the books would dislike it, judging by this sample

If you're a general Narnia fan I have always been tempted by Lucy, or Polly is nice. Not Susan if you've ever read the Last Battle.

PS I think Marian/ Marion is a great name and I wouldn't leap straight to Robin Hood. It has plenty of other history and associations.

Unless you are about to say you live in Nottingham ...

I have a child called Robin (and know some others). OK it comes up but honestly, not everyone leaps to Robin Hood. Marion/ Marian should be less so.