Novella

Novella is an Italian feminine given name derived from the Latin novellus, a diminutive of novus, meaning "new, young, novel." The name thus carries connotations of freshness, youth, and originality.

Historically, the name is most notably associated with Novella d'Andrea (died 1366), an Italian scholar and jurist. She was the daughter of Giovanni d'Andrea, a renowned professor of canon law at the University of Bologna. After her father's death, Novella reportedly lectured in his place, often delivering classes from behind a curtain so as not to distract her male students with her beauty, according to tradition. This story, while possibly apocryphal, underscores her exceptional learning in an era when female academics were exceedingly rare.

The English literary term "novella" (a short novel or long short story) shares the same Italian root, from the feminine form of novello used for a short narrative of true or realistic events.

Related names in other languages include Nova (Swedish), meaning "new" or "star," and Novah (English), a modern variant.

• Meaning: New, young, novel
• Origin: Italian, from Latin
• Type: Given name
• Usage: Italian