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Novinha (and the colony) are actually Portuguese, not Spanish. I've always assumed that her given name was Nova, since -inha is a diminutive that means small (and a common naming suffix). It would make sense in context, if Orson Scott Card is tying meanings in with characters...seeing as she's on a new world and all.

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I like Novinha and Nova, but I wouldn't use Novinha unless in a Portuguese context.

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I like Julian a lot, it's a family name for me and I like the sound of it (even though it is a trendy sound, i.e. a boy's name ending in n). I think it's really classy but not too pretentious.