A penny for your thoughts?

[green]

[name]Hi[/name] guys! Finally joined up to get some opinions on my favorites and gather some suggestions for my little girl, due in [name]October[/name]. I like to think I hang in possibly-quirky-but-wearable territory, but you be the judge!

[name]Xanthe[/name] (I think this name is so, so beautiful! I highly doubt I’ll have a blonde on my hands, though. The meaning kind of niggles at me.)
Sunniva (I have Norwegian heritage, the [name]Sunny[/name] nick has sentimental value, and [name]Niva[/name] (via [name]Geneva[/name]) is a family name – should be a winner, right? Worried people will immediately think “son-of-a,” and although I love the look, the sound doesn’t roll off the tongue too easily.)
[name]Lark[/name] (There’s something really refreshing and pretty about [name]Lark[/name]. Paired with a soft, long, classic middle, I think this could work.)
[name]Sidonie[/name] ([name]Lovely[/name]! A much prettier, substantial version of [name]Sydney[/name] that would be unique but familiar enough to fit in.)
[name]Veda[/name] (Kind of exotic, a little romantic, very feminine… My friend thinks it’s very seductress.)
[name]Grania[/name] (Pronounced grahn-ya, I adore this. Worried it will just remind people of grandparents.)
[name]Beatrix[/name] (What’s not to like, right? [name]Bea[/name] (bee-a) and [name]Trixie[/name] make me happy.)
[name]Romilly[/name] ([name]Romilly[/name] would be right at home among the Emilys, but still stand out. [name]Romy[/name] is adorable.)
[name]Anneliese[/name] (I only like it pronounced ah-na-LEEZ-ah, which I’m sure would present many problems. Otherwise, I think it’s gorgeous!)
[name]Jemima[/name] (Freaking syrup. I love [name]Jemima[/name] – she’s so classy and feminine, but not too frilly. I’m playing around with [name]Gemma[/name] because I do love the [name]Jem[/name]/[name]Gem[/name] nn, but it lacks something [name]Jemima[/name] owns.)

[ashthedreamer]

[name]Lark[/name] is my favorite! I love it. I think it’s so sweet, but so accessible. All your others are lovely (especially love [name]Anneliese[/name], [name]Beatrix[/name], and [name]Romilly[/name]), but [name]Lark[/name] is just so sweet and lovely. I’ve considered it myself, especially since my grandmother loves birds. I think it’s a great way to honor her. I love the combos [name]Lark[/name] [name]Evangeline[/name] and [name]Lark[/name] [name]Juliette[/name]. Looking at your names, I like the idea of [name]Lark[/name] [name]Beatrix[/name] or [name]Lark[/name] [name]Sidonie[/name], too.

Good luck!

[miloowen]

I always wanted to use [name]Solveig[/name], which was the name of one of my great-aunts, who used to come in the summer from [name]Bergen[/name] to visit us. We used to call her Tante Soli.

I love [name]Lark[/name]. Would be a great name. I also love [name]Jemima[/name] and [name]Jemma[/name] could be a great nn.

[a.k.a]

Thoughts on a few of your picks:
Sunniva- love the nn sunny. I wouldn’t have thought of “son-of-a” if you hadn’t mentioned it, but maybe I’m pouncing it wrong. [name]How[/name] would you say it?
[name]Lark[/name]- super cute, I love it!
[name]Grania[/name]- my friend has a dog names [name]Grania[/name] (super sweet dog who I adore, so that’s a good thing!) I really like this name. Its an pretty in an unexpected way.
[name]Sidonie[/name]-I like the way it looks, but it sounds a bit akward when I try to say it.

All of the names are a bit unusual, (except perhaps beatrix) and a lot of them will possibly have mispronunciation issues. If your last name is often mispronounced then I would suggest sticking to a name that most people will get right on the first try. Congrats! I love your unique picks.

[Mischa]

[name]Hi[/name] [name]Green[/name], you have a wonderful list of names. Here are my thoughts on them.

[name]Xanthe[/name] - Beautiful and exotic but may cause pronunciation problems (is it "[name]ZAN[/name]-thee or [name]ZAN[/name]-thuh; do you pronounce the x etc…?). But think about it…if we vetoed every name that may have pronunciation issues, we would be eliminating some beautiful choices and that would be a shame. [name]Lovely[/name] choice!

Sunniva - I love this Scandinavian name. It has a beautiful meaning “gift of the sun” , would honour your Norwegian heritage and has great nn options like [name]Sunny[/name] and [name]Niva[/name]. I wouldn’t worry at all that people will immediately think “son-of-a.” It’s such a wonderful name that I wouldn’t be discouraged.

[name]Lark[/name] - Soft and pretty but I would use this as a middle name only.

[name]Sidonie[/name] - Ok but may be too similar to the popular [name]Sydney[/name] so I would use it in the middle spot as well.

[name]Veda[/name] - Very sultry and exotic but I love the look and sound of it (vay-dah). It has a religious association as the Vedas are the sacred books of Hinduism. One of my favourite two-syllable names.

[name]Grania[/name] - a little awkward with the pronunciation of grahn-ya but I do like the way it looks. This name has a long Irish legacy too!

[name]Beatrix[/name] - I think the “x” in the name makes all the difference. This version is more playful, friendlier and spunky than the more serious sounding [name]Beatrice[/name]. I love the literary association with [name]Beatrix[/name] [name]Potter[/name] too!

[name]Romilly[/name] - Pretty but I would use it in the middle spot to avoid fitting in with all of the Emilys, Lilys, Rubys etc… [name]Rosemary[/name]/[name]Rosalind[/name]/ [name]Rosalie[/name]/[name]Rosamunde[/name] would be other options to get the nn [name]Romy[/name].

[name]Anneliese[/name] - [name]Lovely[/name] [name]German[/name] name but may cause pronunciation issues if you want it pronounced “ah-na-LEEZ-ah”. It has a romantic sound that’s very appealing.

[name]Jemima[/name] - One of those underappreciated Biblical names that should be dusted off and used more often. I like [name]Jemima[/name] much better than [name]Gemma[/name]. It’s time for this gem to get over the syrup association and racial overtones. It’s just too pretty to leave behind!

[jackiet]

I have always loved [name]Sidonie[/name] and [name]Romilly[/name]! Those are my favorites from your list. Interestingly I never liked [name]Sydney[/name] but [name]Sidonie[/name] has such a different feel to me.

[poptart]

I love [name]Veda[/name] - one of my absolute favorites. I agree that it sounds sultry and exotic. I also really like [name]Xanthe[/name]. [name]Lark[/name] I like, but think it works better as a middle name. I also like [name]Romilly[/name]. [name]Sidonie[/name] and [name]Grania[/name] are nice, but pronunciation will always be a problem. Sunniva is a little too foreign for my taste and [name]Jemima[/name] will forever remind me of syrup and pancakes.

[green]

Okay, so, I’m thinking [name]Romilly[/name], Sunniva ([name]SUNNY[/name] va), [name]Anneliese[/name], and [name]Jemima[/name] have to go. I realized I’m not crazy about [name]Romilly[/name], [name]Anneliese[/name] would be pronounced differently than I’d want, and [name]Jemima[/name] is a little too syrupy. Sunniva I’m less enthused to let go, but I’m getting too many “is that a medication?” and “son-of-a” reactions for my comfort zone. I guess I’ll store her away as a possible middle.

I’m pronouncing [name]Xanthe[/name] [name]ZAN[/name] thee. I think this is my favorite right now. I realized yesterday that [name]Xanthe[/name] could also honor an [name]Anna[/name] in the family in a subtle way, which is a nice plus. I also really love [name]Lark[/name], but I sometimes think it might be too abrupt in the first slot. I had no idea [name]Veda[/name] had a religious asssociation (I’m going to have to start googling more!). Still processing how I feel about that. Miloowen, [name]Solveig[/name] is lovely!

So glad these names got pretty good reactions overall! Thanks for the replies.

[megwifey]

[name]Love[/name] [name]Lark[/name], [name]Beatrix[/name], and [name]Anneliese[/name]! I knew a family with a daughter named [name]Anneliese[/name]- they called her Lisey. I always thought that was so cute!

[system]

[name]Love[/name] Sunniva (I pronounce is soo-NEEV-ah, not [name]Sunny[/name]-va), and nickname [name]Sunny[/name] is very cute.

I also love [name]Lark[/name], [name]Beatrix[/name], [name]Veda[/name], and [name]Romilly[/name].

Good luck!

[garnetgirl14]

I like [name]Veda[/name] and [name]Beatrix[/name] best! [name]Lark[/name] is also very pretty, but I would only use that as a middle name.

[lilmaksmama]

[name]Veda[/name]! [name]Love[/name]! [name]Ever[/name] since the movie My Girl, it has been a favorite of mine