I think a lot about meaning and flow, but imagery is one of those things that’s just SO different from person to person. I would love to hear some first impressions or little stories or anything
GIRLS
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] (pronounced Row-enn-a; nn [name_f]Winnie[/name_f])
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] ([name_f]May[/name_f]-bell)
[name_u]Marian[/name_u] [name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Heloise[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] ([name_f]Lu[/name_f] or [name_f]Lilou[/name_f])
BOYS
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] ([name_u]Teddy[/name_u] or [name_u]Theo[/name_u])
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m] [name_m]Muir[/name_m]
[name_u]Jude[/name_u] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]
[name_m]Magnus[/name_m] [name_m]Hart[/name_m] ([name_m]Mack[/name_m])
I love so many names from such distinct styles, which makes it really difficult to settle on a choice for the FIRST baby. I wound up creating a range of sibsets (nature-inspired, Biblical, [name_m]French[/name_m], classic), just to see what suited us overall. We settled on this one, which I hope is vintage-y, British-y, with a subtle touch of storybooks/nature. I wish I could squeeze in more honor names, but flow and etymological meaning usually take precedence for us. I guess that’s what the time between each child is for-- those little strokes of genius that come with sustained name nerdiness
Anyway, this is my last request for impressions before we make our final decisions, so I’m very grateful Thanks everyone for all your help so far.
First, a comment: I really like the name [name_f]Heloise[/name_f], and I love the [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] and [name_m]Abelard[/name_m] story. But apparently there was a sitcom a couple/few decades ago that featured a maid named [name_f]Heloise[/name_f], so for people of a certain age, that’s all they can picture. At least, that’s what I was told when I had it on my list as a mn.
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] - with the nn [name_f]Winnie[/name_f], I think automatically of The Wonder Years. I think it’s cute nevertheless, but I can’t see anything except a sweet girl with a mane of long, shining, black hair.
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] - I’m sorry, but the nn [name_f]May[/name_f]-[name_u]Bell[/name_u] just seems like it belongs on a cow. I do like [name_f]Amabel[/name_f], though, just not the nn. [name_f]Amabel[/name_f] seems like it would belong to the kind of girl who loves to be in front of a crowd and chats just as easily with adults as with kids.
[name_u]Marian[/name_u] [name_f]Lily[/name_f] - This name belongs on a tall girl, and I picture someone thin with just a few freckles.
[name_f]Heloise[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] - the concern outlined above notwithstanding, I love this name. I picture a girl with curls in her hair sitting in the sun reading [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u].
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] - [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] is one of my favorite names. It feels like the name of an All-American boy to me - strong, athletic, smart, and funny. A boy named [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] seems destined to be class president and captain of the football/lacrosse/water polo team.
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m] [name_m]Muir[/name_m] - A boy named [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] seems like a natural musician. I can see [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] playing guitar in a band but also writing his own lyrics.
[name_u]Jude[/name_u] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m] - shy but charming; the sort of guy who’s very popular with the girls who are smart enough to appreciate his dry wit
[name_m]Magnus[/name_m] [name_m]Hart[/name_m] ([name_m]Mack[/name_m]) - this name sounds to me like it should belong to a jerk, to be honest.
I love the [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] and [name_m]Abelard[/name_m] story too. She is a wonderful medieval namesake. I’ve come across the maid association before, but it doesn’t really bother me. I think it’s far enough in the past that it wouldn’t be too much of a problem, especially with use of nicknames.
My total ignorance of pop culture is sometimes a boon to me, since I have no idea about The Wonder Years either.
Haha about the cow thing. That’s kind of why we didn’t go with the nature-themed set… I have a terrible penchant for names like [name_f]Bluebell[/name_f], [name_f]Clover[/name_f], Lupine, etc. But as a baby nn, it’s a more forgivable sin.
[name_f]Love[/name_f] all your descriptions except the last one, of course! I can kind of see your point though. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you feel that way about all Magnuses, or is it the MN that does it?
I’m only halfway ignorant of pop culture (which is why I try to run my name choices by people who are more “up” on such things). But I was a kid when The Wonder Years was on. The good news is that [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] [name_m]Cooper[/name_m] was a perfectly lovely girl and, as pop culture associates go, there’s FAR worse out there.
As for [name_m]Magnus[/name_m], I do feel that way about the name [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] generally (I think because of its linguistic proximity to words like magnanimous, magnificent, and magnum), but I also think that feeling is exacerbated by its pairing with [name_m]Hart[/name_m] (which I tend to like, as a general rule). Actually, the more I think about it, the greater the number of associations I come up with - it’s so close to magnum, which makes me think of Magnum PI and the condoms; I also fill in [name_f]Mag[/name_f]-Lite flashlight.
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] (pronounced Row-enn-a; nn [name_f]Winnie[/name_f]) - an intelligent, sophisticated, elegant, gentle woman who has magical gift of foretelling the future. I’ve always imagined a [name_f]Rowena[/name_f] with flaming redhair and cat-green eyes who dresses flamboyantly. [name_f]Amabel[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] ([name_f]May[/name_f]-bell) - a sweet, romantic dreamer who often seems lost in her thoughts. When she must, she’ll return to earth to unleash her striking spirit on the unsuspecting world! A charmer when she wants to be! [name_u]Marian[/name_u] [name_f]Lily[/name_f] - Strong but soft-spoken, capable and methodical, a nurturer and lover of children
[name_f]Heloise[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] ([name_f]Lu[/name_f] or [name_f]Lilou[/name_f]) - prissy, prim and proper, deceitful, cunning, unattractive and vain! My image comes from the sound of the name more than by knowing someone. I prefer [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]. [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] and [name_f]Louise[/name_f] are family names for me so I love them much more than [name_f]Heloise[/name_f].
BOYS
[name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] ([name_u]Teddy[/name_u] or [name_u]Theo[/name_u]) - Smart, serious, studious, class president and valectorian. I love smart men!
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m] [name_m]Muir[/name_m] - geeky, nerdy, computer whiz that spends hours in front of the computer [name_u]Jude[/name_u] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m] - a strong, masculine, curious, adventurous boy who loves wandering the forest. He’s also a little quirky!
[name_m]Magnus[/name_m] [name_m]Hart[/name_m] ([name_m]Mack[/name_m]) - A big-hearted, generous bear of a man. Not the brightest star in the sky but often the loudest man in the room. (:))
Oh [name_u]Mischa[/name_u], I love your boys’ descriptions! They all sound like sons that my husband and I would be happy to have (and, given our personalities, are not improbable-- especially [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] and [name_u]Jude[/name_u]).
[name_f]Rowena[/name_f] [name_f]Claire[/name_f] nn [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] - strong, sensible, and a good head on her shoulders. She has soft, thick red hair and green eyes, and wears sweaters.
[name_f]Amabel[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] - saucy and flirtatious Victorian girl, with her intricate updo and lace dress. She isn’t afraid what people think of her and has a great, witty sense of humor (I’d adore [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]).
[name_u]Marian[/name_u] [name_f]Lily[/name_f] - A very different redheaded beauty: tall, pale and slender, [name_u]Robin[/name_u] Hood’s mistress, carefree and wild but also graceful and royal. [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] - A freckled, mischievous troublemaker, a tomboy who likes playing in the dirt and pranking.
BOYS [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] - Very tall and brown-haired, quiet and blushes easily, but the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. He’s smart, but not a show-off.
[name_m]Cedric[/name_m] [name_m]Muir[/name_m] - For some reason I imagine a centaur, running wild through the forest.
[name_u]Jude[/name_u] [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m] - Same as [name_u]Mischa[/name_u]'s, basically. Short.
[name_m]Magnus[/name_m] [name_m]Hart[/name_m] ([name_m]Mack[/name_m]) - Eccentric. Dyes his hair bright colors because, well, he can. He likes sucking helium out of balloons and throwing extravagant parties.
I like the name [name_u]Jude[/name_u], but I have a strong image of St. [name_u]Jude[/name_u]'s Children’s Hospital and their commercials that make me cry. Otherwise all lovely names.
She is a wonderful medieval namesake. I’ve come across the maid association before, but it doesn’t really bother me. I think it’s far enough in the past that it wouldn’t be too much of a problem, especially with use of nicknames.
But as a baby nn, it’s a more forgivable sin.