I’m hoping to get some help with a [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] combo. She’s being quite a little vixen. I have her with [name_f]Evadne[/name_f] at the moment, but that’s just not sounding right to either of us. Too much suicide and death perhaps. I’m ready to pull my hair out with frustration.
All the names in my signature are favorites for both of us, so obviously we’re fans of whimsical names. We love nature, Tolkien, mythology (especially Arthurian, Mabinogion, Scandinavian), fairy tales, fantasy, poetry and literature. I’m a writer, and quite like names that honor that. The mister practically worships mountains and we both come alive in forests and on the coast. We have no problem with noun names, or names that most people don’t really consider a name. We live in the frigid north where winter is long and dark, and we love it, so weather related names we love tend to be cold and stormy, but have nothing against a little sunshine, or brighter, cheerier names.
I have no problem with two middles, but the mister prefers one. If it’s the right combo, I can convince him. He likes [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] [name_f]Lore[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] Eilonwy [name_f]Snow[/name_f], but I haven’t been able to make him fall in love with any other three name combo. I like a lot of the mermaid/oceany type names, but almost feel they’re a little much in combination with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]. Something shimmery, but not too shimmery. Sigh. She’s really being difficult. The mister keeps trying for short and simple in the middle, but most of the ones we’ve thought of sound like filler names.
I’ve read that some people don’t like [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], and that’s fine. I’m not looking for opinions on the name, though you’re welcome to give one if you feel you must. She made it to the top of our list. If you don’t know how to say it, we’ll be saying it lawr-eh-lie.
Oh I love [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] - it’s probably my top name right now. But she is a little difficult to create a combo for.
The great thing about [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] is that she doesn’t end in an -a so any -a name works without sounding too sing-songy.
Here are some that I’ve considered with a little frosty goodness added in:
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Gwyneria/ [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] Névé
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Brunhild[/name_f] (I don’t usually like [name_f]Brunhild[/name_f] but as a mn with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] I feel like it works)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] Firn
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Eugenia[/name_f] [name_f]Snow[/name_f]
First of all, we need to hang out. You and me and our husbands are basically the same people by the sound of it.
I love [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f], it’s magical, pulling and alluring. I desperately want to pair her with other water sprites, but I do realise that [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Melsuine [name_f]Ondine[/name_f] is probably too much!!!
Here are my name suggestions and I’ll get to combos at the bottom: Nymphs
Amymone (one of the Danaides, the only one not to murder her husband. “blameless”)
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f] (the naiad turned into bay laurel. Apart from being a prominent nymph featured in so many gorgeous works of art there’s the brilliant writer [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] du Maurier.)
[name_u]Dione[/name_u] (various nymphs; one of the hyades (rain nymphs) and one of the asteriae (star nymphs))
Klytie (an oceanid turned into a heliotrope flower)
Liriope (a naiad and an evergreen lily-grass flower)
[name_f]Nephele[/name_f] (cloud nymph)
Oenone (an Oread, and first wife of [name_u]Paris[/name_u]. There’s lots of poetry around her story, including one by [name_m]Alfred[/name_m] [name_m]Lord[/name_m] [name_m]Tennyson[/name_m].)
Orseis (a naiad and ancestor to all Greeks)
Pleione (an oceanid, mother to the Pleiades, Hyades and Hesperides. Patroness of sailors)
Arthurian
Aillean (woman of the other world who had a tendency to turn into a deer)
Alcina (an enchantress, sister of [name_f]Morgana[/name_f] le [name_f]Fay[/name_f])
Caelia (a faery queen)
[name_f]Claire[/name_f] (Sagramour’s sister)
Esclarimonde (a faery)
Nimue (the lady of the lake)
[name_f]Olwen[/name_f] (a maiden so beautiful and gentle white flowers grew in her footprints)
Pulzella ([name_m]Gawain[/name_m]’s former lover, a faery princess who brought a whole army of faeries to rescue him from an evil sorceress)
Seli (mother of the lord of the faery realm)
Seraide (another lady of the lake. There are too many of those…)
[name_u]Seren[/name_u] ([name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]’s mama)
[name_u]Tarian[/name_u] ([name_m]Arthur[/name_m]’s tactician and protector)
Literature
[name_f]Amarantha[/name_f] (poem by [name_m]Richard[/name_m] Lovelace “To [name_f]Amarantha[/name_f], That She Would Dishevel Her Hair”)
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] (Norwegian Queens and one of the protagonists in one of the loveliest books I’ve ever read “[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] & [name_f]Veronika[/name_f]” by [name_f]Linda[/name_f] Olsson)
Blanchefleur (from various medieval romances)
[name_f]Cicely[/name_f]/[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] (Sweet cicely! There’s a [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] in Wilde’s The Importance of Being [name_m]Earnest[/name_m], and in the tv series Road to Avonlea, and last but not least; The [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of the Elves in TFQ!)
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f] (from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]’s Troilus and [name_f]Cressida[/name_f]. It reminds me of watercress and stars)
[name_f]Elina[/name_f] (from [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] O’[name_u]Farrell[/name_u]’s “The Hand That First Held Mine”, she’s an artist)
Loveday (Did you read “The [name_m]Little[/name_m] White Horse” by [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] Goudge when you were little? Loveday is [name_u]Robin[/name_u]’s mother. It’s also just a beautiful word, and was given to children born on days enemies came together to solve their differences.)
[name_f]Nell[/name_f] (Lots of Nells, but my favourite is from [name_f]Jill[/name_f] [name_m]Dawson[/name_m]’s “The Great Lover”, a novel based on the English poet [name_m]Rupert[/name_m] [name_u]Brooke[/name_u])
[name_f]Nerissa[/name_f] (from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]’s The Merchant of [name_f]Venice[/name_f]. It comes from the word nereis (sea nymphs))
[name_f]Odette[/name_f] (from Swan [name_u]Lake[/name_u], and [name_m]Marcel[/name_m] [name_m]Proust[/name_m]’s “In Search of Lost Time”)
Rixende (I don’t know much about this, but it’s lovely. I found it in [name_f]Kate[/name_f] Mosse’s “Labyrinth”)
[name_u]Silver[/name_u] (slinky and gorgeous. [name_f]Jeanette[/name_f] Winterson used it for her main girl in “Lighthousekeeping”. [name_u]Silver[/name_u] lives in a lighthouse and tells stories.)
[name_f]Silvia[/name_f] (from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]’s The Two Gentlemen of [name_f]Verona[/name_f]. And it means “from the forest”)
[name_f]Titania[/name_f] ([name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] again, and faeries! Two in one.)
[name_f]Una[/name_f] (Girl in TFQ, the personification of the true church.)
Ylajali (from [name_m]Knut[/name_m] Hamsun’s Hunger. If you’re able to pronounce it, it’s really lovely.)
[name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] (from [name_u]Neil[/name_u] Gaiman’s Stardust. It seems like a pretty perfect match for you, stars and faery)
Zazie (some spunk? I loved Zazie in the [name_m]Metro[/name_m] when I was little.)
Faerie
[name_f]Feya[/name_f] (means faery in Russian)
Pareesa (means fairy like in Persian)
Selkie (an other worldly creature who can turn into a seal (because that’s so practical))
Siofra (faery babies swapped with humans. “changeling”)
Words, Plants, Animals
Celandine (“swallow”, a plant that’s said to help people break away from what hinders them, and it promotes happiness!)
Dew or Dewdrop
[name_u]Dove[/name_u]
[name_f]Ermine[/name_f]
Erwain (Welsh for meadowsweet)
[name_f]Ffion[/name_f] (Welsh for foxglove)
Gwenonwy (Welsh for lily-of the valley)
Lovage (the herb)
Meilys (Welsh for plant)
[name_f]Nerine[/name_f] (another name deriving from Nereis. It’s also the botanical name for Spider [name_f]Lily[/name_f])
[name_u]Ocean[/name_u]
[name_f]Opal[/name_f] (the stone made from [name_m]Zeus[/name_m]’ joyful tears after he defeated the Titans.)
Periwinkle (the flowers, also known by the name joy-on-the-ground)
Ripple (because I associate [name_f]LOrelei[/name_f] with [name_f]Tori[/name_f] [name_m]Amos[/name_m]’s [name_f]Pandora[/name_f]’s Aquarium where she sings “ripple come and ripple go and ripple back to me”)
Rosebay (another name for oleander)
[name_u]Rue[/name_u] (the evergreen, also known as herb of grace)
[name_m]Seaborn[/name_m] (beautiful surname, because the sea is important to you.)
Seamay (because of the sea thing again)
Vivendel (Norwegian for honeysuckle)
Norse
Eimyrja (one of the beautiful daughters of Logi, said to be the fairest in all the land. “embers”)
[name_f]Eir[/name_f]/[name_f]Eira[/name_f] (the [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of healing)
Eisa (the other of Logi’s beautiful daughters. “glowing embers”)
Freyja (goddess of fertility, love and beauty. She rides in a chariot pulled b CATS!)
Gersemi (goddess of beauty, daughter of Freyja. “treasure”)
Hariasa (Germanic [name_f]Goddess[/name_f], derives from the Valkyrie Herja)
[name_f]Hulda[/name_f] (hulder is a nymph like creature in Nordic folklore, they live in the mountains and forests and lure men to their death with their beauty and song. And they’ve got a tail. [name_f]Hulda[/name_f] means “secrecy”, she was a sorceress in Norse mythology)
[name_f]Kara[/name_f] (a valkyire, “the wild/stormy one”)
Mist (a valkyrie)
[name_f]Nanna[/name_f] (a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] and wife of Balder)
[name_f]Saga[/name_f] (“the seeing one”, [name_f]Saga[/name_f] is most likely an aspect of the [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] Frigg)
Urd (one of the Norns. She’s the fate of the past, the well by Yggdrasil belongs to her)
Tolkien
Arien (the maiden chosen to guide the sun, “maiden of sun”)
Eärwen (Galadriel’s mama, “sea maiden”)
Elentári (the name of the goddess of the heavens, “star queen”)
Erendis (the wife of Aldarion of Numenor)
Ilmarë (chief of the Maiar, handmaiden to [name_f]Varda[/name_f] Elentari, «starlight»)
Lórien (the forest where Galadriel lives)
Lúthien (the [name_m]Elven[/name_m] [name_f]Princess[/name_f] Luthien Tinuviel, “enchantress”)
Nienna (one of the Queens of the Valar. “she who weeps”)
Silmariën (a [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of Numenor, “she of the shining light”)
Undómiel ([name_f]Arwen[/name_f]’s other name, “evenstar”)
Myths and [name_m]History[/name_m]
Amyitits (Babylonian [name_f]Queen[/name_f], the Hanging Gardens were built for her. “beautiful” + “thought/opinion”)
[name_f]Eleri[/name_f] (a river in [name_m]Wales[/name_m] named for an obscure [name_f]Goddess[/name_f])
Finvola (a character in a gorgeous Irish folksong “The [name_f]Gem[/name_f] of the [name_f]Roe[/name_f]”, quite obscure but re-recorded about a decade ago by Irish singer [name_f]Cara[/name_f] [name_u]Dillon[/name_u].)
Nausicaa (a princess in The Odyssey)
[name_f]Niamh[/name_f] (a [name_f]Goddess[/name_f], daughter of the God of the Sea in the land of Tír na nÓg.)
Ninlil ([name_f]Goddess[/name_f] consort of Enlil, God of air in Egyptian mythology)
Orchil (an earth and fertility [name_f]Goddess[/name_f])
[name_f]Sabrina[/name_f] (the [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of the river Severn, English folklore. She also appears in TFQ.)
[name_f]Selene[/name_f] (the personification of the moon in Greek mythology)
I like your pronunciation, it’s beautiful. I will try and do winter-ish and writer-ish names.
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Angerona ([name_m]Roman[/name_m] goddess of winter and summer solstice and revolution of the seasons)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Astoria[/name_f] ([name_f]Astoria[/name_f] is similar to [name_u]Story[/name_u], writer-like name)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Bianca[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Frostine[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Morana (Slavic goddess of winter)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Muse[/name_f]/[name_f]Musette[/name_f]/Musidora (muse, inspiration)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Perdita[/name_f] (The [name_u]Winter[/name_u]'s Tale)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Saga[/name_f] (Norse goddess of poetry and the word)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Snowdrop[/name_f] (the first brave flower to blossom in the snow)
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_u]Winter[/name_u]
And almost all -wen and [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]- Welsh names mean “white” plus something else.
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f], that list is perfect for what I was looking for too! I will read it to my husband to see if he likes any of those for our mn situation!
We’re looking for something similar for a mn, so I can add here a few from my list:
[name_f]Mab[/name_f] ([name_f]Fairy[/name_f] winter court queen, at least according to [name_m]Jim[/name_m] [name_m]Butcher[/name_m]!)
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] ([name_f]Mab[/name_f]'s daughter)
[name_f]Titania[/name_f] (already on previous list)
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] ([name_f]Titania[/name_f]'s daughter)
[name_f]Nyx[/name_f] (means night, [name_f]Nixie[/name_f] is a water sprite)
[name_f]Faye[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Aisling[/name_f] [name_f]Nirvana[/name_f] ( for the combined meanings i just had to)
or…
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Aislinn[/name_f] [name_f]Arddun[/name_f] /[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Aislinn[/name_f] [name_f]Era[/name_f]
Ooh! Magical amazingness, ladies! I might need to create a kingdom of [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] for all these names.
[name_u]Lexie[/name_u]: You have great taste in names! A lot of the names in your sig have floated on and off our short list. [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] was a fave for us both, but ultimately we decided it was too popular in our state. The [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] Borealis is common in the winters up here, and lots of people name their daughters for it. Gorgeous, but there are too many little (and grown) Auroras. I really like all the [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]/Guin/[name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] names, but Gwydion is my absolute favorite boys’ names and feel odd using it in a middle for a girl. Need to think it over, because [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f] is amazing! It means “white snow”. [name_m]How[/name_m] cool is that?? I adore heavy old names like [name_f]Brunhild[/name_f]. They’re so powerful, I can just see the warrior ladies with their long dark braids and broadswords screaming into battle; but my sweetie-pie doesn’t agree. I’m really liking [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f]. I’m half Mexican, so a Spanish name would be great.
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]: Holy posole! That’s a list of names. Fantastic. If we’re ever on the same side of the planet, I’d love to meet up for a wander through the woods. We went for a mushroom walk the other day, which we do once a year to add to our photo collection. We always get some great shots, but this time we found an entire tree covered in these tiny little orange mushrooms, all clustered about like a tower climbing up the tree. [name_m]Just[/name_m] up, up, up. It was so pretty, and as we neared it, the wind started howling and for a moment I was SO SURE the fairies were going to take us away. Unfortunately, they did not. Okay, names. [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Ondine[/name_f] is the combo I want, but yes, it feels like too much. Is it? Maybe. Probably. My favorite of the nymphs are [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] and Klytie. I’ve never heard of most of the others, but you can be sure I’ll be looking them up and reading their stories.
Arthurian: I’m really intrigued with Aillean. My mother raised deer when I was growing up, so they’re a big part of my memories. I have a picture, let me see if I can find it. I’ve always wanted to paint it, or have my grandmother paint it, she’s much more talented than I. Okay, here it is. Aillean. I’m going to read more on her, and maybe fit her in with [name_f]Isabeau[/name_f] or [name_f]Pandora[/name_f], who are the more woodsy girls.
That’s [name_f]Sophie[/name_f]. She was with us the longest. Most were released into the wild as soon as they were grown. [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] wouldn’t leave us though. She came back every year when she was ready to have her fawns, to have my mother with her. Um, okay, onward. If you know any other mythological ladies associated with deer, I’d be interested. Nimue or Nyneve are two I’ve considered with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]. They’re watery, but it’s not mermaid overload. I also really like [name_u]Tarian[/name_u] and [name_f]Olwen[/name_f]. He said no to [name_f]Olwen[/name_f]. It sounds like old hen? Haha.
Literature: I like a lot of them. [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] has been a fave since I was a little girl. So sweet and dainty. I didn’t read The [name_m]Little[/name_m] White Horse, but I’ll look it up next trip to the library. [name_f]Nell[/name_f] is quite near and dear to my heart. I have a character named [name_f]Nell[/name_f] who pops up in every single book I’ve ever written. Big part, little part, doesn’t matter. She makes an appearance. I’m quite sure she’s my muse. She has a daughter named [name_f]Margot[/name_f], and a brother named [name_m]Jack[/name_m] who’s gone mad from visiting the fairies too many times, and I’m hoping to write their very own story soon. [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f] sounds amazing. [name_f]Love[/name_f] Gaiman, and SO calls me [name_f]Star[/name_f], so it works. I also really like [name_f]Una[/name_f], but she’s another character I’ve written. I’m interested in [name_u]Silver[/name_u]. Going to add Lighthousekeeping to my list because I’m intrigued by the idea of something lighthouse-y in combination with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]. Safety and danger to the sailors all in one name? Hmm… little miss split personality.
Faerie: I can’t use [name_f]Feya[/name_f]. Sounds like the Spanish word for ugly, and I’ll probably be putting my children into Spanish immersion classes. I love stories of the selkie, and I’m going to add Siofra, which I’ve never heard.
Words, Plants, Animals: Keeping Celandine. Considering Ripple. The others I can’t use for various reasons. I grew up with lots of flower children with nature names!
Norse: Eimyrja. [name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce it? [name_f]Love[/name_f] [name_f]Eir[/name_f]/[name_f]Eira[/name_f], Eisa, Mist, and [name_f]Saga[/name_f]. I’ve never been able to make [name_f]Saga[/name_f] work in any combo. I’ll see if I can figure it out. Freyja is very close to my last name, so I can’t use it, but yeah, she’s amazing!!
Tolkien: our poor kids, I hope they love Tolkien as much as we do. I love every single name listed.
Myths and [name_m]History[/name_m]: I’m familiar with a few, none of them are singing for me though. Except [name_f]Selene[/name_f], which is lovely.
Combos: [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Eisa [name_f]Selene[/name_f], [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] Mist, [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Saga[/name_f] Vivendel, [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Kara[/name_f] [name_m]Seaborn[/name_m] are a hell yeah for me. [name_m]Will[/name_m] be feeding the mister some vodka for dinner tomorrow night and then ask him what he thinks. Thank you! You should consider writing your own baby name book or starting a blog. You’re an encyclopedia of gorgeous rare names.
Combos Part II: Sorry you’re not feeling well. [name_f]Tea[/name_f] and bed sounds like the perfect spot. Oh, [name_f]Hulda[/name_f], yes I forgot. I love the huldra. I’ve used bits of them as inspiration for a forest troll/fae/creature in one of my stories. Very loosely, in combination with Tatterhood, an old fairy tale, but I’ll always be grateful to them for inspiring me. [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Saga[/name_f] Silmariën and [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Silmariën [name_f]Eir[/name_f] are my two faves that I think my SO will say yes to. Get some rest now.
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]: <– that’s one of my all time favorite names, btw. I can’t say it without tossing my head back and raising a fist in triumph. VICTORIA!! Astoria just came off our first name list a few days ago because of Astoria, OR. So pretty, and we’re not necessarily opposed to place names, but we know people there so it seems awkward. Bianca was on my list for ages. It’s stunning. HE says NO. I may have to make some babies of my own so I can get full naming rights. Frostine is great. Saga and Winter are on our accepted list, just haven’t found the right spot yet. Lorelei Winter sounds really pretty, though. Snowdrop, I’m going to think about that one.
Ariane: Pretty faerie names! Swoon! I love them all. I’m so glad we’re not TTC or pregnant yet so I have lots of time to figure out which I can’t live without. Mab and Titania go on and off the approved list. Aurora I’ve already discussed. So perfect, but it’s not to be.
Lorelei: oh my! <3 Have you had a lot of issues? Are you in the US? I don’t want my child to spend her life hating that no one can say/spell her name. How has it been for you? Your user name is mclola, do people call you Lola? I’ve been wondering about nicknames. Not a fan of the Gilmore Rory nickname, or Laura. Lore (with the silent e) I like, and have wondered if Lola could work. I think Lola is such a fun name. Okay, your combos. I hadn’t considered Avalon, adding it to the list. I like all the names you listed. I know he’ll say no to Isolde, Ianthe and Nereida. Alodia though. Hmm. I like! Going to ask. Thanks!
JudyAriel: Now how did you know about my obsession with Kestrel? Kestrel is that name I horded, secretly. I never talked about Kestrel, afraid someone would steal it. I thought I’d discovered it, and no one in the world had ever used it as a name. Then I moved, and I met TWO Kestrels within weeks of moving. Are you familiar with that internet meme with Darth Vader shouting “NoOoOoo!”? Yeah, that was me after I met the second Kestrel. Catherine and Arwen are names we still mull over as firsts. Let me think about them as middles. A lot of the others are names of people I know, but I like them. Frances and Charlotte especially. Zephyr is one of those names I like on paper, but it stumbles on my tongue. I was going to use Zephyr on the boys side with Tristan, but I’m not sure. Zephyr. Hmm. Need to say it a few more times to make it hop off the tongue easier.
aveline_bellelfler: what a pretty user name. I like all your suggestions. My favorites are Lorelei Celestia Lux and Lorelei Svara Thais, although I’m not familiar with Svara or Thais so I’ll be researching them. Thanks so much! Yes, Eimyrja is interesting. I want to know more about pronunciation before I ask for my boyfriend’s opinion though. If there’s a stumble when I ask, he always says no, even if I get it right the second time.
Thanks to all of you. I’m always so amazed at how many names everyone on this forum know. I always think I’ve reached the end of the names I like, and then you all introduce me to more.
PS: I guess I went emoticon happy. This won’t post. Haha. Well, just know you each got lots of smiles from me. Also, apologies for writing so much in response. I start writing and forget that sometimes it’s best to use fewer words.
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] you liked some, it was a nice project for me. Suggesting names and combos for you might be the most fun ever, you’ve got such an amazing whimsical taste. Oh, I love the deer story. That’s the kind of mum I want to be which is why I’m desperate to get out of [name_u]London[/name_u]! The photo is adorable. I will try to find more deer names for you. I think you will like [name_f]Jeanette[/name_f] Wintersons’ books, if I remember correctly from the book thread we’ve got pretty much the same taste in books. She’s my favourite, next to [name_u]Neil[/name_u], Wuthering Heights and The Gargoyle. [name_f]Nell[/name_f] is gorgeous, it’s always been a favourite of mine. Only [name_f]Nell[/name_f], no elaboration. It’s precious, and a perfect little one syllable. Have you read The Forgotten Garden by [name_f]Kate[/name_f] [name_m]Morton[/name_m]? There’s a [name_f]Nell[/name_f] in there as well.
Eimyrja’s tricky as I’m used to saying it in Norwegian. My mother told us all the Norse tales growing up. AY-moor-ya? That sounds about right. There are so many sounds in Norwegian that simply won’t translate to English, but this one works beautifully.
I’m going to check out Wintersons’ books, thanks. Wuthering Heights was an obsession of mine growing up, Gaiman is, well, just a genius haha, and I’ve read The Gargoyle, and enjoyed it, although it was rather… hmm. Haunting. It tore me up, in a good way I suppose. Books that make you feel are the best. Yes, I’ve read [name_f]Kate[/name_f] [name_m]Morton[/name_m], and gifted The Forgotten Garden to others because it’s such a great book. AY-moor-ya. I like that. SO’s family is very Norwegian (in an American way of course), so I enjoy honoring that part. They grew up with lutefisk (spelling?), lefsa (which I love) and raised Norwegian Elkhounds. Our cat, [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m], is a Norwegian [name_m]Forest[/name_m] cat. Go Norway.
I am in the US. When I was younger almost no one spelled or pronounced my name right, but they were never far off (usually said lor-lee), and I would just correct them. It never bothered me because I loved the name so much. I didn’t start getting called Lola until I was in my early twenties and working at a casino and one of the other employees thought my name was Lola, it kind of stuck and now all my friends call me Lola. I like it because I never liked Lora or Lori and when I was young friends called me Lo, which seemed boring.
[name_f]Glad[/name_f] you like it but… I actually meant Firn not [name_f]Fern[/name_f]. Firn is partially compacted névé, a type of snow that has been left over from past seasons and has been recrystallized into a substance denser than névé. (Also why I suggested Névé - a young, granular type of snow which has been partially melted, refrozen and compacted, yet precedes the form of ice - as a mn as well. Figured you could do with “snow” alternatives.) Though [name_f]Fern[/name_f] is pretty too.
I came up with some others… a little more whimsical
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Talitha[/name_f] [name_f]Snow[/name_f] (you mentioned in your OP that your hubby likes [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] Eilonwy [name_f]Snow[/name_f] and if you don’t use [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f], [name_f]Talitha[/name_f] would be a great mn option).
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Alcina [name_f]Yvaine[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Herja [name_f]Bronwyn[/name_f] (something like [name_f]Bronwyn[/name_f] could make for a great [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] alternative and still keep that white/fair feel).
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] Avalonia [name_f]Musette[/name_f]
[name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] [name_f]Arwen[/name_f] Nenee (it’s a Togalog word for young, beautiful, and attractive girl)
Woohoo, I am glad you like a few of mine. And my name, thank you. That’s why I love it - absolutely cool meaning ;). [name_m]Will[/name_m] you post a list of names you both approve? So interesting to see what you will come up with, I have always loved [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f].
And I know you didn’t ask but I think [name_u]Lue[/name_u]/[name_f]Lulu[/name_f], [name_f]Lola[/name_f] and [name_f]Lera[/name_f] would be pretty nicknames.
Oh man, everything I just typed was erased. [name_m]How[/name_m] frustrating. I have got to remember to copy everything I type before hitting post.
The condensed version is this:
[name_f]Lola[/name_f]: thank you, I love love love [name_f]Lola[/name_f] for [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] and feel better about pronunciation issues.
[name_u]Lexie[/name_u]: I didn’t know that. I’ll ask my SO about firn and névé. He’ll probably know what they mean. I’ve only been around snow for 5 years. Raised in [name_u]California[/name_u] and Mexico, so I saw very little of it. SO is born and raised in the snow though. I like Firn, adding it. Névé looks like nieve, the Spanish word for snow. Imagery is great, but for some reason I don’t care for the abruptness of N and V side by side. I like it in longer names like Nyneve and [name_m]Navarro[/name_m], just no [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] type names. [name_f]Bronwyn[/name_f] is utter perfection imo, he doesn’t like B names apparently because he shot down that, [name_f]Bianca[/name_f] and [name_f]Briony[/name_f], all faves since childhood. What’s wrong with B?? Silly man. [name_f]Talitha[/name_f] [name_f]Snow[/name_f] is so pretty, I think I like [name_f]Talitha[/name_f] Firn more though, as it separates it from my [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] combo.
[name_f]Victoria[/name_f]: thanks for the other nn options. Loving [name_u]Lue[/name_u] and [name_f]Lera[/name_f] if we have a [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f] and [name_f]Lola[/name_f] isn’t working. [name_u]Lue[/name_u] is so cute and practical, while [name_f]Lera[/name_f] still has that lyrical magic but it’s more accessible. And yes, here’s some of the names I’ll be asking him about when he gets home tonight. Some of these are already on our list, so I know they’re a yes. I’ll * those.
Alodia
[name_f]Arwen[/name_f] *
[name_f]Avalon[/name_f]
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] *
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
Celandine
[name_f]Celestia[/name_f]
Eisa
Firn
[name_f]Frostine[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f]
[name_f]Lux[/name_f]
Mist - not sure how this never made it on the list. So gorgeous.
Nimue
Nyneve * nimue or nyneve, that is the question
Ripple - such imagery and so pretty sounding. The surname of an old coworker I still bump into occasionally however (once or twice a year). Too close?
[name_f]Saga[/name_f] *
[name_m]Seaborn[/name_m]
[name_f]Selene[/name_f]
Silmariën
[name_u]Silver[/name_u]
Siofra
[name_f]Talitha[/name_f] - my biggest reservation with this is his sister’s name is Leithi (lee-thee) and I wonder if it’s too similar and would be taken as an honor name? Not that I wouldn’t want to honor her, but if I did I’d want it to be on purpose, not just because I like a similar name.
[name_u]Tarian[/name_u]
Vivendel
[name_u]Winter[/name_u] *
[name_f]Yvaine[/name_f]
Also these three, which I’m not 100% convinced with the combos I have them in. I’d like to see if they’ll work better with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f].
[name_f]Eowyn[/name_f] - too earthy with [name_f]Lorelei[/name_f]? Or is it a nice balance? Are they both too ethereal sounding? Or does the wyn ending ground it?
[name_f]Serafina[/name_f]/[name_m]Serafin[/name_m] - angels and flying and witches, oh my! “A witch would no sooner give up flying than give up breathing. To fly is to be perfectly ourselves.”
Khione - He loves this one, with this spelling. Greek snow goddess, daughter of the [name_u]North[/name_u] wind.
Yeah I can see the issue with Névé. My issue is that it sounds to similar to [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] when I say them
or that it looks like I tried to make [name_f]Neve[/name_f] look extra special. I almost didn’t suggested it because of that but…
I figure my issues might not be yours so I suggested it.
She made it to the top of our list. If you don’t know how to say it, we’ll be saying it lawr-eh-lie.
A lot of the names in your sig have floated on and off our short list. [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] was a fave for us both, but ultimately we decided it was too popular in our state. The [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] Borealis is common in the winters up here, and lots of people name their daughters for it. Gorgeous, but there are too many little (and grown) Auroras. I really like all the [name_f]Gwen[/name_f]/Guin/[name_u]Gwyn[/name_u] names, but Gwydion is my absolute favorite boys’ names and feel odd using it in a middle for a girl. Need to think it over, because [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f] is amazing! It means “white snow”. [name_m]How[/name_m] cool is that?? I adore heavy old names like [name_f]Brunhild[/name_f]. They’re so powerful, I can just see the warrior ladies with their long dark braids and broadswords screaming into battle; but my sweetie-pie doesn’t agree. I’m really liking [name_f]Valencia[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f]. I’m half Mexican, so a Spanish name would be great.