Ancient names with cute, spunky nickname potential!

Girl Names
1

I’ve been trying to narrow in on what makes my taste in names ‘tick,’ and I’ve discovered that the names I gravitate toward are:

  • Ancient or ancient-sounding, thick with tones of mythology and history - that preferably have nickname potential to fit my second thematic love:
  • Spunky, unusual and quirky

This seems to apply across the board for me, but right now I’m looking at girls’ names. The names that fit this bill (for me!) on my list are:

Adelphie (nickname options [name]Ada[/name], [name]Adi[/name], [name]Della[/name], Phie)
Aizeti (Aia, [name]Zee[/name], [name]Ti[/name], etc)
Aoede
[name]Asta[/name]
[name]Avani[/name]
[name]Io[/name]
[name]Nayeli[/name] ([name]Aya[/name])
[name]Niobe[/name] ([name]Io[/name])
Onile
[name]Parthenie[/name] ([name]Pari[/name], Theni)
Penthea ([name]Penny[/name], [name]Thea[/name])
[name]Sidonia[/name] (Sidi)
[name]Theonie[/name] ([name]Thea[/name], though I love [name]Theonie[/name] all on its own :slight_smile: )

…as you can tell, I also gravitate toward “-ee” sounds for the ending, as my last name ends in an “uh” sound which tends to rule out oherwise lovely --a names.

I’d love to hear ideas as to what names fit this bill for YOU! For my own selfish purposes, I do prefer non --a ending names, but please do share them still as others might be interested (plus I might see one that I could find variants for :slight_smile: ). If you think of boys’ names that fit of course throw them out as well :slight_smile:

eta: As always, I appreciate honest reactions to the names I listed. No need to censor or be apologetic - I haven’t used any and don’t have immediate plans to.

2

[name]Pallas[/name] - NN [name]Polly[/name]. The [name]Pallas[/name] [name]Athena[/name] imagery is cool and [name]Polly[/name] is cute.
[name]Ione[/name] - [name]One[/name] of my favourites of the I’s, edging out [name]Iphigenia[/name] and [name]Iolanthe[/name]. [name]Ione[/name] has such a soft, appealing sound not much heard beyond [name]Naomi[/name]. The tragedy for me is due to our last name I can never use it.
[name]Ianthe[/name] - Not quite as smooth as [name]Ione[/name], but I like it a lot.
[name]Thisbe[/name] - the original star-crossed lover.
[name]Xanthe[/name] - Isn’t this spunky and whimsical enough itself? [name]Zan[/name]-thee is how I say it, and I don’t think it sounds too informal OR too buttoned up. I adore it. I don’t know why it isn’t more used.
[name]Isis[/name], NN [name]Izzy[/name] - [name]Isis[/name] (or Victorian-era spelling of Icesis) feels sleek and elegant to me. [name]Izzy[/name] takes it to a different, spunkier place, and [name]Izzy[/name] can blend in and then be most determinedly NOT [name]Isabella[/name] when she’s ready to stand out.
Khione - “snow” - a daughter of the [name]North[/name] Wind.

The ends-in-a’s
[name]Laetitia[/name] - NN [name]Lettie[/name]. [name]Laetitia[/name]'s a very minor deity but being so minor avoids a lot of the more disturbing mythic sagas iykwim, and has a “nice” power.
[name]Nerida[/name] - Means “sea nymph, mermaid” and also is, coincidentally, an Australian Aboriginal word for red water lily.
[name]Thalassa[/name] - meaning “sea.”

I’ve babbled on so that’s all for right now but I’ll be back later if you don’t get sick of me.

I love [name]Niobe[/name] best of yours, but I am not sure how I feel about [name]Io[/name]. Something about “you named me after A COW?” haunts me.

3

Love these two! Well, love ALL your suggestions, truth be told, but these three were on my list until I tried saying them with our (very chewy-consonant-heavy) last name. I was attached to Ianthe nn Ia (pn. eye-uh) for quite awhile until I read (on NB!) that it’s ee-ahn-thee rather than eye-ahn-thee.

Thisbe is really growing on me lately. I used to think it a little too inaccessible, but I think that’s changing (whether in my own mind or the real world, who knows).

I am loving Pallas, and it’s an excellent fit with our surname, but Polly feels so Pollyanna for me! I’m sure it will feel more fresh for my childrens’ generation.

I didn’t know there was an Io-cow connection, hehe, I love it for it’s cosmological connections (Io is a Galilean moon).

4

I’ve actually never come across [name]Theonie[/name] - but wow, I love it!

5

I’m not sure if these fit your criteria, but I love [name]Polly[/name] as a nickname for [name]Pallas[/name], Polyhymnia, [name]Appolonia[/name], and Polaris, and [name]Reggie[/name] as a nn for [name]Regina[/name].

6

Very cool & interesting names! I like [name]Niobe[/name] and [name]Theonie[/name] the most.

Some others that might fit the bill:

[name]Agnes[/name] “[name]Aggie[/name]”
[name]Aikaterine[/name] “[name]Kat[/name]”
[name]Decima[/name] “[name]Dezi[/name]” / “[name]Dia[/name]”
[name]Floriana[/name] “[name]Flora[/name]” / “[name]Florrie[/name]”
[name]Isaura[/name] “[name]Izzy[/name]” / “[name]Ari[/name]”
[name]Honorine[/name] “[name]Nora[/name]” / “[name]Onnie[/name]” / “[name]Ria[/name]”
[name]Persis[/name] “[name]Percy[/name]”
Pherenike “[name]Nika[/name]”
[name]Tanaquil[/name] “[name]Tansy[/name]” / “[name]Quilla[/name]” / “[name]Annie[/name]”
Viatrix “[name]Vi[/name]” / “[name]Trixie[/name]”
Zosime “[name]Zo[/name]” / “[name]Ozzy[/name]” / “Zimmy”

7

I’m sorry, but most of these aren’t quite my style. I’m sure they’re lovely and I just don’t have the palate for them. Favorites of your list are [name]Io[/name] and Penthea. [name]Sidonia[/name] too… though it’s sort of halfway between [name]Sedona[/name] and [name]Sidonie[/name] (as in S. [name]Gabrielle[/name] [name]Colette[/name]) which I slightly prefer.
Adelphie has a fraternity feeling to me, for some reason.
Aiazeti - baked ziti
[name]Avani[/name] - reminds me of the Italian “avanti”
[name]Nayeli[/name] - pretty, but [name]Aya[/name] makes me think of Ayahs, [name]Indian[/name] nannies to British children.
[name]Niobe[/name] - sounds a lot like [name]Nairobi[/name]… Not that that’s a bad thing, just slightly confusing.
[name]Parthenie[/name] and [name]Theonie[/name] are too lispy-sounding for me.
Neutral on: Aoede, [name]Asta[/name] (well, there’s “hasta la vista”) and Onile.

Some botanical ideas, mostly for my own enjoyment:
Cleome - [name]Cleo[/name]
[name]Anemone[/name] - [name]Emmy[/name]. wonderful flower, also sea anemones…
Alchemilla - [name]Millie[/name]? Is it Greek? I think so… it’s the proper name for lady’s mantle, a beautiful plant that catches dew in its leaves like silver beads. It seems like a cross between “alchemy” and “[name]Camilla[/name]!”
Sykea - [name]Kiki[/name]? An alternative to [name]Psyche[/name]? [name]Fig[/name] tree
Mentha - Mint. Does it need a nick?
Rudbeckia - [name]Becky[/name] “Ruhd-[name]BECK[/name]-iah” [name]Black[/name]-eyed [name]Susan[/name]! So you could use the nickname [name]Susie[/name] too. Woops! This one’s not Greek. Named after Olaus Rudbeck, teacher of Linnaeus.

8

Some more!

[name]Thessaly[/name] or [name]Thalassa[/name] - [name]Tess[/name], [name]Tessa[/name], [name]Tessie[/name]
[name]Octavia[/name] - [name]Tavi[/name], [name]Avi[/name]
[name]Persephone[/name] - Persy, Sephy, [name]Effie[/name]
[name]Ariadne[/name] - [name]Addy[/name]
[name]Corisande[/name] - [name]Cori[/name], [name]Cora[/name], [name]Sandy[/name], [name]Andy[/name]
[name]Aurelia[/name] - [name]Lee[/name], [name]Lia[/name], [name]Rae[/name]
[name]Philomela[/name] - [name]Mellie[/name], [name]Phil[/name], [name]Pip[/name], [name]Pippa[/name], [name]Olie[/name]
[name]Philomina[/name] - all the above plus [name]Min[/name], [name]Mina[/name], and [name]Minnie[/name]
[name]Calliope[/name] - [name]Callie[/name]
[name]Basilia[/name] - [name]Baz[/name], [name]Lil[/name], [name]Lia[/name], [name]Lee[/name]
[name]Persis[/name] - Persy, [name]Polly[/name]
[name]Concordia[/name] - [name]Connie[/name], [name]Cordi[/name], [name]Cora[/name], [name]Dee[/name], [name]Didi[/name]
[name]Athena[/name] - Thena, [name]Thea[/name]
[name]Astraea[/name] - [name]Tay[/name], [name]Tea[/name], [name]Ray[/name], [name]Raya[/name]
[name]Ceridwen[/name] - [name]Winnie[/name]
Innana - [name]Nan[/name]
[name]Calypso[/name] - [name]Callie[/name], [name]Pip[/name], [name]Sosie[/name]
[name]Minerva[/name] - [name]Min[/name], [name]Minnie[/name]
Morigan - [name]Maggie[/name]
[name]Calixta[/name] - [name]Callie[/name], [name]Lita[/name]
[name]Pandora[/name] - [name]Pan[/name], Panda, [name]Dora[/name], [name]Dory[/name], [name]Dot[/name], [name]Dottie[/name]
[name]Tulia[/name] - Tuli
[name]Phaedra[/name] - Phae (prn [name]Faye[/name])
[name]Artemis[/name] - [name]Artie[/name], [name]Archie[/name]
[name]Nikita[/name] - [name]Nik[/name], [name]Nikki[/name], [name]Kit[/name], [name]Kitty[/name]
[name]Parthenia[/name] - [name]Thea[/name], [name]Nia[/name], Thena
[name]Rhiannon[/name] - Rhi, [name]Annie[/name], [name]Nan[/name]
[name]Cressida[/name] - Cress, [name]Sidda[/name], [name]Sid[/name]
[name]Zipporah[/name] - Zip, Zippy
[name]Elisheva[/name] - Shev, [name]Sheva[/name], [name]Ellie[/name]
[name]Arcadia[/name] - [name]Cady[/name], [name]Dee[/name], [name]Didi[/name], [name]Ari[/name]
[name]Jerusha[/name] or Jerusalem - [name]Jeri[/name]
[name]Salome[/name] - [name]Sally[/name], [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Keziah[/name] - [name]Kizzy[/name]

For you I also like [name]Dido[/name] and [name]Isis[/name], which are short, spunky, and mythical all on their own.

9

Again, opinions without apology are most welcome :slight_smile: I may be the only one, but when someone says “I’m sorry” as a preface for expressing distaste for names, it comes across as “I’m sorry, but your taste sucks” hehe, in which case the “sorry” reads as “yikes I feel sorry for your future children.”

I know that’s not necessarily how most mean it, it’s just how my brain interprets it!

10

Oh rats. Not at all my intention :-/ Actually, in this case, I feel like many of these names are objectively very cool, but I don’t recognize their beauty. [name]Do[/name] you ever feel that way? Like with [name]Eleanor[/name] - I know it’s a beautiful name, but I just can’t make myself like it.

11

I actually feel the same way about [name]Eleanor[/name]!

12

In my formatting, this is a new page, so I’m baaaaack. :wink:

I’m very jealous of you, you know, yellow. :slight_smile: We have similar taste in names, but -ee ending names are mostly awful with my last name, as it ends in y.

These all end in the coveted -ee.
I see Cleome has already been mentioned by Emmabobemma, which, I do very much like.
[name]Antigone[/name] - NN Tiggy. Very cute. I’ve met a couple online but not [name]IRL[/name].
[name]Ariadne[/name] - I’m not fond of related [name]Ariana[/name] etc. but [name]Ariadne[/name] has enough consonants to give it some strength.
Belphoebe - Not as old as the others, from [name]Spenser[/name]'s Faerie Queene. [name]Phoebe[/name], of course, is [name]Greco[/name]-[name]Roman[/name], but I thought it by itself might be too mainstream for you?
[name]Calanthe[/name] - “beautiful flower” derived from Greek καλος (kalos) “beautiful” and ανθος (anthos) “flower” - also a type of orchid.

Not an -ee but not -a’s either
[name]Rosamund[/name] - a medieval name, first from the Germanic and then survived due to sounding like the Latin phrase rosa mundi, which means “rose of the world.” [name]Rosa[/name] mundi roses are one of the oldest striped varieties, a bright cherry and white.

Zéphirine - a very old-fashioned French feminine variant of the Greek name [name]Zephyr[/name], god of the fruitful/gentle [name]West[/name] Wind. I don’t actually like [name]Zephyr[/name], as it is often used for sailboats, sunglasses, anything vaguely sporty and outdoorsy, but this obscure feminine form is very appealing to me. Zéphyrine is also legit but to my eye a bit harsher looking. Having spoken to French people about it, in [name]France[/name] it’s not popular at all, but neither is it bad/tacky sounding like some names that are more popular as “French homages” in English-speaking countries than they are in [name]France[/name].

Googling, I found this but don’t know if it’s true:

Zéphyrine is a highly unusual name that has only been given 13 times in France between 1900 and 2003. The variant Zéphirine, although still quite uncommon, is much more popular.

13

I love [name]Theonie[/name] and [name]Xanthe[/name]!

14

My favorite is [name]Pallas[/name], nn [name]Pal[/name] but [name]Ally[/name] or Allas ("[name]Alice[/name]") could work too
[name]Polly[/name] doesn’t quite make sense since the pronunciation sounds like “palace”

15

Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions!

Thanks for the feedback!
These two jumped out at me. [name]How[/name] cool!!

[name]Augusta[/name], I love where you’re going! These are the ones that jumped out for me. I actually tried to sell hubby on [name]Athena[/name] for the longest time, but it’s just too “heavy.” So, so beautiful, though. Same story with [name]Octavia[/name].

[name]Thessaly[/name] is one that hasn’t appealed to me in the past, but it’s really growing on me – especially with [name]Tess[/name] and [name]Thea[/name] both as nn options.

Yay for coming back! :wink: It sounds like you and I need to trade our -a and -ee names and live vicariously through one another. We definitely have very, very similar taste, I love where you’re going here. [name]Calanthe[/name] in particular is beautiful and substantial and rife with nickname possibilities.

I was loving the -dne endings for awhile (as well as -nthe), and latched on to [name]Evadne[/name] as a route to my former favorite nn [name]Evie[/name] (which has gotten too popular for my taste). Someone on NB pointed out that [name]Evadne[/name] looks like Evade… and I was done. Haha.