Is my answer of literally all of them too predictable? At least it’s honest.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Marilla[/name_f], [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_f]Avonlea[/name_f], and [name_u]Anne[/name_u] herself are my personal faves—but they are all so lovely.
I think a lot of these names are totally usable but my personal favourites are [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f], [name_f]Jane[/name_f] & [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], the first three are on my list, [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Mabel[/name_f]. I also really like [name_u]Blythe[/name_u] as a middle name, though it’s currently on my boys’s list.
I think [name_u]Shirley[/name_u] will make a comeback eventually, though it primarily makes me think of [name_u]Shirley[/name_u] [name_u]Temple[/name_u].
I’m starting to get a crush on [name_f]Avonlea[/name_f] so I think it’s great!
As much as I don’t like super common names, [name_u]Anne[/name_u] will always be timeless.
I also think [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] is cute!
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] and [name_u]Blythe[/name_u] are usable. The rest come across as a bit dated IMO.
[name_f]Diana[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f], [name_u]Joyce[/name_u], and [name_f]Kate[/name_f] are my favorites! [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] especially would feel fresh on a current baby, in my opinion. [name_u]Or[/name_u] [name_u]Joyce[/name_u] ‘Joy’.
In general I think all of them work except for [name_f]Muriel[/name_f] which I’m not sure is ready for revival quite yet. I think [name_f]Chatty[/name_f] is so fun too but maybe better as a nickname nowadays.
[name_f]Avonlea[/name_f] - fun and intriguing
[name_f]Marilla[/name_f] - distinctive and interesting
[name_u]Blythe[/name_u] - bright and sharp
[name_f]Chatty[/name_f] - I know, I know - but as a fun character name? As a nn for [name_f]Charity[/name_f]? or even [name_f]Cherith[/name_f]? [name_f]Kinda[/name_f] fun
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u] - kind of warm and cosy
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f] - charming and clunky cool
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] - bright and a lovely meaning
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f] - another lovely meaning - distinctive in sound
Names I would use and wish others would use more often: [name_f]Avonlea[/name_f] and [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]. [name_f]Avonlea[/name_f] has a similarity to [name_f]Averie[/name_f], so I think it would be useable and with [name_f]Cordelia[/name_f], my favorite nickname would be [name_f]Cora[/name_f], which is becoming more popular.
[name_u]Anne[/name_u]- is ok. not my favorite but timeless and elegant
[name_u]Shirley[/name_u]- [name_u]Love[/name_u] this for a girl!
[name_f]Avonlea[/name_f]- not my taste or style
[name_f]Marilla[/name_f]- [name_u]Love[/name_u] this one!
[name_f]Diana[/name_f]- I prefer [name_f]Diane[/name_f]
[name_f]Minnie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f]- a little childish, not really my style
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u]- I would consider using it
[name_u]Blythe[/name_u]- [name_u]Love[/name_u] is one, especially for a girl! [name_u]Love[/name_u] everything about it!
[name_u]Joyce[/name_u]- [name_u]Love[/name_u] this one! Such a great name!
[name_f]Rebecca[/name_f]- I prefer the [name_f]Rebekah[/name_f] spelling, classic, timeless, and very appealing.
[name_f]Katie[/name_f]- I prefer the longer [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] with [name_f]Katie[/name_f] as a nn.
[name_f]Chatty[/name_f]- not my style
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]- not my style
[name_f]Priscilla[/name_f]- I like this one and would consider using it
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u]- it’s ok. I feel sort of meh about it
[name_f]Persis[/name_f]- I like it’s history, and timeless, classic quality. not sure I would use it.
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f]- usually I like these kind of fussy turn of the century names but this one is unappealing to me.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f]- I like it with the nn [name_f]Posy[/name_f]
[name_f]Patty[/name_f]- I prefer the name [name_f]Patience[/name_f] the nn [name_f]Patty[/name_f]
[name_f]Susan[/name_f]- I prefer [name_f]Susannah[/name_f]
[name_f]Cornelia[/name_f]- interesting and spunky
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]- Same as above
[name_f]Muriel[/name_f]- not my style
[name_f]My[/name_f] personal favorites are [name_u]Anne[/name_u], [name_f]Marilla[/name_f], [name_f]Diana[/name_f], [name_u]Ruby[/name_u], [name_u]Blythe[/name_u], [name_f]Kate[/name_f], and [name_f]Cornelia[/name_f].
(I also like [name_u]Josie[/name_u], [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], and certainly some others of minor characters or characters from later books!)