[name]Hi[/name], [name]Violet[/name]!
Firstly, let me just say that [name]Ella[/name] is spunky and sweet, charismatic and cute. But, I don’t see a woman with that name - it feels slightly incomplete to me. Then there’s the popularity factor. If you like [name]Ella[/name], though, you could always choose a more interesting name, like [name]Arabella[/name], for your daughter!
[name]Virginia[/name] is one of those names that everyone always worries about teasing with. I mean, it isn’t any surprise that people would be anxious about teasing with a name containing “virgin,” so I feel your pain, so to speak. I can only speak from personal experience, though. In high school a few years back, there were two girls named [name]Virginia[/name]. [name]Both[/name] were very popular, well-liked girls. Neither were particularly feminine - rather, they were quite athletic. One of them, with dark brunette hair, was on my tennis team. She was witty and clever, not necessarily book smart, but a really wonderful, warm person to be around - she always went by [name]Virginia[/name]. The other wasn’t really close with me, but she was a tall - 6 foot! - blond who played basketball and lacrosse. She was mouthy and not the smartest tool in the shed, but she was fun and spirited. She went by [name]Ginny[/name], always. Neither girl was teased for her name in the slightest.
I hadn’t much thought of the name [name]Virginia[/name] until yesterday, actually! I’m in college now working in a clinical research lab, and it is my job to recruit older subjects via phone. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of calling one Miss [name]Virginia[/name], a seventy-year-old woman (yes, she told me!) with a feminine, vivacious voice and what seems like a fun, adventurous personality. She told me I had a beautiful speaking voice, so I automatically like her. Ha!
Now, regarding your short list - [name]Alice[/name], [name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Phoebe[/name], [name]Juliet[/name], [name]Clara[/name], [name]Penelope[/name], [name]Aria[/name], [name]Ruby[/name], [name]Lily[/name], [name]Greta[/name], [name]Rose[/name], [name]Ella[/name], and [name]Virginia[/name] - you have some really great names and some that I personally don’t care for. First, let me eliminate those I don’t care for quite as much…
[name]Scarlett[/name] has never been a favorite of mine. Though it shares the same sound as [name]Charlotte[/name], it somehow loses the sweet, delicate, innocent image of [name]Charlotte[/name] and, in a way, tarnishes it for me. Whereas [name]Charlotte[/name] is crisp and feminine, [name]Scarlett[/name] just lacks a bit of, well, class for me. It sounds vaguely like a very pretty stripper name. Sorry! Though I do like [name]Juliet[/name], I personally prefer the more classic [name]Julia[/name]. Either are lovely, though. [name]Aria[/name] doesn’t do it for me - it seems out of place with your mostly classic choices, and it makes me think of aura. [name]Lily[/name], to me, is like [name]Ella[/name] - short and sweet, feminine and flirty, but altogether lacking in substance. What about [name]Lillian[/name] or [name]Lilia[/name]? [name]Greta[/name] has a bit more of a harsh sound to it, and I think I prefer it as a nickname for [name]Margaret[/name], if you like that. And, I’ve already spoken on [name]Ella[/name], now haven’t I?
From your list, my favorites are [name]Alice[/name] and [name]Clara[/name]. [name]Alice[/name] feels fresh and fun to me despite its decidedly vintage status - it is whimsical and playful, romantic and soft. [name]Lovely[/name]! [name]Clara[/name], too, is a favorite as it reminds me of [name]Clara[/name] [name]Barton[/name], the [name]Red[/name] [name]Cross[/name] nurse who was my childhood hero. I love [name]Claire[/name] and [name]Clare[/name], but [name]Clara[/name] gives it something a tad bit more soft and delicate, more vintage and romantic. [name]Clara[/name] makes me swoon! I’ll just say that [name]Ruby[/name] is sweet and playful, too, but I prefer it as a middle name, personally. It was my great-grandmother’s name ([name]Ruby[/name] [name]Jane[/name]). Also, I do like [name]Penelope[/name], but mostly just for the [name]Poppy[/name] nickname!
I’ve got no clue what your last name is, but let me just say that you have an excellent short list to work with here! If you need more suggestions or want help with combinations, I’d love to help!
Good luck!
[name]Lemon[/name] 