I’ve been trying to decide between two sets of girls names, one more classic and one more unusual thematically.
The “Classic” girls are [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] and [name_f]Arabella[/name_f]/[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]. I absolutely love [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], she’s the focal point of this set. My issue is that they don’t feel particularly strong as a set, very frilly, feminine, elegant but it just doesn’t feel strong, bold…and I worry I might even get bored of it.
My “Unusual” girls are Nefertari, [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], Lilinoe, [name_f]Xenia[/name_f] and [name_m]Peregrine[/name_m]/[name_m]Poseidon[/name_m]. There’s no one focal point, I love these names about equally and they have that strength that I want to be reflected in my children. But I’m worried about them being a bit too much, even with accessible nicknames ([name_f]Nara[/name_f], [name_f]Cate[/name_f], [name_f]Lili[/name_f], Z/Xee or [name_m]Ziggy[/name_m], [name_u]Perry[/name_u]/[name_f]Posie[/name_f]).
Which one would you pick? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think it’s too boring or interesting? Also thoughts about combining or any other names you think would go in the set?
I think that both sets are lovely in their own ways, however, as to which one I myself would pick, it would definitely be the more unusual one (as is more my own style).
Honestly though I feel like for the most part, these two sets of names would work quite well together, so I suggest not choosing one or another at all, but rather, combining them. [name_f]Xenia[/name_f] and [name_m]Poseidon[/name_m] are probably the two that would least fit with the others I feel, but the rest really fit together well in my opinion. I think you’d actually get that ‘strength’ you’re after with your first set, by combining it with the second.
The classic set is beautiful. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] is a long time favorite of mine but DH does not like it. [name_f]Evie[/name_f] is a cute nickname, or [name_f]Eve[/name_f] or [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. It’s so elegant and beautiful.
Might I add that I think [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] should be swapped? [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] is highly unusual for me. It’s not bad, it’s just one of those names that makes me think, “Hmm, that’s different.” Whereas [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] I feel is a beautiful, timeless name. I’ve known one, and she went by “Miney.”
It could just be that the only place I’ve read or seen [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] is in the Redwall book series by [name_m]Brian[/name_m] [name_m]Jacques[/name_m]. That’s the war cry of the fighting badgers and hares on Salamandastron.
I like both sets, but thinking about which kind of name I’d prefer having? Definitely one of the classics. I don’t know if I could handle being named Nefertari, or [name_m]Poseidon[/name_m]. Though I’d be fine being named [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and I actually think these two work with your classic names really well.
Thanks for your responses! I’m fascinated that people would view [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] as a classic set contender but I suppose times really are changing (or maybe it’s a namenerd thing)
I think my main concern for combining the sets is that people have thought it feels incohesive and mismatched, which I tend to agree with. Technically I have a top 6: Nefertari, [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f], [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] but they seem to be almost in pairs of styles, Nefertari and [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] and [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] and [name_f]Catalina[/name_f].
So I guess I have a follow up question, if you were to choose 4 sisters for [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] and Nefertari from the following list, what would they be?
I think I prefer your classic names especially because they are very underused. I love [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] is so darling.
I would want to be named one of your “classics,” much more than something from the “unusual” group.
I don’t think the Unusuals are bad. I quite like [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] (in fact, if I were making the groups, I would place [name_f]Catalina[/name_f] in the Classics and move [name_f]Eulalia[/name_f] to Unusuals.) But I guess where I really differ from you is that I see most of your Classics as being both romantic and strong. I don’t think that those two descriptors are mutually exclusive. I kind of like a romantic, swashbuckling kind of name, but I usually think of a brave, idealistic woman, not a wilting flower.
To answer your second question, with Nefertari and [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], I would probably choose [name_f]Amaryllis[/name_f], [name_f]Galatea[/name_f], [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], and [name_f]Xenia[/name_f]. I think using Nefertari almost obligates you to be a bit more adventurous with her sisters. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], though not plain, boring, or weak, is definitely the most familiar in that group (probably followed by [name_f]Hermione[/name_f], just because people know it from [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m]).
I love the “Classic” set. I love [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f], and [name_f]Magdalene[/name_f].
I also like some names from the unusual, like [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] and [name_f]Catalina[/name_f].