Contemplating a change

Girl Names
1

I know there is a forum for writers and naming characters, but this forum gets a lot more traffic so I hope it’s okay to post here instead.

I have a book I’ve been working on for a pretty long time. For a while I stagnated on the story and I set it aside to work on some other things. When I came back to it, it was with some fresh insights and I realized that quite a lot about the story and the characters had changed from the beginning. When I originally conceived the story it was from a dream, and I was in high school. My characters have evolved into more complete people (as have I, I hope) since then and because of that i am contemplating changing the name of one of my major characters.

Her original name was Amadahy and she went by [name_f]Ami[/name_f] ([name_m]AH[/name_m]-mee), mostly. I still think it is a beautiful name but I don’t think it really fits the style or hr character anymore. I would love some suggestions on new names. I’m hoping maybe someone will think of something I haven’t and set me in the right direction. I firmly believe the right name helps make a character.

She is the only (known) living child of the Northern Regent, who is very much like a king in his position both because of the size of his regency and because it is so remote from the rest of the kingdom. Therefore she is raised like royalty. I want a longer, beautiful, formal sounding name that can have a nickname option to go by when she is forced to flee her home later.

2

Here are some ideas…

[name_f]Astraea[/name_f] - Greek goddess of [name_u]Justice[/name_u]. nn [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], [name_u]Rae[/name_u], or [name_f]Raea[/name_f]
Mashdaria - offering. nn [name_u]Dara[/name_u] or [name_f]Daria[/name_f]
Avanali - nn [name_f]Ava[/name_f], Nali, or [name_f]Nala[/name_f]
[name_f]Cambria[/name_f] - nn [name_f]Bri[/name_f], [name_f]Bria[/name_f], or [name_f]Cammi[/name_f]
Olivianna - nn [name_f]Ann[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_f]Livvy[/name_f]…endless options here!
Lydenia (lid - [name_u]DEAN[/name_u] - e - uh) - nn [name_f]Lia[/name_f], [name_f]Lydie[/name_f]
Everindra - nn [name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_f]Indra[/name_f], [name_u]Ever[/name_u]

[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!

3

I just spent an absurd amount of time scrolling through royal names so hopefully I can be of some help hehe

[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]- [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Mina[/name_f], [name_m]Willi[/name_m]
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f]- [name_f]Lia[/name_f], [name_f]El[/name_f], Ophie
Laurianna- [name_u]Lauri[/name_u], [name_f]Anna[/name_f]
[name_f]Artemisia[/name_f]- [name_m]Artie[/name_m]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f]- [name_f]Sera[/name_f], [name_f]Fia[/name_f]

4

I really like [name_f]Astraea[/name_f]. It is actually on my list of potential middle names for a real life baby lol Mashdaria is really different but I like the sound and look and the meaning seems incredibly relevant to her character. Avanali is pretty too and I just LOVDE the nn option of [name_f]Nala[/name_f].

I just spent an absurd amount of time scrolling through royal names so hopefully I can be of some help hehe

Wilhelmina- Willa, Mina, Willi
Ophelia- Lia, El, Ophie
Laurianna- Lauri, Anna
Artemisia- Artie
Seraphina- Sera, Fia

I am going for names that are also uncommon, though not totally unheard of. Wihelmina sounds a little to familiar for me nd [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] is on my list of baby names for an actual baby when I am so blessed. Aretmisia and [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] are both pretty though and might be options.

5

I second [name_f]Astraea[/name_f], or her alternate spelling [name_f]Astraia[/name_f]!

[name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] - [name_f]Anne[/name_f], [name_f]Annie[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Andi[/name_f], [name_u]Roma[/name_u], [name_u]Romy[/name_u], [name_f]Meda[/name_f], Dreama (?)
[name_f]Cassiopeia[/name_f] - [name_u]Cass[/name_u], [name_f]Cassi[/name_f], [name_f]Sia[/name_f], Opi, [name_f]Sia[/name_f]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] - [name_f]Sera[/name_f], [name_m]Seraph[/name_m], Phina
[name_f]Constantina[/name_f] - [name_u]Connie[/name_u], [name_f]Tina[/name_f], [name_f]Constance[/name_f]
[name_f]Alessandrina[/name_f] - [name_m]Al[/name_m], [name_u]Allie[/name_u], Aless, [name_f]Alessa[/name_f], [name_u]Sandy[/name_u], [name_f]Sandra[/name_f], [name_f]Drina[/name_f], [name_f]Rina[/name_f]
[name_f]Amarantha[/name_f] - [name_f]Amy[/name_f], [name_f]Ama[/name_f], [name_f]Mara[/name_f], [name_f]Antha[/name_f] ----- This means ‘unfading’, which is rather fitting for royalty in hiding
Xanthippe (zan-thip-ee) - [name_m]Xan[/name_m], [name_f]Anne[/name_f], Thip, Thippe
[name_f]Sapphira[/name_f] - Sapphy, Sapph, Phira
Dellaphine / Dellaphina - [name_f]Della[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f], Phina
[name_f]Sophronia[/name_f] - [name_f]Sophie[/name_f], [name_u]Ronnie[/name_u], Oni, [name_f]Nia[/name_f]
[name_u]Artemis[/name_u] / [name_f]Artemisia[/name_f] - [name_m]Art[/name_m], [name_m]Artie[/name_m], [name_u]Ari[/name_u], [name_f]Emi[/name_f], [name_f]Sia[/name_f]
[name_f]Amandine[/name_f] - [name_f]Amy[/name_f], [name_f]Ama[/name_f], [name_f]Amanda[/name_f], [name_f]Andi[/name_f], [name_f]Dina[/name_f]
[name_f]Hildegarde[/name_f] - [name_f]Hilde[/name_f], [name_m]Hill[/name_m], Dega
[name_f]Galatea[/name_f] / [name_f]Galathea[/name_f] - [name_u]Gal[/name_u], [name_f]Gala[/name_f], [name_f]Ala[/name_f], [name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f] - [name_u]Jess[/name_u], [name_f]Jessa[/name_f], [name_u]Sam[/name_u], [name_u]Sami[/name_u], [name_f]Mina[/name_f]
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f] - [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Wilma[/name_f], [name_f]Mina[/name_f]
[name_f]Esmeralda[/name_f] - [name_f]Esme[/name_f], [name_f]Merry[/name_f], [name_f]Alda[/name_f]
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] / [name_f]Evangelina[/name_f] - [name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_f]Evie[/name_f], [name_u]Evan[/name_u], [name_u]Angel[/name_u], [name_f]Elin[/name_f] / [name_f]Eline[/name_f], [name_f]Lina[/name_f]
[name_f]Valentina[/name_f] - [name_f]Valen[/name_f], [name_u]Ali[/name_u], [name_f]Tina[/name_f], [name_u]Val[/name_u]
[name_f]Natalia[/name_f] / [name_f]Nathalia[/name_f] - [name_u]Nat[/name_u], Nats, [name_f]Nell[/name_f], [name_u]Ali[/name_u], [name_u]Tali[/name_u] / [name_f]Thalie[/name_f], [name_f]Lia[/name_f]
[name_f]Theodosia[/name_f] - [name_u]Theo[/name_u], [name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Zoraida[/name_f] - [name_f]Zora[/name_f], [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], [name_f]Ora[/name_f], Raida, [name_f]Aida[/name_f]
[name_f]Yevgenia[/name_f] / [name_f]Eugenia[/name_f] - [name_f]Geni[/name_f], [name_f]Genia[/name_f] -------------- this means “Well born”
[name_f]Tuilelaith[/name_f] - [name_f]Tu[/name_f], Tuile
[name_f]Iphigenia[/name_f] - Iphi, [name_f]Genia[/name_f] ------- this means “Of royal birth”
[name_f]Valeriana[/name_f] - [name_u]Val[/name_u], [name_f]Valeri[/name_f], [name_f]Riana[/name_f], [name_f]Ana[/name_f]
[name_f]Desdemona[/name_f] - [name_u]Desi[/name_u], [name_f]Demi[/name_f], [name_f]Mona[/name_f]
[name_f]Jacquenetta[/name_f] - [name_m]Jac[/name_m], [name_f]Jacqui[/name_f], [name_f]Netta[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalia[/name_f] - [name_f]Rose[/name_f], [name_f]Rosa[/name_f], [name_f]Sally[/name_f], [name_u]Ali[/name_u], [name_f]Alia[/name_f], [name_f]Lia[/name_f]
[name_f]Dulcinea[/name_f] - [name_f]Dulcie[/name_f], [name_f]Nea[/name_f]
Zephyrina - [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u], [name_f]Rina[/name_f], Zeph
[name_f]Athenais[/name_f] - Athen, [name_f]Anais[/name_f]
[name_f]Tatiana[/name_f] / [name_f]Tatiyanna[/name_f] - [name_f]Tati[/name_f], [name_f]Tia[/name_f], [name_f]Ana[/name_f], [name_f]Tasha[/name_f]

Or look into some flower names, they usually sound very long and formal, and fantasy-esque.

Alstroemeria (the name of my favourite flower, commonly ‘peruvian lily’) - [name_u]Ali[/name_u], Meria, [name_f]Merry[/name_f] / [name_f]Merri[/name_f], [name_u]Merritt[/name_u]
Alchemilla - [name_u]Allie[/name_u], [name_f]Emilla[/name_f], [name_f]Milla[/name_f]
Astrantia - Astor, [name_f]Astra[/name_f], [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], [name_f]Tia[/name_f]
Chrysanthumum - [name_f]Chrys[/name_f], [name_f]Chryssa[/name_f], [name_u]Sandy[/name_u]
Echinacea - [name_u]Echo[/name_u], Cea
Asteraceae - Astor, [name_f]Asta[/name_f], [name_f]Astra[/name_f], Ceae
Myrcinaceae - [name_f]Myra[/name_f], Myrca, Cina, Ceae
Delphinium - [name_u]Dell[/name_u], [name_f]Delphi[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f]
Nemesia - [name_f]Nema[/name_f], Nem, Mesi, Mesia
Nymphea - Nym, Nymph, Phea
Passiflora - Passi, [name_f]Flora[/name_f], [name_f]Lora[/name_f]
Coronaria - [name_f]Cora[/name_f], Nari, Naria, [name_f]Aria[/name_f]

6

I love [name_f]Astraea[/name_f] but if I use her that kind of takes her off my list of potential real life baby names. She is beautiful though. I also like your suggestion of [name_f]Galatea[/name_f]. It just sounds very regal and it gives rich imagery. But it doesn’t offer a lot of great nickname opportunities. [name_f]Lala[/name_f] is a cute one but it doesn’t seem like a name she could use in the long run as an adult, especially as she comes into her own. [name_f]Desdemona[/name_f] is gorgeous but I wonder if it is to Shakespearean to work. Xanthippe is great, although I like [name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] better but that one is also on my real life baby name list.