I’m TTC and here to ask for feedback on my current name list - to freshen it up, seek good combos, and for advice on what would go with Willa, my daughter’s name, without making it too hip and dateable.
I have too many names and too many styles. What should stay, go, paired and be added?
Last name is like Marlowe.
Thanks in advance!
Eloise
Romantic (but I don’t like too ‘old lady’):
Dahlia (too ‘now’?)
Maeve (I like Mamy as nn, but husband says it reminds him of ‘maiming’)
Jessamine (though with Mina as a nn might mean ‘Willa-mina’?)
Ardith (but perhaps a middle as don’t like ‘Ardie’ for a nn)
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] - I wouldn’t have said this was ‘too now’. Unfortunately it always reminds me of the black [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] case, though I doubt that association will be there for most people.
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], it’s simple and elegant but not Mamy.
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Willamina[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mina[/name_f]. My main issue is that [name_f]Mina[/name_f] sounds like ‘meaner’.
[name_f]Ardith[/name_f] - Feels like a more contemporary [name_f]Judith[/name_f]. I like it.
[name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] - Reminds me of ‘sore’ so it’s not my favorite (sorry!)
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this!
Irenee - Not sure the pronunciation on this? eye-REEN or eye-reh-NAY?
[name_f]Clio[/name_f] -I think this name is really sweet. I prefer the spelling [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] though.
[name_u]Sage[/name_u] - Nice enough and I think [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] [name_u]Sage[/name_u] sounds really cool.
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]/[name_u]Romy[/name_u] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this again!
[name_f]Anna[/name_f] - Plain but pretty.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this and all the possible nicknames!
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f] - Pretty and I like it. I think [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] and [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] would make great sisters.
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] - Classic and lovely.
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] - Bit too plain for my liking.
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] - I think this create a lovely middle name flow-wise.
[name_f]Odessa[/name_f] - OK
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] - Reminds me of the singer, but not bad.
[name_f]Temperance[/name_f] - Not a fan.
My favorites from your list:
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] ([name_u]Josie[/name_u])
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] ([name_f]Posey[/name_f])
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] ([name_f]Eliza[/name_f])
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] [name_u]Sage[/name_u]
[name_m]New[/name_m] ideas:
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Amalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Thea[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Cora[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Orla[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Edie[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Lydia[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Camille[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Daisy[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] [name_f]Clio[/name_f] “[name_f]Dolly[/name_f]”
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_u]Sage[/name_u] [name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] “[name_f]Perrie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Ardith[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Anna[/name_f] “[name_f]Liza[/name_f]”
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Odessa[/name_f] [name_f]Temperance[/name_f] “[name_f]Essie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] Irenee “[name_u]Romy[/name_u]”
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] “[name_u]Josie[/name_u]”
[name_f]Willa[/name_f] and [name_f]Saskia[/name_f] [name_f]Paloma[/name_f]
I am absolutely OK with anyone not liking these names — some weeks, I’m off them too (eg Irenee, which is pronounced Irenie) and some are new and probably wouldn’t get off the ground with DH (eg Sorcha).
Anyway, really like Orla, Amalia, Daisy (even for Adelaide) and a bunch of others, as well as a couple of the combos (Sage Jessamine, Jane Ardith!), a few are already taken by family (eg Edie), and Willa was going to be Harriet but I fear if I used it now it would be like an ode to the Royals (William and Harry ;)). Thanks again and will show DH - minus a few that generally get the thumbs down on here!
But I like lots of these! I agree with the above poster that [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] and [name_f]Temperance[/name_f] could probably go unless you’re really wild about them. I also find [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] a little snoozy, though I can see the appeal.
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_u]Sage[/name_u], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Claudia[/name_f], and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] are my favourites.
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]- I don’t think it’s “too now”. I love the sound but it also reminds me of the [name_m]Black[/name_m] [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]- love love love [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]! She’s my absolute favorite girl’s name! I agree with your DH about Mamy though
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f]- not a fan of this or [name_f]Mina[/name_f]. Too smoosh name for me
[name_f]Ardith[/name_f]- kinda sounds like “artist” with a lisp to me but it would make a lovely, strong MN!
[name_f]Sorcha[/name_f]- reminds me of “scorch” but I like [name_u]Sasha[/name_u]
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f]- [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Saskia[/name_f]!
Irenee- is this pronounced like “irony”? Because that’s how I’d say it
[name_f]Clio[/name_f]- also love [name_f]Clio[/name_f]!
[name_u]Sage[/name_u]- super cute
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]/[name_u]Romy[/name_u]- I don’t like [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] (“moan”) but I like [name_u]Romy[/name_u]
[name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]- all of these are meh and kinda boring [name_f]IMO[/name_f]
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f]- I’d like to meet a little [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] but you have better names on your list
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]- growing on me like you wouldn’t believe
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f]- love [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] but I don’t like many of the nicknames
[name_f]Odessa[/name_f]- cute
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f]- hard for me to picture on a child but not bad
[name_f]Temperance[/name_f]- too GP for me
Favorites are [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Saskia[/name_f], [name_f]Clio[/name_f], [name_u]Sage[/name_u], and [name_f]Jane[/name_f]!
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] - Like it a lot. Feels sweet.
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]. It’s got a lot of fire and spunkiness in five letters.
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f] - A little too frilly for me personally.
[name_f]Ardith[/name_f] - I like it, but I do prefer [name_u]Arden[/name_u].
[name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] - Cute name, and feels like it has a lot of energy behind it.
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u], this is one that has made it onto my shortlist as well. I think it’s very feisty and I like that.
Irenee - I haven’t heard of it before and it looks off to me in the spelling somehow.
[name_f]Clio[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]! I do slightly prefer [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] but [name_f]Clio[/name_f] I don’t mind. It gives me an elegant, mysterious vibe.
[name_u]Sage[/name_u] - Prefer for a middle name, and I know a few dogs named this.
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]/[name_u]Romy[/name_u] - A little hipster but [name_u]Romy[/name_u] is sweet and [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] feels like a good strong name.
[name_f]Anna[/name_f] - It’s all right but it doesn’t excite me.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]! [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] is strong and elegant and has good namesakes.
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]! The name meaning isn’t amazing but the name itself is very pretty and elegant.
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] - Have never been a fan of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], it’s one classic I dislike.
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] - With the right intriguing middle name, I could get behind it, otherwise it seems too plain still.
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] - I like this name, but for someone else to use. So for you I give it a thumbs up. It feels stylish.
[name_f]Odessa[/name_f] - It’s okay but I don’t love it.
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]! This would be really cute with nickname Lo or [name_f]Lola[/name_f]. I like the name meaning, since doves are symbols of peace.
[name_f]Temperance[/name_f] - It’s too virtuous for me and would be hard to wear I think.
Personally I’d probably nix [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Temperance[/name_f], and Irenee. Most of the others seem fine in general and suit your daughter’s name.
I looove [name_f]Temperance[/name_f] but not sure it’s the perfect middle for any of your other options. But as a first maybe [name_f]Temperance[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]? I feel like it needs to pair with something short and spunky but classic.
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] - I like it and it’s not too now. I think it has the same sort of charm [name_f]Willa[/name_f] does
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] - [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is really sweet - one of my faves! It has a warm but fun feel to it. Mamy is a sweet nickname, but [name_f]Mimi[/name_f], [name_f]Maeva[/name_f] or [name_f]Mae[/name_f] could work too
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f] - not a fave, it feels a bit too long to me but also as if it’s stopped short
[name_f]Ardith[/name_f] - I really like [name_f]Ardith[/name_f] - it has such an intriguing feel to it. [name_u]Ari[/name_u] or [name_u]Ara[/name_u] could be alternative nicknames, but I also think it would make a great middle name
[name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] - I love the funky, cool but easy going feel it has to it
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] - love this a lot! It feels sassy, fresh but also not too modern besides the vintage charm of [name_f]Willa[/name_f]
Irenee - is this pronounced Eye-reen-ee - like [name_f]Irene[/name_f] with an ee sound at the end? or more like [name_f]Renee[/name_f] with an eye sound at the beginning?
[name_f]Clio[/name_f] - I prefer the [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] spelling but [name_f]Clio[/name_f] is so lovely too! Such a sweet and beautiful name
[name_u]Sage[/name_u] - I like it but more as a middle
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f]/[name_u]Romy[/name_u] - I prefer [name_u]Romy[/name_u] to [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] but [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] has a cool, funky sound to it too. [name_u]Romy[/name_u] and [name_f]Willa[/name_f] though would be so lovely
Classic:
[name_f]Anna[/name_f] - Sweet and simple
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - I like this and I like the range of nicknames it offers - [name_u]Josie[/name_u], [name_f]Joni[/name_f], [name_f]Effie[/name_f], [name_f]Posy[/name_f] etc. are all lovely and I think a lot of them are nn that could grow easily with someone . I think it also offers a safer alternative to [name_f]Persephone[/name_f]
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f] - not a fave of mine. I find it harsh and a bit much
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] - one you can’t go wrong with and one of my fave classics. Like [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] it also has so many good nicknames
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] - it’s been growing on me but I’d save it for a middle
Guilty Pleasures that have Stuck Around:
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] - I feel like with names like [name_f]Penelope[/name_f] and [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] around, it could work - plus, lots of more every day nicknames if it feels too much
[name_f]Odessa[/name_f] - [name_f]Odessa[/name_f] is sweet - it reminds me a bit of [name_f]Colette[/name_f] or [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f] and it could give you the cute nn [name_f]Essie[/name_f] or [name_u]Dessie[/name_u] so I think it could work
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] -I quite like the soft sounds of this
[name_f]Temperance[/name_f] -a bit much for me, plus I feel the meaning might frustrate someone as they got older
I like [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Clio[/name_f], [name_u]Sage[/name_u], and [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] for [name_f]Willa[/name_f]'s sister.
Loving many of these combos (wish could insist on [name_f]Anna[/name_f]-[name_f]Claudia[/name_f] as a first but she’d be [name_f]Air[/name_f]-Conditioner by my family by her first year), a few new ideas, and can see the broad trends of which I can scratch off list (or keep as GPs for fun only!) - eg [name_f]Jessamine[/name_f], [name_f]Temperance[/name_f], probably [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] etc.
For those who’ve asked, Irenee is “eye-reen-ee (ie-ending not a [name_m]French[/name_m] ay)”. It’s an associational one: know someone called it but she’s also upper crust and it suits her context, less mine! I also probably prefer [name_f]Cleo[/name_f] but had thought [name_f]Clio[/name_f] more ‘legit’. I am not sure it should be on there really as our last name is like [name_u]Marlowe[/name_u] and Trudeau. Lots of names have to be struck out because as DH says they turn her straight away into a HP villain (eg [name_f]Theodora[/name_f]).
Anyway, will keep an eye on here - how unsatisfying is it when people post and then never reply!
