I am a college student changing my name from [name]Emily[/name]. It is classic, pretty and timeless but I know 5 others just at college. I have discovered I prefer names that are old-fashioned with roots, or formal-eccentric-clunky. Also a little bit British. Some of my favorite boy names are [name]Archibald[/name], [name]Theodore[/name], [name]Frederick[/name], [name]Clement[/name], [name]Rupert[/name] and [name]Jasper[/name]. I’ve posted loads on here before but my “due date” (my 20th birthday) is approaching and it is time for me to narrow down my short list! I would appreciate respectful comments and opinions, and perhaps suggestions as to actually making a choice. My middle names are [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] and I do not care one bit about “flow” because both middles have meaning for me.
[name]Clementine[/name] - [name]Clem[/name]/[name]Em[/name]
(I would pronounce it with a long “i” sound - is this abnormal?)
[name]Viola[/name] - [name]Vi[/name], [name]Vivi[/name], Lo
Thanks berries!
Update: I narrowed it down to Imogen, but now am also considering Rosalind and Lyra as firsts. I welcome thoughts, possible combinations/suggestions for Lyra _____ Rosalind, meaning vs. style
[name]Clementine[/name]! I also say it with a long I and I have never heard another way. I like that it would give you a way to go by [name]Em[/name] which is close to your original name so it might not be as hard for people to get used too
As you know, I adore all of your choices! I’m very excited for you.
[name]Cordelia[/name] - This is the one that I feel most drawn too out of your choices. I can envision [name]Cordelia[/name] on you the most strongly and although you said you’re not worried about flow, [name]Cordelia[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] is perfection.
[name]Imogen[/name] - Although I adore [name]Imogen[/name], this name does sound a little bit childish to me. I can see you with this name, but not as strongly as [name]Cordelia[/name]. [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] also has lovely flow.
[name]Clementine[/name] - As you know, I absolutely adore [name]Clementine[/name]. I also pronounce it with a long -i-, I’m not fond of the clem-en-teen pronunciation. I really like this name for you, but the connection is still not as strong as it is with [name]Cordelia[/name]. [name]Clementine[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] is gorgeous.
[name]Viola[/name] - This is the name that I envision on you the least, although it is lovely, there’s just something about it. I can see it on you, but not as strong as the others. [name]Viola[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] is lovely, but still not as elegant as the other choices in my opinion.
My pick would be [name]Cordelia[/name], good luck and let me know the final decision, I do not think you can go wrong with any of these choices.
I vote for either [name]Imogen[/name] or [name]Clementine[/name] - great names with just a touch of [name]Emily[/name] still there. I too pronounce [name]Clementine[/name] with a long I.
[name]Both[/name] [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] [name]Rose[/name] and [name]Cordelia[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] [name]Rose[/name] are very striking. My favorite name is [name]Viola[/name], but it just doesn’t work with [name]Lyra[/name]. I dislike [name]Clementine[/name] and find it faux-folksy.
[name]Lyra[/name] is really and truly dated to His Dark Materials, so I’m not sure how plausible a 20-yr-old [name]Lyra[/name] would be (yes I know [name]Philip[/name] Pullman didn’t invent the name, but like [name]Hermione[/name] it can largely be attributed to it). But since it has great meaning to you-- either one.
Funny - I know an [name]Emily[/name] [name]Rose[/name] too! She’s in her early 20’s.
I think [name]Cordelia[/name] or [name]Viola[/name]. I feel they are more reasonable - different & suit the middles.
I feel [name]Imogene[/name] is a bit more common. Good luck!
Congrats for getting it down to four. Now lets get that baby a name (ha)! So, my favorite name her is [name]Viola[/name], and I know you don’t care about flow, but [name]Viola[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] does sound goofy. Also, another poster mentioned this, but you don’t seem like a [name]Viola[/name] to me. A [name]Violet[/name], maybe, but I’m just not getting it. [name]Cordelia[/name] is gorgeous, striking, and a nice mix of British sensibility and American coziness. [name]Even[/name] though she’s consistently popped up on your list, I feel like you’ve often expressed some displeasure with her? Is that true? It’s also just a lot of name and I wonder how well that would work for you. So, we’ve got [name]Imogen[/name] and [name]Clementine[/name]. Now, I do not adore the name [name]Clementine[/name], as a first name at list. Someone else described it ideally, and I’m blanking on the description now, but it does come across as very cutesy folksy down-home cozy to me. And not that British - something similar but very much more “[name]Brit[/name]-chic” to me is [name]Marigold[/name]. However, I love that it gets you some connection to [name]Emily[/name], and it is a friendly sort of name. I think you just have to decide if you want to be “oh my darlin’” or not. And, [name]Imogen[/name]. [name]Imogen[/name] is a tough girl name, but she’s also remarkably sweet. I think she’s very buttoned-up, but a little bit sassy and spunky and charming. I think she’s most “you,” [name]Emily[/name], and I think she is most appropriate for a girl your age.
My vote? [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name]. Superb.
@ebonyeden: I agree with you and [name]Lemon[/name] that while [name]Viola[/name] is a lovely name, it doesn’t seem quite “me”. There is also the odd feeling of it being basically the Latin name for flower, yet I’ve identified with [name]Rose[/name] for my whole life. I’m glad you like [name]Clementine[/name]! It has such a cheerful sound; my only concern (that I’m sure you’ve thought about) is its wearability on an adult. Maybe I need to find examples other than Mrs. [name]Churchill[/name]?
@[name]Lemon[/name]: As I said above I agree with you about [name]Viola[/name]. It is quite pretty though, and maybe I’m just keeping it on the list because I like how they all look next to each other - the perils of actually having a list! [name]Cordelia[/name] has it all really, and I think the main issue I have with it is how different it sounds from [name]Emily[/name] - hence [name]Clementine[/name] and [name]Imogen[/name]! I do really like [name]Imogen[/name] I think you described the name perfectly [name]Lemon[/name]! The Shakespearean [name]Imogen[/name] had a lot going for her too!
Consensus: I have scratched [name]Viola[/name] from the list!
[name]Cordelia[/name] - Not a big fan of this name, havent ever like it really, sorry although I love the nickname [name]Coco[/name]! [name]Even[/name] though I really dislike this name the combonation is beautiful.
[name]Imogen[/name] - I absolutley adore the name [name]Imogen[/name] & both the nicknames that come with it, however I think that this name is a little bit childish, [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] has a lovley flow but prefer [name]Cordelia[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name]!
[name]Clementine[/name] - I like it. I also pronouce with a long -i-, I havent heard of it another way. I dont feel its the perfect combonation though but [name]Clementine[/name] is darling.
[name]Viola[/name] - Beautiful, its a great name but it just dosent feel as elegant as the rest of them & I slightly prefer [name]Violet[/name].
Out of them all I would go with [name]Cordelia[/name]. Good luck!
I love [name]Cordelia[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name] and [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Rose[/name] [name]Lyra[/name]. It may be easier to transition from [name]Emily[/name] to [name]Imogen[/name] because the similar [name]Em[/name] and Im sounds.
So my mother, when queried about her favorite of the three said she liked [name]Imogen[/name] the best “because it is so different”! I will admit I was born super early and my parents hadnt even thought about names yet!
@[name]Lemon[/name]: my mom also gets a folksy “Oh My Darling” feel from [name]Clementine[/name]!
