I don’t know how, but we did it, gang! Over the course of two weeks, three rounds, and five threads, we narrowed down my massive list of 141 names to just 30 finalists for us to take to the hospital! I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for the feedback and support you have all given me throughout this process, and I can’t wait to share the final name with you after our little Nugget is born!
If you’re new to the saga of the Monster List, here’s where we started: Help me narrow down my MASSIVE list! (Part 1: A-G). For a little context, I am in a long-term polyamorous relationship with two live-in partners, and we will all be co-parenting together. I’ve called them T and S to avoid confusion. We’re also super pagan, hence all the witchy names! We’re planning to use two middle names, which is part of how the list got so long in the first place. Our last name spelled phonetically is KAY-lahr.
And now, without further ado, here are the finalists:
- [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] - F - “kingfisher”
[name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] is a figure from Greek mythology whose lover was killed by a storm after they insulted the gods by calling each other [name_m]Zeus[/name_m] and [name_f]Hera[/name_f]. [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] learned of his fate in a dream and threw herself into the sea in grief. The gods took pity on the couple, turning them into kingfishers. As additional apology for their wrath, they created a period of time around the winter solstice when no storms would trouble the sea, which became known as [name_u]Halcyon[/name_u] Days in [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f]'s honor. [name_f]Alcyone[/name_f] is also the name of a star in the constellation [name_m]Taurus[/name_m], the brightest star in the Pleiades cluster. This name also has deeper meaning to T and I, as it references a place that was very special to us early in our relationship, as well as its proprietor who called us her “kids.” - [name_u]Alder[/name_u] - U - “alder tree”
Old [name_f]English[/name_f] surname referencing alder trees, which have magical and medicinal properties. Alders harden in water rather than rotting, and alder trees are said to mark passages to the fairy realm. There’s also a reference here to the powerful matriarch of the witch community in Motherland: [name_m]Fort[/name_m] [name_u]Salem[/name_u], [name_m]General[/name_m] [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] [name_u]Alder[/name_u]. This name has special significance to our family, as we are in the process of closing on a piece of property on which to build our homestead, and the land is covered in red alder trees! - [name_f]Belladonna[/name_f] - F - “beautiful lady”
Atropa belladonna is the Latin name for deadly nightshade, a poisonous plant used in both magic and medicine. The name comes from the fact that historically, women would use eyedrops of belladonna to dilate their pupils and appear more alluring. The lore around belladonna abounds. It was a traditional ingredient in witches’ flying ointments, and is even said to be the poison [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] ingested in the famous Shakespearean tragedy. As an herbalist, I am always fascinated by plants that are both toxic and medicinal. [name_f]Belladonna[/name_f] can be used as a sedative or to reduce muscle spasms, and just like those historical ladies, modern eye doctors use belladonna drops to dilate the pupils during vision exams. - [name_f]Circe[/name_f] - F - “bird; to encircle (with enchantment)”
A powerful sorceress from Greek myth, daughter of the sun god [name_m]Helios[/name_m] and [name_f]Hecate[/name_f], goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, and the Underworld. [name_f]Circe[/name_f] was famous for her vast knowledge of potions, herbs, and poisons, with which she changed men and women into animals in many of her legends, the most famous of which being [name_m]Homer[/name_m]'s Odyssey. In later literature, she became the archetype of the magician, the witch, and the predatory woman, symbolizing the “evils” of female sexuality. There is also a genus of poisonous plants named after her called enchanter’s nightshade. - [name_f]Cosima[/name_f] - F - “order, beauty”
A mystical sounding name with scientific and musical associations, while various historical figures with the masculine variant, [name_m]Cosimo[/name_m], were linked to astrology, divination, secret societies, and the occult. Also references the brilliant queer scientist [name_f]Cosima[/name_f] Niehaus from one of my favorite shows, Orphan [name_m]Black[/name_m]. To me, this name feels like “cosmos” and sparks my synesthesia to see clouds of midnight blue with silver sparkles. Potential nickname: Cozy! - [name_u]Cypress[/name_u] - U - “cypress tree”
A mysterious tree name (usually given to boys), cypress is found throughout magic, medicine, and mythology, where it symbolizes the land of the dead, grief and mourning, death and rebirth. It is sacred to [name_f]Hecate[/name_f], goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, magic, and the Underworld. In Jewish tradition, cypress symbolizes the immortality of the soul, making this a slight nod to T’s Ashkenazi Jewish heritage. - [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] - U - “elm tree”
A gorgeous Cornish botanical name with strong elvish vibes. The Cornish language is endangered and nearly died out, but a group of dedicated activists were able to preserve and revive the language. There are now over 3000 speakers, and Cornish names like [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] are once again on the rise. [name_u]Elm[/name_u] trees are prolific in Cornwall and have lots of associated witchy lore. They share a special affinity with the elves who guarded the burial mounds that contained their dead and served as passageways to the Underworld. - [name_f]Eve[/name_f] - F - “life; beautiful, radiant; evening”
In Hebrew tradition, [name_f]Eve[/name_f] was [name_m]Adam[/name_m]‘s second wife, though in [name_u]Christian[/name_u] creation stories, she was the first woman. [name_f]Eve[/name_f] is also the Anglicized version of [name_f]Aoife[/name_f], a Gaelic warrior woman from Irish legend. Also a word name meaning evening, sometimes associated with the witching hour. Nickname [name_f]Evie[/name_f] also brings in references to two favorite fictional characters: spirited librarian [name_f]Evie[/name_f] O’[name_m]Connell[/name_m] from The Mummy series, and reluctant revolutionary [name_f]Evey[/name_f] [name_m]Hammond[/name_m] from the incredible V for [name_f]Vendetta[/name_f]. - [name_u]Fable[/name_u] - U - “a short tale, often with a moral lesson”
One of my absolute favorite word names, laden with a sense of magic, story, and mystery. Obliquely honors one of my closest friends who I met playing the eponymous video game series. Also a nod to S, who is a prolific writer, and even myself, a former children’s librarian. - [name_f]Fern[/name_f] / Fearn - “bold voyager; one who lives among the ferns”
A beautiful botanical name laden with personal and spiritual significance. Variant Fearn is the Ogham month and rune associated with the alder tree. (Ogham is a druidic language in which each letter is associated with a calendar period, a magical tree, and a divinatory meaning.) Between this association and the fact that we live in the [name_m]Pacific[/name_m] Northwest, this name has double the ties to the land we’ll be homesteading on. Currently S’s top choice. - [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f] - F - “white snow”
A magical Welsh name that combines the masculine element [name_u]Gwyn[/name_u], meaning, “white, fair, blessed,” with the feminine element eira, meaning, “snow.” The combination of gendered elements makes this name a nod to T, who is intersex and non-binary. [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f] is also essentially the Welsh version of [name_u]Snow[/name_u] White. - [name_f]Illyria[/name_f] - F - “living star; the one that sparks”
A half-mythical place name used by [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m], as well as a Buffyverse reference via a character in the spin-off show [name_u]Angel[/name_u]. I have loved this name for ages for its ethereal, liquid sound, but could never find a meaning beyond “ancient place name.” I finally stumbled across some etymology, and once I realized what the name means, I fell in love even harder! The idea of Sparks connects to a concept from one of T’s favorite comics, Girl Genius, so they loved the meaning as well. - [name_f]Lumi[/name_f] / Lumiere - U - “snow / light”
[name_f]Lumi[/name_f] is a Finnish name in its own right, meaning, “snow.” This name honors S, who is of Finnish heritage. The language has over 40 words for snow, and we have joked about giving one of them to each of our future children!
[name_m]Long[/name_m]-form Lumiere is a [name_u]French[/name_u] name meaning “light,” most commonly associated with the candlestick from Beauty and the Beast, but more interestingly, with a pair of brothers who developed photography equipment and birthed the phenomenon of projected film. - Lunaria - F - “honesty; moon-like”
A genus of flowering plants in the fern family, known by their common name, honesty. The plant’s seed pods bear a strong resemblance to silver coins, earning it the nickname “money plant.” These same silvery seed pods are also responsible for the name’s “moon-like” meaning. Lunaria is also known as moonwort and believed to have magical properties. In folklore, witches were repelled by iron, but moonwort nullified the effects of iron amulets and protective barriers, allowing witches to walk by night wherever they pleased. The fern connection again has special significance for us. - [name_f]Melusine[/name_f] - F - “strong in work”
A freshwater spirit in [name_u]French[/name_u] folklore, depicted with the lower body of a fish or serpent and frequently with wings as well. She is associated with springs, pools, and sacred wells. Legends about her are numerous, but the common thread is that she is married to man who swears never to watch her bathe. One day, he breaks his oath, and her shape-shifting status is revealed. When she realizes his betrayal, she flies away and disappears, in some versions taking their children with her. I love this as an unexpected route to nickname [name_f]Lucy[/name_f], a reference to the beloved Chronicles of [name_f]Narnia[/name_f] series. - [name_f]Moon[/name_f] - U - “the moon”
One of the more adventurous word names on the list, with obvious pagan and witchy connotations. Also references the main character of American Gods, a book that, while fictional, has been very influential in my spiritual life. - [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f] - F - “waves of the sea; white sea”
Welsh variant of [name_f]Morgana[/name_f], as well as an obscure Cornish goddess who became a saint, famous for building a stone church with her own hands. Where she once stopped to rest, legend says a spring gushed forth, which became one of the sacred wells that hold so much meaning and inspire pilgrimages for pagans and Christians alike. This name has been near the top of my list for years. - [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] - U - “night singer”
A magical word name with connotations of beautiful song and deep velvety night. Nightingales are associated with love and loss, life and death, melancholy and joy, spiritual enlightenment and shadow work - their symbolism is always in pairs, illustrating the inherent duality of existence. As an herbalist, I also love the associations with healing via the famous nurse, [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]. - [name_f]Nimue[/name_f] - F - “cloud; pale wanderer; [name_f]Lady[/name_f] of the [name_u]Lake[/name_u]”
Sorceress of Arthurian legend, frequently associated with the [name_f]Lady[/name_f] of the [name_u]Lake[/name_u]. Sometimes she is described as [name_m]Merlin[/name_m]'s lover, sometimes the duplicitous enchantress who sealed him inside a tree, and sometimes both. This name obliquely honors my sister [name_f]Naomi[/name_f], as well as the late [name_m]Leonard[/name_m] Nimoy, for whom I have always had tremendous respect. It is one of the top names on my list, with [name_f]Nim[/name_f] as a nickname to bring in references to The Rats of NIMH trilogy, as well as the eponymous character from the movie [name_f]Nim[/name_f]'s [name_u]Island[/name_u], which is a further homage to my sister. - [name_u]Noor[/name_u] - U - “light; young”
A magical name with many interesting variations, each with its own lore. [name_u]Noor[/name_u] (also spelled [name_f]Nour[/name_f] and [name_u]Nur[/name_u]) is a spiritually resonant name in Arabic meaning, “the [name_u]Divine[/name_u] light,” associated with enlightenment and considered one of the 99 names of Allah. In Norse mythology, [name_u]Noor[/name_u] (also spelled [name_f]Nor[/name_f] or Norr), is the son of a legendary king who goes to search for his missing sister and conquers the lands of modern day Norway in the process. In [name_m]Dutch[/name_m] and Flemish, [name_u]Noor[/name_u] is a diminutive of [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f], derived from [name_f]Alienor[/name_f] of [name_f]Aquitaine[/name_f], queen consort of [name_f]France[/name_f]. And in the Estonian language, [name_u]Noor[/name_u] is a surname referring to eternal youth. - [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] - F - “eighth”
Not the most inspiring meaning, but she makes up for it with lots of great references: [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]'s [name_m]Antony[/name_m] and [name_f]Cleopatra[/name_f]; amazing sci-fi author of color [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] [name_m]Butler[/name_m]; the brilliant and creative [name_u]Tavi[/name_u] from the Codex Alera series, and best-for-last, the incredible illegal second child turned warrior turned gladiator queen turned badass co-parent, [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] [name_u]Blake[/name_u] from The 100. This name is currently one of T’s top picks. - [name_f]Olwen[/name_f] - F - “white circle; white footprint”
An enchanting Welsh fairy tale name from Arthurian romance in which [name_f]Olwen[/name_f] was the daughter of a giant chieftain who assigned a series of increasingly difficult tasks to her suitor because of a prophecy that if she married, he would die. Her name comes from the fact that she was such a pure, gentle soul, white clovers sprung up wherever she walked. I’m a sucker for O names, Welsh names, and fairy tale names, so this one hits a sweet spot for me. - [name_f]Oona[/name_f] - F - “lamb”
Irish variant of the Finnish name [name_f]Una[/name_f]. [name_f]Oona[/name_f] was an Irish fairy queen and wife of legendary king [name_m]Finbar[/name_m] / Finvarra, [name_m]King[/name_m] of the Dead and the Daoine [name_f]Sidhe[/name_f]. Variant [name_f]Oonagh[/name_f] is a sorceress from one of my favorite series, Sevenwaters, by [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] Marillier. This name is also a nod to S’s Finnish heritage. - [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] - F - “help, succor”
The most famous [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] is the “tragic” heroine from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]'s [name_m]Hamlet[/name_m], traditionally believed to have gone mad and drowned herself in grief over the loss of her father and [name_m]Hamlet[/name_m]'s treatment of her. However, knowledge of Victorian flower language reframes her famous bouquet speech as a bold and clever callout of the most powerful people at court, an act of defiance that likely got her assassinated. I have always had an intensely personal connection to her character. Other [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] references include characters in Uncle [name_m]Tom[/name_m]'s Cabin, The Addams Family, and [name_m]Pan[/name_m]'s Labyrinth. Also the name of one of the moons of Uranus. - [name_f]Reverie[/name_f] - U - “daydream”
Captivating word name for an ethereal dreamlike state, which can also reference being lost in memories. This is the name of one of my favorite pieces of music by impressionist composer [name_u]Claude[/name_u] Debussy. I love the idea of [name_f]Reverie[/name_f] as an unexpected path to the nickname [name_f]Evie[/name_f]. - [name_u]Snow[/name_u] - U - “frozen precipitation”
A fantastically wintry word name littered with meaningful references. There is the obvious link to [name_u]Snow[/name_u] White, and my favored incarnation of her, Snowfrom Once Upon A Time (as opposed to her [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] persona, who tends to irritate me, [name_u]Snow[/name_u] is brilliant, fierce, passionate, and rebellious, all things I love in a heroine.) [name_u]Snow[/name_u] is also one of my favorite characters in a very strange book called Solitaire by [name_u]Kelley[/name_u] Eskridge, a haunting story that I’ve read over and over again. This name also obliquely honors our gods, partly through the connection with their wintry homeland, but also because every time one of them has moved significantly in our lives, their arrival is heralded by an intense winter storm, unusual for the part of the country where we live. - [name_f]Sylvestra[/name_f] - F - “woodland; from the forest”
Feminine variant of [name_m]Sylvester[/name_m], a name that originated with [name_m]Silvanus[/name_m], [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god of woods and wild places, a domain that resonates strongly with us. Nickname [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] also has special meaning to us due to the way it sounds like “silver;” a long story, but anything silvery is getting strong consideration for this baby. Not only is it chock full of wild and woodsy vibes, but it also has another layer of significance to me. I have been a tarot reader for over a decade, and it is one of my life’s great passions. The first deck I ever worked with is called Fenestra, and the similarity in sound makes me think of this deck every time I hear the name [name_f]Sylvestra[/name_f]. - [name_u]Willow[/name_u] - U - “willow tree”
An unearthly beautiful tree with a laundry list of literary and mythology associations, too many to name them all! Willows are another Ogham tree (Ogham is a druidic language in which each letter is associated with a calendar period, a magical tree, and a divinatory meaning.) and they have long been believed to possess magical properties. Their bark is a staple for any herbalist, as it is the substance from which aspirin is derived. Among the many references with personal meaning are the Grandmother Willowfrom Disney’s [name_f]Pocahontas[/name_f], the eponymous male character from the fantasy movie [name_u]Willow[/name_u], and the [name_u]Willow[/name_u] Song from [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m]'s [name_m]Othello[/name_m] But the ultimate reference, and the reason I have fiercely adored this name since childhood is the incredible [name_u]Willow[/name_u] Rosenberg from [name_f]Buffy[/name_f] the Vampire Slayer. Not only is she an amazing character possessed of great passion and strength beneath her shy exterior, but in many ways, she is the reason I became the proudly queer witch I am today. - [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f] - F - “Wister’s flower; devotion”
The horticulturist who discovered [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f] named it after his friend, a glassmaker. In Victorian flower language, wisteria is a symbol of devotion. It can live for over 100 years and is believed to bestow longevity on its caretakers. I have adored this name since childhood, as wisterias are my favorite flower. Their dangling purple blossoms smell so heady and magical, and I love the juxtaposition between the delicate blossoms and the implacable strength of the woody vines. This flower never fails to remind me fondly of my childhood home in the Deep [name_u]South[/name_u]. [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite nickname option is the fanciful and unexpected Wish. - [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] - F - “grey fighting maid; dark battle; blessed, happy”
Some sources cite [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] as a dimunitive of [name_f]Griselda[/name_f], which is where the first two meanings come from; others say it is a variant of the Yiddish name [name_m]Selig[/name_m], which is the origin of the latter meaning. The reference to the popular game series obliquely honors one of T’s loved ones. I fell in love with this name after watching [name_f]Miranda[/name_f] [name_m]Otto[/name_m]'s awesome portrayal of the badass Spellman sister and eventual matriarch of the witches from Chilling Adventures of [name_f]Sabrina[/name_f].
And that is a WRAP, my lovelies! The final version of the Monster List that will be coming with us to the hospital. I can’t believe I was able to narrow down the list this far, and I know for a fact I could never have done it without the help of this wonderful community. Thank you, Berries! 
I’m so excited to see what you end up going with if you decide to share! [name_f]My[/name_f] favorites are: [name_u]Alder[/name_u], [name_f]Elowen[/name_f], [name_f]Eve[/name_f], [name_u]Fable[/name_u], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f], [name_f]Lumi[/name_f], [name_f]Melusine[/name_f], [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u], [name_u]Noor[/name_u], [name_f]Oona[/name_f], [name_f]Reverie[/name_f], and [name_u]Willow[/name_u]–but oh my goodness, you have nothing but amazing choices here 
Good luck!!
