We have a [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] [name_f]Esther[/name_f] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f] W-ilky, sometimes called [name_f]Dot[/name_f].
We have narrowed it down to possibly these final 2:
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]: I’m afraid of this being too “trendy” and not “old lady-ish” enough, as I love old lady. But I also like the slight whimsical feel I get from it. I like the nickname possibilities of [name_f]Mimi[/name_f] or [name_f]Immy[/name_f] and like that there is no problems with how it sounds with our last name. I am slightly worried about it being pronounced -gene instead though. This is hubby’s favorite but only by a couple percentages, he said lol.
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]: I love how old fashion and clunky it sounds. I think it “fits” a bit better with sister [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]. But I don’t know if I like the alliteration with our last name as I’ve always wanted to avoid that and the nicknames that we like don’t sound great with our last name either ([name_f]Winnie[/name_f] W-ilky… awful? We don’t know if we like [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] but have been throwing around [name_f]Fifi[/name_f] but not sold. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t like [name_u]Wyn[/name_u]). I also like that it is not popular or anywhere near popular. I love the meaning and that also fits well with the meaning of [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f].
I was convinced on [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] until you mentioned [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] W-ilky. Yeah not a fan of that. So my votes [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] but if you aren’t in love what about [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] or [name_f]Irene[/name_f]?
I wish we could change our last name ha! [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] is cute but I like longer names. I feel [name_f]Irene[/name_f] is dated and not vintage enough
Yeah haha. I did some digging and found another I one that might be good too - [name_f]Isabetta[/name_f]. [name_f]Isabetta[/name_f] and [name_f]Dorotha[/name_f]. [name_f]Etta[/name_f] & [name_f]Dot[/name_f].
I would go for [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] - including bc it’s a lovely balance with [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f]. But I get the sense that you’d prefer to go with [name_f]Winifred[/name_f]! I know how it feels. My husband’s last name with certain first names makes you stutter and spit! I think you’ve either got to just love [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] W_ilky or ditch it: [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] is not as nice as [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] and I don’t think you’ll hold the tide against using it.
ha, same! I’m only meh on [name_f]Imogen[/name_f]–I used to love it as a middle name, but it’s just not my thing anymore. [name_f]Immy[/name_f] is cute, but I’m not sure [name_f]Immy[/name_f], [name_f]Mimi[/name_f], [name_f]Fifi[/name_f], or [name_u]Freddie[/name_u] sound better with your last name than [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] does ([name_f]Winnie[/name_f] is obviously not great at all, but does she have to be known as [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] W!lky? She could be [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] W!lky on paper but go by [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] in day-to-day. I always thought it was weird to attach a surname to a nickname–if you’re going to be formal about using a surname, I’d be formal about giving the full name, too, but maybe that’s just one of my idiosyncrasies lol. I think [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] and [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] are great!
I agree that [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] has more of the old lady thing going, whereas [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] feels more hipster in the US. [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] W is bad, but I think [name_u]Ash[/name_u] is right that she could use the full name when she needs to use her last name.
A few suggestions, although you have probably thought of them:
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_u]Marion[/name_u]
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mimi[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
My vote goes to [name_f]Winifred[/name_f], despite the nickname issue. [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is lovely but lacks the weight and delightful clunkiness of [name_f]Dorothea[/name_f] and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f].
Your last name makes all “ee” ending nicknames slightly problematic, I’m afraid, but the good news is that I don’t think [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] is vastly worse in that regard than [name_f]Immy[/name_f] or [name_f]Mimi[/name_f] or [name_f]Fifi[/name_f] or any of the others. It’s cutesy, yes, but also quite striking and memorable.
I like alliteration so I’m actually partial to [name_f]Winifred[/name_f] in this case. [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] maybe doesn’t sound great with your surname, but it’s just a nickname. I think [name_m]Fred[/name_m]/[name_u]Freddie[/name_u] is adorable on a little girl.
I think [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] is lovely but I do prefer [name_f]Winifred[/name_f].