Fresh perspective on names for sister of Beatrix?

I’ve posted before, but we’re really struggling to name our second daughter, a summer baby. We prefer uncommon/unique but not made-up-sounding names that are classic and meaningful with at least one nickname option. Feedback appreciated. Gratefully, An Overwhelmed Mamaberry :slight_smile:

Name for sister of Beatrix (nn Bea)
  • Delphinia (nn Delphie, Della, Dee, Fifi)
  • Viola (pron. vye-O-la; nn Vi, Lola, Vyla)
  • Floriana (nn Flori, Flora; husband doesn’t like Flo)
  • Azalea (nn Zalie, Aza)
  • Minerva (nn Minnie, Minna, Mimi, Mina)
  • Zelda (nn Zelle, Zee)
0 voters

Thoughts/questions:

  1. Does Delphinia sound too made-up? Is it too much to ask people to use her full name and not a nn? (My preference is the full name. FYI, we don’t think Delphina/Delphine will work as the full name for us, though could be nickname.)
  2. Is Viola (nn Vi) too close to the popular Violet? Is nn Lola too close to the popular “L” names - Lilly, Lyra, Lula, etc.?
  3. Floriana was added on a whim because husband finds it more acceptable than Florence (he doesn’t like nn Flo). Thoughts?
  4. Azalea is beautiful, but is it 4 syllables or 3? And it seems like it’s trending upwards? Is the “z” too on trend?
  5. I’m not sure if I can get over the “nerve” sound in Minerva, but I like nn Minnie…
  6. Husband favors Zelda more than me, but I haven’t vetoed it…
  1. Delphinia doesn’t sound made-up! It just sounds more dramatic/ancient than Beatrix? I would expect a Delphinia to have a sister named Letitia or Honora or something along those lines, not Beatrix.
  2. I love Viola, it’s my second favourite for you after Minerva! I don’t think it’s too close to Violet. As for Lola, maybe, but since it’s just a nickname I don’t think the popularity of similar names matters.
  3. Not sure what “more acceptable than Florence” means. To me Florence is a much better match with Beatrix, but Floriana definitely works.
  4. Azalea is 4 syllables to me! I don’t think it’s too on trend, although it does feel more modern and edgier compared to Beatrix
  5. I don’t really notice the “nerve” in Minerva personally! For other names with the nickname Minnie, maybe Wilhelmina / Willamina, Millicent, Emmeline, Marianne, Marina, Araminta
  6. I like Zelda, but if you just don’t click with it, maybe it’s time to move on from the idea?

*** Does [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f] sound too made-up? Is it too much to ask people to use her full name and not a nn? (My preference is the full name. FYI, we don’t think Delphina/Delphine will work as the full name for us, though could be nickname.)**

[name_f][/name_f]

I don’t think [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f] sounds made up [name_f][/name_f]- sounds floral and pretty. [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f] is no longer than [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], [name_f]Lilliana[/name_f] etc. and I’ve met people with those name who only use them in their full forms :slight_smile:

[name_f][/name_f]

*** Is [name_f]Viola[/name_f] (nn Vi) too close to the popular [name_f]Violet[/name_f]? Is nn [name_f]Lola[/name_f] too close to the popular “L” names [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f]Lilly[/name_f], [name_f]Lyra[/name_f], [name_f]Lula[/name_f], etc.?**

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Viola[/name_f] and [name_f]Violet[/name_f] have quite different ‘feels’ to them to me [name_f][/name_f]- [name_f][/name_f] a bit like [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] do! [name_f]Viola[/name_f] stands out enough. [name_f]Lola[/name_f] is similar to other L- names though [name_f][/name_f]- and [name_f]Lola[/name_f] itself is fairly popular where I am :person_shrugging:

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Floriana[/name_f] was added on a whim because husband finds it more acceptable than [name_f]Florence[/name_f] (he doesn’t like nn Flo). Thoughts?

[name_f][/name_f]

I think it could grow on me, maybe? I’d be pleased to meet one anyway, though I do prefer [name_f]Florence[/name_f]. If it helps, I’ve met quite a number of Florences and only one has been [name_f]Flo[/name_f]. Most have been simply [name_f]Florence[/name_f].

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Azalea[/name_f] is beautiful, but is it 4 syllables or 3? And it seems like it’s trending upwards? Is the “z” too on trend?

[name_f][/name_f]

I say it with 4 syllables [name_f][/name_f]- uh-zay-lee-uh. It is trending upwards, and does feel more contemporary than your other choices [name_f][/name_f]- but I wouldn’t say it’s too ‘trendy’ to work (it’s not, say [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] and Lakelynn)

[name_f][/name_f]

*** I’m not sure if I can get over the “nerve” sound in [name_f]Minerva[/name_f], but I like nn Minnie…**

[name_f][/name_f]

I tend to emphasize the first syllable so I can overlook the ‘nerve’ sound, but if it bothers you, it might be an easy way to cut the list down to remove it.

[name_f][/name_f]

Husband favors [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] more than me, but I haven’t vetoed it…

[name_f][/name_f]

I like the sharp, distinctive -yet- familar feel of [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], and [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] and [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] are cool together [name_f][/name_f]- I do still prefer [name_f]Viola[/name_f] though

    [name_f][/name_f]
  1. No, while not something everyone will be familiar with there’s nothing about it that sounds fake. I’d guess that some people may struggle with using the full name at first, but it shouldn’t be that hard to get used to.
  2. [name_f][/name_f]
  3. It does seem a bit close and I feel like I hear it a lot more than I used to. While [name_f]Lola[/name_f] is somewhat trendy right now (at least in the US) and shares sounds with a lot of popular names, I think it still stands out because it has a more distinctive vibe to me than the others you mentioned.
  4. [name_f][/name_f]
  5. I debated voting for this one because of its uniqueness and similar feel to [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]. It’s certainly the least familiar of the six and probably least likely to ever surge in popularity.
  6. [name_f][/name_f]
  7. [name_f]Pretty[/name_f] solidly 4 syllables to me, and does seem a bit more modern than the others, but still fits your criteria well and pairs really naturally with [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f].
  8. [name_f][/name_f]
  9. I don’t notice it but if it bothers you a lot I might look for something else, also seems very [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] to me paired with [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] (with its similarity to Bellatrix)
  10. [name_f][/name_f]
  11. Not a bad choice, but for me personally, the vibe is SO similar to [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] that doesn’t stand out as much
  12. [name_f][/name_f]
    [name_f][/name_f]
  1. I don’t think [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f] sounds made up at all, but she has a grand, mystical vibe that almost outshines [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], which is why I didn’t vote for her. [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f] as a full name is completely doable, especially seeing as she’s only 4 syllables – the same amount as [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] or [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], which are very popular and not always nicknamed.
  2. [name_f][/name_f]
  3. For me, at least, there’s always been a huge gap between [name_f]Viola[/name_f] and [name_f]Violet[/name_f]. Their popularity and vibes are so different that I think it would be fine. [name_f]Lola[/name_f] is an adorable nickname! [name_f]Viola[/name_f] is my second favorite option for you, after [name_f]Zelda[/name_f]
  4. [name_f][/name_f]
  5. [name_f]Floriana[/name_f] isn’t my personal favorite, I prefer the simplicity/familiarity of different [name_f]Florence[/name_f] variations [name_f][/name_f] (ie. [name_f]Floria[/name_f], [name_f]Flora[/name_f], etc). She could definitely grow on me though!
  6. [name_f][/name_f]
  7. I’ve always loved [name_f]Azalea[/name_f], and I think she fits nicely with [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]! I don’t think the “z” is too on trend at all, I actually love how they would each get their own unique letter (the “x” and the “z”) and I think her familiar roots cancel out any worries of trendiness. [name_f]Azalea[/name_f] is 4 syllables for me!
  8. [name_f][/name_f]
  9. The “nerve” sound has always turned me off [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] as well, despite how much I love her nickname options and meaning. If you don’t love it, I would take it off the list.
  10. [name_f][/name_f]
  11. Is there anything in particular you dislike about [name_f]Zelda[/name_f]? I love how spunky and bright she sounds, with a vintage touch that reminds me of the Roaring 20s and that Great [name_m]Gatsby[/name_m][name_f][/name_f] vibe.
  12. [name_f][/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]My[/name_f] overall top three for Beatrix’s sister would be:

[name_f][/name_f]
    [name_f][/name_f]
  1. [name_f]Zelda[/name_f]
  2. [name_f][/name_f]
  3. [name_f]Viola[/name_f]
  4. [name_f][/name_f]
  5. [name_f]Azalea[/name_f]
  6. [name_f][/name_f]

I love [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f] and it doesn’t sound made up. That’s my favorite followed by [name_f]Minerva[/name_f]

I’m not sure any of these sound like the one for you! [name_f][/name_f] How about finding another long name for the nickname [name_f]Minnie[/name_f]? Like [name_f]Araminta[/name_f], [name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f], [name_f]Philomena[/name_f]?

  1. Not made up, I personally love the flower but well as an Aussie i think you’d be hard pressed getting her full name used all the time… if not in Australia you may have more luck
  2. Love Viola, more unexpected then Violet, it’s refreshing and Vi and Lola are lovely nn though yes popular but I like that, it allows her the option of standing out with her full name or blending in with a nickname, gives her options.
  3. I too dislike Flo… I do love the related names of Florentina, Fiorella, Firenze, i think these give nicer nn options
  4. Azalea is a lovely zippy floral name, I’ve never met one personally… Z is a trendy letter but its not in the front with this name
  5. I can’t get past Harry Potter associations with this name…
  6. I unusually picked this name as my favourite today, I found it an unexpected choice with Beatrix and like its energy, I thought it the easier name to follow up after Beatrix, you know if your caling for them at the park or something…

[name_f]Minerva[/name_f] or [name_f]Viola[/name_f] would sound beautiful alongside [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]!

[name_f][/name_f]
    [name_f][/name_f]
  1. [name_f][/name_f]

    No, it doesn’t sound made-up, and you are 100% allowed to insist that people use her whole name and not nicknames. It’s worth keeping in mind, though, that she might want to use a nickname at some point (as in, you will only be able to police it until she’s old enough to have an opinion on her identity).

    [name_f][/name_f]
  2. [name_f][/name_f]
  3. [name_f][/name_f]

    I don’t see [name_f]Viola[/name_f] and [name_f]Violet[/name_f] as too close, and [name_f]Lola[/name_f] is refreshing compared to other popular L names.

    [name_f][/name_f]
  4. [name_f][/name_f]
  5. [name_f][/name_f]

    I personally prefer [name_f]Florence[/name_f]. [name_f]Floriana[/name_f] is very flouncy and sounds kind of made-up to me.

    [name_f][/name_f]
  6. [name_f][/name_f]
  7. [name_f][/name_f]

    Here, we say [name_f]Azalea[/name_f] with 4 syllables. I don’t think the Z looks trendy here, because it is legitimately part of the word. It’s not like the [name_m]Jaxxon[/name_m][name_f][/name_f] trend where people where throwing X about to “be different”.

    [name_f][/name_f]
  8. [name_f][/name_f]
  9. [name_f][/name_f]

    [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] is a gorgeous name. I don’t find the “nerve” sound bothersome.

    [name_f][/name_f]
  10. [name_f][/name_f]
  11. [name_f][/name_f]

    [name_f]Zelda[/name_f] is definitely taking off a bit. It’s fun and spunky, but I do think it could be a short-lived trend.

    [name_f][/name_f]
  12. [name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Azalea[/name_f] is such a beautiful name with 4 syllables and yea Z ‘gained’ popularity in recent years. Then what’s wrong if you go with this? and if you haven’t vetoed [name_f]Zelda[/name_f], it sounds even beautiful. If i’d have to choose from these names, that would be [name_f]Zelda[/name_f]!

[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is so lovely [name_f][/name_f]!
[name_f][/name_f]I voted for [name_f]Viola[/name_f] as I think they are so perfect together [name_f][/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] second choice is [name_f]Delphinia[/name_f]