I’ve decided that for me, a non-frilly and strong girl name is one that has more consonant than vowel sounds and doesn’t end in a vowel. The antithesis of [name]Eulalie[/name] and [name]Arabella[/name], for example. I don’t necessarily mean short, because I think the name [name]Gwendolen[/name] is strong and non-frilly, even with 3 syllables.
[name]Add[/name] to the list? (not any particular style to these apart from what I’ve said above)
I am all about the non-frilly strong names [name]Vivian[/name], [name]Lydia[/name], [name]Ruby[/name], [name]Ramona[/name], [name]Annette[/name], [name]Beatrice[/name], [name]Bernadette[/name], [name]Frances[/name], [name]Karen[/name], [name]Simone[/name], [name]Dominique[/name], [name]Tess[/name], [name]Theresa[/name], [name]Ursula[/name] and [name]Vera[/name] are some that strike me as fitting in this category. For me it’s not just about vowel/consonant mix, it’s also about names that conjure the kind of girl that is kind of tough and not a wallflower, totally subjective i know!
Not ending in a vowel is hard! I like the [name]Edith[/name] and [name]Myrtle[/name] suggestions. [name]How[/name] bout: [name]Myrna[/name], [name]Nelda[/name], [name]Norma[/name], [name]Morna[/name], [name]Wanda[/name], [name]Wilma[/name] (I love this name), [name]Ruth[/name], [name]Thelma[/name], [name]Mildred[/name], [name]Lilian[/name], [name]Edna[/name], [name]Ethel[/name], [name]Pearl[/name], [name]Margaret[/name], [name]Judith[/name], [name]Vesper[/name], Hesper, [name]Miriam[/name], [name]Zelda[/name]. I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] and am considering using it myself. I think any of these with the mn [name]Pearl[/name] or [name]Margaret[/name] woud be just gorgeous! Let us know what you like! I really dig the “clunky” names.
When you say “doesn’t end with a vowel” do you mean a vowel sound? Or vowel spelling/letter?
[name]Elizabeth[/name]
[name]Destiny[/name] but it ends with a vowel
[name]Grace[/name]
[name]Caroline[/name]
[name]Raine[/name]/[name]Rain[/name]
[name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Louise[/name]
[name]Rose[/name]
[name]Maude[/name]
[name]Maeve[/name]
[name]Allison[/name]
[name]Evelyn[/name]
[name]Rachel[/name]
[name]Millicent[/name]
[name]Adriane[/name]/[name]Adrienne[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Sage[/name]
[name]Ingrid[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name]/[name]Beatrix[/name]
[name]Bellatrix[/name]
[name]Celeste[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name]
[name]Lillian[/name]
[name]Adelaide[/name]
[name]Cheyenne[/name]
[name]Winifred[/name]
[name]Charmaine[/name]
[name]Charlene[/name]
[name]Charlotte[/name]
[name]Clementine[/name]
[name]Irene[/name]
[name]Daisy[/name]
[name]Taylor[/name]/[name]Tayler[/name]
[name]Lauren[/name]/[name]Laurel[/name]
[name]Karen[/name]/[name]Karine[/name]
[name]Robin[/name]
[name]Henrietta[/name]
[name]Carol[/name]/[name]Carole[/name]
Thank you all for your lovely suggestions! I particularly love [name]Vesper[/name], [name]Zelda[/name] and [name]Harriet[/name]! (although the “hairy” part makes it mostly unusable for me). I think [name]Agnes[/name] [name]True[/name] would be a beautiful name for a child.
ETA; I would love [name]Astrid[/name], but one of my close friends is named [name]Aston[/name], and has always complained about being teased about having, er, a “ton of ass”.
And I mean a vowel sound, I’m so tired of the ubiquitous -a ending for girls!
Some of my favorites are:
[name]Poppy[/name]