I am still loving the first name [name]Opal[/name]! But I can’t come up with a great middle for it. We love modern hero type names. Our son’s middle is [name]Newton[/name] after Sir [name]Isaac[/name]. My husband is a huge science guy (space physics) along with being a comic book nerd. I am more into literary names, such as [name]Atticus[/name], which is my first choice for a boy as of this moment.
Suggestions would be greatly appreciated! And if we can’t come up with a science or literary name, something really pretty will suffice
Literary Middles
Opal Agatha (as in Agatha Christie)
Opal Angelou (as in Maya Angelou)
Opal Bridget (Celtic goddess of poetry)
Opal Flannery (as in Flannery O’Connor)
Opal Harper (as Harper Lee)
Opal Thalia (Greek muse of poetry)
Scientific Middles
Opal Marie (as in Marie Curie)
Opal Francis (as in Francis Bacon)
Opal Elizabeth (as in Elizabeth Blackwell)
Opal Jane (as in Jane Goodall)
Opal Florence (as in Florence Nightingale)
Seconding [name]Opal[/name] [name]Frances[/name], that could be really adorable.
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Beatrix[/name] (as in [name]Potter[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Rosalind[/name] (as in [name]Rosalind[/name] [name]Franklin[/name] for a science vibe, and [name]Rosalind[/name] from As You Like It for a more literary vibe)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Marian[/name] (as in [name]George[/name] [name]Eliot[/name], or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Georgiana[/name]?)
I did think about [name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] because I adore [name]Jane[/name] Goodall… but I like [name]Jane[/name] more as a first name than a middle. Darn husband won’t let me use it though, because he says it’s too, “Plain [name]Jane[/name].” He would use as a middle though. We’ve also talked about Curie as a middle, but it doesn’t match with [name]Opal[/name].
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Beatrix[/name] is also cute, and at one point we had [name]Bianca[/name] [name]Rosalind[/name] as our name, for [name]Rosalind[/name] [name]Franklin[/name], but don’t like it as much paired with [name]Opal[/name].
Thanks for the suggestions! Keep 'em coming Berries!
Well, I know you said you love [name]Atticus[/name], but ever since I read that, I can’t get [name]Opal[/name] [name]Scout[/name] out of my mind. Idk…it’s just kind of cute.
Anyway, some other ideas:
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Eyre[/name] ([name]Jane[/name] [name]Eyre[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Cosette[/name] ([name]Les[/name] Miz)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Juliet[/name]
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Emilie[/name] (French scientist and mathematician [name]Emilie[/name] du Chatelet. Interesting link: she translated [name]Isaac[/name] [name]Newton[/name]'s Principia into French)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Maria[/name] ([name]Maria[/name] [name]Mitchell[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Irene[/name] ([name]Irene[/name] Curie-Joliot – [name]Marie[/name]'s daughter & also a scientist)
love PP’s suggestions of [name]Opal[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] and [name]Opal[/name] [name]Emilie[/name]!
these are random and quirky and all over the place…some are probably way too [name]OTT[/name] for you, but it was a fun list to compile!
Literary:
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Wilhelmina[/name] ([name]Mina[/name] Harker of Dracula)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Hermione[/name] ([name]Harry[/name] [name]Potter[/name], obviously)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] ([name]Jo[/name] [name]March[/name], [name]Little[/name] Women)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Matilda[/name] ([name]Roald[/name] Dahl)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Antonia[/name] (from the [name]Willa[/name] Cather novel)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Austen[/name] (as in [name]Jane[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Irene[/name] ([name]Adler[/name], of Sir [name]Arthur[/name] [name]Conan[/name] [name]Doyle[/name]'s [name]Sherlock[/name] [name]Holmes[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Dorothy[/name] ([name]Oz[/name], of course)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Antigone[/name] (the play by Sophocles. A tragic figure, but passionate and powerful)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Shirley[/name] ([name]Anne[/name] of [name]Green[/name] Gables)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Evangeline[/name] ([name]Longfellow[/name]. [name]Love[/name] this one!)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Serafina[/name] (Pekkala, the epic witch in [name]Phillip[/name] Pullman’s His Dark Materials series)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Morgana[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Viviane[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Morgaine[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Guinevere[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] Nimue (Arthurian legend)
[name]Opal[/name] Elphaba (Wicked! A ballsy choice, but strangely attractive)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Lisbeth[/name] (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
[name]Opal[/name] Cimorene (perfectly plucky heroine from the Enchanted [name]Forest[/name] Chronicles)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Estella[/name] (Great Expectations)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Arwen[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Eowyn[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] Luthien (Tolkein)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Lenore[/name] ([name]Edgar[/name] [name]Allen[/name] [name]Poe[/name]'s the [name]Raven[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Francesca[/name] (da Rimini)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Bianca[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Cordelia[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Titania[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Miranda[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Viola[/name] ([name]Shakespeare[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Sabine[/name] (of the [name]Griffin[/name] and [name]Sabine[/name] trilogy. Breathtaking)
[name]Science[/name] (particularly astronomy):
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Ariel[/name]
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Callisto[/name]
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Thalassa[/name]
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Andromeda[/name] (omg [name]LOVE[/name] this with [name]Newton[/name]!)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Mimosa[/name]
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Aurora[/name]
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Nashira[/name] (a star in Capricorn…means “bearer of good news” in Arabic)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Soraya[/name] (the Pleiades)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Danae[/name]
[name]Opal[/name] Mileva (physicist, Einstein’s first wife)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Aphra[/name] (astronomer)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Marietta[/name] (particle physicist)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Yvette[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Renata[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Chiara[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Marguerite[/name] or [name]Opal[/name] [name]Myriam[/name] (physicists)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Magdalene[/name] (Thygesdatter Brahe. [name]Love[/name] her retelling in Jepp, Who Defied the Stars)
Sci-fi, Gaming, or Comics:
[name]Opal[/name] Sif (epic warrior of Asgard and leader of the Valkyries. [name]Opal[/name] Valkyrie? Kick-ass, but a bit much)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Natalia[/name] ([name]Black[/name] Widow. Nuff said)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Selina[/name] (Catwoman’s real name)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Alice[/name] (Resident Evil zombie-slaying badass, and of course the [name]Lewis[/name] [name]Carroll[/name] protagonist of which there have been numerous retellings)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Anya[/name] (Spider girl)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Marion[/name] ([name]Indiana[/name] [name]Jones[/name] anyone?)
[name]Opal[/name] Namine (“born of air and water” - Kingdom Hearts 2)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Trillian[/name] (Hitchiker’s Guide to the [name]Galaxy[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Aerith[/name] (Final [name]Fantasy[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Freya[/name] (Final [name]Fantasy[/name], and Norse mythology)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Tifa[/name] (also Final [name]Fantasy[/name]…full name Tifareth)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Cassandra[/name] (Batgirl)
[name]Opal[/name] Inara (Firefly, although the Companion thing may not be all that role-model-y)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Sharon[/name] ([name]Valerii[/name], BSG)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Agatha[/name] (Girl Genius)
[name]Opal[/name] Leeloo (The Fifth Element…I couldn’t resist)
And the trifecta: [name]Opal[/name] [name]Emma[/name] ([name]Emma[/name] [name]Frost[/name], [name]Jane[/name] [name]Austen[/name] novel, and lady scientists galore)
Wow! Thanks guys! sleepyssesha~ It’s funny because we have talked about using lots of these names as middles or firsts… [name]Arwen[/name], [name]Eowyn[/name], [name]Bianca[/name], [name]Juliet[/name], [name]Matilda[/name], [name]Alice[/name], [name]Dorothy[/name]…
The problem we are having is nothing seems to flow right with [name]Opal[/name]. We love it when we hear a first and middle combo and it just hits us as perfect. That is why [name]Coraline[/name] [name]Thisbe[/name] is so stuck in my husband’s head. It’s more because he loves the combo than it is that he loves the first name.
I was thinking about using 2 middles. Any ideas… [name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (something)?? or [name]Opal[/name] (something) [name]Jane[/name]? [name]Noa[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Willow[/name] is a combo I love, so I was thinking maybe something with that feel…
[name]Opal[/name] is a tricky name to combine with other names. I like the idea of using [name]Jane[/name] as one middle, and add one more.
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Willow[/name] would be cute. [name]Willow[/name] has the literary connection through The Wind in the Willows. Or maybe [name]Opal[/name] [name]Holly[/name] [name]Jane[/name]? [name]Holly[/name] from Breakfast at [name]Tiffany[/name]'s.
I don’t really like suggesting literary names, because it’s so personal what books you like and what characters moves you, but here are some that might fit (I love the [name]Antonia[/name] suggestion by the way, and [name]Jane[/name] can be both for Goodall and [name]Janie[/name] in Their Eyes Were Watching God):
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Phoebe[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (Catcher in the [name]Rye[/name] & The House of the [name]Seven[/name] Gables)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Hester[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (The [name]Scarlett[/name] Letter)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Thomasin[/name] (The Return of the Native)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Pollyanna[/name] [name]Jane[/name] ([name]Pollyanna[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Oriane[/name] (In Search of Lost time)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Nedra[/name] [name]Jane[/name] ([name]Light[/name] Years)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Marian[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (The Woman in White)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Margaret[/name] (Are You There God? It’s Me, [name]Margaret[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Maggie[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (The Mill on the [name]Floss[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Lily[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (The Enchantment of [name]Lily[/name] Dahl)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] ([name]Little[/name] Women)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Isobel[/name] (A Dance to the [name]Music[/name] of Time)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Hedda[/name] [name]Jane[/name] ([name]Hedda[/name] Gabler)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Lena[/name] [name]Jane[/name] ([name]Light[/name] in [name]August[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Eustacia[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (The Return of the Native)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Cecilia[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (Atonement)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Becky[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (Vanity Fair)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Eliza[/name] [name]Jane[/name] (Pygmalion)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Aurora[/name] [name]Jane[/name] ([name]Aurora[/name] [name]Leigh[/name])
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Constance[/name] (Lady Chatterley’s Lover)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Emma[/name] [name]Jane[/name] ([name]Emma[/name] and Madam Bovary and the list goes on…)
Thanks ottilie! I feel like if [name]Jane[/name] is one of the middles then the other name doesn’t necessarily need to have significance… So it can just be pretty [name]Jane[/name] would go for [name]Jane[/name] Goodall, along with it being a family name.
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Willow[/name] is a possibility
Another thing is a name with an equine connection. I breed, raise, and show horses for a living. I have thought about [name]Eowyn[/name], but [name]Opal[/name] [name]Eowyn[/name] is a lot of vowels…
Ooo, I like [name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] [name]Eowyn[/name]! And thanks ottilie… I’m really not that cool though I see you are due in [name]March[/name]! Have you decided on a name?
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Henrietta[/name] would be my suggestion for the science name.
Without [name]Henrietta[/name] Swan Leavitt’s research, [name]Hubble[/name] wouldn’t have been able to develop his theories of the expanding universe. But he gets all the credit, naturally
If you’re looking for an equine connection, may I suggest [name]Opal[/name] [name]Rhiannon[/name]? I think it flows beautifully and [name]Rhiannon[/name] is a powerful figure in Welsh mythology, viewed by some as a lunar goddess and some as a goddess of horses.
You could go for [name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] Eponine - Eponine has both the horse meaning and the literary reference to [name]Les[/name] Miserables! (Could be too much “p” in the first syllable - but I think the [name]Jane[/name] in the middle fixes that problem.)
[name]Opal[/name] [name]Irene[/name] sounds really pretty and I like the suggestion of [name]Opal[/name] [name]Rhiannon[/name]. For some reason I thought the name was [name]Sybil[/name]. Oh well.
Good luck!
[name]Love[/name] [name]Opal[/name] [name]Jane[/name] Eponine and [name]Opal[/name] Eponine! I did not know that it meant horse goddess. And she’s my favorite in [name]Les[/name] Mis!
Ohh. I second [name]Henrietta[/name]. It could also be for [name]Henrietta[/name] Lacks, she of the HeLa cells!
Also, [name]Philippa[/name] means " lover of horses"
I am feeling pretty settled on [name]Opal[/name]! Finally! I knew there had to be that perfect fit out there So far the combos still in the running are:
I see you are due in [name]March[/name]! Have you decided on a name?