This list has nothing -or little- to do with our current quest to name baby no. 3. These are the names I suggested that my husband vetoed not once, but twice from the girl’s list.
He feels, as do most people, that they are too old and charmless for their “middle age” lady aura. Except for [name_f]Briar[/name_f] which he thinks is too silly.
Whad are your thoughts on my never-going-to-happen list?
Personally the only one I don’t see coming back for a while is [name_f]Mavis[/name_f]. I love [name_f]Maude[/name_f] and [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], and see the appeal in [name_f]Agnes[/name_f], [name_f]Briar[/name_f] and [name_f]Enid[/name_f].
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] - I hate this so much! It has such a nasal sound to it, no appeal to me whatsoever. This is too Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u] to me.
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] - This is old ladyish but with what I think of as Farm Charm. I don’t mind it but its NMS. What about [name_f]Maple[/name_f]?
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] - I will forever think of [name_f]Maude[/name_f] Flanders, so this is very much a churchy housewife name to me.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - This is probably your best one here. I prefer [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] though, it is more vibrant sounding.
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] - This is a little out there but more appealing than some of your other ones. I like it more as a middle.
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] - I find this name awkward & uncomfortable & bitter-old-ladyish. As much as Despicable Me tried to change that
I really don’t [name_u]EVER[/name_u] see [name_f]Enid[/name_f] coming back, I’m sorry. There’s just nothing appealing about this name to me.
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] is okay. The others I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u]. I’d be thrilled to be named [name_f]Maude[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f], [name_f]Mavis[/name_f], or [name_f]Agnes[/name_f].
Aww Berries you’re breaking my heart my love for [name_f]Enid[/name_f] knows no bounds.
But seriously, I understand. Some names are only good in our head and since my husband is absolutely against them there is no risk for a future [name_f]Enid[/name_f] or [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] here.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] - I never used to like [name_f]Edith[/name_f] but came around to it. It may take awhile but [name_f]Enid[/name_f] may grow on me in the same way. I do like the Welsh mythological connection. [name_f]Enid[/name_f] is an acquired taste.
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u] this name. It’s vintage and sweet with an underlying sass.
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] - I’ve grown to appreciate [name_f]Maude[/name_f]'s most sterling qualities: its brisk sound and no-frills practicality.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - An underused vintage gem.
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] - harsh and unattractive
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Ines[/name_f] or [name_f]Agatha[/name_f] to [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]. It does sound better in [name_m]French[/name_m] than English.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] - I like [name_f]Enid[/name_f]. I prefer [name_f]Ines[/name_f] so this will never make my list but I think it’s short and has an old timey spunk to it.
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] - nms and reminds me of a grandmother type.
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] - I just think of "[name_m]Harold[/name_m] and [name_f]Maude[/name_f]” - I can’t get over that association.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - You should watch “Hotel Transylvania” with him. It’s a cute animated coming of age kids movie with a 118 year old [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] in the star role. She’s a little dark (well she is a vampire after all) but just a typical sweet teen girl. The name totally grew on my after that. I love it and find it much spunkier and usable than [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Maude[/name_f].
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] - Theoretically I like [name_f]Briar[/name_f] too, but I read a book with a female [name_f]Briar[/name_f] in it and it sort of did a number on my brain. I had a really hard time picturing her as anything but masculine - and that’s not how she was written. I think I prefer [name_f]Briar[/name_f] for a boy unless you use it in a double first - like [name_f]Briar[/name_f]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f]. (Also [name_f]Briar[/name_f] is close to [name_m]Brian[/name_m] which might make it an easier transition to a boys name).
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] - There is a little [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] in the Despicable Me films. She is one of my (and my FH’s) favorite characters in both movies. If you really love it, watch it with him and your kids. It strikes me as an old fashioned awkward name but this character is so cute that she totally makes it work. (FYI: her sisters names are [name_f]Margo[/name_f] and [name_f]Edith[/name_f]).
I am a self professed “old lady/man name” lover.
I like [name_f]Enid[/name_f], although I prefer [name_f]Edith[/name_f], I like [name_f]Maude[/name_f] and I used to dislike it and think it an old lady name when I was a kid. Is your husband exposed to babies or current baby names much? It often only takes exposure to a name for it to start to grow on you, like what happened for me and [name_f]Maude[/name_f], or [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f], or [name_f]Edith[/name_f]. Maybe the best thing is to expose him to current cute little babies with these names or how they’ve permeated kid culture and he might see the appeal of some of them then. [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] is my favorite from the list.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]- This one is sweet. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it.
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]- Never liked this one. I don’t like the way it sounds.
[name_f]Maude[/name_f]- This one is so dull to me. I don’t see the apeal
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f]- This one sounds masculine to me
[name_f]Briar[/name_f]- Again, this one sounds more masculine to me, but I can see why people like it because of the Disney princess.
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]- Never ever seen the appeal to this one. It sounds so harsh. The nn [name_f]Aggie[/name_f] sounds to close to “agony.”
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]- I really like (as well as [name_f]Edith[/name_f]), because it only brings back fond memories of the [name_f]Enid[/name_f] Blyton books and tapes I used to read and listen to; plus the meaning is beautiful. I’m surprised (and sad ) to see how much dislike poor [name_f]Enid[/name_f]'s getting.
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] and [name_f]Maude[/name_f] both remind me of The Simpsons (:)), but I definitely prefer [name_f]Maude[/name_f] out of the two, but I’m not a huge fan.
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] reminds me too much of Friar.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] is quite cute.
Once upon a time I used to detest this style of name and just couldn’t see such heavy, clunky and dated names on modern day children/adults, however, I’ve changed my tune these days. I think it’s all about associations and growing into a name, you know?
Take the TV and radio personality [name_f]Maude[/name_f] [name_m]Garrett[/name_m]…she wears the name so darn well, and it’s not at all weighty or antiquated on her. Because of her upbeat, bubbly and fun personality, the name suddenly has a more contemporary and pleasant feel to it. The same goes for [name_f]Margot[/name_f], and the actress [name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_u]Robbie[/name_u]…I hated the name until I warmed to it slightly years ago when the actress appeared on our screens five nights a week in Neighbours - she’s got a great personality too, making the heaviness and datedness of the name fall away. That’s how I feel anyway.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] – as a fan of the brilliant [name_f]Enid[/name_f] Blyton as a child, this name is all her. It’s all childhood and imagination for me. Again, the association gives [name_f]Enid[/name_f] a lighter and whimsical feel to it for me. I actually don’t mind [name_f]Enid[/name_f] so much, particularly with the potentiality of nickname [name_f]Edie[/name_f].
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] – there’s nothing dated about this name at all for me, in fact, I feel like it’s a modern name.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] and [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] – these are a couple I don’t quite like, but then again, I haven’t any associations other than hearing them on elderly women, so of course I’m going to see them as dated.
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] – This is definitely one I can see working today.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] ~ about 55 years old
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] ~ 20 years old
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] ~ like, a 1000 years old that one’s terrible
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] ~ that one is CLEARLY a boy name to me idk why it’s indicated as feminine
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] ~ about 25 years old
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] ~ I know somebody named [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] that’s about 30 years old and I associate it with her
I really like the names [name_f]Enid[/name_f], [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] and [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]. [name_f]Enid[/name_f] is an Oldie but [name_f]Goldie[/name_f]!
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]: short and harsh, the way I love it. I must admit I’m not familiar with Welsh names so I have no idea what’s “old lady” or what’s trendy.
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f]: CUTE! It’s vintage, but in the good way. It has nice (and current) nns like [name_f]Mae[/name_f] and [name_f]Belle[/name_f]. Sincerely, I love this one (plus I immediately make the connection <existent or not> with [name_f]Amabel[/name_f] which means “lovable”).
[name_f]Maude[/name_f]: ok… This one is an old lady name. Not my style, but it’s not ugly. The “problem” here is that [name_f]Maude[/name_f] isn’t cute or has a nice imagery as other old names that are coming back (like [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] and [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]).
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f]: objectively, I don’t like it very much, however I have a great association with this name so I would consider using. It’s old lady-ish but less than [name_f]Maude[/name_f] and more than [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. If you and your partner like it, use it. [name_f]Avy[/name_f] could be a nickname.
[name_f]Briar[/name_f]: I think about [name_f]Brianna[/name_f] and [name_f]Bryanna[/name_f] and modern names. And [name_f]Briar[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] (aka Sleeping Beauty).
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]: I, SINCERELY, don’t see what’s wrong with [name_f]Agnes[/name_f]. It’s vintage, not overly flowery and completely usable.
[name_m]Hiro[/name_m] Mashima, creator of the manga [name_f]Fairy[/name_f] Tail, made the same mistake. The character [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] [name_f]Vermillion[/name_f] was supposed to be an old man, however shortly after introducing “his” name, the mangaka found out that [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] was a female name rather than male, so he immediately redesigned [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] to be a girl.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] - I cannot get over the hard nasal sound. I much prefer [name_f]Edith[/name_f]. I don’t really care for [name_f]Edith[/name_f] either. I love [name_f]Edie[/name_f] though!
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Mabel[/name_f]. I use to despise [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] and now I love it.
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] - It’s ok to me, I prefer [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. [name_f]Maude[/name_f] reminds me of old lady perfume or something.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - I don’t care for [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] at all. I much prefer [name_f]Mae[/name_f], [name_f]Maven[/name_f], or [name_f]Maren[/name_f] (far stretch).
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] - It’s a little too Disney to me. A bit silly, but I don’t dislike it. It looks like a boy name to me.
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] - I dislike this name so much. It doesn’t sound nice or look appealing to me. Reminds of [name_m]Angus[/name_m] like the beef. “Agony” comes to mind.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] - I cannot get over the hard nasal sound. I much prefer [name_f]Edith[/name_f]. I don’t really care for [name_f]Edith[/name_f] either though. I love [name_f]Edie[/name_f] though!
[name_f]Mabel[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Mabel[/name_f]. I use to despise [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] and now I love it.
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] - It’s ok to me, I prefer [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. [name_f]Maude[/name_f] reminds me of old lady perfume or something.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - I don’t care for [name_f]Mavis[/name_f] at all. I much prefer [name_f]Mae[/name_f], [name_f]Maven[/name_f], or [name_f]Maren[/name_f] (far stretch).
[name_f]Briar[/name_f] - It’s a little too Disney to me. A bit silly, but I don’t dislike it. It looks like a boy name to me. If I see another person name their daughter [name_f]Briar[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] like the princess I might barf.
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f] - I dislike this name so much. It doesn’t sound nice or look appealing to me. Reminds of [name_m]Angus[/name_m] like the beef. “Agony” comes to mind.
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_f]Mabel[/name_f] and [name_f]Briar[/name_f] (just please do not use [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as a mn. Too sickly sweet.)
I like [name_f]Enid[/name_f]. The costume designer for my theatre group is [name_f]Enid[/name_f], I wouldn’t use it but I think it would be cute on a baby.
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] is NMS but can see it being used after the Hotel Transylvania movies.
[name_f]Maude[/name_f] and [name_f]Agnes[/name_f] NMS and can’t picture them on a kid.
my love for [name_f]Enid[/name_f] knows no bounds.
) to see how much dislike poor [name_f]Enid[/name_f]'s getting.