How to find names you love?

General Name Discussion
1

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been really interested in names. However, I have these kind of “commitment issues” when it comes to names: as soon as a name is put on my list, it’s gone almost instantly because I just don’t like it anymore. For example, I recently put [name]August[/name] on my boys list because I was absolutely enamoured by it, but shortly after I began to dislike it and thus it was no longer on my list.

I’ve switched styles a lot, from vintage names ([name]Henry[/name], [name]Alice[/name], [name]Violet[/name], [name]Hugo[/name], [name]Penelope[/name]), but these were too popular for me so I moved onto whimsy nature names ([name]Snow[/name], [name]Jasper[/name], [name]Zinnia[/name], [name]Finch[/name]), which I then decided were too matchy all together so I moved on to very regal, classic names ([name]Ophelia[/name], [name]Alexandra[/name], [name]Phinnaeus[/name], [name]Amadeus[/name]), only to decide that I didn’t want a long name, causing me to look at shorter names ([name]Nora[/name], [name]Rome[/name], [name]Ivo[/name], [name]Lila[/name]), which I inevitably decided were too short. I’ve gone from the popular names ([name]Hannah[/name], [name]Abigail[/name], [name]Joseph[/name], [name]Scarlett[/name], [name]Alexander[/name]) to the highly unusual ([name]Zephyr[/name], Skylark, Finland, Belladonna), but I wasn’t happy either time. The only name I’ve ever LOVED is Luna, but my cousin used that for her daughter last year, so now it’s a no-go for me. :frowning:

It just seems that a lot of people on here have “THE names” and rarely change their minds, and they have this love for a handful of names that never seems to disappear. I’ve never loved a name and I’ve been doing this for years now.

So how did you find the “perfect” names for you?

2

I’m in a similar position to you, so I’m interested in seeing what responses you get to this.

Maybe you’ll just fall in love with a name one day? It might not be a case of you seeking it out, but merely stumbling across it?

3

Same here.

Maybe you’ll just fall in love with a name one day? It might not be a case of you seeking it out, but merely stumbling across it?

That’s how I felt when I stumbled across [name]Caspian[/name] and [name]Liliana[/name], but those are the only two.

The other names in my siggy could change any moment. I have done it numerous times. Heck, even [name]Liliana[/name] changes back and forth with [name]Lilia[/name].

I would like to believe when the time comes for me to actually name a little human, it will come naturally when I see their darling little face. So far, I have names that are almost like backups. If I believe the little one does not seem like or fit a name, I can use my next beloved name–I would hope if the name was borderline, I would instantly love it more because it suits my child. Whatever the case, I know I would use a name that I had like at one point. If that makes any sense.

4

I understand how you feel. I feel that a name with some kind of meaning to me works best. If a name is tied to literature, history or mythology, a namesake I love, admire or find fascinating, my love is less eager to sway… In some cases nature works too, but the tie needs to be unbreakable if that makes sense. I have new crushes all the time, but after I started the naming process for my baby I found this to be the way for me, I gave my daughter names of great Shakespearean characters . For even if you won’t always love the name as much, the namesake will still be there, shining and glittering in beauty.

5

I get what you’re saying, I fall in and out of love with names all the time. But I feel that since I’m not planning on naming any children soon it’s ok that I don’t have any solid top favorites and if I want to change my mind, I’m free to do so. But I don’t discard a name I no longer consider my ‘favorite’ because I’ve realized often times I come back to them later, if that makes any sense?

6

Go back to your favorite books, your favorite artworks, your favorite places - whatever inspires you. Think about the people you’d most like to honor with a name. As [name]Ottilie[/name] said so beautifully, your personal connection to the name’s meaning is what grounds it and makes it special.

7

Regarding the boys names I like, I agree with [name]Ottilie[/name]. They’re nearly all family names so for me so they have more meaning and substance than ‘just a sound I like’. That sort of guarantees I’ll like them for a long long time.

By contrast the majority of my girls list really are just names I like the sound of :wink:

My all time favourite girls name is [name]Aira[/name]. I can’t really explain why I love it. It was the name of a character in a book I read years ago with the spelling [name]Ira[/name]. I tossed and turned for a long time over whether to go with the book spelling. On one hand I really, really loved it but on the other hand I didn’t want to be a hypocrite because ‘[name]Ira[/name]’ spelt like that is traditionally a boys name and I’ve vehemently opposed “boys names on girls” in the past.

Then I found the [name]Aira[/name] spelling. It had everything I was looking for. It was a legitimate Finnish girls name, a legitimate spelling and had exactly the same pronunciation as [name]Ira[/name]. Sold :slight_smile: Aira pronunciation: How to pronounce Aira in Finnish, Portuguese, Galician

[name]Vasiliy[/name] is another name I love for no apparent reason and [name]Jory[/name] is high up there too.

8

I think three things attract me to a name: the meaning, the sound, or a connection to the name. I love the name [name]Zoe[/name] because of the meaning. I happen also to really like [name]Zo[/name]ë Saldaña. I love Noemí for the meaning and the sound and its my way of honoring my great grandmother [name]Emilia[/name]. [name]Elinor[/name] I love because Sense and Sensibility is one of my favorite novels.

I agree with [name]Emma[/name]- go back to your favorite places, books, art and things that inspire you. Something will stand out to you.