If you haven’t seen me around, I am the crazy nature namer. My kids will grow up to be fairies apparently (that was actually a response I got from someone on another naming site back when I wasn’t bold with first names and was considering Foxglove as a MN for Rhoswen. Funny, tongue-in-cheek story I guess on why I call my naming style “Posh woodland fairy”)
Anyway. I am name crushing on Nettle. I don’t obsess over nicknames (neither of my kids have real world nicknames, just endearment names), but Nellie and Nettie come to mind as options. Nettles remind me of my childhood as I used to pick bouqets of flowering nettles for my mom. My mom was recently diagnosed as being in the early stages of dementia and I feel this name is a way to honor her. They are also very healthy and have uses in medicines and teas. I feel a name like this should have a “magical” middle name to compliment the tree-huggingnish of the first. Ones I am considering are:
Philippa
Scarlett
Flutura (Albanian for ‘butterfly’)
Epona
Niamh (I don’t mind alliteration. Our last name is Wakefield, so it’s not like it’s a triple N)
Yara
Genevieve (name stealing from another name on my list)
Bedelia
Arwen (too out there to use a Tolkein name?)
Ceridwen
Electa
I am open to suggestions. I am looking for something that has a significant meaning, is from mythology, is a nature name in disguise (Yara, Philippa, Flutura as examples), or just feels magical in general. I really love Welsh, Gaelic, and Celtic names either in their pure forms or Anglicanized. This name will probably end up in my top 5, so I will probably be over-analytical. It’s a challenge, I guess.
EDIT: Also thought I would add that I am of Russian/Irish/Polish descent and my husband is English/Dutch/Japanese. Kind of gives you a variety of cultures to play with.
I’m sorry but I need to say this. You’ve got Goldenrod on your first name list and you’re wondering if [name_f]ARWEN[/name_f] is too out there for a middle name? [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]'s a completely normal name, Goldenrod sounds like an award given to skilled adult movie actors.
I think Nettle [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] and Nettle [name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f] would be beautiful options. I really like your Nettle story, it sounds like it is very significant to you, and it’s a lovely plant. I know people with Nettle as a surname so I would choose something feminine in the middle.
Nettle Marzanna (Slavic mythology, [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of the dead and winter)
Nettle [name_f]Aine[/name_f] (Irish [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of Midsummer and the sun)
Nettle [name_f]Titania[/name_f] (the queen of the faeries ;))
Nettle [name_f]Cicely[/name_f] (too much nature? [name_f]Cicely[/name_f]'s also queen of the elves in The Faerie Queene)
Nettle [name_f]Albinia[/name_f] (Etruscan [name_f]Goddess[/name_f] of the dawn)
Nettle [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] ([name_f]Cressida[/name_f]'s so feminine and I like that it reminds of watercress next to Nettle)
Nettle Belladonna (too much? But it’s fabulous…)
Nettle Rusalka (Slavic mermaid/nymph)
Nettle [name_f]Melusine[/name_f] (an other worldly creature, mermaidesque)
Nettle [name_f]Elfreda[/name_f] (elf strength!)
Nettle Florisdelfa (an enchantress in Arthurian romances…)
Nettle [name_f]Godiva[/name_f] (the lady who rode naked through Coventry…)
[name_f]Love[/name_f] your list of middle names, but it seems I spend half my life combing nettles from my pets’ fur, so I have a strong negative reaction to using that as a name. I do love the thought behind your impulse, though. Perhaps Nettle in the mn spot?
LOL!!! I’m sorry, but the Goldenrod comment was hilarious.
I’m actually naming DD2 [name_f]Arwen[/name_f], so I consider it usable. Though with a unique name like Nettle, I’d usually recommend a more “normal” middle name so the child has another option in case they don’t like their first name (I’m using either [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or [name_f]Violet[/name_f] as a MN for [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]). From your list I really like [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] and [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f].
Since you specifically asked for magical names though, I’ll share some of my favorites:
I just thought of another – [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]! The name of the Irish [name_f]Fairy[/name_f] [name_f]Queen[/name_f]! Fits your naming style perfectly.
Lol on the Goldenrod comment. I think the issue with [name_f]Arwen[/name_f] is the same issue I have with [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]. I love both names dearly, but they are heavily associated with specific characters from popular series with huge followings. It’s hard to imagine the name on anyone else. Like [name_f]Yoko[/name_f] and [name_f]Madonna[/name_f], kwim?
Anyways…
Nettle Marzanna - ooh I like. I do wish I knew more about Slavic mythology. I’m studying Norse right now.
Nettle [name_f]Aine[/name_f] - love this. Hubby vetoed [name_f]Aine[/name_f] with [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] though, so I’m not sure how he would feel about it.
Nettle [name_f]Titania[/name_f] - I played [name_f]Titania[/name_f] when I was in high school. The guy who played [name_u]Oberon[/name_u] would call me “[name_m]Titan[/name_m] titties”. Can’t get over that association.
Nettle [name_f]Cicely[/name_f] - I like it.
Nettle [name_f]Albinia[/name_f] - I’m always curious on the correct pronunciation of this. Does it rhyme with [name_f]Lavinia[/name_f]?
Nettle [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] - this keeps going on and off of the list. On one hand, it is lively and fresh. On the other, my husband says it reminds him of an old creepy cat lady.
Nettle Belladonna - I grow my own belladonna as a sleep aid. It has the same problem as [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] though and was already vetoed as a FN.
Nettle Rusalka - Ru-[name_m]Saul[/name_m]-Kah? Am I pronouncing this right? I like it.
Nettle [name_f]Melusine[/name_f] - like
Nettle [name_f]Elfreda[/name_f] - lol I actually really like it and the meaning is fun. [name_m]Tim[/name_m] will probably think it’s a joke if I suggest it, but we shall see.
Nettle Florisdelfa - while I do like it, it feels a little “too much”.
Nettle [name_f]Godiva[/name_f] - a very interesting character. Now I am craving chocolate:grin:
Nettle [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] - I [name_f]LOVE[/name_f] [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f].
Nettle Arianrhod - I actually really like the feel of this. It’s pronounced [name_m]Arian[/name_m]-rode right?
Nettle [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f] - I’m iffy on how I feel abou [name_f]Ayelet[/name_f].
Nettle [name_f]Amaya[/name_f]/[name_f]Amaia[/name_f] - nms
Nettle [name_f]Delphine[/name_f] - ooh I like how this flows
Nettle [name_f]Marina[/name_f] - this makes me think of The [name_m]Little[/name_m] Mermaid (the anime version) that is much closer to the original story. In not sure if this is a good or bad association.
Nettle [name_f]Morrigan[/name_f] - too close to another relatives name. I have a cousin with a little girl names [name_f]Muirgen[/name_f].
Nettle [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] - love. Probably my 2nd favorite [name_f]Rose[/name_f] name.
Nettle [name_f]Sephora[/name_f] - oooohhh this actually used to be a FN contender (along with [name_f]Zipporah[/name_f])
Nettle [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
Nettle [name_f]Viola[/name_f] - my dad has a sister named this and she is an evil old bat. Not someone I want to honor. It’s a lovely name though.
Nettle Marzanna would be so lovely!
[name_f]Love[/name_f] Nettle Belladonna too but I do think it might be too planty.
From your original list I prefer Nettle with Niamh.
Also your husband’s nuts - [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] [name_f]Aine[/name_f] is gorgeous.
And for the record I much prefer Ziporrah to [name_f]Sephora[/name_f].
Nettle is a wonderful choice whatever mn you end up going with. I really love it.
Nettle [name_f]Sybella[/name_f] / Nettle [name_f]Sibylla[/name_f] - I have a character in my novel named [name_f]Sabella[/name_f]. I assume this is similar?
Nettle Betony - I like Betony. I actually have it on the long list.
Nettle [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] - I’m unsure about [name_f]Theodora[/name_f]. I love [name_m]Theodore[/name_m], but the feminine form doesn’t have the same spark.
Nettle [name_f]Alethea[/name_f] - love the flow
Nettle Bellicent - I need to do more research before I decide on this.
Nettle [name_f]Mariposa[/name_f] - while I like it, it reminds me of [name_f]Barbie[/name_f]
Nettle [name_f]Gwyneira[/name_f] - see Bellicent
Nettle [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f] - see previous post
Nettle [name_f]Cecile[/name_f] - already vetoed
Nettle [name_f]Helena[/name_f] - I actually really like this. I like the [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-ah pronunciation best
Nettle [name_f]Coretta[/name_f] - iffy
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] - love this name so much. Has anyone had experience with pronunciation issues with this?
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] - I have the same issue with this that I have with [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]. These names are strongly tied to one person/character. I love them both so much though.
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f] - already vetoed
[name_f]Ariadne[/name_f] - love but this is my step -niece 's name. Would it be name stealing to use it?
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f] - I love this because if the connection to the Northern Lights ([name_u]Golden[/name_u] Compass) series. I will test it on the hubs.
[name_f]Luna[/name_f] - love. For some reason it feels like Stellaluna
[name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] - vetoed
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] - vetoed
[name_f]Cassandra[/name_f] - such a tragic character (similar to [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] and Merope) though I still love all 3.
[name_f]Elara[/name_f] - nms
[name_f]Eleri[/name_f] - nms
[name_f]Serena[/name_f] - I have a really horrible association with this name. Like serious bad.
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. I love that it is feminine without overly being so (like [name_u]Juniper[/name_u], [name_u]Teagan[/name_u], and Nettle)
