I’ve been struggling with this one character and her name for a very long time and I’m sorta starting to lose it over here. Being perfectionist and a name lover is a bad combo when it comes to naming a character as, I assume, you mostly all know. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
So, basically, I need a uncommon girl name with a common nickname that isn’t too nicknamey if that makes any sense! Let me explain.
It’s a fantasy story so that’s why I want an uncommon girl name. I’m not a fan of made up names but if you think they’re worth mentioning, go for it, really. I like names drawn from mythology or maybe celtic myhts which have a significant importance in the story I’m writting. I don’t know, just putting it out there in case someone has something.
The nickname that doesn’t sound to nicknamey is, I think, what needs explaining. I won’t go into too much details because really it’s not really relevant but it’s important that I get a nickname that can works well as a stand alone, even though it’s not.
I’m gonna leave you with some names + nicknames I considered so you can get a better idea what I’m talking about. Obviously don’t suggest these, they sort of fit but not quite:
Samaire “[name_u]Sam[/name_u]”
[name_f]Cassiopeia[/name_f] “[name_f]Cassie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] “[name_u]Percy[/name_u]” (I thought [name_u]Percy[/name_u] was too boy-ish, WDYT?)
[name_f]Orelia[/name_f] “[name_u]Riley[/name_u]”
[name_f]Noelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Noelia[/name_f] “[name_f]Noa[/name_f]”
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] “[name_f]Lia[/name_f]”
[name_f]Galathea[/name_f] “[name_f]Thea[/name_f]”
Lately, I’ve been considering “[name_u]Bo[/name_u]” as the nickname but can’t seem to find a name to match it with. Any ideas? And also, what do you think of “[name_u]Bo[/name_u]”? What do you picture when hearing that name?
You could go the classic way, too. [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] “[name_u]Theo[/name_u]” sounds nice, if you can bear the non-feminine part of it. It also is mythology, but not Celtic, if that’s okay. From your like I like the idea of… all of them minus [name_u]Sam[/name_u] and [name_f]Thea[/name_f], partially because I’ve never heard them before. I know some people are totally against too new names. The others are easily wearable.
I don’t have that many suggestions, but out of the Celtic ones, I would use [name_f]Innogen[/name_f] or [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] — only if I could think of a nickname. Completely unrealted, I vote for [name_u]Andrea[/name_u] “[name_u]Andy[/name_u],” and [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f] “[name_f]Sera[/name_f]/[name_f]Sarah[/name_f]/[name_f]Sara[/name_f].” But my top has to be [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] “[name_u]Isa[/name_u]” — I’ve met a [name_u]Isa[/name_u] before, and it fits.
About [name_u]Bo[/name_u], I’ve never considered it a legitimate “name.” There’s not a name that actually works with it, either, from what I’ve found. You could always shoot for [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] “[name_f]Bee[/name_f],” if that counts as close enough.
A nickname for [name_f]Imogene[/name_f] could be [name_u]Mo[/name_u] or Mosy.
Other ideas:
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f] “[name_f]Minnie[/name_f]” or “[name_f]Vera[/name_f]”
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] “[name_u]Charlie[/name_u]”, “[name_f]Char[/name_f]”, “[name_f]Lottie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Aviana[/name_f] “[name_f]Ave[/name_f]” or “[name_u]Avi[/name_u]”
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] “[name_f]Maggie[/name_f]” “[name_f]Margo[/name_f]” or “[name_f]Meg[/name_f]”
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] (countless nicknames)
[name_f]Gwinna[/name_f] “[name_f]Gwen[/name_f]” or “[name_u]Gwin[/name_u]”
Not all of these are from Mythology. You could also use a short nickname like name if you wanted. (e.g. [name_f]Rhea[/name_f])
[name_u]Calypso[/name_u]: from Greek mythology, nickname “[name_u]Cal[/name_u]” or “[name_f]Callie[/name_f]”
Bellona: from [name_m]Roman[/name_m] mythology, nickname “[name_f]Belle[/name_f]”
[name_f]Andromeda[/name_f]: from Greek mythology, nickname “[name_u]Andy[/name_u]” or “[name_f]Andi[/name_f]”
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f]: from Greek mythology, nickname “[name_u]Cal[/name_u]” or “[name_f]Callie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Cassandra[/name_f]: from Greek mythology, nickname “[name_m]Cas[/name_m]”, “[name_u]Cass[/name_u]”, or “[name_f]Cassie[/name_f]”
[name_f]Lucina[/name_f]: from [name_m]Roman[/name_m] mythology, nickname “[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]”
[name_f]Althea[/name_f]: from Greek mythology, nickname “[name_f]Thea[/name_f]”
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]: from [name_m]Roman[/name_m] mythology, nickname “[name_u]Rory[/name_u]”
[name_f]Belinda[/name_f]: from Babylonian mythology, nickname “[name_f]Belle[/name_f]” or “[name_f]Linda[/name_f]”
[name_f]Concordia[/name_f]: from [name_m]Roman[/name_m] mythology, nickname “[name_u]Connie[/name_u]”
[name_f]Eudora[/name_f]: from Greek mythology, nickname “[name_f]Dora[/name_f]” or “[name_u]Dory[/name_u]”
[name_u]Halcyon[/name_u]: from Greek mythology, nickname “[name_f]Hallie[/name_f]” or “[name_m]Hal[/name_m]”