Starting the new year fresh and working on my lists! Out of curiosity, what names would you keep, and which would you eliminate? Hearing why would also help!
Background: I live in the US and have a “T” last name that sounds very much like Twist. I don’t really care if I use a popular or rare name so long as I love it. Thanks in advance!
I personally love or adore these -
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
My least favorite, ones I am either not fond of and/or ones that I feel might be hard to wear in the US -
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Ebba[/name_f]
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]
[name_f]Eulalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f]
Runa
[name_f]Sansa[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]. I’d eliminate.
[name_f]Alice[/name_f] - Keep
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f] - Keep, nn [name_u]Story[/name_u] is super cute
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f] - meh, not my favourite. All I hear is the first two letters.
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] - Keep! [name_u]Love[/name_u]!
[name_f]Camilla[/name_f] - Keep! Pretty, classic, so many fun nicknames.
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] - I like it on paper, find it sort of weird to pronounce. Keep.
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] - Keep
[name_f]Claudia[/name_f] - Keep. It’s not popular here on nameberry, but I think the sounds in the name are really pretty.
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f] - Meh, eliminate.
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f] - Keep
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f] - Eliminate - prefer [name_f]Cecelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f] - Same as [name_f]Cecily[/name_f]. Eliminate.
[name_f]Danica[/name_f] - Knew an evil one. Eliminate.
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f] - Not my style, eliminate.
[name_f]Ebba[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Etta[/name_f] or [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. Eliminate.
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] - Keep. Nn [name_f]Edie[/name_f] is super cute.
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] - Keep, classic
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] - keep, gorgeous sounds
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u] - meh, I prefer [name_f]Elodie[/name_f] so eliminate.
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Emily[/name_f] or [name_f]Amelia[/name_f], I find [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] just a bit much. Eliminate.
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] - Keep. I don’t know why, I just like it.
[name_f]Enid[/name_f] - Not for me at all. Too old lady, and don’t like the sounds. Eliminate.
[name_f]Eulalie[/name_f] - Pretty on paper, weird to say out loud. I couldn’t imagine going up and being like “This is my daughter [name_f]Eulalie[/name_f] here for soccer!” or something. Eliminate
[name_f]Frances[/name_f] - Too old lady for me. Eliminate
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] - Keep. [name_u]Unique[/name_u] and cool
[name_f]Frida[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Freya[/name_f] so eliminate
[name_f]Georgina[/name_f] / [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Georgia[/name_f]. Simple, elegant. Eliminate
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] - I like [name_f]Gwen[/name_f], but not a fan of this long version. Eliminate.
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] - [name_u]Love[/name_u]! Keep!
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] - Keep, unique and pretty.
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f] - Too clunky for me. In the [name_f]Astrid[/name_f] & [name_f]Enid[/name_f] pile. Eliminate.
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] - So while this is similar to [name_f]Astrid[/name_f], I like it slightly more but not much. Eliminate.
[name_f]Irene[/name_f] - Maybe. Eliminate, you have better things on the list.
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - Keep. Classic.
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f] - Keep. Pretty sound.
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f] - Keep! A long time like, more of a middle for me personally, but I met a [name_f]Linnea[/name_f] and she wore it beautifully.
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f] - Keep! So many wonderful literary [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]'s.
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] - Keep. Simple, fresh, I like how it looks.
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] - Eliminate, just not for me. I don’t love the O sound.
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f] - I just don’t love it. Eliminate.
[name_f]Maxine[/name_f] - Not for me, too dated. Sort of like [name_f]Irene[/name_f]. Eliminate
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] - Same as [name_f]Maxine[/name_f]. Eliminate.
[name_f]Morgana[/name_f] - Prefer simple [name_u]Morgan[/name_u]. But would eliminate. Sounds like a witch.
[name_f]Ottilie[/name_f] - Pretty, but in the [name_f]Eulalie[/name_f] pile, just not usable. Eliminate.
[name_f]Petra[/name_f] - Cool, spunky, the right girl could love this name. Keep.
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] - I love [name_f]Pippa[/name_f], but don’t love [name_f]Philippa[/name_f]. In the maybe pile.
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f] - [name_f]Ramona[/name_f] & Beezus! That’s all I think. She’s out.
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] - Keep. I love [name_f]Rosie[/name_f], and while I don’t love the -lind part, maybe the right girl would.
Runa - Hm sounds made up. [name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_f]Luna[/name_f]? Eliminate
[name_f]Sansa[/name_f] - Too game of thrones for me! Eliminate
[name_u]Simone[/name_u] - [name_m]Just[/name_m] has no spark. Eliminate
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] - Keep! [name_m]Light[/name_m] and airy!
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f] - I like [name_f]Thea[/name_f] & [name_f]Tessa[/name_f], and I guess I like this too. Keep.
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] - [name_f]Winnie[/name_f] I love, the -fred part I don’t. Keep.
Top Choices: [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Linnea[/name_f] & [name_f]Maeve[/name_f].
My personal favourites are [name_f]Cosima[/name_f], [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Cleo[/name_f], [name_f]Freya[/name_f], [name_f]Morgana[/name_f], [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f], Runa & [name_f]Sansa[/name_f].
These are the ones I would keep, extra favorites bolded:
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] [name_f]Astoria[/name_f] - I feel like I don’t hear this name enough! Gorgeous
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_f]Camilla[/name_f] - on my list as well
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f] - Orphan [name_m]Black[/name_m]?
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f] - Orphan [name_m]Black[/name_m]?
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Eulalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f] [name_f]Georgina[/name_f] / [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f] - I’ve grown to like these names more than I expected. I still prefer [name_f]Georgia[/name_f], but [name_f]Georgina[/name_f] especially just has that “eccentric classic” feel [name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Maxine[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f] [name_f]Petra[/name_f] [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] - used to be one of my faves
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f]
I love these but don’t like them with the surname (eg d ,s and t endings don’t work): [name_f]Adelaide[/name_f], [name_f]Alice[/name_f], [name_f]Frances[/name_f], [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], [name_f]Harriet[/name_f], [name_f]Ingrid[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] (not [name_f]Tilly[/name_f] Twist), [name_f]Petra[/name_f]. The remainder I just don’t love.
Adelaide - keep
Alice - discard, not great nn’s and lice not nice
Astoria - keep but might be a GP with your last name?
Astrid - keep, super cute!
Beatrix - discard, too much with last name
Camilla - keep if OK with your last name (and am assuming you’ll be using your last name)
Cecily - keep and could trump Camilla
Charlotte - discard as runs into the T last name. Keep Lottie?
Claudia - keep
Cleo - discard as you seem to more likely use a longer name
Coralie - discard, not as strong
Cordelia -keep
Cosima- keep
Danica - discard unless you really think it could be a top 5 hospital contender (or equivalent for when you’re just collecting). It is refreshing among all the literary hip names we love here!
Delphine - keep, so elegant!
Ebba - discard
Edith - discard as had its day
Eleanor - discard, don’t like Ellie names
Elodie - keep either Elodie or Eloise
Eloise
Emilia - keep unless you keep Emmeline
Emmeline - keep if you love it
Enid - discard, too old lady chic
Eulalie - discard or keep for middle name
Frances -keep, very smart
Freya - discard
Frida - keep either Frida or Freya
Georgina - keep Georgina or Georgiana Georgiana
Guinevere - keep
Harriet - keep
Helena - keep
Hilda - discard
Ingrid - keep
Irene - keep
Josephine - keep
Leonie - discard
Linnea - keep unless you prefer Leonie
Louisa - keep
Maeve -keep
Margot - discard
Matilda - keep
Maxine - keep
Miranda - discard
Morgana - discard
Ottilie - discard
Petra - keep
Philippa - keep
Ramona - keep
Rosalind - discard (Ros isn’t nice to my ear)
Runa - discard (unless a nn)
Sansa - only keep if you’d use despite GoT
Simone - discard
Sylvie - discard
Theodora - discard (had its day)
Winifred - keep
Adelaide - keep
Alice - discard, not great nn’s and lice not nice
Astoria - keep but might be a GP with your last name?
Astrid - keep, super cute!
Beatrix - discard, too much with last name
Camilla - keep if OK with your last name (and am assuming you’ll be using your last name)
Cecily - keep and could trump Camilla
Charlotte - discard as runs into the T last name. Keep Lottie?
Claudia - keep
Cleo - discard as you seem to more likely use a longer name
Coralie - discard, not as strong
Cordelia -keep
Cosima- keep
Danica - discard unless you really think it could be a top 5 hospital contender (or equivalent when you’re just collecting). It is refreshing among all the literary hip names we love here!
Delphine - keep, so elegant!
Ebba - discard
Edith - discard as had its day
Eleanor - discard, don’t like Ellie names
Elodie - keep either Elodie or Eloise
Eloise
Emilia - keep unless you keep Emmeline
Emmeline - keep if you love it
Enid - discard, too old lady chic
Eulalie - discard or keep for middle name
Frances -keep, very smart
Freya - discard
Frida - keep either Frida or Freya
Georgina - keep Georgina or Georgiana Georgiana
Guinevere - keep
Harriet - keep
Helena - keep
Hilda - discard
Ingrid - keep
Irene - keep
Josephine - keep
Leonie - discard
Linnea - keep unless you prefer Leonie
Louisa - keep
Maeve -keep
Margot - discard
Matilda - keep
Maxine - keep
Miranda - discard
Morgana - discard
Ottilie - discard
Petra - keep
Philippa - keep
Ramona - keep
Rosalind - discard (Ros isn’t nice to my ear)
Runa - discard (unless a nn)
Sansa - only keep if you’d use despite GoT
Simone - discard
Sylvie - discard
Theodora - discard (had its day)
Winifred - keep
(And prob more to chop that don’t go with last name.)
Thank you so much Berries, this has been very helpful, especially to those who commented on their decisions.
@alchemicallypurplefairy: I have never seen Orphan [name_m]Black[/name_m], though if those are characters, I love their names!
@araminty: Thanks for considering my surname in your choices, that helps. Granted I still like some that don’t work as well with it, like [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f].
@eloiset: I found your comments very helpful, thank you! I think you may be right about [name_f]Astoria[/name_f] with my last name. I hadn’t thought of that, but together it’s a bit too on the nose literary. As for [name_f]Sansa[/name_f], I’m torn. I love the name…and the character, but I don’t know if it’s weird to use the name (too fan-y?)
I’m starting to see which names I am more attached to by reading these replies, e.g. the ones I don’t want to let go of despite potential dislike/issues with surname, etc. Very instructive.
For those interested, I added a link in the original post to the boy’s version of this. The boy name forum doesn’t get as much as activity so I hope the advertising helps.
I would eliminate: (because I don’t care for the sound or they seem dated or hard to wear)
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Danica[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_f]Emilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Eulalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
[name_f]Morgana[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
Runa
[name_f]Sansa[/name_f]
I like [name_f]Helena[/name_f]–it seems like it would sound great with your last name! The rest of your list is nearly the same as mine
Keep:
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f] (I love [name_f]Delphi[/name_f])
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] (I don’t like nn [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] however)
[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Emmy[/name_f])
[name_f]Frances[/name_f] (nn [name_u]Frankie[/name_u])
[name_f]Frida[/name_f]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Ginny[/name_f])
[name_f]Harriet[/name_f]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] (nn [name_u]Josie[/name_u])
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f]
[name_f]Linnea[/name_f]
[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
So many great names! Includes a few of my favourites.
Drop:
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] - too common compared to your other choices.
[name_f]Cordelia[/name_f]
[name_f]Danica[/name_f]
[name_f]Eulalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Georgina[/name_f]
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
[name_f]Morgana[/name_f]
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f]
Runa
[name_f]Sansa[/name_f] - too GOT
[name_u]Simone[/name_u]
I like old names but some I can’t get on board with e.g. [name_f]Irene[/name_f]
Most of the drop list is because I don’t like their sound.
Instead of [name_f]Edith[/name_f] I love [name_f]Edie[/name_f]/ [name_f]Eadie[/name_f] as a full name
I do like [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] instead [name_f]Georgina[/name_f]
Eliminate (only because I don’t like how they sound with “Twist” - I actually love most of these names - some are even favourites of mine):
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]
[name_f]Astrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_u]Eloise[/name_u]
[name_f]Frances[/name_f]
[name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Miranda[/name_f]
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
[name_f]Sansa[/name_f]
Names that aren’t my style & I’d eliminate for that reason (not that this really matters for you):
[name_f]Petra[/name_f]
[name_f]Sansa[/name_f]
[name_f]Cleo[/name_f]
[name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Danita[/name_f]
[name_f]Ebba[/name_f] (this always sounds like someone with a cold is trying to say [name_f]Emma[/name_f] to me)
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]
[name_f]Frida[/name_f]
[name_f]Hilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Morgana[/name_f]
Runa
