DH and I are expecting our first child in February, and we haven’t quite gotten serious about names yet. I’m a playwright and he’s an English teacher, so it seems only fitting that we incorporate some of our favorite names from literature into our children’s names!
The only problem is that some of the names I love might be a bit over the top (for first names, anyway.) I need help transforming them into something useable!
Here’s a list of some of my favorite characters/names. If you have suggestions for adjustments, combos, etc., please comment! Any and all suggestions are welcome at this point. I’m also toying with the idea of having two middle names, so three-name combos are welcome
Thank you!
[name]Titania[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Desdemona[/name]
[name]Innogen[/name] ([name]Imogen[/name]'s original form)
[name]Ophelia[/name]
[name]Cressida[/name]
[name]Camellia[/name]
Karenina
[name]Jane[/name] ([name]Jane[/name] Eyre is a favorite, but [name]Jane[/name] is too plain for my taste)
[name]Anne[/name] (of [name]Green[/name] Gables - again, too plain!)
[name]Dorothy[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name]
[name]Hester[/name]
[name]Cassiopeia[/name]
[name]Andromeda[/name]
Stellaluna
[name]Pippi[/name] (Longstocking - I’m thinking about [name]Pippa[/name])
Myy, Mymmeli (from a children’s series I grew up with…totally not doable in the U.S., but maybe in some form??)
Hooray for your daring names! My favorites are:
[name]Titania[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Camellia[/name]
Karenina
[name]Dorothy[/name] (mostly for the nickname [name]Dot[/name])
[name]Harriet[/name]
[name]Cassiopeia[/name] (I’ve always loved this but it’s a mouthful. So bouncy. Have you ever heard the [name]Joanna[/name] Newsome song? She does great things with the sounds in this name. [name]Cass[/name] or [name]Pia[/name]- nice possible nns)
[name]Andromeda[/name]
Not sure about middle names. These names all have such strong identities that it’s hard to think about stringing them together.
I mean… [name]Cassiopeia[/name] Karenina… [name]Titania[/name] [name]Camellia[/name]… [name]Dorothy[/name] [name]Andromeda[/name]… [name]Jones[/name]!
My favourites from your list are [name]Harriet[/name] and [name]Dorothy[/name]. [name]LOVE[/name] both of these names. You cannot go wrong with [name]Jane[/name] or [name]Anne[/name], I would use them in a middle spot. A few more female names that came to mind were:
PS- [name]Pippi[/name]'s full name is Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint [name]Ephraim[/name]'s Daughter Longstocking. [name]Just[/name] making the case for multiple middle names. If you choose to go down that road, you will be in good company.
[name]Titania[/name] - probably too much. [name]Tatiana[/name] is OK.
[name]Rosalind[/name] - a bit much but doable.
[name]Desdemona[/name] - Too much. [name]Mona[/name] or [name]Ramona[/name] is OK.
[name]Innogen[/name] ([name]Imogen[/name]'s original form)- probably going to trip people up.
[name]Ophelia[/name] - tragic, but beautiful and probably useable with [name]Olivia[/name] so popular.
[name]Cressida[/name] - a bit much, but doable. Very pretty.
[name]Camellia[/name] - seems prone to confusion, but doable.
Karenina - I like the idea of it, but it’s probably too much and the character is so tragic.
[name]Jane[/name] ([name]Jane[/name] Eyre is a favorite, but [name]Jane[/name] is too plain for my taste) - [name]Janina[/name]?
[name]Anne[/name] (of [name]Green[/name] Gables - again, too plain!) - [name]Anna[/name]? [name]Annina[/name]?
[name]Dorothy[/name] - useable
[name]Harriet[/name] - useable
[name]Hester[/name] - too old lady I’m afraid. Middle?
[name]Cassiopeia[/name] - too much
[name]Andromeda[/name] -too much
Stellaluna - waaay too much. [name]Stella[/name] or [name]Luna[/name] is fine.
[name]Pippi[/name] (Longstocking - I’m thinking about [name]Pippa[/name]) - [name]Phillipa[/name] is starting to fit in.
Myy, Mymmeli - I like the ida of this. Mymmeli more than Myy. Middle spot?
I love [name]Dorothy[/name] and [name]Harriet[/name]!
I named my daughter [name]Anne[/name] due to my love for [name]Anne[/name] [name]Shirley[/name]. It may seem plain to some, but you would be surprised how much a simple, pure classic stands out amongst the current trends. We call her [name]Annie[/name] a lot. I love it.
I would avoid [name]Titania[/name] at all costs. That would be quite rough for a girl in junior high, I imagine.
[name]Titania[/name] – Seems like there is teasing potential. Also reminds me of titanium.
[name]Rosalind[/name] – Nms, but nice name
[name]Desdemona[/name] – Very heavy as a name.
[name]Innogen[/name] ([name]Imogen[/name]'s original form) – I don’t love the sound of this one, but I think it’s quite doable!
[name]Ophelia[/name] – This is a nice name!
[name]Cressida[/name] – nms, but cool.
[name]Camellia[/name] – I like this one a lot!
Karenina – As a middle name, this would be lovely.
[name]Jane[/name] ([name]Jane[/name] Eyre is a favorite, but [name]Jane[/name] is too plain for my taste) – Since [name]Jane[/name] is too plain for you, what about [name]Bronte[/name]?
[name]Anne[/name] (of [name]Green[/name] Gables - again, too plain!) – So pretty! If you did this as a first name, I think it would be a real stand-out.
[name]Dorothy[/name] – Sounds dated to me.
[name]Harriet[/name] – I don’t like the “[name]Harry[/name]” part of this name
[name]Hester[/name] – Probably not great as a first name, but would make a nice middle. What about using her daughter’s name of [name]Pearl[/name]?
[name]Cassiopeia[/name] – A tough first name, but I love [name]Cassie[/name]!
[name]Andromeda[/name] – I think this would be hard to wear.
Stellaluna – So pretty, but probably better if you just did [name]Stella[/name] or [name]Luna[/name].
[name]Pippi[/name] (Longstocking - I’m thinking about [name]Pippa[/name]) – I like this!
Myy, Mymmeli (from a children’s series I grew up with…totally not doable in the U.S., but maybe in some form??) – I think as a middle this would work just fine!
Some combo ideas:
[name]Anne[/name] Mymmeli [name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Cressida[/name] [name]Bronte[/name] [name]Innogen[/name]
[name]Pippa[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Hester[/name] Stellaluna or [name]Hester[/name] [name]Stella[/name] [name]Luna[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
Cammellia [name]Dorothy[/name] Myy
[name]Pippi[/name] Karenina [name]Jane[/name]
If you like [name]Anne[/name] of [name]Green[/name] Gables… what about [name]Blythe[/name]? It was her married name after all I have a name crush on [name]Blythe[/name]. I think it’s a lovely name.
I immediately thought of [name]Hermione[/name] (from the [name]Winter[/name]'s Tale seeing as though you’re having a baby around the end of winter!)
[name]Hermione[/name] could also give you the nickname Myy?
I love [name]Ophelia[/name] and [name]Cressida[/name].
Others that came to mind:
[name]Estella[/name]
[name]Beatrice[/name]
[name]Isolde[/name]
i love…
[name]Rosalind[/name]-elegant, feminine, and very lovely.
[name]Ophelia[/name]-i love this so much! lovely and beautiful sound.
[name]Cressida[/name]-a bit distinctive and attractive name.
[name]Camellia[/name]-beautiful and elegant. unique. i love this more than [name]Camilla[/name]
[name]Jane[/name]-i really really love [name]Jane[/name] Eyre! simple, attractive, classic, old yet very pretty i think.
what about [name]Rosamund[/name], [name]Diana[/name], [name]Philippa[/name], [name]Helena[/name], [name]Portia[/name]? these are all literary names.
good luck!
I love your list! These are my favourites (and I think they’re all useable):
[name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Innogen[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name]
[name]Cressida[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name]
[name]Cassiopeia[/name]
Stellaluna
Myy, Mymmeli (I loved Moomin when I was a child too! What about Mymble? [name]Little[/name] My’s sister…)
I’m a sucker for lit names :3 love [name]Rosalind[/name], [name]Dorothy[/name], and [name]Harriet[/name]! [name]Pippi[/name] and Stellaluna are favorites, too.
What about [name]Stella[/name] as a first (means the same thing as [name]Hester[/name]) and [name]Luna[/name] [name]Jane[/name] or [name]Luna[/name] [name]Anne[/name] as a middle combo?
Also, what about the [name]March[/name] sisters? [name]Margaret[/name], [name]Josephine[/name], [name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Amy[/name]/[name]Amelia[/name]?
[name]Titania[/name] - I’d be too worried about being teased due to the first 3 letters…
[name]Rosalind[/name] - like, some other variations: [name]Rose[/name], [name]Rosalyn[/name], [name]Rosa[/name], [name]Rosalie[/name], [name]Rosanne[/name], [name]Rosanna[/name], [name]Rosalina[/name]
[name]Desdemona[/name] - a little too out there for me, what about [name]Mona[/name]?
[name]Innogen[/name] ([name]Imogen[/name]'s original form) - not a fan of either
[name]Ophelia[/name] - like
[name]Cressida[/name] - it’s okay
[name]Camellia[/name] - like, other options: [name]Camille[/name]
Karenina - What about [name]Karen[/name] or [name]Nina[/name] instead?
[name]Jane[/name] - like, other option: [name]Janice[/name]
[name]Anne[/name] - more options: [name]Anna[/name], [name]Annabelle[/name], [name]Annette[/name], [name]Dianne[/name], [name]Diana[/name], [name]Joanne[/name], [name]Joanna[/name], [name]Hannah[/name]
[name]Dorothy[/name] - reminds me of the [name]Wizard[/name] of [name]Oz[/name]
[name]Harriet[/name] - not a fan, what about [name]Henrietta[/name]?
[name]Hester[/name] - reminds me of the [name]Scarlet[/name] Letter, not sure if I’d want that character associated with my child…
[name]Cassiopeia[/name] - other options: [name]Cassidy[/name], [name]Cassandra[/name]
[name]Andromeda[/name] - too out there for my tastes
Stellaluna - reminds me of the little bat, why not just use either [name]Stella[/name] or [name]Luna[/name]?
[name]Pippi[/name] - I like [name]Pippa[/name] better, another option is [name]Penelope[/name] to get [name]Pippi[/name]
Myy, Mymmeli - interesting, not sure if I’d use it as a first name
I love [name]Imogen[/name] [name]Jane[/name]. I hadn’t heard [name]Innogen[/name] before, but though I think I prefer [name]Imogen[/name] for having more diversity of consonant sounds within the name, [name]Innogen[/name] [name]Jane[/name] would also be very pretty.
I also like:
[name]Rosalind[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Ophelia[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Andromeda[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
I like [name]Desdemona[/name] - I think it’s too over the top, but you could always name your daughter that and call her [name]Mona[/name], which is so pretty.
Karenina, to me, doesn’t work as a first name. It might sound good to someone who isn’t inclined towards literature, but given your own love of literature, I assume your daughter will be around people who have the same reaction as me. I would suggest using [name]Anna[/name] [name]Karen[/name] if you want to acknowledge the character, or using [name]Anna[/name] [name]Harriet[/name] (which I just love).
[name]Titania[/name] - I actually really like [name]Titania[/name]. I love the character and have always liked the name. I can see teasing potential with the first syllable being “tit” but I think [name]Ania[/name]/[name]Anya[/name] could be a great nn.
[name]Rosalind[/name] - very elegant.
[name]Desdemona[/name] - It sounds beautiful, but somehow she is one of the most tragic Shakespearian female characters as I feel she has absolutely no control over what happens. (At least [name]Juliet[/name] creates her own problems, and one can argue that [name]Ophelia[/name] had an accident).
[name]Innogen[/name] ([name]Imogen[/name]'s original form) - I prefer the m sound in [name]Imogen[/name] but that could just be because I’m more used to it. [name]Innogen[/name] sounds lovely to me.
[name]Ophelia[/name] - On my favorites list. Enough said.
[name]Cressida[/name] - nms. I find the Cress- beginning a little hard for my liking though I like the visuals of the name a lot.
[name]Camellia[/name] - nms.
Karenina - As in [name]Anna[/name]? Theoretically I like the name, it looks and sounds beautiful. (I never liked the character much, thus theoretically).
[name]Jane[/name] ([name]Jane[/name] Eyre is a favorite, but [name]Jane[/name] is too plain for my taste) - I really like [name]Jane[/name], and prefer it as a fn instead of a mn because in second place it feels like a filler while in first it really gets to shine. (This goes for [name]Anne[/name] too). [name]How[/name] about Eyre instead of [name]Jane[/name]?
[name]Anne[/name] (of [name]Green[/name] Gables - again, too plain!) - see [name]Jane[/name].
[name]Dorothy[/name] - also on my favorites list. Particularly because I like the nn [name]Dottie[/name].
[name]Harriet[/name] - nms I prefer [name]Henrietta[/name].
[name]Hester[/name] - I don’t find this old lady at all. I actually think it’s a great oldie-and-goodie - I also like [name]Hestia[/name].
[name]Cassiopeia[/name] - nms.
[name]Andromeda[/name] - I know it shouldn’t but I can now only think of the scifi show, and thus would stay away from an otherwise beautiful name.
Stellaluna - this name seems redundant. I realize it’s really StarMoon but I just hear LightLight.
[name]Pippi[/name] (Longstocking - I’m thinking about [name]Pippa[/name]) - Hahaha, I went through a phase where I asked my mom to legally rename me [name]Pippi[/name]. I really like [name]Pippa[/name] and [name]Pip[/name] as mn. A pp suggested [name]Phillipa[/name] which I adore, maybe you could also make [name]Penelope[/name] work?
Myy, Mymmeli (from a children’s series I grew up with…totally not doable in the U.S., but maybe in some form??) - I’m sorry I’m not super helpful with this one, I’d love to see what others come up with though.
You seem to have a considerable [name]Shakespeare[/name] inspired list, how do you feel about: [name]Hermione[/name] (suggested in pp), [name]Hermia[/name], [name]Hero[/name], [name]Beatrice[/name], [name]Bianca[/name], [name]Miranda[/name], [name]Emilia[/name] or [name]Cordelia[/name]? Some of which are a little out there and others are fairly popular.
I love [name]Anne[/name] of [name]Green[/name] Gables- what about [name]Marilla[/name], [name]Diana[/name], [name]Priscilla[/name], [name]Emmeline[/name] or [name]Josephine[/name]? On your list, I really like [name]Rosalind[/name], [name]Ophelia[/name] and [name]Harriet[/name].
I have a name crush on [name]Blythe[/name]. I think it’s a lovely name.