Lush, magical, feminine first names for Alder

I’m back, and still trying to find the perfect combo for [name_m]Alder[/name_m]! After much pondering, I’ve decided that [name_m]Alder[/name_m] works best as a middle - as a first name, she’s just too out of place with the rest of my girls’ list.

I’m looking for names that have a lush, green feeling to them; names that are whimsical, magical, enchanting, or mysterious; and names that are decidedly feminine as a counterpoint to [name_m]Alder[/name_m]'s more masculine vibes.

I really want to find a combo that feels like it belongs with the other names in my top ten (which is under construction and currently a top seven: [name_m]Caspian[/name_m] [name_u]Forest[/name_u], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u] [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u], and [name_m]Emrys[/name_m] [name_m]Valerian[/name_m] for boys; [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] Sylvestra, [name_f]Nimue[/name_f] [name_u]Cypress[/name_u], and [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f] [name_f]Fern[/name_f] for girls.

[name_f]My[/name_f] biggest obstacle in finding a first name for [name_m]Alder[/name_m] is that pesky A beginning. I tend to dislike alliteration, and I’m really picky about flow, so for the most part, I’m avoiding names that begin with A and end in -a or -ia. Unfortunately, most of the whimsical, magical girls names I love fall in one or both of those categories. I could really use some fresh inspiration!

According to the typecasting @dogs_books came up with, my style is mostly fantasy lover, botanist, bravely-whimsical, and Welsh admirer, with some uncommon-but-known-ist, frilly-in-a-good-way lover, and Greek admirer thrown in for good measure.

Thank you in advance for your ideas! :purple_heart:

my first thought was [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f] Alber, but that does end in -ia… how about
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Primrose[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Morrigan[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_u]Enfys[/name_u] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]

Oh thank you for these magical ideas! I do love [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f] - [name_f]Eve[/name_f] [name_f]Wisteria[/name_f] has been on and off my list for years. [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] are both beautiful but unusable due to people we know. [name_f]Thisbe[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] is an interesting combo that I wouldn’t have thought of, but kinda like!

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Guinevere [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Cerys[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Eowyn[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Ianthe[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Penrose[/name_u] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Viviane[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Fae[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Veridian[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

My first thought is [name_f]Calanthe[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m], but I’m not sure about the flow on that one. Some others:
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Seraphine[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

Ivy [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Poppy[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Willow[/name_u] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Penelope[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Wren[/name_u] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Chloe[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Sidony[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Clementine[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Lilith[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Ruby[/name_u] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Claire[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Madeline[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Morrigan[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Isolde[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Calliope[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Caroline[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Odette[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Lilias[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Belle[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Quinn[/name_u] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Melusine[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Viviane[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

Thank you for these beautiful suggestions! I was considering [name_m]Alder[/name_m] [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] for a while, so [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] appeals to me. [name_u]Penrose[/name_u] is gorgeous, though I think I prefer it as a middle. I love the Arthurian vibes of [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] and [name_f]Viviane[/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] absolute favorite is [name_f]Eowyn[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]. That one’s definitely going on the list of ideas to ponder!

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Calanthe [name_m]Alder[/name_m] is definitely pretty. I love [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] so much, but I’m not sure I love her with [name_m]Alder[/name_m]. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] is beautiful and I love the flow, but does it sound too preachy? [name_f]My[/name_f] favorite of your suggestions is [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] - I love the soft ph in the middle and the fiery meaning!

What about …
[name_f]Emerald[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Francine[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_u]Haven[/name_u] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Lillian[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]
[name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] [name_m]Adler[/name_m]

I’m personally biased because I just decided on the name [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f] for my daughter due in [name_u]December[/name_u]…but I don’t think [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] is preachy :slight_smile:

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Clover [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Meadow[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

Gwendolyn [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Saskia[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Persephone[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Twila[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Calanthe[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Verity[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Ismay[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Emeraude[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Ruthie[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

I know you said you were avoiding alliteration but [name_f]Avalon[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] was the first name that popped into my head

Other suggestions (sorry for any repeats, and a few may break your alliteration/a ending rule)

Eilonwy [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Noor[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Briar[/name_u]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Althea[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Mariposa[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Edelweiss[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Elodie[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Greer[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_u]Bellamy[/name_u] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

I’m excited for this long list of ideas!

I like [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and [name_f]Violet[/name_f], but with [name_m]Alder[/name_m] I worry that’s too much nature in one combo. [name_u]Willow[/name_u] is one of my favorite names, and [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_u]Willow[/name_u] is currently my #1 pick for a girl! [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] and [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] are both gorgeous, but unusable for us, unfortunately. [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] are on my extended list! ([name_f]Cosima[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] [name_u]Snow[/name_u], currently). [name_f]Lilith[/name_f] is another favorite, but unusable because [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is on our list as an honor name for my mother and grandmother.

Some of these names are really close, but just a little bit off for me. [name_f]Odette[/name_f] is beautiful, but my brain immediately wants to switch to [name_f]Odessa[/name_f], which then has that pesky A ending - same with [name_f]Morrigan[/name_f] / [name_f]Morgana[/name_f]. [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] looks lovely on paper and has good flow, but I knew a really awful [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], and I worry it’s too “normal” of a name, if that makes sense. [name_f]Isolde[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] is also beautiful on paper, and I love the vibes and imagery I get, but when I say them aloud, my tongue gets all tangled up with the repeating L and D sounds.

I think my absolute favorite of your suggestions is [name_f]Melusine[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]. I have been crushing on [name_f]Melusine[/name_f] for years, and always loved the idea of using [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Melusine[/name_f]. I’m not sure I love [name_f]Melusine[/name_f] and [name_m]Alder[/name_m] together as much as I want to, but it’s definitely worth pondering.

Thank you for giving me so many suggestions!

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I love [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f], and I think she sounds beautiful with [name_m]Alder[/name_m], but unfortunately we know someone with that name who makes it unusable for us. And while [name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] isn’t the one for me, she’s still objectively gorgeous!

Liviana [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Ophelia[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Giovanna[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
Oliviana [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Evangelia[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
Rosamunda [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Elowen[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Gloriana[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Vienna[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Lorena[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Benedetta[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Anthea[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Astoria[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Annabella[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]
[name_f]Flora[/name_f]-[name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

@persephone [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_f]Violet[/name_f] is so beautiful! Congratulations on your choice! I think my hesitation is just because OH and I both grew up in very conservative [name_u]Christian[/name_u] circles where “evangelism” was very much A Thing That You’re Supposed to [name_f]Do[/name_f], and I’m not sure I can shake the association.

@voughtlori [name_f]Clover[/name_f] and [name_f]Meadow[/name_f] are both gorgeous names! I think I would probably use them in different combos, since [name_m]Alder[/name_m] is also a word/nature name.

@Greyblue I’m usually not big on G names, but [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m] is lovely! [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] are beautiful, but unfortunately we can’t use them. [name_f]Emeraude[/name_f] is interesting. Would you pronounce it like EM-er-odd?

@mololy I do love [name_f]Avalon[/name_f]! [name_u]Willow[/name_u] [name_f]Avalon[/name_f] was on my list for a good while. I love [name_f]Noor[/name_f], [name_f]Althea[/name_f], and [name_u]Briar[/name_u]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f], though I’m not sure I love them for [name_m]Alder[/name_m]. [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f] / [name_f]Serafina[/name_f] are currently under consideration! [name_f]My[/name_f] absolute favorite of your suggestions is [name_f]Eilonwy[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]. Would [name_f]Eilonwy[/name_f] be pronounced like eye-LON-wee?

Thank you all for your suggestions, and for being patient with my perfectionism! :sweat_smile: :purple_heart:

Yes! [name_f]Eilonwy[/name_f] is Eye-[name_m]Lon[/name_m]-wee

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I’m so sorry since you explicitly said you’d prefer to avoid -a endings but…
[name_f]Phyllida[/name_f] [name_m]Alder[/name_m]

I LOOOVE [name_f]Phyllida[/name_f] and her vibes are definitely “lush, magical, and feminine” to a T, and I absolutely love the hard d in [name_m]Alder[/name_m] following the softer more ethereal (dryad-like) d in [name_f]Phyllida[/name_f]. I hope you like it despite the -a A.

That makes sense. The similarity to The word evangelism Doesn’t bother me but I can see how it would be a problem for some. You have many other great choices here!