[name_f]Agatha[/name_f] - to me, [name_f]Agatha[/name_f] is gothic and a little snobby. She’s refined, wealthy, she wears dark clothes and has a sarcastic sense of humor. She’s the perfect fit for the right family, and out of place everywhere else. The biggest bonus of this name is badass namesake [name_f]Agatha[/name_f] [name_u]Christie[/name_u].
[name_f]Joy[/name_f] - the meaning is obviously lovely, but I’ve never been a fan of the name. It sounds too much like [name_u]Joyce[/name_u] to me, all big hair and lipstick rinds on yellow teeth.
[name_f]Vera[/name_f] - the biggest issue with this name is varying pronunciation. I’ve heard both and think they’re both lovely, but I can understand how some might find it tiresome to correct people constantly. Otherwise, it’s lovely, the name of a strong woman, I think, and best of all, can lend itself to a fashion model, a CEO, and a toddler, and be appropriate. I may be a bit biased as I wrote a character bearing this name I’m particularly fond of, but I chose the name for a reason. It’s beautiful.
[name_f]Gemma[/name_f] - [name_f]Gemma[/name_f] is a pretty name, and I find no real flaw in it, though I don’t find it particularly captivating. It’s not memorable.
[name_f]Raphaela[/name_f] - I think the name [name_m]Raphael[/name_m] is gorgeous for a boy, but I’m not a huge fan of the female version of it. Perhaps because I’ve never actually heard it used, it just looks like a misplaced letter on the end of an authentic name.
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] - makes me think of shrivelled grandmothers and the unfortunate poet. Plus, I find it visually and acoustically unappealing.
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f] - makes me think of someone’s Jewish aunt. Probably because she’s my Jewish aunt. A strong name, which could be softened by the nickname [name_f]Ruthie[/name_f]. I tend to prefer as a middle name.
[name_f]Constance[/name_f] - I truly dislike the whiny syllable “con”. Plus, it sounds so stiff and Puritan.
[name_f]Eugenia[/name_f] - I find the sound unappealing. Ditto for the look of the name. There’s really no saving grace, unless it’s an honouring name, in which case I’d save it for the middle.
[name_f]Apollonia[/name_f] - pretty and regal, but a tough name for a little girl to bear, particularly with no great nickname. [name_f]Poppy[/name_f] is a stretch.
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] - a name in the land of Downton [name_u]Abbey[/name_u], and should probably stay there.
[name_f]Esther[/name_f] - a strong Biblical figure, and a strong name. [name_f]Esther[/name_f] is a name that commands respect. [name_f]Every[/name_f] [name_f]Esther[/name_f] I’ve known has been both beautiful and intelligent.
[name_f]Deloris[/name_f] - I’ve only seen it spelled [name_f]Delores[/name_f]. Either way, I’m not a fan.
[name_f]Miriam[/name_f] - another gorgeous name, another strong Biblical figure. [name_f]Miriam[/name_f] has a lovely, flowing sound that’s appealing to the ear no matter the (fortunately positive) connotation.
[name_f]Zelda[/name_f] - a name too associated with the video game.
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f] - probably mostly associated with the character [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] McGonagall, but she is a badass played by Dame [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] [name_m]Smith[/name_m], so she’s not a bad namesake. The goddess of wisdom is more oft associated with [name_f]Athena[/name_f], if that’s the association you’re going for.
[name_u]Germaine[/name_u] - I thought St. [name_u]Germaine[/name_u] was a dog breed; I was wrong, though the fact that it sounds like one is probably not a good sign.
[name_f]Elba[/name_f] - makes me think of the surname of actor [name_m]Idris[/name_m].
[name_f]Eunice[/name_f] - a most unfortunate name in every respect.
[name_f]Ursula[/name_f] - too associated with the Disney villain. It may not seem like something big, but little [name_f]Ursula[/name_f] sitting with classmates [name_f]Elsa[/name_f], [name_f]Anna[/name_f], [name_u]Ariel[/name_u], and [name_f]Belle[/name_f], will feel awkward.
[name_f]Alma[/name_f] - I see a Dickensian beggar crying out, “alms for the poor!”
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] - my first and only association is with writer [name_m]Gregory[/name_m]. It seems stiff and British.
[name_f]Gladys[/name_f] - The nosy neighbour on Bewitched is all [name_f]Gladys[/name_f] will ever be.
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] - beautiful, though perhaps a little too engrained in the fantasy realm for a little girl. Not for the faint of heart, but a brave, bold, choice.
[name_f]Ida[/name_f] - fits right in with the ever-popular [name_f]Ana[/name_f], [name_f]Ada[/name_f], [name_f]Eva[/name_f], etc., though I’m not a huge fan of that family either.
[name_f]Zipporah[/name_f] - I think the Israeli name Tzipporah is pretty, but the first syllable should be pronounced “tzeep” not “zip.” I doubt anyone would pronounce it correctly.
[name_f]Twila[/name_f] - a fae name.
I’m so glad for that too! [name_m]How[/name_m] boring would life be if we all liked the same things.