I have loved the name Dusk for a while as it has a mature/hippy feel to it. Originally I loved the combo Dusk [name]Evangeline[/name], but lately it’s been feeling dull to me. I like [name]Evangeline[/name] but am not in love with it, at least not for my child. [name]Do[/name] you have any opinions or suggestions? [name]TIA[/name]!
Dusk is a beautiful time of the evening, so I can see where you’re getting a pretty vibe from this. [name]Dawn[/name] of course had its day in the sun (no pun intended), so I can see how this is a logical word name (although [name]Dawn[/name] quickly became dated). And if I say the word without thinking, it is pretty. But since you asked for opinions, I don’t really care for Dusk a a first name once I start thinking through it. It makes me think of dust and duck and tusk and husk and desk and disk and brusque and musk and dunce. Those first six aren’t awful associations, but they are not downright positive and the last three are pretty bad. Dusky makes me think of husky, also. That said, I think it could be a nice middle name - middle names don’t get shared as much so the negative associations aren’t front and center, and one-syllable middle names, especially it seems word names, are often common ([name]Rose[/name], [name]Grace[/name], even [name]Lee[/name] fit that pattern).
Here are some names that relate to that time of the day, or the name by sound, that you might want to consider as alternates, and/or as middle names, and/or as first names with Dusk as the middle. Interesting that some overlap with [name]Evangeline[/name] : D. All best!
[name]Abital[/name]/[name]Avital[/name] (Hebrew, my father is the night dew - [name]Abital[/name]/[name]Avital[/name] Dusk could be neat, and nns [name]Abby[/name] or [name]Avi[/name] and [name]Tally[/name] are good)
Afanen (sounds like [name]Evening[/name] - Welsh for raspberry! Nn [name]Affie[/name] or [name]Nena[/name]?)
[name]Cressida[/name] - this name means gold, so it’s more of a dawn name, but it evokes the word crepuscular, which refers to dusk time. I think Crepuscula is too much…but I feel like there’s a pretty name hiding in there?
[name]Dulce[/name] (Dool-say, Spanish for sweet…I hear dull with it, but otherwise it’s nice)
[name]Dulcie[/name] (a French take on [name]Dulce[/name])
Eha (Estonian for dusk)
[name]Eve[/name] (popular, but not like [name]Ava[/name]!
[name]Evening[/name] (I can see this because [name]Eve[/name]/[name]Evie[/name] would give her a more flexible nn, and it’s a prettier word name. I think it has some history of use)
Evensong (see above)
[name]Layla[/name] (Arabic for night - now [name]Layla[/name] Dusk I can really see!)
[name]Night[/name] - I think this is a more pleasant word name, honestly.
[name]Nila[/name] (Sanskrit for "dark blue, and I think typically NEE-la, [name]Nila[/name] Dusk works for me).
[name]Rosemary[/name] - another nature word name whose meaning relates to dew.
[name]Samira[/name] - Arabic, evening companion
Twilight (but shame about the novel series, I also think it takes something away from Dusk, honestly)
[name]Twyla[/name]
[name]Vesper[/name] - refers to the evening star, this and all the relatives, including Hesper et al, are probably best in the middle…but this one has some room to grow because [name]Vesper[/name] was a recent bond girl name.
[name]Vespera[/name]
Vespertina
Vespertine
I like the idea behind the name, but it sounds too masculine for a girl, IMHO. Perhaps it would be better to use Dusk as the middle name.
I love opinions, so definitely Thanks!
Penguin; I have to say I was surprised when you said masculine! I would have never thought masculine at all.
jesba; I get what your saying about the associations, when I asked a fellow family member she did think that I said Dust instead of Dusk. Out of the suggestions I like:
[name]Night[/name]- I see this more for a boy to me even though I like it
[name]Evening[/name]- This I couldn’t see me being brave enough to use but as a middle name definitely.
[name]Layla[/name]- I do like it but, to trendy for me
[name]Nila[/name]- I do love this name, it gives off the same feeling as Dusk. Have to add it to my list!
Twilight- Ugh I truly [name]LOVE[/name] this name, but the association is killing me right now, especially since it’s so popular.
[name]Twyla[/name]- I do like it, its soft and sweet.
Thank you so much you have given me something to think about, I still really like the name Dusk but I’m on the fence right now so more opinions will be appreciated!!
My opinion - Ridiculous. I wouldn’t do it if you paid me.
[name]Glad[/name] you like [name]Nila[/name] and [name]Twyla[/name]! Yes, it is a shame about [name]Layla[/name] being so trendy, it is beautiful. [name]Lila[/name] is a little less trendy. Hmm.
I thought of another by sound: [name]Tosca[/name]. Very operatic, and the character’s an [name]Ophelia[/name] kind of character, and actually [name]Tosca[/name]'s her last name, she’s [name]Floria[/name] [name]Tosca[/name]. But, it’s pretty, and if you’re brave, you might like it. If you don’t have a connection to Tuscany or the opera, it’s kind of weird, but it’s a prettier name than Dusk and you would have a good story. Toscana or Tuscany?
You might enjoy this list if you didn’t see it already:
All best!
I’ll have to think about [name]Tosca[/name], the more I think about it the more I like it. And I didn’t see that blog, love it gave me lots of ideas!
My name is actually [name_u]Nila[/name_u] and I’ve been told it also means “achiever” in some areas, it’s used in [name_f]India[/name_f] and [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_f]Africa[/name_f] as well as arabic countries. I’ve always pronounced it “Ny-la” though like [name_m]Night[/name_m] or Nylon.