Names that make me happy right now

[system]

I still love [name]Emerald[/name] as a mn, and I still love [name]Beatrice[/name], [name]Claire[/name], [name]Vivien[/name], [name]Zara[/name], and [name]Sybilla[/name]. But I’ve been tossing around a few new ideas. Would love your thoughts, and any suggestions you think might fit my style. I’m having baby name burnout lately and I want to like more names, y’know? Blah!

But here are recent additions to my “ooh, I kinda like that!” list:

[name]Milena[/name] - Idk why. It doesn’t read like my style straight away, but something about it is attractive. I like saying it.

[name]Wilhelmina[/name] - It’s just so… I mean, it’s [name]Wilhelmina[/name]. It’s badass. I like nn [name]Mina[/name].

[name]Lucilla[/name] - The [name]Connie[/name] [name]Nielsen[/name] (gorgeous.) character in Gladiator. I like how it’s not [name]Lucille[/name] and it’s not [name]Lucy[/name] and it’s not [name]Lucinda[/name]. It’s familiar but unexpected. And - best part - you can get to the nn [name]Lux[/name]. Oh lawdy. [name]Love[/name] it.

[name]Rachel[/name] - I know, I know, it’s boring. But somehow it’s not? It’s so normal it feels abnormal. Or maybe that’s b/c I live in Nameberryland where [name]Violet[/name] and [name]Alice[/name] are normal and a baby named [name]Rachel[/name] would make you go WHAAAT? There’s something sweet and beautiful about [name]Rachel[/name]. It doesn’t go with [name]Emerald[/name], tho. Booo.

[name]Monica[/name] - (No relation to [name]Rachel[/name]. Seriously.) I’ve always loved this name. Since I was a kid. Before Friends. Before Lewinsky. It is not stylish. But I really like it.

[name]Prudence[/name] - There’s something vaguely witchy about this, in a very [name]New[/name] [name]England[/name]/[name]Salem[/name] witch trials kind of way. It’s like a Puritan girl with a secret. And then there’s the Beatles song.

[name]Roxana[/name] - Unusual, beautiful, that wicked x in the middle, the cool meaning, the awesome history. And the sassy nn [name]Roxy[/name]. Also: [name]Roxana[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] TOTALLY works.

[name]Love[/name] to hear yr thoughts and suggestions! Thanks a million!

[celianne]

[name]Emerald[/name] is awesome! I’d use it as a first name, with the nickname [name]Emmy[/name].

[name]Milena[/name] is really cute; it sounds modern and slightly hispanic.

[name]Wilhelmina[/name] IS badass.

Are you pronouncing [name]Lucilla[/name] like Luchilla? Either way, it’s cool.

[name]Rachel[/name] seems to be bouncing back, or maybe i’ve just met too many in the past couple months… It’s cute, but yeah, a bit boring for me.

[name]Monica[/name] is cute, but I prefer [name]Monique[/name]. It has a bit more umph; [name]Monica[/name] sounds like a wallflower. Very soft, with just a bit of freshness in that hard C.

[name]Prudence[/name]! The first thing I thought of was Across the Universe. I like it, but I’d never use it because the first syllable is Prude…

[name]Roxana[/name]! I prefer [name]Roxanne[/name], due to my musical addiction (Moulin Rouge, Chicago). I’d at least throw in another n, to round it off a bit better; [name]Roxanna[/name].

WDYT of:

[name]Penelope[/name]
[name]Cosette[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name]
[name]Roselind[/name] (Pronounced like that, [name]ROSE[/name]-lind)
[name]Helena[/name]
[name]Lisette[/name]
[name]Annika[/name]

[freya55]

I [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Roxana[/name]! I’m so happy to see it listed. I love that it has weighty history and badassness at the same time. I have a Persian friend called [name]Roksana[/name] which, well, it rocks! I’m really warming up to name]Wilhelmina[/name], love nn [name]Minnie[/name] and also nn [name]Billie[/name] would work well. [name]Milena[/name] qnd [name]Lucilla[/name] are lovely and fit the best with your list. I’ll try and come up with so more later, but am on an annoying android tablet right now and a list would take forever to type!

Good to see you MrsH, i haven’t seen you in the girls forum for a while. [name]Hope[/name] you’re well

[ruolan]

[name]Emerald[/name] - I like this underused gem name, too.

[name]Milena[/name] - I think a little of three things when I hear/see this name: President’s daughter, [name]Mila[/name] Kunis, and Water for Elephants ([name]Marlena[/name]) I know the aren’t exact, but they are my (positive) associations.

[name]Wilhelmina[/name] - I’ve had an affection for this name since reading Dracula. I can’t decide now if [name]Minnie[/name] or [name]Billie[/name] is my favorite nn!

[name]Lucilla[/name] - please post how you pronounce this! The double L could turn it back into [name]Lucia[/name], so I would spell it [name]Lucila[/name].

[name]Rachel[/name] - it is a bit unexpected these days, so it does have an element of freshness.

[name]Monica[/name] - I’ve been crushing on names like this lately: [name]Ramona[/name], [name]Bianca[/name], Semona, [name]Fiona[/name]… you’ve just added another for me to ponder!

[name]Prudence[/name] - I see what you mean about a Puritan girl with a secret, maybe an imprudent one. [name]Pru[/name] seems to be the nn of choice when this is suggested, but I like [name]Prudie[/name]/y. Overall seems like a better character or pet name than a little girl, but that is my opinion.

[name]Roxana[/name] - do you say this like Rox-anna or Rox-ahna? I know X is popular but I prefer the -KS- in [name]Roksana[/name] and [name]Maksim[/name], for example.

[dindlee]

I really like [name]Milena[/name]. It seems so warm and happy. It’s on my longer list because I can’t get the fiancé on board. I get excited when other people like it.

[jadubeau]

I like [name]Roxana[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] the best I can’t get on board with the name [name]Milena[/name] (or any other variations of it) because it reminds me too much of a medical term. Only look it up if you want to know. I used to work in emergency rooms and I remember a couple of women coming in with a variation of [name]Melena[/name] and there were comments made about their names. It’s unfortunate because it is a cute name… just thought you’d want to know before you decide Good luck!!

[c11]

I really like [name]Vivien[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] (though I prefer [name]Vivienne[/name] spelling). It’s so pretty. Second choice would be [name]Milena[/name], I think.

[ashthedreamer]

[name]Milena[/name] - I like it quite a lot. It doesn’t really feel like my style, either, haha, but there’s just something about it! I’m not really a [name]Mila[/name] fan, but I think [name]Millie[/name] and [name]Lena[/name] are cute nns. [name]Even[/name] [name]Leni[/name].

[name]Wilhelmina[/name] - meh. I’ve loved [name]Mina[/name] for years, and I’ve come to love [name]Willa[/name] about a year ago, but I was always iffy on [name]Wilhelmina[/name]. It just seemed so unattractive to me. But lately I’ve been coming to appreciate it. Someone posted [name]Wilhelmina[/name] [name]Daisy[/name] a while back and I thought that was just perfect. I’m not sure about [name]Wilhelmina[/name] [name]Emerald[/name], though–I think the styles quite clash.

[name]Lucilla[/name] - och, brilliant! I’ve never much been a [name]Lucille[/name] fan, but there’s something about [name]Lucilla[/name]! It quite reminds me of [name]Marilla[/name] and [name]Camilla[/name], both of which I adore. Maybe that’s why I like [name]Lucilla[/name].

[name]Rachel[/name] - och, swoon. Who cares if [name]Rachel[/name]'s plain? She’s brilliant! She seems so sweet, I would love to have a [name]Rachel[/name] one day. For what it’s worth, I like [name]Rachel[/name] [name]Emerald[/name]. Probably because [name]Emerald[/name]'s unexpected, and I tend to like “E” names with [name]Rachel[/name]. But I think an unexpected MN really helps freshen [name]Rachel[/name] up.

[name]Monica[/name] - meh, not really my thing. I never got the appeal, and a friend sort of just ruined it for me, so I like it even less. I think pretty much everyone will think Lewinsky after [name]Monica[/name], but it is a nice name.

[name]Prudence[/name] - meh, I don’t really like the witchy appeal, and otherwise, it just seems like a really old lady name, I can’t really see the appeal. I do think [name]Pru[/name] is pretty cute, though.

[name]Roxana[/name] - I went to school with a [name]Roxana[/name], nn [name]Roxy[/name]. I think it’s a fun name. Not really something I would use, but I do like it.

[name]Lucilla[/name] and [name]Rachel[/name] are my favorites.

[lo1]

I think [name]Monica[/name] Lewinsky has faded enough to make the name wearable. I now a little girl [name]Monica[/name] who called herself [name]Nica[/name]. I think it’s a spunky nickname for a womanly classic.

[seazuno86]

I like [name]Roxana[/name], [name]Milena[/name] and [name]Wilhelmina[/name]. Oh and Rachel

[jtucker]

[name]Milena[/name] - I agree, it has a very pretty sound to it and has cute nn potential like [name]Millie[/name].
[name]Wilhelmina[/name] - It’s stunning! I absolutely love this name, but in my case it has to be a guilty pleasure one.
[name]Lucilla[/name] - Hmmm… I much prefer [name]Lucille[/name] or [name]Lucinda[/name], but that’s just me
[name]Rachel[/name] - I think it’s sweet and pretty, have you considered [name]Raquel[/name]?
[name]Monica[/name] - I had a friend in junior high with the name [name]Monica[/name], friendly, outgoing and a little sassy!
[name]Prudence[/name] - This is not my style at all
[name]Roxana[/name] - This could be pretty especially with the mn [name]Emerald[/name].

[ottilie]

[name]Milena[/name] - I think it’s very pretty.
[name]Wilhelmina[/name] - I think it’s cute… I’ve got Dutch version Willemijn on my list.
[name]Lucilla[/name] - Very pretty! Much better than [name]Lucille[/name]. Not as good as [name]Luciana[/name], but sweet!
[name]Rachel[/name] - I like [name]Rachel[/name]. Friends [name]Rachel[/name] is awesome, and one of my favourite musicians is another good one. It’s pretty.
[name]Monica[/name] - I had a doll named [name]Monica[/name] when I was little. Which is weird, the others were called [name]Beatrix[/name] and [name]Christabel[/name] and [name]Annabel[/name] and so on. [name]Monica[/name] does have something. I have a friend named this; she’s a rather devoted [name]Prince[/name] fan, in all ways possible.
[name]Prudence[/name] - [name]One[/name] of the good virtue names. [name]Prudence[/name] is amazing, nickname [name]Prue[/name] is adorable.
[name]Roxana[/name] - You saved the best for last! [name]Roxana[/name] is amazing; glitter, gold, velvet and diamonds showered in rose petals! [name]Roxana[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] would be wonderful…

[amelieamour]

[name]Milena[/name] - I really like this one too. It has a definite Spanish/Latin vibe to me.

[name]Wilhelmina[/name] - My boyfriend’s mom (who passed away about 12 years ago) was named [name]Wilhelmina[/name] and went by the nn [name]Mina[/name], so I always think of her when I hear it. She was an interpreter for the UN and spoke eight languages. Hearing my boyfriend talk about her has made her name grow on me, though it wouldn’t typically be my style.

[name]Lucilla[/name] - This one is really cool! [name]Both[/name] familiar and exotic, my kind of name for sure.

[name]Rachel[/name] - I love [name]Rachel[/name] too! In large part because I know two awesome people named [name]Rachel[/name], and I always think of them when I hear it. Timeless and classic, a really great name.

[name]Monica[/name] - This one is nms, though a very pretty name. [name]Monica[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] would be a great combo [name]IMO[/name].

[name]Prudence[/name] - There’s something about this one that I do find quite appealing actually. Which is interesting as I’m usually not into virtue names (though I do love [name]Felicity[/name]). I really like the nn [name]Prue[/name] and the Beatles song is the first thing that came to mind when I saw this name.

[name]Roxana[/name] ~ I really like this one. Spunky with a bit of a European flair. [name]Roxana[/name] [name]Emerald[/name] would go really well together I think.

WDYT of these…
[name]Esmeralda[/name] ([name]Emerald[/name] in Spanish)
[name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Ruby[/name]
[name]Peridot[/name]
[name]Sapphire[/name]
[name]Jade[/name] (or the Italian form [name]Giada[/name])
[name]Rebekah[/name]
[name]Amity[/name]
[name]Felicity[/name]
[name]Viviana[/name]
[name]Veronica[/name]
[name]Ruth[/name]
[name]Esther[/name]
[name]Susanna/name
[name]Verity[/name]
[name]Violet[/name]
[name]Seraphina[/name] (one of my personal faves)
[name]Ada[/name]
[name]Emmeline[/name]
[name]Enid[/name]
[name]Delilah[/name]
[name]Dahlia[/name]
[name]Edith[/name]
[name]Josephine[/name]
[name]Florence[/name]/[name]Florencia[/name]
[name]Valentina[/name]
[name]Sylviana[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]
[name]Alice[/name]
[name]Beatrix[/name]
[name]Matilda[/name]/[name]Mathilde[/name]
[name]Francesca[/name]
[name]Jane[/name]
[name]Cosette[/name]
[name]Clara[/name]
[name]Rosamund[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Marguerite[/name]
Isalina
[name]Magdalena[/name]
[name]Micheline[/name]
[name]Madeline[/name]/[name]Madeleine[/name]
[name]Camilla[/name]
[name]Persephone[/name]
[name]Zara[/name]

[system]

celianne - I’d pronounce it loo-[name]SILL[/name]-uh. Thanks for your suggestions. My husband actually likes [name]Matilda[/name] - he’s kind of a Germanophile, if that’s the word - but it’s too… something for me. I like [name]Helena[/name] a LOT but he is not a fan. And [name]Anneke[/name] or [name]Annika[/name] is one of my fave names ever, but I can’t use because I have one niece and she’s called [name]Ana[/name]. It would be too close.

freya55- I am well, thank you, and I hope you are too!

ruolan - I would pronounce it roks-[name]ANN[/name]-uh

jadubeau - I looked up melena. Oof. Uh yeah…

[name]Ottilie[/name] - you totally nailed it. That’s what [name]Roxana[/name] sounds like to me, too.

amelieamour - thanks much for your list. I like several of those. [name]Zara[/name] is on my short list, and [name]Josephine[/name] would probably be #1 for a girl except we already have [name]Josiah[/name] earmarked for a boy. I also adore [name]Susannah[/name] but I can’t use it b/c my stepmonster’s name is [name]Susan[/name] and I’ll be damned if I’ll name a baby after her. It would be perfect tho, since my [name]MIL[/name]'s name is [name]Sue[/name]. Too bad.

Thank you all for your incredible comments and suggestions!