So after a whole lot of surprisingly great feedback on this and another baby name forum we have decided that the lovely [name_f]Alberta[/name_f] is our front-runner for [name_u]Baby[/name_u] A. However, [name_u]Baby[/name_u] B still needs a name and here are a few criteria we have come up with to guarantee the names match (but not too much) and to make the name search into a more fun little game:
The name must be unique and old-ladyish rare in the style of [name_f]Alberta[/name_f] (and [name_f]Winifred[/name_f], [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f], [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], etc.)
Names with animal meanings or sound in them are +++ because [name_f]Alberta[/name_f] will be called [name_f]Birdie[/name_f]/[name_u]Bertie[/name_u]. ([name_f]Ursula[/name_f] has been vetoed, so please don’t suggest it)
OR:
Something reminiscent of the [name_u]Jazz[/name_u] [name_f]Era[/name_f], [name_m]Blues[/name_m] and [name_m]New[/name_m] Orleans charm.
[name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] (“gazelle”)
[name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosamond[/name_f] (“horse protection”)
[name_f]Rosaline[/name_f]/[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] (“horse & soft/tender”)
[name_f]Philippa[/name_f] (“lover of horses”)
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] (“songbird”)
[name_f]Avis[/name_f] (“bird”)
[name_f]Agnes[/name_f]/[name_f]Ines[/name_f]/[name_f]Inez[/name_f] (“chaste”, although often associated with the Latin agnus “lamb”; [name_f]Inez[/name_f] also has a [name_u]Jazz[/name_u] connection in the song Mama [name_f]Inez[/name_f])
[name_f]Beverly[/name_f] (“beaver stream”)
[name_u]Columba[/name_u] (“dove”)
[name_u]Damaris[/name_u] (“calf, heifer, girl”)
[name_f]Deborah[/name_f]/[name_f]Devorah[/name_f] (“bee”)
[name_f]Dorcas[/name_f] (“gazelle”)
[name_f]Dymphna[/name_f] (“fawn”)
[name_u]Merle[/name_u] (“blackbird”)
[name_f]Philomela[/name_f] (“lover/friend” & “fruit” or “song”; in Greek mythology she is transformed into a nightingale)
[name_f]Robina[/name_f]
[name_f]Paloma[/name_f] (“dove”) also comes to mind but not sure if it fits with the old-ladyish vibe you’re after.
I agree that [name_f]Henrietta[/name_f] nn [name_f]Etta[/name_f] goes great with [name_f]Alberta[/name_f].
[name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] nn [name_f]Bee[/name_f]
[name_f]Benjamina[/name_f] nn [name_m]Benji[/name_m] or [name_f]Mina[/name_f]
[name_f]Ramona[/name_f] nn [name_f]Mona[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] nn [name_f]Winnie[/name_f]
The pp has some great suggestions. I particularly love [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f], [name_f]Alberta[/name_f] and [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] are lovely!
[name_f]Aquila[/name_f] -eagle
[name_f]Coralie[/name_f] -coral
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f] -dove
[name_f]Leona[/name_f]/[name_f]Leonie[/name_f] -lion
[name_f]Linnet[/name_f] -a type of small bird
[name_f]Portia[/name_f] -derived from a name meaning pig, which is maybe not the most pleasing meaning, but it is a lovely name
[name_u]Robin[/name_u]
[name_f]Vanessa[/name_f] -a genus of butterfly (this one probably is unusual enough)
[name_f]Zipporah[/name_f] -bird
Would you ever be open to another animal nickname? Like [name_f]Katrina[/name_f]/[name_f]Katrin[/name_f]/[name_f]Katya[/name_f] nn [name_f]Cat[/name_f] or [name_f]Kitty[/name_f]. [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]/[name_f]Ottaline[/name_f] nn Otter. Etc.
All the best with finding a great match for [name_f]Alberta[/name_f]!
I’m loving [name_f]Benjamina[/name_f], mostly because of the Great British Bake Off. Not sure how it couples with [name_f]Alberta[/name_f] but lots of nickname potential!
I’ll second the suggestion of [name_f]Leona[/name_f]. I’d also second [name_f]Millicent[/name_f]. Nothing to do with animals, but it’s an underused gem, like [name_f]Alberta[/name_f].
I’ll also suggest…
[name_f]Agatha[/name_f] - too matchy with [name_f]Alberta[/name_f]?
[name_f]Enid[/name_f]
[name_f]Phillipa[/name_f] - lover of horses
[name_f]Tabatha[/name_f] - a gazelle, and nn [name_f]Tabby[/name_f]
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]
[name_f]Beverly[/name_f] - beaver meadow
[name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] - a type of bird
[name_f]Oona[/name_f] - lamb
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f] - dolphin
[name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]
[name_f]Mavis[/name_f] - “songbird”…a sneaky way to connect the twins’ names if you nn [name_f]Alberta[/name_f] “[name_f]Birdie[/name_f]”.
Sorry for any repeats.
My favourites with [name_f]Alberta[/name_f] are [name_f]Millicent[/name_f], [name_f]Mavis[/name_f], and [name_f]Enid[/name_f]. Best of luck finding the perfect match! I can’t wait to find out what you do end up choosing.
Great that you may go ahead with [name_f]Alberta[/name_f]! [name_u]Love[/name_u] [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] as a nn, and I wonder also about [name_f]Buffy[/name_f]?
There are repeats here, but these are the ones I particularly like with twin [name_f]Alberta[/name_f]. The only one I know with a bird meaning is [name_f]Jemima[/name_f] - dove.
I second [name_f]Minerva[/name_f]. I really love the idea of [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] nn [name_f]Minie[/name_f]! [name_f]Minie[/name_f] and [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] is such a cute pair! they sound very “jazz era” to me.
Maybe also [name_f]Maxine[/name_f]/[name_f]Eugenie[/name_f]? [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] is sweet. I love the name [name_f]Alba[/name_f], so I would use that as a nn for an [name_f]Alberta[/name_f]. It definitely feels jazz era to me (:
