I’m really enamored of [name]Dolly[/name] as a nickname for a small girl, albeit one quickly outgrown and that she’d need a more formal given name for if and when she chooses to ditch it :). I was wondering if there are any attractive girls’ name that would work with that?
[name]Delores[/name] is out because a) although I personally love the sound of it the baby’s other mother is not so keen and b) the associations with [name]Delores[/name]/[name]Dolly[/name] are very negative to us both (the self-identity stolen away from the child in “[name]Lolita[/name]”.) I’m not fond of [name]Dorothy[/name], the other obvious choice, either.
Any helpful suggestions for other names that would work with “[name]Dolly[/name]”? They might help me convince my other half of [name]Dolly[/name]'s adorableness for a little girl.
[name]Dola[/name] – a kind of bird – African-[name]Mende[/name]
Dolanna – world ruler – Celtic
Dolina – mighty – Scottish
Edolia – woman of good humor – Germanic
[name]Gwendolen[/name] – white circle – Welsh
Idolina – image – Spanish
That’s all I’ve got right now. [name]Do[/name] you like any of those?
I’m with pp that in theory you could make it work for any D name, maybe especially with [name]Olive[/name] or [name]Olivia[/name] as the middle?
I also love the name [name]Dahlia[/name] and it is very logical for that. (I wouldn’t use [name]Dahlia[/name] with [name]Olive[/name] or [name]Olivia[/name], too much plant / not great flow).
Maybe by a stretch [name]Talia[/name] or [name]Natalia[/name] could get you to [name]Tali[/name] and from there to [name]Dolly[/name].
Also another stretch - [name]Molly[/name] or [name]Polly[/name] could be a [name]Dolly[/name] because of rhyming. [name]Molly[/name] and [name]Polly[/name] were traditionally [name]Mary[/name] nicknames, so that rules [name]Mary[/name] in too.
You don’t like [name]Dorothy[/name], what about [name]Theodora[/name]? [name]Dolly[/name] is a little less intuitive there, but [name]Dora[/name]-[name]Dolly[/name], it works enough. Then there are more nickname options for her too when she’s older ([name]Teddie[/name], [name]Theo[/name], [name]Thea[/name]).
[name]Love[/name] the idea of [name]Dahlia[/name] or [name]Delilah[/name] nn [name]Dolly[/name].
[name]Donatella[/name] is such a gp name for me, but [name]Dolly[/name] makes it much more wearable!
Wow, so many options… Thank you all so much! Really loving [name]Dorcas[/name] and [name]Dahlia[/name], must suggest them - and the other Mummy’s [name]Nanna[/name] was called [name]Gwendolyn[/name], she might really like that.
[name]Dahlia[/name] is a really good idea, especially since at least one pronunciation of [name]Dahlia[/name] is dahl-ya or doll-ya. Also floral names are picking up steam but [name]Dahlia[/name] is still uncommon and refreshing.
I could see [name]Delia[/name] or [name]Delphine[/name], possibly? But stretching it a little more than [name]Dahlia[/name] does. Or [name]Dorothea[/name], which I like more than [name]Dorothy[/name] but it might be too close for you?