What are your thoughts on using [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] as a first name for a girl? It is too odd?
And for fun any nickname ideas?
I really like [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]! I don’t think it’s too odd, but I’m a big fan of out-there word names, so I’m probably not the right one to ask, lol. I’ve always loved the nn [name_u]Gale[/name_u] for it, and there’s [name_u]Night[/name_u] for a more witch-y idea!
Some other nn ideas (they get stretchy haha):
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f]
[name_f]Ginny[/name_f]
[name_m]Tin[/name_m]
[name_f]Nya[/name_f]
[name_f]Gigi[/name_f]
Nigh
[name_m]Gil[/name_m]
[name_u]Gilly[/name_u]
[name_f]Jill[/name_f]
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It would be too odd for me for a first. But I would use it as a middle if it had personal significance.
I do love the imagery and the [name_u]Florence[/name_u] [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] association, but I find it a bit hard to say [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] clearly. “Ny-in-gale” is how it sounds in my American accent unless i’m consciously enunciating.
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It’s melodic and memorable. I like the association with the bird, and with [name_u]Florence[/name_u] [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]. But it sounds dangerously similar to “night in jail”.
Nicknames:
[name_u]Night[/name_u]
[name_u]Gale[/name_u]
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I can’t see it at all, sorry, especially in today’s world of Madisons, Brooklynns, and Carters. Definitely GP.
Nicknames though:
[name_u]Gale[/name_u]
[name_f]Inga[/name_f]
[name_f]Tiggy[/name_f]?
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I would personally not use [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] as a first.
Names related to [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]
[name_f]Philomela[/name_f] / [name_f]Philomel[/name_f] (tragic story)
Luscinia (Latin name. I would also probably not use)
[name_f]Minerva[/name_f]
[name_u]Carmen[/name_u]
[name_f]Lyla[/name_f]
[name_u]Nyx[/name_u]
[name_f]Abigail[/name_f]
[name_u]Gale[/name_u]
Oh I love the suggestions of [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] or [name_f]Tiggy[/name_f] as nicknames thanks!
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I love [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]! I think it’s fine as a first name.
[name_f]My[/name_f] favourite nicknames are [name_u]Night[/name_u] & [name_u]Nyx[/name_u]
Some other ideas:
[name_f]Tilly[/name_f]
[name_u]Tally[/name_u]
[name_u]Iggy[/name_u]
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I think [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] would make a lovely middle name! I think it would add a nice ring to most first names, kind of like how [name_f]Darling[/name_f] would as well. I do think it would be tricky as a first name. I personally would have a hard time using all day with my child when talking to them or calling them over. But it does have great vibes, so I think a middle would be wonderful for it 
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It’s a bold choice, but it’s also surname-y (in the vibe of [name_f]Bronte[/name_f], [name_u]Austen[/name_u], [name_u]Kerrigan[/name_u], [name_u]Kahlo[/name_u] etc), nature-y (like [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_u]Fox[/name_u], Winter) and has familiar sounds of popular girls names (-gale → [name_f]Abigail[/name_f], -ling → [name_f]Ashling[/name_f], [name_u]Indigo[/name_u], tin- → [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] etc).
Nickname ideas:
Nightingale…
[name_u]Gale[/name_u]
[name_u]Night[/name_u]
[name_f]Nina[/name_f]
[name_f]Nia[/name_f]
Naia/Nya
[name_f]Birdie[/name_f]
[name_u]Tae[/name_u]
Nat/Nate
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…and a nightingale sang in [name_u]Berkeley[/name_u] Square…
I’m very much a traditionalist, but I like this, even if I would constantly be singing [name_u]Nat[/name_u] [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Cole[/name_m].
I love [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] for a first name I could see it for either.
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I don’t think it would work as a first name. As someone who was bullied mercilessly as a kid, I always try to bully-proof names. Bullies would have a field day with [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]. I know naming kids has changed drastically, and there are all kinds of Mavericks and Lemons and the like out there now. I don’t know how they are faring, I mean, my name is [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] nn [name_f]Kat[/name_f] and I still got everything from meowing and hissing to my name being rhymed with cat urine. But I do think that a cool middle is a must, especially if one has a traditional first name. The middle initial N looks unassuming, people would guess [name_f]Nicole[/name_f] or [name_f]Natalie[/name_f]. Then finding out that its [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u], that would be pretty cool. I think a traditional first name with a really cool middle is like buying a traditional house and finding a hidden door to a really cool bonus room, if that makes any sense at all.
I have been planning to homeschool my children for a long time, and my list includes some odd names that would not fare well on the playground. Like [name_f]Sophronia[/name_f], the name of my four times great grandmother. [name_u]Or[/name_u] [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f], the real name of my favorite silent screen vamp, [name_f]Theda[/name_f] [name_f]Bara[/name_f]. I told myself that if I ever had twin girls, they would be [name_f]Sophronia[/name_f] [name_f]Kate[/name_f] and [name_f]Theodosia[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f], or [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and [name_f]Theda[/name_f]. But only if I homeschooled. I don’t think I’d have the heart to send them off to public school with those names. In fact most of my girl names are bully bait. [name_f]Octavia[/name_f] (octopus jokes waiting to happen) and [name_f]Olympia[/name_f] (a name with the word limp in the middle!) would get them teased for sure. [name_f]My[/name_f] love of names that has spanned almost 30 years, ever since I got my first name book as a kid, battles with my childhood trauma, and I just have to play devil’s advocate in this situation. In a perfect world, we could have little Nightingales and Sophronias, and they would never have to fear. But unless they are really super freaking cool, I’m afraid of what kind of teasing they may have to endure.
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I’m sorry you had to deal with such horrible bullying as a child!
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is also [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and I never experienced any bullying with it at all.
I’m a teacher and teacher fromEarly Childhood all the way through primary and secondary up to age 18 and I honestly never hear anyone being bullied for their name now. Other things yes, name or even pronouns, no.
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f] is beautiful, I am sorry to hear that.
It might be more suited for a middle name but it is pretty and people don’t necessarily have to go by their first name. I know many that don’t. Im not a big fan of the name “Gale” but commenters have listed some good nickname alternatives as well. “Nightly” was one that came to my mind. But it may be stranger than Nightengale.
Nightingales are cute and full of song. I think there’s a positive association with the bird, and of course with [name_u]Florence[/name_u] [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]. I am more of a [name_f]Mary[/name_f] Seacole type of gal, but [name_u]Florence[/name_u] is much more celebrated and better known.
The only issue I see is that, as a name, it looks and sounds clunky. It doesn’t roll off the tongue and it’s going to need some spelling clarifications (believe it or not), because the word is not used regularly in non-ornithologist circles.
I don’t love it, and prefer other bird-associated names that look and sound simpler, but it could be a name if you really want it to be.
hmm…this one is tricky!
as a obscure word name enthusiast, my immediate reaction would be yes; although, i think nightingale may be odd to other people, who perhaps arent aware of these kinds of names, so basically people off of nameberry…
i think you could definitely get away with it, although, in real life, i would pair it with a traditional middle/ have a more grounded nickname 
nightingale…
gale
nina
ally
al
nia
tate/tae
tilly
i hope this helped 
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also…
tina!!! tina came so intuitive to me idk to you others 
and alla, ale (common nickname in my country for alessandra, i think it works in many countries and places tho!), anya might work too!
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I really like [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u]! It’s a bit brave but I don’t think it’s too odd 
[name_f]My[/name_f] favorite nicknames for [name_u]Nightingale[/name_u] are [name_u]Iggy[/name_u], [name_f]Nell[/name_f], & [name_f]Tiggy[/name_f]!
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