I find myself drawn to word names, but not common word names like [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Willow[/name_f]. I’m more interested in using words that are very rarely used in speech as names. Some examples:
Sojourn- a visit; I often see this word used in poetry, but rarely in regular conversation
[name_f]Reverie[/name_f]- means “daydream.” Like Sojourn, I often see this word in poetry.
Morrow- archaic word for tomorrow
Borealis- a word meaning “[name_u]North[/name_u],” ultimately derived from the Greek god of the north wind
Paean- a song of praise, joy, or triumph
[name_f]Poesy[/name_f]- an archaic word for poetry
[name_f]Sonata[/name_f]- a type of song written for one or two instruments
Does anyone have any ideas for words like these that may work as names?
Not sure if any of these work for you, but I think they could carry as names
[name_f]Dulcet[/name_f]-Sweet, sugary.
[name_u]Halcyon[/name_u]-[name_f]Happy[/name_f], sunny, care-free
Baldric- a shoulder-belt for carrying horns, swords, etc
Dolven-delved, mined, dug out
Mattock-a primitive weapon, originally a farming tool, perhaps best described as a double-headed battle-hoe
[name_f]Cadence[/name_f] - the end of a phrase in music, or the inflection in someones voice, a very lyrical name beginning to catch on
Petrichor - The pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell, a nice meaning nam that would make an interesting choice for a little boy
Chiasmus - the rhetorical device of repeating some of the words you’ve used in reverse order - [name_m]John[/name_m] F [name_u]Kennedy[/name_u]’s “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” and [name_m]Byron[/name_m]’s “Pleasure is a sin, and sometimes sin’s a pleasure” are both examples of chiasmus. Pronounced K-eye-asmus (I’m not good at pronunciation things - it comes from greek). Would be an interesting way to get to the nickname [name_f]Chi[/name_f] (or [name_u]Kai[/name_u])
Hiraeth - a welsh word with no direct English translation that is kind of a deep nostalgic homesickness for a home you cannot return to or perhaps never actually happened. To me it sounds like the name of some mythical god, but you may not think so…
Panglossian - Characterised by or given to extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity. A hard name to live up to, but has some interesting nickname options and the ending makes it feel like an old name
Benthos - the flora or fauna on the bottom of a sea or lake. Another interesting take on [name_m]Ben[/name_m]?
I love Halcyon! Cerulean is cool too, and Petrichor is exactly the type of word I like as a name- rarely used in speech, but with a beautiful meaning- perfect for poetry.